CIC Bank Accounts: Which UK Banks Accept CICs?

Last updated: August 2026

Written by Ben Ahern, Founder of CIC Tools & Co-founder of Homeless Aid UK CIC

Quick Answer

Yes, a CIC can open a business bank account - but not everywhere. As of August 2026, the Co-operative Bank (fee-free), Unity Trust Bank (£7/month) and CAF Bank (£5/month) all explicitly accept CICs. Monzo and Tide explicitly refuse CICs. Most high-street banks will take you, but into their community or standard business tier - check their eligibility wording first.

Quick question before you read on

Interested in an online guided CIC setup course?

Ben (who runs CIC Tools and his own CIC) is thinking about turning his experience into a step-by-step video course: setting up, staying compliant, and finding your first funding. He'll only build it if enough founders want it - your answer is the vote.

Why CIC Banking Is Harder Than It Should Be

CICs fall into a gap in most banks' product ranges. The free "charity account" tier is usually gated on Charity Commission registration - which a CIC, by law, cannot have (a CIC is not a charity, even if its activities are entirely charitable). The standard business account assumes a profit-distributing company. A CIC is neither, so eligibility pages often simply don't mention you.

Watch out if your CIC is limited by shares

Some community-tier accounts exclude organisations that pay out surpluses as dividends. A CIC limited by shares can legally pay capped dividends, which can clash with those terms. If you are limited by shares, say so up front when you apply.

Not sure which structure you have (or want)? See our CIC vs Ltd guide.

UK Banks Compared for CICs (checked August 2026)

We checked each bank's own published eligibility criteria. "Explicit yes" means the bank names community interest companies as eligible on its own website. Criteria change often - always confirm on the bank's eligibility page before applying.

Bank	CICs accepted?	Account	Monthly fee
Co-operative Bank	Explicit yes	Charity and Community Bank Account	Free
Unity Trust Bank	Yes (social-economy specialist)	Business Current Account	£7
CAF Bank	Explicit yes	CAF Cash Account	£5
Barclays	Yes if turnover under £100k (Charity and Impact Account criteria)	Charity and Impact Account	Advertised fee-free - confirm current tariff
Lloyds	Community Account aimed at not-for-profits (not the free Charity Account)	Community Account	£4.25 (since Jan 2025)
NatWest	CICs not named - community tier is for "charities, clubs and societies"; confirm	Community Bank Account	Free under £100k turnover (conditions apply)
HSBC	Charitable account gated on charitable purpose; CICs not named - confirm	Charitable Bank Account	Free (if eligible)
Santander	Existing customers only for the not-for-profit tier; CICs not named	Treasurer's Current Account	£4.99 (since Oct 2025)
Metro Bank	Community tier lists clubs, societies and charities; CICs not named - confirm	Community Current Account	£3
Starling	Mixed signals on its own pages - reviewed case by case; confirm before relying on it	Business Current Account	Free
Zempler Bank (was Cashplus)	CICs not named; companies limited by guarantee accepted with extra checks and a £100 one-off fee	Business Go	Free
Monzo Business	Explicit no	-	-
Tide	Explicit no	-	-

Charity Bank is savings only

Despite the name, Charity Bank does not offer current accounts at all - it provides savings accounts and loans. Don't plan your day-to-day banking around it.

The Practical Shortlist

Want free banking: Co-operative Bank Charity and Community Bank Account - no monthly service fee, CICs explicitly eligible, and you can apply online if your CIC has 10 or fewer key individuals.
Want a bank built for the sector: Unity Trust Bank (£7/month) - a specialist social-economy bank where the standard account is the community offering.
Already bank with a high-street name personally: their community/business tier can be convenient - just get their confirmation in writing that a CIC qualifies before you build your plans on it.
Skip Monzo and Tide - both currently exclude CICs outright, whatever your structure.

Timing matters: sector data (October 2025) puts Co-op at up to 10 days, Unity around 10 days, CAF Bank around 8 weeks and Barclays at 8-12 weeks. If a grant deadline is coming, open the account early - funders pay into the CIC's account, not your personal one.

Get the CIC Startup Checklist (Free)

Formation guide, mandatory policies, and your first 90 days - all in one checklist.

Also send me The CIC Founder's Series - one short guide email a day for the first week, then weekly, covering everything from choosing your structure to getting funded. Unsubscribe any time.

We'll email your checklist. Unsubscribe any time.

What You'll Need to Open the Account

Your certificate of incorporation and company number (the account comes after registration - see how long registration takes)
Your articles of association (banks read these to understand what your CIC is)
Personal details for directors and signatories - several banks want three years of address history for everyone
Photo ID (passport or driving licence) for everyone who will operate the account
Clean credit histories for key individuals - the Co-operative Bank, for example, requires no CCJs, bankruptcy or IVAs within six years
Up-to-date Companies House records - digital banks in particular check your filed details (including PSCs) match your application

Fees keep changing

The clear trend is away from free banking for community organisations: Lloyds introduced its £4.25/month Community Account fee in January 2025, and Santander added a £4.99/month fee to its Treasurer's Account in October 2025. Figures on this page were checked in August 2026 - treat them as a starting point, not a promise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a CIC open a business bank account?

Yes - but not with every bank. The Co-operative Bank, Unity Trust Bank and CAF Bank all explicitly accept CICs. Monzo Business and Tide explicitly do not. Several high-street banks accept CICs into their community or standard business tiers, but their published criteria often name charities, clubs and societies without mentioning CICs, so confirm before applying.

Which bank is free for CICs?

The Co-operative Bank's Charity and Community Bank Account has no monthly service fee and explicitly lists community interest companies registered at Companies House as eligible (checked August 2026). Most other options carry a small monthly fee - for example CAF Bank at £5 per month and Unity Trust Bank at £7 per month.

Can a CIC use Monzo or Tide?

No. As of August 2026, Monzo Business lists community interest companies, companies limited by guarantee and charities among the business types it cannot support, and Tide states it is unable to service businesses operating as a CIC.

How long does it take a CIC to open a bank account?

Allow weeks rather than days. Sector comparison data from October 2025 reports the Co-operative Bank typically taking up to 10 days, Unity Trust around 10 days, CAF Bank around 8 weeks, and Barclays 8 to 12 weeks. You need your certificate of incorporation and company number before any bank will open the account.

What documents does a CIC need to open a bank account?

Typically: your certificate of incorporation and company number, your articles of association, personal details for directors and signatories (some banks ask for three years of address history), and photo ID for everyone operating the account. Some banks also run credit checks on key individuals.

The bank account comes second - the CIC comes first

Every bank on this page needs your certificate of incorporation before it will open an account. CIC Tools generates your Companies House-ready CIC36 and Articles in about 15 minutes - so you can get registered and start the bank application sooner.

Start Your CIC Read Full Setup Guide