Your Questions Answered, Step-by-Step

The Northen Community Bank app is now available to download from your app store.

There are lots of great new features to make it easier for you to manage your account, including 24/7 withdrawals, account statements and a loan calculator.

Once you have downloaded the app, you will need to activate your account before you can login.

No more waiting for the post.

You can now download your statements anytime you need them, directly from the online Account Area. It’s quicker, greener and always at your fingertips.

We are always looking for ways to make managing your account as easy as possible.

Many members prefer to talk to us via the secure chat function on the app as it’s quick and easy.
Here’s a guide to show you how to send a a message to us, in 3 simple steps.

Download PDF 

The Northern Community Bank Family Loan and Savings Scheme is here to help with family expenses. It allows you to borrow up to £500 and make the repayments using your child benefit. We’ve recently updated the process for switching your child benefit to us. It’s now all done online through a Government Gateway account or the HMRC app.

Once you have signed into the Government Gateway, you can then sign into the HMRC app. You will be able to update your details, get proof of your child benefit entitlement, inform the government if your child stays in full-time education after 16, and view any letters or messages from the government. Here you can also change your bank details. You will need to do this if you have been approved for a Family Loan.

It’s really easy to change your details over, just follow this simple guide to get started

Download PDF 

The Northern Community Bank Family Loan and Savings Scheme is here to help with family expenses, allowing you to make repayments using your child benefit. We’ve recently updated the process for switching your child benefit to us, it’s now all done online through a Government Gateway account or the HMRC app.

Once you have signed into the Government Gateway, you can sign into the HMRC app to update your details, get proof of your child benefit entitlement, inform the government if your child stays in full-time education after 16, and view any letters or messages from the government.

If you don’t have a Government Gateway account yet, don’t worry, it’s quick and easy to set one up.

Download PDF 

Applying for a Family Loan through our app is the easy. Here is our guide to complete your loan application in 6 easy steps.

Download PDF 

We’re a community bank that has made saving and borrowing easy and accessible since 1982. We believe managing your money should be simple and fair. No hidden fees, no unnecessary hurdles, just straightforward financial services that put account holders in control of their money. We believe finance should work for everyone, not just the few.

We are owned and driven by our account holders. As a co-operative organisation, anyone who opens an account becomes a shareholder. There are no outside shareholders to satisfy. Every decision we make puts people first, with profits ethically reinvested into our community and shared as an annual reward with account holders. 

Account holders save money, which is safe in their account and protected up to £85,000 by the FSCS. Behind the scenes we pool those savings together. Loans are issued from this pool at affordable interest rates. Loan interest allows Northern Community Bank to operate, contributes to reserves, and the remaining profits are shared by account holders.

You can open an account to save or borrow through our Online Account area, via the mobile App, or by visiting one of our branches in Burnley or Colne. If your employer is part of our Payroll Plus scheme then you can also open an account at work.

At Northern Community Bank, everyone is welcome, and everyone matters. We’re proud to serve communities that are diverse, inclusive, and welcoming, made up of people from all walks of life. You are welcome to open an account if you live or work in the following communities:

• Burnley
  
• Pendle
  
• South Craven
  
• Rossendale
  
• Hyndburn
  
• Ribble Valley
  
• Lancaster
  
• Preston
• County of Cumbria

We also welcome employees and tenants of:

• The Together Group
  
• Calico Group
  
• Accent Group
  
• Your Housing

There are no fees to open an account at Northern Community Bank. There are also no ongoing fees. To maintain an active account, you must keep at least £1 in your Long Term Savings account.

Yes of course, family members or anyone living at your address can open an account at Northern Community Bank.

We carry out an electronic identification and verification (ID) check when someone opens an account, however, we may still require:

• Two forms of ID linked to your address (dated within 3 months)
  
• Photo ID (passport or driver’s licence)

We also need your National Insurance number. This complies with the Criminal Justice Act 1993 and Money Laundering Regulations.

Account holders are rewarded when we make a profit. Anyone who opens an account becomes a shareholder and owns the community bank. After covering the expenses of operating the community bank and putting money into reserves, the remaining profits are shared with account holders.

Free life insurance on savings and loan protection insurance is extra protection, at no added cost to the account holder. Like all insurance, it is subject to terms, you can find out more information here: www.northerncommunitybank.co.uk/value-added-services/free-life-insurance/  

Our free life insurance means:

• Outstanding loans can be cleared upon death
  
• Your savings balances plus insurance value go to the person that you name as beneficiary

This is an extra benefit of being part of Northern Community Bank.

Yes, there are two secure options. The Online Account Area via the website or mobile App allows account holders to:

• Check balances
  
• Withdraw savings instantly
  
• Apply for loans
  
• Download statements
  
• Securely message the team

It is listed under the “My Info” section in the app.

