northern_david, Author at Northern Community Bank

Northern Community Bank Celebrates Official Opening of Transformational Burnley Branch

July 15, 2026 8:43 am Leave a Comment

Northern Community Bank officially celebrated the opening of its transformed £2.5 million Burnley branch by welcoming more than 60 guests for an evening recognising the power of community banking, partnership and investment in the future.

Northern Community Bank team stood outside branch at opening event

Councillors, neighbouring credit unions, contractors who helped deliver the project, volunteers, community partners and staff gathered at the new Manchester Road branch to celebrate an important milestone in the organisation’s 44-year history.

Guests also heard congratulatory speeches from Burnley Council Chief Executive Lukman Patel and Burnley MP Oliver Ryan.

The larger, modern branch has been designed to make managing money easier and more accessible for everyone, whether account holders choose to use the Northern Community Bank App, Online Account, telephone banking or visit the branch in person. Alongside a welcoming banking hub, the three-storey building includes dedicated spaces for collaborating with community partners, a purpose-built training room and modern working environments that support both staff and account holders.

Image showing Northern Community Bank Manchester Road Counter

Guests, many of whom had played a key role in transforming the former Wetherspoons building, were invited to enjoy guided tours before hearing from a number of speakers who reflected on both the journey to create the branch and Northern Community Bank’s vision for the future.

Burnley Council Chief Executive Lukman Patel welcomed Northern Community Bank to its new home and praised the investment in Burnley town centre.

“It is fantastic to see such a significant investment in the heart of Burnley. The quality of the workmanship and attention to detail throughout the building is exceptional and complements the wider public sector investment taking place across our Town Centre. I have been incredibly impressed by Kathryn’s leadership and the positive culture she has created at Northern Community Bank. We are delighted to welcome our new neighbours and wish Kathryn and her team continued success.”

Burnley Borough Council CEO Lukman Patel addressing guest at branch opening event

Burnley MP Oliver Ryan spoke passionately about the importance of accessible, ethical finance and the positive impact the new branch will have.

“I have been fortunate to visit this branch three times during the renovation. Looking around this welcoming branch, the vision described by CEO Kathryn and her team has been delivered and will benefit people in the community.”

Reflecting on the organisation’s remarkable journey, Northern Community Bank President Gerard Spain reminded guests that the organisation began in 1982 when just 15 savers contributed a combined £75 to establish the credit union. For its first 15 years, it operated entirely through volunteers from a church hall, with no permanent premises, telephone or internet connection.

He also highlighted the significant progress made in recent years. Since 2021, assets have increased from £15 million to £28 million, savings have grown from £13 million to £21 million and the number of account holders has risen from 12,000 to more than 17,500.

“This is a very proud moment for us all and one which ties in perfectly with the huge rebranding project we have undertaken. It’s been a very interesting two years, but today proves that all of the hard work has been worth it.

“This is a truly remarkable story which we should all be extremely proud of, and a very good reason why we were able to pay for this fantastic development using our own funds, without requiring any external funding.”

“This is a story for all our community, the Staff, Board and account holders. This building typifies where we have come from and what we have achieved”

Northern Community Bank Chief Executive Kathryn Fogg began the evening by thanking everyone who had contributed to bringing the project to life, including contractors, volunteers, staff and community partners.

Kathryn highlighted that creating a better working environment for staff was important in delivering excellent service

“You need a comfortable, safe environment for your staff team to work, to give the best service that they can give to our account holders.”

Although Northern Community Bank has grown significantly over the past four decades, Kathryn reminded guests that the organisation’s values remain unchanged.

“We started in humble surroundings and we’ve got this wonderful new building now. But inside, we’ve not changed. We’re still the same ethical organisation. We’re a financial cooperative. Our account holders are at our heart. They own Northern Community Bank, and everything we do is for them.

Our Privacy Notice Have Been Updated

June 22, 2026 2:04 pm Leave a Comment

At Northern Community Bank, we like to keep things clear, fair and easy to understand. That’s why we’ve recently updated our Privacy Notice to make sure that it is up to date.

