The Better Banking Campaign has brought together nearly 500 organisations to call for fundamental reform of the banking system. We are calling for the introduction of four measures which will help ensure financial institutions serve the interests of all people, businesses and third sector organisations equally. These are:

1. Transparency from banks about the communities they do and don’t serve
2. An incentive structure to encourage banks to fully engage with people and businesses in all communities
3. A cap on extortionate lending rates
4. A commitment from banks to re-invest 1% of their profits for social benefit

Why was the Better Banking Campaign set up?

Over the past two years, billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money has been used to bail-out the banking sector. However, we believe that banks should be doing much more to deliver a genuine social return on our investment. Up to 9 million people aren’t able to access banking services in a fair and equal way in the UK, often forcing them to turn to high-cost lenders or loan sharks for help. The recession has also meant that small businesses, charities and social enterprises have struggled to access finance.

The financial crisis, along with the coming General Election, have presented us with a once in a generation opportunity to transform the banking sector so that it works in the interests of us all. If we are able to take it, it could help eradicate long-term problems such as financial exclusion which have affected some of the most disadvantaged communities in our society for many years. The Better Banking Campaign works to ensure that this opportunity is not missed.

To the leaders of all parties,

We are writing on behalf of low-income communities, third sector organisations, and small businesses across the UK. These groups have suffered and continue to suffer unfairly, because financial institutions have not met their needs. We feel strongly that in return for the privilege of a banking licence, and billions of pounds of public investment, we need a new settlement between society and the financial sector. Around 6 million people cannot access mainstream credit –often due to having no credit history, not a bad one- and have no choice but to borrow at interest rates of up to 9,000%, leading to inescapable spirals of debt. Lack of access to banking services costs low income households av. £1,000 more a year.

So many of us take credit for granted, with our mortgages and student loans. But low-income communities, third sector organisations and small businesses suffer from unfair access to financial services. Responsible lending, (not lending for lending’s sake) advances us socially and financially.

Therefore, what we want is a financial sector that reaches out to support those who need the most help, and enables them to become financially independent: to build savings and pensions, to have every opportunity to flourish financially and economically. We need a system that actively encourages financial institutions to engage with low income communities, third sector organisations and small businesses.

We call upon all party leaders to commit to the following:

• Requiring banks to publicly disclose where they are lending and providing services – how much and to whom – including in respect of small businesses
• With this data, providing incentives and obligations for banks to serve social responsibilities, along the lines of the US Community Reinvestment Act.
• Capping the amount that can be legally charged for credit
• Reinvesting 1% of banks’ profits for public benefit

Many are still struggling in the wake of the recession. Don’t return us to business as usual.

