Saving With Purpose

Make your money matter, without giving it away

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Wessex Community Bank is a not-for-profit, member-owned, cooperative bank that serves Central Southern England.

There are no outside shareholders or investors, and any money we make above our costs is called a surplus, which we use to improve services, to propose a member dividend, and to support our Foundation, which, among other goals, provides valuable grants to community groups.

Your eligible savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to the statutory limit, and we are authorised and regulated by both the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

How it works, step by step

You open an account and deposit your savings, your money stays in your name and is 100% safe and secure, and you earn a fair return that is typically paid as a dividend.

We pool your deposit with those of other members and lend responsibly to people and organisations in our area, with affordability and long term stability at the centre of every decision.

The lending supports everyday needs and small ambitions, which helps households and the local economy.

As we operate, we generate surpluses, which are used to improve member services, to propose a dividend to members for approval, and to provide quarterly grants to grassroots groups through our Foundation.

Throughout the year, we report back on where the money has gone and what it has achieved, so you can see the difference your savings make.

What your money makes possible

Your deposit helps us offer fair, often lower, loan rates to local people, which keeps spending power in the community and supports economic growth.

Your deposit helps us provide an always fee-free account for community groups, which means clubs, teams, and small charities can open a bank account, receive grants, and run properly.

Your deposit helps fund quarterly grants to grassroots organisations that build community spirit and social value, from litter pickers and youth groups to disability support and local clubs.

We also design lending that encourages saving alongside repayments, which helps people build resilience, and we commit to allocate at least a quarter of our lending to support people who are financially excluded, always subject to responsible lending rules.

What you get as a member

You get safety through FSCS protection to the statutory limit, you get a fair and sustainable return that reflects our real performance, and you get ownership and a voice in how we are run.

You get transparency about where your money is working, and you become part of a practical way to give something back without giving your money away.

Why this is different from chasing the highest rate

A headline rate can look attractive, although it is often a short-lived promotion, a fixed term with penalties, or a product with strict access rules.

With us you receive a fair return, you keep statutory protection, and your money delivers a second return that a headline rate cannot: visible local impact.

If you want both, you can split your savings, you can place some funds in a promotional account elsewhere, and you can keep some with us to maintain your local impact and your membership.

The simple idea

On your own, it is hard to fund low cost local lending, to support different community groups, and to keep a Foundation giving grants every quarter.

Together, by depositing your cash with a community bank, you make all of that possible.

Your savings keep the bank strong, the bank uses its resources to build communities and empower people, and the surpluses that follow allow us to keep doing it, year after year, on your behalf.

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