We’ve made two specific updates, which are available in detail on the PDF found here:

Your Rights section – Change required due by Data (Use and Access) Bill
How to Make a Complaint section – Change required due by Data (Use and Access) Bill that complaints must be made to Northern Community Bank, then if you’re not satisfied to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

You can read the updated Privacy Notice in full here:

Manchester Road Branch Now Open

June 14, 2026 6:33 pm Leave a Comment

Today marks a major milestone for Northern Community Bank as we officially open the doors to our brand-new branch at 31–39 Manchester Road, Burnley.

This morning, we welcomed our first account holders into a purpose-built space designed to better serve our communities across Lancashire and Cumbria.

This new branch represents much more than a change of address. It reflects how far Northern Community Bank has come since being founded in 1982 by 15 savers, whose first collection totalled just £75 and operated from a room beneath the stairs at St George’s Church in Nelson.

From those modest beginnings, Northern Community Bank has grown into a trusted financial partner for communities across the region. The opening of our Manchester Road branch is a testament to the loyalty of our account holders and the dedication of generations of staff, volunteers and Board members.

The larger, modern branch has been designed to provide a better experience for everyone who uses our services, whether through our App, Online Account, telephone service or in person.

What should account holders expect in the new Burnley branch:

More private spaces for conversations about your accounts
iPads to support digital banking access
Improved accessibility throughout the branch
Free Wi-Fi for account holders
Areas we can work with community partners to support more people

Supporting the Next Generation of Savers

One of the most exciting features of the new branch is our dedicated Little Savers Corner.

Created to encourage children to learn about money and develop healthy saving habits from an early age, the space also provides a welcoming area for young visitors while parents and guardians speak with our team.

Little Savers Corner new Northern Community Bank offices on Manchester Road, Burnley. Photo: Kelvin Lister-Stuttard

This is an exciting new chapter in Northern Community Bank’s 44-year history.

Today, we are entrusted with more than £21 million in savings from people across the communities we serve and, throughout our history, we have helped local people access more than £200 million in affordable loans.

Our goal remains the same: to make money easier for everyone.

From our new Manchester Road branch, we will continue helping people build financial resilience, develop savings habits and manage their money with confidence across Lancashire and Cumbria.

Whether you’re already an account holder or would like to learn more about joining Northern Community Bank, we’d love to welcome you. If you’re in the area, pop in, meet the team and say hello.

A New Branch in Your Pocket

11:56 am Leave a Comment

We’re launching a refreshed version of the Northern Community Bank App and opening our new Burnley branch on Manchester Road on Monday 15th June.

Think of it as two new ways to manage your money with us: a new branch in your pocket and a new branch account holders can visit in person.

While our new Burnley branch gives account holders a larger, modern space to visit, our updated App is designed to make managing your money easier wherever you are.

With a fresh new look that reflects the Northern Community Bank brand, the App has been redesigned to help you find what you need more quickly and complete everyday tasks with less effort.

Graphic showing new Northern Community Bank App home screen

You’ll be able to:

View account balances more clearly
Find important features more easily, including your message inbox and contact information
Apply for a loan through the App
Make withdrawals from eligible savings accounts
View and update your personal details

Graphic showing new features on Northern Community Bank App

We’ve listened to your feedback to introduced some exciting new features, including:

Transfers between your Northern Community Bank accounts
Savings goals to help you stay on track
Request statements
A referral QR code to make it easier to introduce friends and family to Northern Community Bank

Whether you prefer to manage your account through the App, to visit us in person or speak with our team over the phone, we’re continuing to invest in the services that matter most to our account holders.

To access the new version, simply accept the update on your App. Once updated, you’ll be able to log in and start exploring the new features straight away. Don’t have the app downloaded – just click here to download for free

We’re not expecting any disruption during the update, and services should continue as normal.

We hope you enjoy using the new App and look forward to sharing this next step in our journey with you.

Our Terms & Conditions Have Been Updated

March 4, 2026 1:55 pm Leave a Comment

At Northern Community Bank, we like to keep things clear, fair and easy to understand. That’s why we’ve recently updated our Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) to make sure they’re up to date, in line with our rebrand, and written in a way that’s straightforward for everyone.

