Introduction from Morag Davies –Commercial Director for Reliance Bank
Morag has extensive experience in lending, consultancy, and management. She has held senior roles at Bank of Ireland, and HBoS working with a broad range of clients in corporate, SME and social impact sectors Morag has held voluntary positions as a trustee of a multi-academy trust, business mentor and run leader.
Morag commented
“I’m incredibly proud of my team because we have been awarded “Community Lender of the Year” from the NACFB This recognises how we have supported clients delivering positive social impact in the UK.”
Brian is highly experienced in commercial lending Brian has held roles at NatWest and Barclays where he helped clients secure funding, restructure and grow sustainably He has supported community and environmental initiatives through serving on regional green economy and export finance boards, chairing his local running club, and volunteering at parkrun Brian joins Reliance to build Social Housing and Community lending in the North
Brian commented: “My role is to work with organisations that help to address housing related issues in the North of England - both small RPs and other providers such as Charities, CICs and Almshouses. We aim to support organisations working in complex and challenging fields such as homelessness, justice, mental health and disability As a small, specialist bank we are flexible in our approach, relationship driven, accessible, and able to make decisions quickly ”
Guy has considerable commercial lending and business banking experience through roles at NatWest, Santander and Metro Bank Guy has also held a Finance position within a school academy and is currently a chairperson for a school and FE college He has also been a Community Volunteer for a charity, distributing food surplus to those in need Guy joins Reliance Bank to build Social Housing and Community lending in the South
Guy commented: “I am proud to work for a bank where our customers deposits contribute to providing funding to organisations that support those in need – deprived, isolated and those at the edge of society. We have a specialist understanding of the important impact sectors - Community, Faith, Healthcare, Social Housing.”
Community
Reliance Bank provide Commercial Finance Loans to support:
Private and charitable organisations
Small and local businesses to assist their growth
Recreation and activity centres
Specialist educational establishments including those helping people with additional educational needs
Training centres
Community hubs
We provide loans for
d out how we can you, please contact
Community Case Study
Our clients’ scenario
A Steiner School in South Devon inspires its students to effect positive change in the world
This co-educational school follows the Steiner Waldorf curriculum which integrates ethical values with creative exploration and experiential learning for students aged 3to 19-year-old Through engaging classes, rich performing arts, community service, clubs and sports, students find themselves and discover the world beyond college This balanced approach allows students to find joy in learning and inspiration to effect positive change in the world. They learn how to make a difference
Solution
Reliance Bank’s funding helped South Devon Steiner School remortgage to release funds for development of their site The school is situated in an idyllic location on 8 acres of grounds in South Devon, nestled in the rolling hills on the doorstep of the Dartmoor National Park, surrounded by fields abundant with organic and biodynamic vegetables The school plan to develop their site to include a school travel plan to address increasing student numbers and car park safety As well as planning for additional teaching spaces for a growing Upper School
Impact
The school engage creatively with Steiner’s insights into the stages of human development, conduct their own educational research and study other educational
The school balance academic rigour with artistic creativity, practical work and social engagement. The school provides healthy learning environments that encourage creativity and independent thinking and nurture empathy, respect and resilience approaches to better understand and support the needs of today’s children. The school equally acknowledge and address the three core faculties of the human being: conceptual thinking, interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships and practical and creative skill
Reliance Bank’s funding has helped the ongoing support of:
250 students receiving apprenticeships, training or internships
250 students receiving personal learning and development opportunities
Faith
Reliance Bank provide Commercial Finance Loans to support:
Faith organisations
Religious orders
Christian organisations
Temples
Mosques
Synagogues
Traditional Churches and modern buildings to be used as main place of worship and meeting space
Investment properties to generate income to meet charitable objectives
Housing for faith leaders
Religious schools and colleges
Theological colleges
We provide loans for
To find out how we can help you, please contact
Faith Case Study
Our clients’ scenario
City Praise Centre is a church for young and old people in the community to know Christ
City Praise Centre CIO (CPC) was registered as a charity back in 1959 as Chalk Pentecostal Church, although its roots go back to a mission for women and children set up in 1936 Its focus has been on serving the historically deprived area of Dickens and Westcourt estates in Gravesend. Throughout the 1990’s the church grew and soon its premises were not big enough. It was time to look for a suitable, permanent base back where they started
Solution
Reliance Bank played a pivotal role in making CPC’s vision a reality. David Price, Relationship Director at Reliance Bank, personally visited the site and recognized its potential The bank provided the necessary funding after assessing CPC’s financial stability and governance.
