Unity Trust Bank is an award-winning, independent commercial bank that businesses can be proud to bank with. For nearly 40 years we have been helping organisations to prosper and contribute to positive economic, social and environmental change. Put simply, our purpose is to create a better society.
We provide exceptional banking services for organisations that share our principles of acting with integrity and only lend to creditworthy organisations that share our values and deliver quantifiable impact in their local communities.
Our loyal customer base continues to grow and our ambition is to become the bank of choice for all socially-minded organisations in the UK.
Despite the challenges from economic disruption, Unity remains financially strong and operationally resilient, and the compound annual growth rate of our lending portfolio was 23.8% in 2022. We will continue to pursue safe, sustainable growth into the future.
Delivering impact:
1 May, 1984 – Unity Trust Bank was launched out of a vision by trade unions to create a bank that would embrace the philosophy of serving the common good. Unity’s first mission was to provide prudent, profitable commercial lending in the UK and to support jobs, industries and the British economy. While now an independent organisation, Unity continues to embody its original principles:
The first few years were spent developing banking facilities for our trade union shareholders and providing additional services specifically to benefit their members.
Unity refocused as society became increasingly concerned with fighting social and financial exclusion, tailoring our products and services to meet the needs of socially-minded organisations.
Unity committed to a ‘double-bottom line’ strategy; assessing sustainable financial returns alongside social impact. Unity also introduced its Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP).
In December, Unity became a fully independent bank.
Unity joined the Banking Standards Board in April 2016, demonstrating our commitment to helping to raise standards across the banking industry
Unity was named the NACFB’s Socially Responsible Lender of the year in 2020 and again in 2021.
We believe in empowering our people with the opportunity to own shares in their business. In 2021, a Share Incentive Plan, offering free, partnership and 2:1 matching shares, and a Company Share Option Plan was introduced.
Unity was named the winner of Excellence in Responsible Business at the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Awards.
To celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2009, we launched our Unity in the Community initiative. This gives every employee up to five paid’ days per year to take part in volunteering and fundraising for charities and community organisations across the UK.
Not only does this benefit local communities and the people they support, it also provides valuable practical experience for our team, which enhances their understanding and knowledge of the social economy sector.
In 2022, Unity launched a new employee-led group called Unity & Me, which takes Unity in the Community a step further and introduces a range of activities and initiatives covering wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and environmental sustainability, both internally and externally.
We’re committed to providing high levels of customer service.
We’re for banking that works for your community
We help to improve communities through responsible banking and are proud to support UK
organisations to deliver positive social, economic, and environmental impact.
If you’re ready to switch your Business Current Account to Unity Trust Bank, we’ll make sure it happens like clockwork. It’s guaranteed to take 7 working days, it’s free, and it’s all taken care of by the Current Account Switch Service.