We review our T&Cs from time to time to reflect changes in the services we offer and to make them as clear as possible for our account holders. This latest update includes:

Simpler language – we’ve cut down jargon and made the wording easier to follow.
A fresh look – the layout and design have been refreshed, making them easier to read.
Small wording changes – such as replacing longer sentences with shorter, clearer ones.

We’ve also made some specific updates, which are available in detail on the PDF found here.

Point 2 – Added legal section for good practice
Point 4.2 – Updated for clarity
Point 4.4 – Updated for clarity
Point 4.6 – Updated to reflect increase in Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection increase
Point 4.8 – Updated for clarity
Point 5.1 – Updated for simpler language
Point 5.4 – Updated for clarity
Point 5.8 – Updated for clarity
Point 5.9 – Added to help account holders find historical share of the profit rates
Point 6.4 – Updated for clarity
Point 7.1 – Updated for simpler language
Point 8.1 – Added for clarity
Point 8.2 – Updated for clarity
Point 8.4 – Updated for clarity
Point 8.6 – Updated for clarity
Point 8.7 – Updated inline with improvements to the Young Savers account
Point 8.8 – Updated inline with increase to maximum amount allowed in Fixed Term Savings
Point 8.9 – Added to help account holders find historical Northern Saver rates
Point 8.9 – Final bullet added for clarity on regulatory criteria on interest-bearing savings from Credit Unions Act 1979
Point 9.2 – Updated for clarity
Point 9.3 – Updated for clarity
Point 11.2 – Added to support account holders locate statements on closed accounts
Points 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4 – Clarity on transactions and Payments
Point 13.1 – Updated to reflect increase in Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection increase
Point 17.1 – Updated for clarity
Point 20 – Added for the introduction of the Bereavement Fund
Point 21.2 – Updated for clarity
Point 22.1 – Updated for clarity
Point 23.3 – Tables updated to highlight the decreasing of restrictions on Online/App withdrawals
Point 23 – Added due to partnership with OnePay
Point 25.1 – Clarity on loan repayment method options
Point 26.1 – Added to clarify process when arranging transfer of Child Benefit for Family Loan
Point 26.1 – Point removed as applicable to all loan repayments
Point 27.4 – Added to clarify Payroll Plus Loan application eligibility
Point 35.3 – Removed due to repetition with Point 36
Point 35.4 – Clarification on consequences of loan payment issues
Point 36 – Merged points 35.3 and 36 for clarity

You can read the updated Terms and Conditions in full here:

We’re committed to making sure our account holders know exactly where they stand, without having to wade through complicated language. This is just one of the ways we’re making money easier for everyone.

A week in the life of – The Development Officer

February 11, 2026 3:20 pm Leave a Comment

We followed Northern Community Bank’s Development Officer, Lee, for a week to find out how the community bank works with organisations across the region to build a stronger community.

Monday

Lee started the week with a regular appearance at Down Town, Burnley, who offer a variety of services for the community, providing free information, support and guidance across Burnley and Padiham

“I’ve always been impressed by the team here, who are genuine, caring and provide a relaxed and helping environment for all walks of life.”

In the evening Lee was invited as a guest speaker for the Rotary Club of Burnley and Pendleside. The Rotary club is over 40 years old and operates as a service organisation that fundraises to support local charities and community projects including the well-established Pendle Pub Walk

“I had the opportunity to talk about how Northern Community Bank supports all members of the community, discussed the synergy where both organisations operate purely to benefit other people and finished with a Q & A. I look forward to supporting their events in the future.”

Tuesday

The morning started with an invitation to speak to more than 50 local residents at Trawden Community Centre’s Friendship Group & Friendship Café

“A great crowd, bursting with knowledge and experience – where I highlighted how we could help not just the attendees in the room – but friends and family of all ages”

In the afternoon Lee reached out to community centres across Cumbria and Lancashire which he had visited in the past 12 months to discuss an exciting project for 2026

“It was great to find out about the ways the volunteer-run community centres are a life-line to many in the community, although we’re not ready to announce the project just yet -I cannot wait for us to help them support more people in 2026”

Wednesday

A busy day ahead. Invited to the Advocacy Focus team meeting at their branch in Burnley

“It was interesting to hear how the team at Advocacy Focus provided independent statutory advocacy, largely for people in crisis or for people who felt that their voice wasn’t being heard. Their ethos aligns with ours at Northern Community Bank; they’re driven to make a positive impact on the lives of people in the community. We talked about signposting and co-promoting”

After lunch Lee took the opportunity to host a stand at the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce’s renowned Rush Hour networking event, held at the Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, to promote the benefits of Northern Community Bank’s free Payroll Plus scheme, designed to help employees of companies we partner with manage their money better

“It was a well-attended event, where I engaged with business leaders from across the region”

Development Officer Lee Chamber of Trade Rush House 2026

We’ve worked with several employers for many years, with new organisations seeing the value in supporting their employees through our accounts and financial education.

