A project to address the barriers that people with learning disabilities face when accessing banking services.
Reports of the project's findings can be found in the publications section.
Some people with a learning disability have problems using bank accounts.
If you can’t use a bank account, it is hard to be independent. It makes it harder to have your own home.
What are we doing about it?
We have a project called Banking Matters to Me.
We have worked with people with a learning disability in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to find out how to make it easier to use a bank account.
What did we want to find out?
About people with a learning disability:
- What you want to use your bank account for
- What makes it hard to open a bank account, and what do you need to know so you can open and use a bank account
- What help you need and what help you can already get
About the bank
- What the bank says you must show them to prove who you are
- What the law says banks must do to make banking safe for everyone
- What people who work in banks need to know about how to help people with a learning disability
- The law says banks must treat disabled people fairly. We want to know what that means.
About people who help you
- What help your carers or support workers need to understand more about banking
We have written a report about what we found out, and are working with the banks and other groups to try and change things.
We held some meetings to share the findings of the project.
Some of the groups are also holding their own meetings. You can find out more about them here.
Click here to download An easy read leaflet to promote the project
Click here to download A questionnaire to help you tell us your story
One of the things people have told us is difficult for them is using their PIN number. You can find out more about Chip and Signature cards and how to get one here
Some of the project's findings and 'Top Tips' can be found here
There a other places you can go to for information about banks and bank accounts:
Community Care has reported the project's key findings
The Foundation for People with a learning disability have written a report about called 'Banking on Good Decisions'; they asked us for our comments and advice.
The Employers Forum on Disability have written a research report on barriers to banking for people who may lack capacity.
Norah Fry Research Centre have written a report called 'Money Rights and Risks' about financial issues for people with a learning disability.