About Us

Community Savings Bank Association - CSBA

The CSBA exists to rebuild a network of independent, local banks in the UK. For the first time in the UK, those banks will be owned by and answerable to their customers. We believe that mutual trust is fundamental to a long-term partnership between us and our bank. Click on the coin below to understand more of what we believe needs to be in place for mutual trust to exist.

Creating a local bank is not for the faint hearted. The expertise need, the complexity of the process and the considerable costs have put many people off. We have made it easier, simpler, less risky, quicker and cheaper for each region to setup its own independent, customer owned bank. We done this in six key ways.

1. For the first time in the UK, we have created the legal form and constitutional documents for a customer owned bank. These have been registered with the FCA as model rules.
2. With our advisors we've prepared a comprehensive banking license application pack including governance structures, IT systems, products, payment system links, policies, financial model, regulatory business plan, ICAAP and ILAAP.
3. We've designed the products, branches, online portals, payment systems infrastructure and IT systems of a low cost retail bank.
4. We've built a pilot bank to test, prove and refine all the elements of these banks before going live with customers.
5. We've built a network and signed long-term partnership agreements with key technology suppliers, financial and legal advisors.
6. We've created an infrastructure that will enable these independent banks to cooperate with each other, reduce costs, share knowledge and innovate to develop their sustainable futures.

When the local banks are up and running they will own and control the CSBA. If you would like more information on who's involved in the CSBA please click here.

We are proud that The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce is supporting the Community Savings Bank Association, including providing marketing and events support and promoting us to their influential network of over 28,000 Fellows. To learn more on why the RSA is supporting us, please click on their logo.

If you would like more information on the RSA itself,  please click here.