Thursday

In the morning Lee visited the Whitehaven Family Hub, Cumbria, to see Family Hub Team manager, Jess Stamper. Family Hubs provide a single place to go for face-to-face support and information. Services will vary for children from 0-19 years old, but at the heart of all family hubs are services for families with 0–2-year-olds, which give babies a great start in life

“Jess is responsible for five of the Hubs in Cumberland and we spoke about a variety of ways to work together to help people in the community including organising family funday events during the summer holidays and a regular monthly drop-in session incorporating other external partners.”

In the afternoon Lee visited St. Bridgets, Bransty, Moresby, St. James and Jericho Primary schools to deliver the Money Suitcases Financial Education project. The money suitcase is red (budget case!) and contains an age-appropriate book all about financial education, written by TV’s Dragon’s Den star, Deborah Meaden, a cuddly toy squirrel called Sammy (as we all need to squirrel pennies away!), an easy to understand explanation sheet, a book for the children to record what they have learnt and some delicious chocolate coins! The concept has been applauded as it is a great way of helping young people understand money, budgeting and wants and needs.

Friday

Visited another five Primary schools; Hesingham, Valley, St.Mary’s, Monkwray and St.Begh’s where the teachers explained that many pupils had little knowledge or understanding of money and the Suitcase project should help fill a gap in their financial education.

Overall, a productive and varied week in the world of a Development Officer and one that demonstrates our commitment to all areas of the community that Northern Community Bank serves.

Our Privacy Notice Have Been Updated

January 30, 2026 1:59 pm Leave a Comment

At Northern Community Bank, we like to keep things clear, fair and easy to understand. That’s why we’ve recently updated our Privacy Notice to make sure that it is up to date.

We’ve also made some specific updates, which are available in detail on the PDF found here:

Who Are We section – Added for good practice
The Personal Data We Collect section – Added to detail specific information collect
Lawful Basis for Processing section – Added to detail of purpose and lawful basis to process
Where We Obtain Personal Information section – Expanded list of places we obtain personal information from
Transferring Information Outside the UK section – removed unnecessary example
Retaining Your Information section – table added to detail type of data, retention period and reason for retaining information
Your Rights section -clarification on right to erase

You can read the updated Privacy Notice in full here:

The Bereavement Fund for your savings and loan

January 21, 2026 12:18 pm Leave a Comment

What would happen to your savings and loan if you die?

Not only does choosing to borrow and save with Northern Community Bank support your local communities, it also means your loved ones are supported should you die, through our Bereavement Fund on both savings accounts and loans at Northern Community Bank.

This is a huge benefit for our account holders and their families as this support is not something offered widely by other financial institutions, especially at no extra cost.

As an ethical lender the purpose of offering this support is because it enables a better financial future for our account holder’s families. As at a tough time, a lump sum of money can help minimise the financial impact that your death could have on your loved ones.

What will happen to my savings?

Through the Bereavement Fund, savings may be doubled up to a maximum of £5,000 across Northern Community Bank savings accounts, where funds were deposited between birth and the age of 65, and 25% for funds deposited between the ages of 65 and 80.

With the introduction of the Bereavement Fund, additional support is provided for account holders with savings balance below £250, where savings are deposited up to the age of 65, the balance may be topped up to £500. The Bereavement Fund payment will be calculated from eligible saving account balances, held 6 months prior to death.

Meaning in the event of your death your savings balance and an additional Bereavement Fund payment up to £5,000 will be paid to the person who is named as beneficiary of your account. Any additional money above the £5,000 threshold will form part of your estate.

