User:Stifle/Charity Bank

Charity Bank is a small bank in the United Kingdom, established in 2002 as an independent ethical bank with a social purpose. It provides loans and support to charities, social enterprises and other social purpose organisations on beneficial terms with the support of personal and organisational savers.

All its shareholders are either charities or social purpose organisations.

The bank does not operate a staff bonus scheme. The Chairman and non-executive directors of Charity Bank are unpaid, giving their time voluntarily.

Mission
Charity Bank was established in 2002 to provide loans and support to charities and social enterprises. It has a mission to attract share capital from social investors, take deposits from socially conscious individuals and lend solely to social purpose organisations.

Charity loans
Charity Bank provides loans to charities, social enterprises and other social purpose organisations. It tailors the terms of each loan and fits repayment schedules to suit the needs of each borrower. Its regional managers work with organisations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Charity Bank provides loans on beneficial terms.

In 2016 the bank reported a loan write-off rate of less than 0.5% of its total lending.

Ethical ISA and savings
Savers can open term and notice savings accounts, such as an Ethical Cash ISA, and are sent an annual portfolio of all the loans the bank has made. This way savers can see exactly how their savings support worthwhile causes.

All savers are invited to meet charities from their local community that have been supported by Charity Bank, as a direct way of sharing the difference their savings make.

Savers are also invited to attend an open meeting each year where they can hear from the organisations supported and speak with Charity Bank staff.

Charity Bank's ethical ISA is ranked top of Ethical Consumer's buyers' guide for ethical ISAs.

Ethical behaviour
Charity Bank is the only bank ranked in the top ten ethical brands in the world, according to an Ethical Company study in 2014 and 2015.

The Chairman and non-executive directors of Charity Bank do not receive pay, giving their time voluntarily. Charity Bank does not pay staff bonuses.

Charity Bank is the first and only bank to be awarded the Social Enterprise Mark.

Charity Bank was the first European bank and sixth business in the UK to be certified as a B Corp. B Corps rank the concerns of communities, the environment and employees alongside shareholder interests.

It is a Living Wage employer, it was accredited in 2014.

Charity Bank gives staff up to 50 hours a year to volunteer in order to benefit the charity of their choice and to experience first hand the challenges faced by its borrowers.

In a survey of Charity Bank customers, 99% of respondents said that they would recommend Charity Bank to a friend, indicating unprecedented levels of customer loyalty.