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TSB offers banking access for homeless people in Scotland
TSB is launching a new banking access pilot, delivered in partnership with the Simon Community Scotland, to help homeless people in Scotland open bank accounts.
Lack of access to a bank account can be a key barrier for the homeless to get a job and obtain other important support. Previously, opening an account with most banks was particularly challenging for those without a fixed address. With this in mind, TSB joined forces with Simon Community Scotland as part of its Do What Matters Plan, which is helping TSB play its part in helping communities thrive.
The pilot, operating from TSB branches in Hanover Street, Edinburgh and St Vincent Street, Glasgow, enables individuals supported by Simon Community Scotland to complete a specially designed process to open a bank account with TSB, including the option of online banking.
Launched in the summer, the pilot has been extended until at least the end of this year, with TSB looking to assess how best to help homeless customers and consider opportunities to expand the initiative to more locations across the UK.
Carol Anderson, UK director, branch banking, TSB, said:
“We know that access to a bank account is a particular challenge for those who are homeless and don’t have a fixed address, yet it’s such an important step in helping them progress and have confidence in managing their money. We’re grateful to the Simon Community for partnering with us so we can provide more people with the security of banking services, which they can access digitally or in a branch.”
Lorraine McGrath, Chief Executive of Simon Community Scotland, said:
“Most people take having a bank account for granted, it is difficult to imagine trying to live without one. Can you imagine the added challenges of being homeless without having a bank account?”
“We truly appreciate the support of TSB and the pilot has already demonstrated the difference having a bank account makes to people experiencing homelessness. It offers security and the ability to fully self-manage their finances as a key part of finding and keeping a safe place to live and call home.”
Speaking about Simon Community Scotland’s Glasgow Access Hub, Michael said:
“There are people who will help you with everything you need help with and there are different spaces to go to in the Hub for a chat. The support has been phenomenal, the staff have been so supportive. I come in all the time. I praise this place. Honestly, if this wasn’t here, I don’t know where I’d be.”
The information contained in this press release is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions.
Notes to editors
Background
The TSB Do What Matters Plan focuses on creating social, environmental, and economic value. As part of this, we are working in communities to help them thrive and in 2020, launched the TSB Charity Partnership programme. The programme supports 68 charities across Britain that carry out crucial work in their communities supporting vulnerable people, mental health, cancer care, homelessness and helping the disadvantaged. Simon Community Scotland is one of these 68 charity partners.
About Simon Community Scotland
Simon Community Scotland is the largest provider of homeless services in Scotland. They deliver a range of support through their outreach and accommodation services across Central Scotland including in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perthshire, North Lanarkshire, North Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire and Inverclyde. They also drive Scotland-wide initiatives to transform everyone’s experience of homelessness.
About TSB
TSB is a UK retail bank with a trusted customer brand and heritage stretching back to the start of the savings bank movement 200 years ago. TSB offers full retail banking to more than five million customers, online, digitally, via phone and through our branch network. In August last year we launched our Do What Matters Plan, which commits to creating social and environmental, as well as economic value.