It’s extremely important your beneficiary details are kept up to date, the best way to do this is by emailing us at hello@northerncb.uk or by messaging us on our app.

This means you are not only saving for your own future, but also for that of your family. With the added benefit of savings support through the Bereavement Fund, your nest egg could help towards funeral costs or could be left as a legacy for your loved ones in the event of your death. To open a Northern Community Bank savings account today – Click here.

What will happen to my loan?

If you were to die before your Northern Community Bank loan is repaid, the Bereavement Fund may also be used to repay an outstanding loan balance.

Meaning where account holders meet the Bereavement Fund’s eligibility criteria, the full loan balance will be repaid, so that it is not passed on to your loved ones.

Needless to say it will not take away the pain but it will certainly help reduce the potential financial strain of bereavement. This benefit is included at no extra cost to you as part of the Community Bank loan arrangement, so just for once, peace of mind does not cost the earth; it is just another benefit of being a Northern Community Bank account holder and choosing to borrow responsibly. If you would like to apply for a Northern Community Bank loan today – Click here.

Examples where account holders meet the Bereavement Fund’s eligibility criteria

Mrs A, age 60 is a Northern Community Bank account holder. 6 months prior to her death, she had £20 in savings, and no loan. Mrs A’s beneficiary may receive £500, the minimum pay out amount.
Mr B, age 64 is a Northern Community Bank account holder. 6 months prior to his death, he had £800 in savings and a £3,000 loan. Mr B’s beneficiary may receive £1,600 (£800 savings, doubled) and the Bereavement Fund may also repay the loan.
Mr C, age 64 is a Northern Community Bank account holder. 6 months prior to his death, he had £20,000 in savings and a £6,000 loan. Mr C’s beneficiary may receive £5,000; the £20,000 savings will be part of Mr C’s estate and The Bereavement Fund may also repay the loan.
Mr D, age 75 is a Northern Community Bank account holder. 6 months prior to his death, he had £20,000 in savings deposited before the age of 65 and a £6,000 loan. Mr D’s beneficiary may receive £5,000; the £20,000 savings will be part of Mr D’s estate and The Bereavement Fund may also repay the loan.

More examples can be found in the Terms & Conditions.

Northern Community Bank remains committed to supporting its account holders and their families during difficult times. The Bereavement Fund is a discretionary fund and is not an insurance product. Of course, this excellent support is subject to terms and conditions which can be found here. If you do require any additional information about the Bereavement Fund please contact a member of staff.

Full terms & conditions here

It’s extremely important your beneficiary details are kept up to date, the best way to do this is by emailing us at hello@northerncb.uk or by messaging us on our app.

Remembering Debbie Maher

December 18, 2025 9:12 pm Leave a Comment

With great sadness we say goodbye to founder member, former Board member, long-term colleague and friend.

All the team at Northern Community Bank are very sad to hear of the passing of Debbie Maher. On April 23rd 1982, Debbie was part of a Saver Group which launched, and would eventually become Northern Community Bank, with just 15 account holders, where the first collection produced a total of £75 in savings.

Since that day Debbie has been a constant, dedicated and loyal part of our development. Firstly as a volunteer Board Member and Vice-Treasurer at St John Southworth Church, on Vaughan Street in Nelson and then at the opening of our first town centre collection point at Christ Church in 2004. She became a member of our staff team in 2009 when we opened the first branch we purchased on Nelson’s Manchester Road.

Debbie will be fondly remembered by account holders at the Shackleton Hall branch in Colne, which she managed as we grew into the fabric of the Colne community. Less known, behind the scenes Debbie and her team managed the first online account area we introduced to account holders in 2016.

Throughout every stage of our growth, Debbie played an integral role, right up to the present‑day Northern Community Bank, supporting communities across Lancashire and Cumbria.

Whether you visited one of our branches or managed your account from afar, Debbie’s influence will have had a positive impact on your experience with us.

As part of the team, Debbie’s knowledge and experience was invaluable but more than a colleague, Debbie was a friend who will be deeply and sincerely missed.

Good news: your money’s now FSCS-protected up to £120,000

December 10, 2025 11:49 pm Leave a Comment

On the 1^st December 2025, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme’s (FSCS) protection limit for eligible cash deposits with UK banks, building societies, community banks and credit unions increased from £85,000 to £120,000. This means your cash deposits are now protected up to the value of £120,000 with Northern Community Bank.

