Bank account availability for voluntary organisations
NICVA has produced an updated comparison table of some of the main current accounts available to voluntary organisations in N.Ireland in response to issues that some organisations have experienced with opening or maintaining a bank account. Updated 6 August 2025.
When an organisation needs to open a bank account they quite often look to see what’s available to them on their local high street. With banks closing more branches on the high street, we may need to think differently about our organisation’s banking needs and also look to what is available online.
For example, you will see from the attached overview of bank account availability that the Co-operative Bank which doesn’t have any branches in N.Ireland offers a special community account which can be opened online and set up within 10 business days. You can then use the Post Office to deposit cash and cheques. Most other banks, whether or not they have a presence on the high street, will allow their customers to use the Post Office for the same, however some may charge.
You will see from the attached resource that some banks no longer offer a special account for charities and not for profit organisations while other banks do have a special offering but charge a monthly fee for it and or other fees. Other banks have a special offering, but it is only available if one of the officials is a personal or business customer of the bank.
While some people would prefer to open a bank account with a bank on the high street as they believe that they will be dealing with people in the maintenance of their account, the reality however may be quite different as the bank mandate may be required to be updated online. Some banks would then require you to call a central number for help with your account rather than your local branch personnel being able to help you. Other banks may allow you to update the bank mandate in branch, so you will need to check with the bank.
Please note that the attached comparison table is not an exhaustive list of the bank accounts available to organisations but is an overview of some of the main accounts currently available.
UK Finance has also recently launched its voluntary organisation banking guide which includes a glossary of terms used by the banks and an account finder, however it doesn't include a comparison table or the wait time to open an account.
For more information on the work that NICVA has been doing with regard to issues with bank accounts please see Charity bank account challenges update | NICVA
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