A guide to our grants

There are a few ways, and the process is fairly simple:

• First, get in touch by phone, live chat or by filling out an enquiry form
• We’ll talk things through on a call, and if you’re eligible, we’ll send you an application form to fill out
• We’ll ask for a payslip, pension statement, or HMRC evidence to verify your bank employment, along with proof of income, housing costs, Council Tax/Rates and water rates
• We’ll assess your situation and may then provide financial support or other helpful resources

Our grants average at just under £1,000, but every application is unique. If you’re eligible, the grant you receive will reflect your specific needs.

Dependants are those in your family who rely on you financially. In terms of our support, that means:

• Spouses or partners who are married, in civil partnerships or living together
• Children, including adopted children, under 18
• Adult dependent children over 18 with long-term physical, mental, or learning difficulties, or who are completing post 18 study options including retakes (A Level, AS Level or BTEC), higher technical skills courses or an undergraduate degree course
• Bereaved partners or spouses of bank workers, where the individual is receiving their late partner or spouse’s bank pension
• Divorced couples, where individuals are divorced from the ‘banking colleague’ and receiving their bank pension

First, you’ll need proof of banking employment. Choose one from:

• A Payslip, P60 or P45
• An email from your current bank email address
• A permanent or fixed-term contract showing the name of your banking employer
• A pension statement or letter
• In extreme cases, for example if you can’t provide proof, you can complete an HMRC document to request confirmation of your employment history. We can normally process the grant whilst waiting for that letter

Next up is proof of income. We’ll need one or a combination of:

• A recent bank statement
• Payslips
• A pension statement
• Benefits confirmation
• Business accounts if you’re self-employed

Finally, proof of household-related outgoings:

• A water bill
• Rent or mortgage statement
• Council Tax or Rates bill

If your grant is for something specific, we’ll also need to see the bill or invoice outlining your liability, or two quotes outlining the likely cost.

If the grant is for equipment, we’ll need medical confirmation that it’s appropriate for your condition. We may be able to help you access an occupational therapist assessment if needed.

If you’re unsure about any of the above, let’s figure it out together.

No, each application is unique and those with higher salaries may also need our help. We look at outgoings as well as income, so someone may have a higher income but if they have a significant expenditure they may still be eligible for support.

Yes, as long as you’re eligible.

No, everything’s confidential. We’ll never share your personal information with your employer.

No, we don’t carry out credit or reference checks during applications.

Processing takes around three weeks after submitting your application and evidence. Payments for goods or services are made directly to the provider once we receive an invoice. Financial assistance payments are issued directly to you via BACS, referenced as ‘BWC-Payment’ or ‘BBF-Payment’.

We’ll give you a call to let you know if it’s been approved, confirming your bank details for payment. We’ll also send you an email or letter with all of the grant details.

We’ll explore different options together to find the most suitable solution. We may help you set up your own bank account, pay your grant directly if possible, or provide vouchers depending on what needs to be purchased. We may also explore a trusted contact who could receive the payment on your behalf.

No, you don’t have to be a UK national, but you do need to be resident in and have worked for a bank in the UK.

Don’t worry, your length of service continues during periods of paid or unpaid leave.

We take great care and time reviewing applications, so grant decisions are final. If you’re unhappy, give us a call or read through our complaints policy.

Our grants are designed to support one-off financial events, but people’s situations can change. If you’re facing difficulty again, please reach out. We’ll take any previous grants into consideration, but we may still be able to help.

Yes, we can help with redundancy as long as you’re eligible. We’ll just need to discuss how redundancy payments can be used to improve your financial situation.

Yes, grants may have an impact on your benefits. As each application is unique, we’re unable to provide specific guidance. For the latest information, visit GOV.UK.

Yes, we can provide support through an interpreter service like Word360.