Do more with your money

We’re a member-owned, not-for-profit community bank and credit union. In simple terms, the people who save and borrow with us collectively own the bank.

There aren’t outside shareholders taking profits out of Wessex. Money we make stays here to keep the bank strong, improve what we offer and support the communities around us.

We serve communities across Central Southern England, including Guildford, Reading, Woking, Basingstoke, Southampton and Bracknell, as well as communities across Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

We want borrowing to be straightforward and fair. Our qualifying personal loan rates are compared with major high street lenders and we aim to keep them highly competitive.

A real person looks at every application. We don’t let an automated score make the final lending decision.

And with many of our loans, part of your repayment can go into savings too. That means you can finish paying off the loan with money already put aside.

Quite a lot. We have savings for everyday money, an Ethical Cash ISA, our Christmas Club, Save to Borrow and accounts for community groups.

You don’t need to move your main bank account to save with us. Plenty of members simply use Wessex alongside the bank they already have.

And while your money stays yours, savings held with us also help give Wessex the funds we need to lend to other members.

That’s exactly what our Christmas Club is for. You save gradually through the year and your money is ready in time for Christmas.

It can be much easier than trying to find all the money in November or December. A small regular amount can build into something genuinely useful by the end of the year.

Yes. Through the Wessex Community Bank Foundation, we provide grants to local charities, community groups and organisations doing useful work in the areas we serve.

We also offer fee-free Community Group Accounts, giving local organisations somewhere straightforward to manage their money.

If you’re involved with a local group or project, it’s worth taking a look at what support is available.

We need to make a surplus because that’s what keeps the bank financially strong. The difference is what happens to that money.

We don’t have outside shareholders taking a share of the profits. Money stays within Wessex to build reserves, improve services, support lending and fund work such as our Foundation.

That’s one of the biggest differences between a member-owned bank and a conventional shareholder-owned bank.