Cemetery Bank account

dlpugh

Hello! I wonder if people can please help?
the local cemetery volunteers need a bank account - it only needs to be small, with a paying in book and debit card of some sort. Preferably one they can go into a branch for as the couple who manage it are older, not tech savy, and dont even have internet where they live. (We are in rural Wales). And they dont mind paying. They are getting really upset and stressed though because it seems no one is interested in taking on such a small community style account. Santander, HSBC, TSB, Barclays, Nationwide etc have all said no, and the treatment they have received from some of them has been really bad. 
Can any body please help???
thank you so much!

pramsay13

That must be dead annoying.

You are looking for a treasurers bank account. We're with Bank of Scotland. The group will need to be constituted.
https://www.resourcecentre.org.uk/information/bank-accounts-for-community-and-voluntary-organisations/

dlpugh

Thanks the link. We have read that, but none of our local branches seem to want to take us on. 

WillPS

Have you tried Lloyds Bank or Halifax?

Also, could the day-to-day banking you want to do be done at a Post Office?

General_Grant

Would a credit union be of any use? 

Find Your Credit Union - search to find credit unions near you 

Though I don't think that would provide a debit card but it would be somewhere to usefully keep funds.

I also don't know whether they accept funds other than from individuals.  But it just struck me as a possibility to explore.

Descrabled

I thougyt for one moment that this was another referance to Cheese Bank; sorry

sheramber

You could try this phone number for HSBC.   , please give our account opening team a call on 0800 731 8904, they’ll discuss your needs in more detail and help you with the next steps.

TheWoodler

Assuming that there’s a branch near the couple concerned, you could also try something like the Monmouthshire Building Society, as they have a section on their website for charity accounts, meeting the need for flexible deposits and withdrawals at least (not debit card though) and helping to maximise what might be quite a small income. Check out their website (newbie poster though long-time lurker, so I can’t yet post links.)

I also wonder if it’s how you introduce yourselves in your approaches to the banks, as there might not be enough clarity as to who you are, and changing that might unlock the banks’ attitudes. The title of this thread is a case in point: ‘Cemetery Bank Account’ is a little bald and puzzling, and if that’s been your approach to the banks as well, that might explain the consistent refusals - as most cemeteries are local authority or private business, and they’ll be wondering who you are as I did, and why you want such an account, and not a business one. You clarified in your post, but you need to get the time of day from the banks straight away, and tell them first off you’re the ‘Friends of X Cemetery’ or ‘Y Cemetery Volunteers’ or however you style yourselves, not that you’re seeking a cemetery bank account, and that might help unlock things?

Apologies if you’ve done this already, just trying to help!