About Us - South Yorkshire Community Bank

Why we exist

We believe everyone should have access to fair and safe ways to save, borrow and budget. To build confidence in managing money. To be part of a community that cares.

Built by you, for you

Saving, borrowing and budgeting with us is safe, secure, and ethical.

Unlike traditional banks, we’re member-owned and not-for-profit. Which means anyone who is a member owns a part of South Yorkshire Community Bank. Any money we make on top of the cost of running South Yorkshire Community Bank is used to improve our services for our local community or is paid back to our members.

But like traditional banks, we’re regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 213679) and the Prudential Regulation Authority, and your savings with us are protected by the Financial Services Compensation (FSCS) scheme.

We’ve been around for over 20 years and have over 7,500 members.

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Proudly local, community connected

Your money stays local, and your membership strengthens us all.

That’s because we’re a community bank and we share a common bond. Our members are local, and we often know them personally. That’s why South Yorkshire Community Bank always feels familiar. We support our community by working with local businesses and public bodies to provide services that make a difference.

Our members are our shareholders, so we don’t have anonymous outside shareholders demanding big profits. It also means that, as a member, you get to have a say in how South Yorkshire Community Bank is run. Each year, you are invited to our Annual General Meeting to hear updates on what we are doing and to discuss and vote on our future plans. And once a member, you can always a member, even if you move away.

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No fuss, just fair

We’re open and welcoming to all, with flexible and affordable ways to borrow and save.

Our loans are accessible to a wide range of new and existing members. They’re typically at lower interest rates than are available from other providers and much safer than unregulated lending, such as borrowing from family, friends or loan sharks. There are no unexpected fees and all our costs are completely transparent from the outset. Even if you have a poor credit history, you may be able to borrow with us, which can help you improve your credit history too.

We assess all loan applications carefully to make sure our loans won’t make a difficult financial situation worse. Where appropriate, we also provide information about wider support.

When you save with us, your membership supports our ethical lending while building good financial habits.

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What matters to you matters to us

We’re here to help you get where you want to be.

Whether that’s to lend you money when you need it most, help you save for a happier future or rainy day.

Your financial wellbeing is our top priority. That’s why we’re always here for you. And our services are always tailored just for you.

We make time to listen so that you feel heard and understood, and we help you build better financial habits and confidence so that you can flourish.

Please talk to us about your borrowing needs, even if you feel out of options as we’ll always help you to find safer alternatives.

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Our recognition

We’re proud to have been recognised by industry bodies and members of the public alike.

Awarded the FairLife Mark

We have been awarded the FairLife mark, in recognition that our loans are well-designed in the interest of consumers. You can find out more about the FairLife charity at fairlife.org.uk.