Unity Trust Bank

Unity Trust Bank plc provides specialist banking services to trade unions, charities and other organisations that operate in the not-for-profit sector in the United Kingdom and (since December 2015) its remit has expanded to include profit-with-purpose businesses. Founded in 1984; head office is located at Nine Brindleyplace, Birmingham.

History

Originally a licensed deposit taking institution, Unity Trust Limited acquired full status as a bank in 1987.

An unconnected Unity Joint Stock Mutual Banking Association was formed in London in 1855. This "Unity Bank" went into liquidation in 1862.

Ownership

Historically, Unity Trust Bank was majority owned by individual trade unions and federations (73.23%) and The Co-operative Bank owned the remainder (26.7%) through its subsidiary, Co-operative Commercial Limited. In December 2015, Unity bought back shares from Co-operative Commercial Limited, which reduced The Co-operative Bank's holding to 6.7%.

Unity Trust's new articles of association redesignated all shares into a single class, all ranking pari passu, and removed the different rights of the old classes and created additional shares. As a result, new shareholders have invested in Unity and the Co-operative Bank no longer have a controlling interest in Unity Trust or the right to appoint directors.