By Clare Mills, Co-CEO, Charity Finance Group
I’ve had countless conversations with charity leaders about the challenges of charity banking. At a time when personal banking has become increasingly seamless, with instant transfers, app-based services and easy access to information, many charities continue to face unnecessary barriers. That’s why I’m determined to keep working with banks, regulators and the sector to improve services for charities.
For charity CEOs, banking can feel like an operational issue rather than strategic leadership. Yet when banking services are hard to navigate, the consequences quickly reach the chief executive’s desk. Delayed payments, difficulties changing signatories, rising costs and poor communication can consume valuable leadership time and distract organisations from their mission.
CFG’s Charity Banking Report 2026, based on feedback from almost 2,500 organisations across the UK, shows that banking challenges remain widespread across the sector. While there has been some progress in areas such as mandate changes and trustee verification processes, charities continue to report significant difficulties. Rising banking charges, reduced access to in-person services and time-consuming administrative processes are creating additional pressures for charities already operating in a challenging environment. The report estimates that charities collectively spend millions of hours each year dealing with banking administration and related issues.
For CEOs and charity finance leaders, these findings highlight an important reality: effective banking arrangements are not just a finance team concern. They are an organisational resilience issue. Poor banking experiences can create financial risk, place additional burdens on trustees and volunteers, and ultimately affect service delivery.
While many of these challenges require systemic change, there are practical steps charities can take now. The good news is that support is available.
Over the past few years, CFG has developed a range of practical resources designed to help charities navigate banking challenges and strengthen their relationships with financial institutions.
One of the most valuable tools is the Communicating with your bank: Raising an issue or concern toolkit. Developed in response to widespread frustrations reported by charities, the guide provides practical, step-by-step advice on working with your bank, understanding regulatory requirements such as Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks, escalating concerns effectively and, where necessary, taking unresolved complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service. It also includes ready-to-use communication templates that can save time and help achieve better outcomes.
I’d also encourage leaders to explore the wider range of banking resources available through CFG’s Knowledge Hub, including analysis of the latest banking survey findings, updates on CFG’s advocacy work with banks and regulators, and practical guidance on strengthening your organisation’s banking readiness.
I want banking services to be an enabler of impact, not a barrier to it. Charities cannot deliver their missions effectively when banking services become a blocker. While CFG continues to push for systemic improvements across the banking sector, our resources can help charity leaders and finance teams address challenges more effectively today.
If you’d like to explore our banking resources, learn more about our policy work, or share your own experiences of charity banking, I’d love to hear from you.