FSCS protection applies to cash deposits you hold with a UK-authorised financial firm and it’s a limit that applies per person, per firm. So, if you have cash deposits in multiple accounts with the same firm, you will be protected up to £120,000 across those accounts if that firm were to fail.

There’s nothing you need to do – the limit has automatically been updated for you.

You can learn more about the FSCS on this dedicated page.

Account limit Increases

Following the FSCS protection limit increase, Northern Community Bank has also increased the total amount of combined cash you can hold across the following accounts from £85,000 to £120,000:

Long term savings
Fixed Term Savings earning up to 4.5% AER
Northern Saver 2.78% AER (variable)
Instant Access
Christmas Savings
Bill Planning
Dream Saver
Young Saver
Save the Change

It’s a great reason to consider moving more of your savings to Northern Community Bank, to make the most of our savings accounts and competitive interest rates.

Check out the different savings accounts we offer here

There has been no change to the interest rate you are currently earning with your Northern Community Bank savings accounts.

We’re updating our T&Cs

To reflect the new FSCS limit, we’re updating our terms and conditions. You can view them anytime on our website here. If you have a question about the FSCS protection you can speak to our team through the Online Account Area and secure App chat or email hello@northerncb.uk or telephone 01282 691 333.

Northern Community Bank is here!

July 24, 2025 8:13 am Leave a Comment

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.

Staff outside the new Northern Community Bank in Colne

Savvy saving tips

March 3, 2025 3:37 pm Leave a Comment

For four decades Northern Community Bank has been dedicated to helping account holders create better saving habits. So much so that Pennine is now trusted with over £16.5m of account holders money.

If you are someone who would like to build some extra savings here are 10 money saving tips that will help you get started.

Budget– decide on a manageable saving amount through budgeting your outgoings in relation to your income.
Set a target – in mind of the amount of total money you would like to save in a certain timeframe and its purpose. Having this in mind can really help you to be consistent with your savings habits. You can use the free savings calculator on our website here .
Prioritise your savings account – As soon as you receive your income for the week/ month, set aside your manageable savings amount from your usual current account. This can be done automatically through a standing order or manually.
Think before you buy – we understand that it can be difficult not to buy unneeded items once payday hits. Therefore we recommend before each purchase waiting at least 24 hours before buying. This can help you really think about if you need this item or not.
Watch your bank balance – keeping a close eye on your bank account can help you become more aware of your finances. Better yet identifying your largest regular outgoings can help you cut back on your spending in this areas.
Rehome unwanted items – Take use of the extra time at home to sort through your cupboards and sell items online that you no longer have a use for.
Fakeaways – Tackle recreating your favourite takeaways at home. It will likely be not only cheaper but healthier too.
Upcycle existing furniture before buying new – This could save you hundreds of pounds when redecorating. There’s lots of free online resources that will show you how too.
Save what you would usually spend – each time you don’t follow your usual spending habits transfer this money into a savings account e.g. if you would usually save £50 on a family takeaway at the weekend and only spend £20 on a homemade alternative put £30 into your savings account.
Lastly, reward yourself – each time you hit a significant figure with your savings treat yourself to something you really want. Saving can be hard and sometimes restrictive, allowing yourself a reward for your efforts is likely to encourage you to keep going.

We hope these saving tips will help you recognise where you can improve on your saving habits and enable you to build a healthy saving pot that you can fall back on it you need to. Why not put these tips in to action today and build a better financial future for tomorrow.

If you are looking for a savings account then Northern Community Bank have a range of different accounts designed for all our account holder’s needs such as a long term saving account, instant access savings, a Christmas savings account and a young saver account for your little ones. If you do choose to save with us you will also be helping people within your local community too! As while the money you save is safe within your account (protected by the FSCS up to £120,000) it allows us to issue loans at affordable rates.

If you wish to learn more about which free account is the best for you, visit our website or call our knowledgeable team on 01282 691333.

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£500 Family Loan

£300 Starter Loan

£750 Payroll Loan

Holiday Loans

Home Improvement Loan

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