We offer targeted dividends on our accounts. This is different to interest. Dividends are like ‘profit-share’ and are dependent on the bank’s performance. Our dividends are ‘targetted’. This means it is projected at a rate we feel is very likely to be a minimum payment. We review these dividend projections quarterly. They are not guaranteed.

Investment and impact strategy

All our investments offer guaranteed returns, their ethical and safe, but there’s much more on offer when you invest with us. When you save with Wessex Community Bank, your money becomes part of something much bigger. It stays safe, belongs to you but in the meantime helps to shape a stronger, fairer region. Instead of chasing short term gains which you may get elsewhere, your savings are directed into things that build lasting value, supporting local enterprise, creating opportunities, and backing community initiatives through our Foundation. The impact is tangible with projects that give people skills, spaces that bring communities together, and businesses that strengthen our local economy. This isn’t about charity or hand outs. It’s about using your money wisely, ensuring that while you keep what you’ve saved, it also helps to create the kind of community we all want to live in.

How is my money going to make a difference?

Your savings are the reason the Wessex Foundation exists. Because members choose to save with us, we can run our foundation which encourages saving and builds real financial resilience for the future of our members. Because members save, we can dedicate at least a quarter of our assets to lending where mainstream banks won’t, giving people and businesses a fair chance to move forward, not fall behind. Your savings also allow us to run a quarterly grants scheme that puts money directly into the hands of local grassroots groups that make a real difference in our community. And while your money is held with us, it is always invested with purpose, placed only in ethical, socially useful and impactful ways, so it never funds harm but always supports progress. The Foundation is proof that your savings do more than stay in an account. They are the fuel that makes these things happen. It’s practical benefits for members, visible investment in our communities, and a model of finance that builds lasting value close to home.

Key information — Christmas Club Saver

A regular saver account which pays out annually on 1st November. Minimum balance of £1 and a maximum balance of £10,000. The account is instant access.

Key information — Save To Borrow

If you have struggled to get a loan, you can start saving and build up a regular payment history with us. You'll get a guaranteed loan at the end of up to 3x your savings, subject to status, and a 10% AER bonus as a reward for saving.

Key information — Cash ISA

An Individual Savings Account, ISA, is a tax efficient way to save and support local communities. This is a flexible ISA and withdrawals are permitted without affecting the target dividend.

Savings

Instant Access Saver

Start saving.
Keep it simple.

A straightforward way to build up savings of your own, with easy access when you need it.

Why save with Wessex?

Save a little. Build something useful.

Saving doesn’t have to be complicated. Put something aside when you can, build up a pot of your own and keep it available for when you need it.

Easy to start

You can begin with a small amount and add to it at a pace that works for you.

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Easy to access

Your savings aren’t locked away, so they’re there when you need them.

A different place to save

Wessex is a member-owned, not-for-profit community bank focused on people and the places we serve.

Saving for yourself comes first.

Whether it’s for an unexpected bill, something you’re planning or simply knowing you’ve got money put aside, this account gives you a straightforward place to build your savings.

And where you save can matter too.

Choosing Wessex means choosing a local, member-owned bank that also supports communities and tries to use money in a responsible way.

The useful bits

A few things you’ll probably want to know.

We could give you pages of small print here. Or we could just answer the questions people usually ask us.

The basics

What exactly is an Instant Access Saver?

It’s a straightforward savings account for money you want to put aside without locking it away.

You can build your savings gradually and still keep them available when you need them.

Useful for everyday saving, an emergency pot or something you’re planning for.

Access

Can I take my money out when I need it?

Yes. That’s the point of an instant access account.

Your savings aren’t tied up for a fixed term, so you can add to them or withdraw money when you need to.

Getting started

Do I need a lot of money to start?

No. You can start with as little as £1.

Saving regularly matters more than making a dramatic first deposit. Start small if that works for you and build from there.

Regular saving

Do I have to pay in every month?

The idea is to make saving work around you.

We like regular saving because even small amounts can build into something useful, but this is not about making saving complicated.

£5, £10, £20 or something else. Building the habit is often the most important bit.

Wessex

Why save with Wessex rather than somewhere else?

Your first reason for saving should be you. You’re building money of your own and getting into a habit that can make life a little easier.

But where you choose to save can matter too. Wessex Community Bank is member owned and not for profit. We exist to serve our members and the communities around us, rather than outside shareholders.

So you can build savings for yourself while choosing a bank with a wider purpose.

Communities

Does saving with Wessex actually make a difference?

Yes, although that isn’t the only reason to open the account.

Members saving with Wessex help build a stronger community bank. That gives us more capacity to support members, provide responsible finance and back local community work.

Our wider work also includes the Wessex Foundation, which supports community organisations and local projects.

Dividends

What do you mean by a dividend?

Wessex savings accounts can pay a dividend rather than conventional interest.

A dividend is linked to the performance of the bank. We can publish a targeted dividend to show what we expect the account to pay, but it is not guaranteed.

We review our dividend projections regularly.

Protection

Is my money protected?

Eligible savings with Wessex Community Bank are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

That gives eligible depositors the same statutory deposit protection that applies to savings held with other authorised UK banks, building societies and credit unions.

The account at a glance

The important bits.

No need to hunt around for them. Here are the main things to know about the Instant Access Saver.

Minimum balance

£1

Maximum balance

£60,000

How you can save

Regular saving, lump sums or a mixture of both.

Access

Instant access. Your savings aren’t locked away.

Fees

No account fees.

Managing your account

Online banking, with our telephone helpdesk there when you want to speak to someone.

Protection

Eligible savings protected by the FSCS up to £120,000.

Where your money sits

Managed with an ethical and responsible approach.

Wider purpose

Your savings also help support the growth of a member owned community bank and the local communities we serve.

Ready to start saving?

Opening an account is straightforward and you can start with just £1.

Open an account