Signed,

The Better Banking Campaign,

2D (Teesdale and Wear Valley)
3Gs Development Trust
Action Acton
Action for Prisoners’ Families
Acumen Trust
Adur Voluntary Action
African Human Right Heritage
Age Concern Brighton and Hove
Aidan Pia, Executive Director, Senscot
Alastair Wilson, Chief Executive, School for Social Entrepreneurs
Allison Agius, Executive Director, Catalyst Stockton
Allison Ogden-Newton, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise London
Amazon Public Relations
Andrew Loxham, New Directions Foundation
Andrea Westall, Strategy and Policy Consultant
Andy Benson, National Convenor, National Coalition for Independent Action
Ann Marie Wrigley, Director, New Era Enterprises
Anti Poverty Network Cymru (APNC)
Apostolic Pastoral Association
ART(ASTON REINVESTMENT TRUST)
Asset Transfer Unit
Atiha Chaudry, Director, Equal Access
Avenues Group
Ayannah Griffith, CEO, Black Development Agency
Barrow Cadbury
Barrowmore
Batley Resource Centre
BCT Regenesis
Beatbullying
Ben Hughes, Chief Executive, bassac
Berkshire County Blind Society
Bimmy Rai Chief Executive, Derby Millennium Network
B-inspired
Bishop Doyé Agama, Deputy Moderator, Churches Together in England
Black Futures Group
Black Health Agency
Blagdons Boatyard – Plymouth
Blantyre Credit Union
Bolaji Bank-Anthony, Chief Executive, Black Neighbourhood Renewal and Regeneration Network (BNRRN)
Brent Private Tenants’ Rights Group
British Society for Rheumatology
Brixton Advice Centre
Brunswick Organic Nursery and Craft Workshop
Burngreave New Deal for Communities
Calibre
CARE Rent Scheme
Carnegie UK Trust
Castlemilk Credit Union
CCBS
Andrew Robinson, Director, CCLA
Bernie Morgan, Chief Executive, Community Development Finance Association
Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion
Damon Gibbons, Chief Executive, Centre for Responsible Credit
Chapter 1
Chapter Street
Charitable Futures
Charities Evaluation Services (CES)
Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals
Children North East
Children Today
Children’s Education Safety Foundation
Chorley and South Ribble CVS
Chris Wade, Chief Executive, Action on Market Towns
Christine Moore, Chief Executive, Manchester Credit Union Limited
Churches and Regional Commission Yorkshire and the Humber
CJ Chesterton, Secretary, Bullbrook Community Association
Clifford Rosenthal, President/CEO, National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions
Clinks
CLYCH
Mandy Wilson, Director, Communities and Organisations: Growth and Support (COGS)
Community Foundations Network
Community Transport
Community Transport (National Office)
Community Voluntary Partners, Bolsover
Counsel and Care
Craig Dearden-Phillips MBE – Social Entrepreneur
Creative Support
Crisis
Croydon Appliance Re-use Centre
CV Sector Forum
Cymryd Rhan
Cyrenians
Dame Hilary Blume, Director, Charities Advisory Trust
Dave Hannay, Regional Director, Community North West
David Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive, Hertfordshire Community Foundation (in a personal capacity)
David Orr, Chief Executive, National Housing Federation
David Tyler, Chief Executive, Community Matters
Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive, Directory of Social Change
Development Trusts Association Scotland
Dimensions
Distinctive Floristry
Dominic Murphy, Chief Executive, Creating Excellence
Don Smallwood MBE, Chairman, Preston Road Neighbourhood Development Company
Dori Kirchmair
Dorothy House Hospice
Dot Willens, Links Chesterfield
Dr Doreen Finneron MBE, Executive Director, Faith Based Regeneration Network UK
Dr Liz Richardson, University of Manchester
Dr Maria Saur  Senior Consultant/Social Anthropologist
Dr Rebecca Tunstall, London School of Economics
Dr Campbell Jones, Past Chair, 2008-2010, of the European Business Ethics Network (UK)
Ed Cox, Director, IPPR North
Ed Mayo, Co-operatives UK
Edward Andersson, Deputy Director, Involve
Elisabetta Lapenna, Managing Director, MyBnk
Elzabeth Finn Care
Emma Bryn-Jones, Founder, Zero-Credit
Emmaus
Engage CVS
English Federation of Disability Sport
Escape Artists
Euclid Network
European Strategy Group
Faisel Rahman, Managing Director, Fair Finance
Fair Pensions
Faith Gakanje, National Director, African Women’s Empowerment Forum
Faith in Action
Fesl Reza-Khan, Acting Chair, Community Hub
Financial Inclusion Centre
Flourish International
