Coronavirus support for businesses

Get financial support as a business

We are ready to support you to help manage your cash flow.

There are lending products available from us such as overdrafts, loans or charge cards. We can look at temporary increases or requests to pause or reduce current payment obligations, and will take a flexible approach, based on your individual circumstances. We are also currently committed to no arrangement fees for overdraft or loan facilities provided as a result of coronavirus.

View our range of lending

Changes to our contact centres

Due to the impacts of coronavirus on our colleagues, we have taken the decision to reduce our contact centre opening hours to 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday. We will be closed on Saturdays.

Please be aware, we are currently dealing with unprecedented levels of calls. Help us to protect our services and support our most vulnerable customers by only contacting us if it is urgent.

You can continue to manage your money from home using online banking. Getting started is easy and you can find more information below.

Using online banking ↓

Get advice as a business, employer or employee

The Chancellor has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses at this time. You can find the most up to date information on all support options available on the UK Government’s website:

Government guidance and support for businesses

If you need support paying the wages of staff who have been furloughed due to coronavirus, you may be able to claim through the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

There is support available for those who are self-employed and have lost income as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Find out more about the Government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and what it means for you.

The Government and Federation of Small Businesses continue to publish up to date guidance and articles to support businesses, employers and employees.

These articles contain information about:

• the novel coronavirus, COVID-19
• how to help prevent spread of respiratory infections including coronavirus
• what to do if someone with suspected or confirmed coronavirus has been in the workplace
• what advice to give to individuals who have travelled to specific areas
• advice for the certification of absence from work resulting from coronavirus

FSB advice about coronavirus for small businesses and FSB customers

Government advice about coronavirus for employees, employers and businesses

Use online banking during busier call times

If you usually call us to complete transactions on your behalf, you should consider having online banking as a backup. We are expecting busier call times and this may result in disruption to your normal service.

You can manage your day-to-day banking needs through our secure online banking platform, even if you're away from your usual work location.

Registering for Business Online Banking is simple and straightforward. You can register if you hold any of our business current accounts. Once you receive your secure token, which takes between 3-5 working days, and register it with us, you can start using the service which allows you to:

• Check your balances
• View your statement information
• Make payments to another person or company
• Transfer money between your Co-operative Bank business accounts

Using the service request form, you can request paying in books, cancel direct debits and cancel standing orders that haven’t been set up through online banking.

Please note any standing order set up through online banking will need to be cancelled via online banking also.

Find out how to register online

Staying safe online

Keeping your information secure and confidential is crucial to us. Find out how we keep your money safe and what you can do to protect yourself when banking online.

How we keep you safe

Protecting yourself online

Visiting our branches

Our branches will stay open wherever possible during this challenging time. However, opening hours may vary. If there are any changes to our branch opening hours, they will be updated on our branch locator page.

We have robust measures in place to ensure the continued safety and wellbeing of branch colleagues, including social distancing using security screens, enhanced cleaning standards and telephone appointments. In order to further protect our colleagues, customers and communities, we would ask that you only visit a branch if absolutely necessary. Please adhere to Government advice and stay at home where possible.

Remember, online banking is available for your daily banking needs.

Fraud awareness

Keeping your money safe is one of our top priorities. Opportunistic fraudsters are using the coronavirus outbreak to scam businesses out of banking details and business information.

We will continue to raise awareness of common fraud scams and threats, and are committed to working with the wider industry on initiatives such as Take Five.

Find out about the latest scams and how to deal with fraud

How we're continuing business during the coronavirus outbreak

We want to make sure we continue to serve our customers at a time when they need us most. The health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues, and our community is our foremost priority.

Many of our colleagues are described as ‘key workers’. This means they have an essential role in keeping the bank running, ensuring our customers have access to their money at this critical time.

We’re pleased to confirm The Co-operative Bank has complied with the Government's guidance on managing the risk of coronavirus. We’ve compiled a comprehensive risk assessment that identifies the risks, and outlines the controls that we have put in place to manage those risks effectively, for the safety of both our customers and colleagues.

Read our coronavirus risk assessment in full