CIC Tools

CIC Bank Accounts: Which UK Banks Accept CICs?

Written by Ben Ahern, Founder of CIC Tools and Co-founder of Homeless Aid UK CIC. Last updated 17 September 2026.

Not every bank will open an account for a Community Interest Company. This page compares the banks that say yes, the ones that say no, what each charges and what you need to have ready.

Quick answer

Yes, a CIC can open a business bank account, but not everywhere. The Co-operative Bank (no monthly service fee), Unity Trust Bank (£7 a month) and CAF Bank (£5 a 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, so check their eligibility wording first.

Planning your CIC? Get the free starter checklist.

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 do not mention you.

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

UK banks compared for CICs

We checked each bank's own published eligibility criteria in August 2026, and re-checked the Co-operative Bank and Monzo rows in September 2026. "Explicit yes" means the bank names community interest companies as eligible on its own website. Criteria change often, so always confirm on the bank's eligibility page before applying.

UK banks compared for community interest companies
BankCICs accepted?AccountMonthly fee
Co-operative BankExplicit yes (re-checked September 2026)Charity and Community Bank AccountNo monthly service fee
Unity Trust BankYes (social-economy specialist)Business Current Account£7
CAF BankExplicit yesCAF Cash Account£5
BarclaysYes if turnover under £100k (Charity and Impact Account criteria)Charity and Impact AccountAdvertised fee-free; confirm current tariff
LloydsCommunity Account aimed at not-for-profits (not the free Charity Account)Community Account£4.25 (since Jan 2025)
NatWestCICs not named; community tier is for "charities, clubs and societies"; confirmCommunity Bank AccountFree under £100k turnover (conditions apply)
HSBCCharitable account gated on charitable purpose; CICs not named; confirmCharitable Bank AccountFree (if eligible)
SantanderExisting customers only for the not-for-profit tier; CICs not namedTreasurer's Current Account£4.99 (since Oct 2025)
Metro BankCommunity tier lists clubs, societies and charities; CICs not named; confirmCommunity Current Account£3
StarlingMixed signals on its own pages; reviewed case by case; confirm before relying on itBusiness Current AccountFree
Zempler Bank (was Cashplus)CICs not named; companies limited by guarantee accepted with extra checks and a £100 one-off feeBusiness GoFree
Monzo BusinessExplicit no (re-checked September 2026)--
TideExplicit no--

Sources: each bank's own eligibility and tariff pages, including the Co-operative Bank Charity and Community Bank Account and Monzo Business eligibility pages.

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 a month), a specialist social-economy bank where the standard account is the community offering.
  • Already bank with a high-street name personally: their community or 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 the Co-operative Bank at up to 10 days, Unity around 10 days, CAF Bank around 8 weeks and Barclays at 8 to 12 weeks. If a grant deadline is coming, open the account early. Funders pay into the CIC's account, not your personal one.

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 and no missed personal credit payments in the last six months.
  • Up-to-date Companies House records. Digital banks in particular check that your filed details (including PSCs) match your application.

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 September 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 September 2026, Monzo Business lists community interest companies, companies limited by guarantee and charities among the business types it cannot support, and as of August 2026 Tide stated 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 Co-operative Bank, for example, requires key individuals to be free of CCJs, bankruptcy and IVAs in the last six years.

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.

About the author

Ben Ahern is the founder of CIC Tools and co-founder of Homeless Aid UK CIC. He has opened and run bank accounts for his own CIC and compiled this comparison from each bank's published criteria so other founders do not have to.

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