Forsters PR
Forum 21
Foundation
Frank McGowan, Executive Director, Bad Pony Media Group
Fredericks Foundation
FunderFinder
Gateshead Voluntary Organisations Council
Gaynor Humphreys, London Funders
Gensing and Central St Leonards Forum
Dr Geoff Mulgan, Director Young Foundation
Gerri Bright, Manager, Inspire Nottingham
Give A Brick
Goblin Combe Environment Centre
Gordon Morris, writer and researcher
Great Places
Gregory Cohn, Chair, Co-operatives London
Grove House
Hackney Council for Voluntary Service, HCVS
Halifax Opportunities Trust
Hands On
Hands on Help for Communities
Harbour Place Day Centre
Hastings Trust
HCT Group
Health for All
Heather Savini , Chair, 2 Inter-Faith Forums in the South West
Heeley City Farm
Helen Voce, Chief Executive, Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service
Hilary Willmer, founder of CROP,
Home-Start Hounslow
Hull CVS
Ian Chisnall, Chair, Sussex Central YMCA
ImpACT
InterHealth
Investing for Good
IT4CH
James Franklin, Pixeco
Janice Marks, Head of Agency, Federation for Community Development Learning
Jaz Greer, Director, Cast Trust
Jeannie Bloem, General Manager, New Horizons (Teesside)
Jennifer Williams, University of Bradford
Jeremy Crook OBE, Director, Black Training and Enterprise Group
JET
Jez Hall, Director, Shared Future Community Interest Company
JHC
Jimmy Devlin, Chairman, North West Tenants & Residents Association
Jimmy Robinson, Operations Manager, Wearmouth Community Development Trust
Jo Dean, Manager, Nottingham Community Network
Jo Laverick, Durham Rural Community Council
John Bothamley, Four Acre Trust
John Games, City Church (Great Grimsby & North East Lincolnshire)
Judy Robinson, Chief Executive, Yorkshire & Humber Regional Forum
Karen Chouhan, Director, Equanomics UK
Katherine Duffy, Chair, EAPN (European Anti-Poverty Network) England
KCA
Kensington and Chelsea Social Council
Kent Enterprise Trust
Kevin Curley, Chief Executive, NAVCA
Kevin Sugrue, Chief Executive, RENAISI
Key House
Knowsley Domestic Violence Support Services
Knowsley Housing Trust
Laney Holland, Business Manager, Council for Ethnic Minority Communities Northamptonshire
Lankelly Chase Trust
Larry Angel MBE, Chairman, Woodthorpe Development Trust
Laura Moynahan, Chief Executive, Zest
Learning Through Action Trust
Lesley Rodgers, Director, Dragon Dynamics
Lisa Vernon, Chief Executive, Derbyshire Learning & Development Consortium
Little Red Bus
Local People Lending
London play
Naomi Kingsley, Chief Executive, London Rebuilding Society
London Voluntary Service Council
Lorna Wallace, Manager, Community & Voluntary Partners
Lucy Findlay, RISE
Lynn Ashton, Newent in Bloom
Maeve McGoldrick, Campaigns Co-ordinator, LinksUK
Maggie Jones, Chief Executive, Children England
Marion Jenner, Campaigner
Mark Ebert, Close Brothers PLC PERSONAL CAPACITY
Marketplace Chaplains Europe
Martin Sime Chief Executive SCVO
Matthew Scott, Director, Community Sector Coalition
MCCH
Mental Health Providers Forum
MERCi – Ideas into action for a sustainable future
Merton Voluntary Service Council
Metropolitan Society for the Blind
Michael Davis, Chairman, Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture
Michael Henry, Director, Human Relations Network
Michael Norton OBE, CIVA
Michael Ward, Chair, CLES
Micheal Pyner, Chief Executive, Shoreditch Trust
Middlesbrough Community Network
Middlesbrough Partnership Financial inclusion Sub-Group
Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency
Mike Allott
Miles Litvinoff, Co-ordinator, Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR)
Mind
More Green
NACUW
Naomi Alexander, Director, CREATE Consortium
National Energy Action
National Union of Students
Nautilus Welfare Fund
NAVO
Naya Naqvi, Chief Executive, Thurrock Council for Voluntary Service
Need Not Greed
Neil Jameson, Director, London Citizens
Neil McInroy, Chief Executive, Centre for Local Economic Strategies
New Prospects
New Start
Newton Community Association
Niall Cooper, National Co-ordinator, Church Action on Poverty
Nigel Kershaw OBE, CEO Big Issue Invest
North Moor Trust
North West Network
North Yorkshire Learning Consortium
Nula Conlan
One North West
Open Sight
Our Future Planet
Over The Wall
Pat Conaty, Research Fellow, New Economics Foundation
Paul Kelly, Secretary, Hastings and St. Leonards Chess Club
Perennial
Peter Holbrook, Chief Executive, Social Enterprise Coalition
