Today marks a brand new chapter and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you.
We’re proud to announce that we’re now officially Northern Community Bank.
It’s more than just a name change it’s a reflection of who we’ve become and the communities we’re here to serve.
Over the years, we’ve grown beyond the ‘Pennine’ patch, welcoming thousands of account holders from across Lancashire and Cumbria from Preston to Penrith, Pendle to Lancaster. So, it felt like the right time to choose a name that speaks for all of us, wherever in the North you call home.
“We are excited to introduce Northern Community Bank. After we expanded our services across Lancashire and into Cumbria, we understood we needed to be more inclusive to all the communities we serve. We look forward to welcoming more account holders from across the North with the same friendly service we have provided since 1982.”
— Kathryn Fogg, CEO
We’ve also stepped away from using ‘credit union’ in our name. Why? Because we want to make things as simple and clear as possible. We never want anyone to feel unsure about what we offer or who we’re here for – we’re here for everyone.
The name may be new, but the heart of who we are hasn’t changed one bit.
We started as Nelson Community Credit Union more than 40 years ago with one mission, to help people take control of their money. That’s still what drives us, every single day.
“We’ve been on an amazing growth journey to serve 17,000 people across the North. To be trusted to look after £21 million in assets on behalf of the community is brilliant. Last year we welcomed 1,800 new account holders, with 97% telling us they were happy with the service the Northern Community Bank chapter of our story will continue to put people at the heart of everything we do and help even more people.”
— Gerard Spain, President
And there’s more to come. We’re already working on new ways to help you save, borrow and manage your money more easily. Because we’re not just a community bank in name — we’re built around what matters to you.
No hidden fees. No complicated processes. Just simple, fair financial services that put people first.
At the launch of the new brand, Chief Operating Officer Tia Warbrick outlined where we’re heading in 2025 with a strong focus on helping more people grow their savings. Recent figures show there’s an estimated £280 billion sitting in UK accounts earning no interest, and we believe communities across the North deserve better. That’s why we’ll continue improving our services to help make every pound work harder.
“We will continue to improve the services for the community, whilst aiming to repeat the £1.1m share of profits we returned to account holders in 2025. We have released a competitive 4.5% 1 year Fixed Term account and new interest-bearing savings account to encourage regular saving, concentrated effort into young savers, whilst continuing to improve the ‘Money Matters’ education suite and made it easier to access affordable lending. Our purpose is to make managing money easier for everyone.”
— Tia Warbrick, Chief Operating Officer
That’s already happening. In our 2025 survey, 98% of account holders said it was easy to manage their money using our app, online account area, telephone banking or in-branch services. But we’re not stopping there, we’re committed to growing the support we offer across the North.
Because money should work for everyone – not just the few.
“Our mission has always been to put people first. As Northern Community Bank, we’re doubling down on that promise – making community banking straightforward, fair, and tailored to each individual’s needs. This name change is about breaking down barriers and opening doors for everyone in our community.”
— Kathryn Fogg, CEO
You don’t need to do anything, your account stays exactly the same, and we’ll continue delivering the high level of service you know and trust.
We’re still owned by you, still not-for-profit, and still here to make managing money simpler, fairer, and more accessible for our communities.
Welcome to Northern Community Bank – we’re just getting started.
