- The Charitable Bank Account is available for customers within our Small Business Banking and Business Banking* segments.
- Our eligibility criteria broadly aligns with the definitions of charitable organisations set out in the Charities Act 2011. This means not all not-for-profit organisations will be eligible. Check the following criteria to see if your organisation may be eligible before applying.
- The organisation must:
- be established as a not-for-profit organisation
- not operate for the benefit of shareholders, or for the generation or distribution of profit.
- not be a political party who field candidates for elections. However, it can carry out political activity or non-political campaigning activity if it clearly supports the delivery or furthering of its not-for-profit purpose.
If your organisation doesn’t meet all of the criteria above, please view our Business Current Accounts here
- The main purpose of the organisation must also be for any one or more of the following:
- Prevention or relief of poverty,1
- Advancement of education2
- Advancement of religion3
- Advancement of health or the saving of lives4
- Advancement of citizenship or community development5
- Advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science6
- Advancement of amateur sport7
- Advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity.
- Advancement of environmental protection or improvement8
- Relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship9
- The advancement of animal welfare10
- The promotion of the efficiency of the armed forces of the Crown, or of the efficiency of the police, fire and rescue services or ambulance services.
- Any other purpose currently recognised as charitable or which can be recognised as charitable by analogy to, or within the spirit of, purposes falling within 1 to 1211
*Small Business Banking customers are typically small enterprises (including not-for-profits) with borrowing needs of up to £100k. Their everyday transactional banking products and needs wouldn’t require the support of a Relationship Manager. (Government lending schemes are subject to different limits.)
Business Banking customers are typically small and medium sized enterprises (including not-for-profits) with product needs that require support through a dedicated Relationship Manager, who work alongside our specialist teams. Our Relationship Managers can provide transactional banking and funding solutions of over £100k (both domestically and internationally).
1such as providing services or grants, either directly or indirectly, to individuals in need in order to alleviate poverty, to enable them to generate a sustainable income and/or help them become self-sufficient – for example, the homeless, unemployed, refugees, asylum seekers and dependents of any of them
2such as awarding people scholarships, maintenance allowances or grants, providing or assisting schools to provide facilities or equipment for education
3 such as providing places of worship, raising awareness and understanding of religious beliefs and practices
4 includes the prevention of sickness, disease or human suffering, including by funding medical research, as well as providing or funding medical treatment, care and healing and providing disaster relief
5 including the promotion of civic responsibility and good citizenship (for example, Scouts, Guides, Rotary, Round Table), promotion of urban and rural regeneration and the promotion of volunteering
6 to promote and encourage the arts such as drama, ballet, music, singing, literature, sculpture, painting, cinema, the promotion of crafts and craftsmanship and the preservation and maintenance of historic or significant buildings, landscapes, cultures or traditions
7 includes advancing or providing facilities for any sports or games which promote health by involving physical or mental skill exertion
8 concerned with conservation of particular geographical areas or features or the conservation of particular plant or animal species or habitats
9 or other disadvantage including supporting the victims of crime
10 to prevent or suppress cruelty to animals and improve their wellbeing, including conservation (for example, zoos)
11 or any other purpose recognised as charitable under the law of England
If your organisation doesn’t meet one of the above purposes, you do not meet the eligibility criteria for the Charitable Bank Account. One of our Business Current Accounts may be a more suitable alternative, find out more here