Phil Teece, Programme Manager, Participatory Budgeting Unit
Prakash Panchal, Chief Executive, Leicestershire Ethnic Minority Partnership
Preacher Prince, Co-ordinator, Zimbabwe Community Network UK
Preston Community Network
Preston Road Community Association
Prime Initiative
Professor Anne Power, London School of Economics
Professor Marilyn Taylor, University of the West of England
Professor Peter Case, University of the West of England
Professor Simon Lilley, Head of the School of Management, University of Leicester
Professor Stefano Harney, Chair, European Business Ethics Network (UK)
Prophet Scotland
Quaker Social Action
Radhia Tarafder, Bradford CVS
Red Ochre
Rev. Canon Peter Challen, Chair, Christian Council for Monetary Justice
Revd. Paul Nicholson, CEO, Z2K
Rhyl Youth Action Group
Rich Regeneration
Richard Jordon, Church and Society Officer, Derby Diocese
Rita Chadha, Director, Refugee and Migrant Forum of East London
RNIB
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing
Roger Morton, Campaigner
Royal Society for Public Health
Rural Action Derbyshire 
Sally Leigh, Head of Project Development, Housing Justice
Sally Pickering, Chief Executive, Gloucestershire Association for Voluntary and Community Action
Sally Yeoman, Chief Executive, St Helens District CVS
Sandra Turner, Executive Director, Third Sector European Network
Sarah Ruiz, Director, Newham Voluntary Sector Consortium
Save the Family
School-Home Support
Seafarers UK
Sean Dennis, Managing Director, Capitalise Business Support
Sedburgh Book Town
See Ability
Shamsher Chohan, Director, Communities Inc
Shelagh Prosser, Equalities & Diversity Consultant
Shelter Housing Aid and Research Project
Simon Davidson, Director, One Voice Network
Simon Skidmore, Chief Executive, St. Helens Community Empowerment Network
Snap Enterprise
Social Enterprise Europe Ltd
Social Enterprise Support Centre
Social Enterprise Works
Social Firms UK
Solace Womens Aid
Somerset Youth Volunteering Network 
South Coast Moneyline
South Craven Community Action
South Yorkshire Housing Association
Southey and Owlerton Area Regeneration
Spurgeons
St Anne’s Community Services
St John Ambulance in South and West Yorkshire
St Vincent de Paul Society
staa-allotments
Stephen Bubb, Chief Executive, ACEVO
Stephen Kearney, Chief Executive, Regenerate
Steve Wyler, Chief Executive, Development Trusts Association
Stone King Sewell Solicitors
STRIDE
Sue Guard, Chief Executive, Penwith Community Development Trust 
Sue Isherwood, Director, C3 Creative Consultancy
Sunny Hundal, editor Liberal Conspiracy
Surrey Association for Visual Impairment
Surrey Care Trust
Susanne Rauprich, Chief Executive, National Council for Voluntary Youth Services
Susie Wright, s-t-m
Sussex Central YMCA
Sustainable Brampton
Tenant Participatory Advisory Service Cymru
Terry Hephrun, Chief Officer, Burnley Pendle & Rossendale CVS
The Camden Society
The Chaseley Trust
the connectives
The Diocese of Worcester
The Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR)
The Foyer Federation
The LankellyChase Foundation
The Lantern Project
The Oastler Centre for Faith in Economic Life
The Right Revd Dr John Saxbee, Bishop of Lincoln
Theatro Technis
Time to Let
Titus Alexander, Head of Learning & Campaigning, Novas Scarman Group
Toby Blume, Chief Executive, Urban Forum
Tony Hawkhead, Groundwork
Tower Hamlets Co-operative Development Agency
Town and Country Housing
Trust Thamesmead
Turn2Us
Tyne North Training
Uday Thakkar
Unite the Union
United Response
Unlimited Potential
V2C
Vivienne Hayes, Chief Executive, Women’s Resource Centre
Voluntary Action Barnsley
Voluntary Action Elmbridge
Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire
Voluntary Action Rotherham
Voluntary Action Sheffield
Voluntary Action Wakefield District
Voluntary Action Westminster
Volunteer Association Lewisham
Walterton and Elgin Community Homes
Walworth Garden Farm
WCAVA
Wendy Stephenson, Chief Executive, Voscur
Wessex Community Action
Wester Hailes Fiscal Factor (Financial Inclusion and Social Capital)
William Clemmey, Chief Executive, Warwickshire Association of Youth Clubs
Wirral CVS
Wirral Holistic Care Services
Wirral Information Resource for Equality and Disability
Wolseley Trust
Workers’ Educational Association
YMCA Watford
Yorkshire Wiildlife Trust
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