Find a bank account with a debit card for a charity

Norfolk_Jim

Does anyone know of a bank or building society account that can be held in the name of a charity or organisation but provides a Debit card facility?

Pink.

Hi Jim,

You should get more help with this on the Small Business and Charity Organisers board, so I'll move your thread over there.

Pink

Savvy_Sue

Short answer: No.

Not saying no-one does, but I've never been aware of one, simply because most charity bank accounts require TWO signatures to make any transaction valid. So any Direct Debit or Standing Order forms require two sigs, and any Internet Banking transaction requires Submission and Authorisation by two different people.

Alternatives: Alliance and Leicester's Clubs and Societies Account used to let you have two cards (ie for use by two different people) which allowed you to withdraw up to a certain amount of cash at either of two nominated post offices on alternate days. Rusty on the details, can't find this account on their website, so possibly worth a call if cash would do as it used to be a cracking good account, shame if it's gone!

Coop Bank give us Visa cards - we used to bank with them, but now we bank with Unity Trust, and still get our Visa cards from the Coop. There is a £2 per month charge, so you need to decide how many people NEED one, and how many people you trust to be able to spend money on a single signature. It is, however, a jolly convenient way of buying goods online!

Finally, there is a good old method of phoning the supplier beforehand and asking if they will accept a company / charity cheque; or if they will invoice you; or if you can open an account.

If this doesn't help, if you can explain what you feel you need a debit card for I'll think again ...