Yes, our highly trained team are available on 01282 691333 to discuss accounts during the following hours:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 11am–3pm
  
• Wednesday: 12pm–3pm

Outside these hours, account holders are welcome to use the secure messaging services on both the App and Online Account area.

There are three easy ways to withdraw from your savings account:

App – Available 24/7, with instant transfers if successful
Online Account Area – 24/7 access, instant transfers if successful
Telephone Banking – Call 01282 691333 during operating hours

Protecting your personal data is very important to Northern Community Bank, we comply with the Data Protection Act. All transactions are confidential, and all staff sign confidentiality declarations.

There are a variety of ways to deposit into your account:

• Bank standing order or one-off payments
  
• Redirecting benefit payments
  
• Bank transfers for higher values (contact us for bank details)
  
• Card payment by phone – 01282 691333
  
• Cash (up to £500) in branches

If you are unsure, please contact a member of the team who will be able to assist with arranging a deposit into your account. 

You can this important information here 

Applying for a loan through the members area or app is the quickest and easiest way, but we know that it can be daunting the first time you try it. Don’t worry! Our guide can have your loan application done in 6 simple steps.

Download PDF 

• Standard Loans: Between £150 – £15,000
  
• Family Loan & Saving Scheme: up to £1,000 + savings
  
• Family Loan +: up to £1,500 + savings
• £750 Payroll Plus Loan

You must meet loan and savings commitments for at least 90 days unless in a restricted “no further loans” period.

Between 12.7% APR and 42.6% APR, charged on a decreasing balance (so interest decreases over time). We have loan calculators on the App and Online Account area, the team are also available to provide quotes through Telephone Banking.

No, the rate advertised is what everyone pays if a loan application is successful, regardless of a person’s credit file.

At Northern Community Bank there are no admin fees, no early repayment penalties, and loan quotations are free.

Yes, we understand that people do not always have time to build savings before applying for a loan at Northern Community Bank. There are no requirements to have a previous savings history.

We make loan decisions as quickly as possible when we have all the required information. Most loans are assessed within 2 working days, many are processed the next day.

All loan applications are assessed individually by a member of the team. At Northern Community Bank it is not a ‘computer says no’ process. Over the past 40 years we have helped many people with limited credit history.

Our loans team makes all decisions, not computers, following policies set out by Northern Community Bank’s Board of Directors. We treat you like a human, not a set of numbers.

Yes, on some loan applications we perform credit checks to help us make decisions. We assess affordability, checking a range of information that includes:

• Income/expenditure
  
• Debt levels
• Ability to pay

Yes, often we can extend a loan with a top-up if you have repaid to your agreement and built savings. Talk to a member of the team to discuss your options before applying elsewhere. We’ll help you borrow in an affordable way.

Yes, there are no fees or penalties for extra repayments. You’ll pay less interest too as your loan balance decreases faster.

Great! No penalties for early loan repayment at Northern Community Bank.

Approved loans are processed twice daily, and funds are sent within 4 hours to the bank details entered on the loan applications.

We have a range of free-to-open savings accounts for all ages

• Long Term Savings: Account holders without loans can save as little or much as they can afford up to £85,000. Account holders love how quickly saving balances can build up, just by making small but regular payments. If you have a loan balance that is higher than your Long Term Savings balance, withdrawals are not allowed from this account.
  
• Instant Access: No restriction on withdrawals, even if you have a loan balance.
  
• Christmas Savings: Save throughout the year, withdrawals only allowed between 1st November – 31st December.
• Young Savers: Available for under 18’s – start your child’s saving journey today

All savings accounts:

• Protected by Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to a total of £85,000
  
• Receive a share of the profits

Yes, your savings at Northern Community Bank are protected up to £85,000 in total by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Yes, all borrowers are expected to save whilst they have a loan. We also provide additional savings accounts to help people build more financial security. The three main aims are:

• Build savings to help protect you and your family
  
• Contribute back to the pool of savings, to help other people in the community borrow
  
• Support better money management

You are welcome to open the Instant Access and Christmas Savings Accounts for extra savings.

If your loan balance is higher than your Long Term Savings balance, withdrawals are not allowed. But you can save and withdraw from:

• Instant Access
  
• Bill Planning
  
• Christmas Savings

No, there is no minimum monthly saving amount. However if you have a loan, you are expected to save and it is explained in your loan agreement.

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) account holders are invited to see how Northern Community Bank has performed over the year. The Board of Directors recommends how much the share of profits is to account holders. This reward is paid into accounts a few working days later.

If bank details are registered to your account and the funds are available, you’ll receive them within minutes. We’re not responsible for incorrect bank details.

App and Online Account Area withdrawal rules:

• 1 per day
  
• 3 per week
  
• 12 per month
  
• 144 per year

Christmas Savings Account (Nov–Dec):

• 3 per day
  
• 7 per week
  
• 30 per month
  

Rules apply on a rolling basis, not by calendar month. Full rules can be found within our Terms and Conditions.