We’re here to support you
The Co-operative Bank has had a long-standing commitment to supporting human rights and equality across the world, and stands with the people of Ukraine at this time.
To help those affected, we are offering Cashminder bank accounts to Ukrainian nationals who are seeking refuge in the UK.
Features of our Cashminder bank account
If you open an account with us, you will:
- Be provided with a debit card
- Have access to online and mobile banking
- Be able to make payments using Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Wallet.
You should also know that:
- You can open an account free of charge
- There’s no overdraft, cheque book, or monthly charge with this account
- There’s no credit check involved when you apply (although we vigilantly monitor fraud)
- As well as an individual account, you can open it as a joint account too.
Charges for this account
Although you can open this account free of charge and there are no monthly fees, there are other charges. These include:
- Foreign transaction services, such as using your debit card outside of the UK
- Electronic payments, such as CHAPS
- Other services, such as copies of your statement.
To apply, you must:
- Be a Ukrainian national seeking refuge in the UK
- Have a valid Ukrainian passport or national ID card
- Have a valid proof of address confirming your current UK residence
- Be aged 16 or over
- Not have another Co-operative Bank or smile current account (unless you are in financial difficulty).
Approval is based on an assessment of your personal circumstances. When we carry out credit reference searches to validate your information, we don't leave a footprint visible to other lenders on your credit file.
To help protect you and us against fraud, we'll share the personal information from your application with fraud prevention agencies.
Step 2: Apply to open your account
If you’d like to open an account with us, you’ll need to arrange an in-person appointment with one of our branch colleagues.
To arrange an appointment, you can:
- Visit your nearest branch beforehand
- Call us on 03457 212 212.
Phone lines are open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. See our UK call charges.
If you don’t have a valid ID or proof of address, please mention this when arranging your in-person appointment.
Before you apply, you must read the important documents below and save them for future reference.
If you are applying as part of one of our switching offers, please review the Terms and Conditions of that offer to check whether the Cashminder account is included.'
Step 3: After you’ve applied, wait for us to contact you
After you’ve applied to open a bank account with us, we’ll contact you to confirm if your application has been successful, and let you know what happens next.
Important documents
Read the important documents below and save copies of them for future reference.
Download Account charges (PDF)
Download Terms and conditions (PDF)
Download How we use your personal information (PDF)
Download Financial Services Compensation Scheme Information Sheet and Exclusion List (PDF)
What documents will I need when I apply?
For your appointment, you will need to bring either a valid Ukrainian passport or national ID card with you, as well as a valid proof of address confirming your current UK residence.
If you’re unable to provide us with a valid ID or proof of address, please mention this beforehand when arranging your appointment.
What if I don’t have a valid Ukrainian passport or national ID card?
If you’ve recently come to the UK from Ukraine but don’t have a valid Ukrainian passport or national ID card, please call us on 03457 212 212, or visit your nearest Co-operative Bank branch so you can explain your situation to one of our colleagues.
Phone lines are open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. See our UK call charges.
Get help with your Cashminder account
Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Your eligible deposits held by a UK establishment of The Co-operative Bank plc are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK's deposit guarantee scheme. This limit is applied to the total of any deposits you have with The Co-operative Bank and smile. Any total deposits you hold above the limit between these brands are unlikely to be covered.
Please read further information on the FSCS scheme here or visit their website.
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Contact our support team