Impact
City Praise Centre has proudly:
Reduced hunger for 1,200 people
Opened a Homeless Shelter (Sanctuary – now a separate charity in its own right)
Started a successful midweek parents and toddlers club
Started a large youth club and kids church
Created and maintained 1 foodbank
‘Adopted’ a local school where they conduct regular sessions on what Christianity means
Ran outreaches to a local nursing home
Involved with Street Pastors and School Pastors
Created and protected 5 jobs
Led missions to India and so much more
Healthcare
Reliance Bank provide Commercial Finance
Loans to support:
Care homes with mix of residential and nursing accommodation
Day centres providing respite, convalescent and palliative care
Specialist care, brain injury, mental health and rehabilitation services
Children’s care services
Experienced operators looking to expand services
First time buyers with experience in running businesses and social care
GP surgeries
Dentists
Pharmacies
Reliance Bank has a specialist knowledge of the sector and work with clients looking for a partner to support their growth and improvement plans.
We provide loans for
Healthcare Case Study
Our clients’ scenario
Our client is an experienced care home operator and they were looking to purchase a nursing home in the Midlands
Solution
Understanding the need, the Commercial Finance Relationship Team at Reliance Bank provided funding to the care home operator to purchase the nursing home in Derbyshire in the Midlands
Impact
Previous owner was unable to be as active in managing the home and made decision to sell Our client acquired the home and maintained residential, personal and nursing care to 37 people while looking at making improvements for staff and residents The service provides support to older people, including those with dementia The nursing home provides excellent care to all its clients and has wonderful reviews from professionals who visit the home regularly.
Social Housing
Reliance Bank provide Commercial Finance Loans to support a range of operators providing:
Assisted and supported living for a range of needs from independent to complex requiring one-toone care
Affordable housing
Temporary accommodation
Children’s homes
Residential treatment centres
Registered social landlords and independent operators
Social Housing Case Study
Our clients’ scenario
Social Interest Group (SIG) Penrose Options opened a new Complex Needs Supported Accommodation Pathway in Havering offering care to people transitioning from homelessness to supported accommodation. Whilst SIG Penrose Options initially rented the property in Havering, they were keen to buy it so that they could provide a sense of permanence for the people who used the service
Solution
Reliance Bank proudly provided funding to SIG Penrose Options to purchase a property in Havering that comprises of six sites. Using the funding SIG Penrose Options were able to offer a purpose-built supported temporary housing scheme providing 25 selfcontained flats and 23 shared accommodation units
SIG Penrose Options accommodation in Havering provides bespoke person-centred care and support, and intensive housing management services in the community for adults aged between 18 and 60 with specific accommodation and well-being support needs
Impact
Keyworkers at the accommodation in Havering work closely with Havering Council and other support service providers to help people transition from homelessness or other forms of accommodation such as sofa surfing Their goal is to shape and develop positive opportunities for them to move on and become active members of the community
The accommodation in Havering performance data for FY2024/25:
Recent Completions!
COMPLETION
Our Relationship Directors have proudly funded the following deals:
Funding amount: £850K
Sector: Community
Purpose: Property Purchase
Funding amount: £368K
Sector: Faith
Purpose: Refinance
Funding amount: £250K
Sector: Community
Purpose: Property Purchase
Funding amount: £2.750M
Sector: Healthcare
Purpose: Care Home Purchase
Funding amount: £1.15m
Sector: Social Housing
Purpose: Refinance
Funding amount: £850K
Sector: Faith
Purpose: Property Purchase
Funding amount: £650K
Sector: Healthcare
Purpose: Refinance
Funding amount: £2.3m
Sector: Social Housing
Purpose: Property Purchase
What we offer
At Reliance Bank, we are dedicated to transparency and ensuring that our customers are fully informed about the financial products we offer.
We prioritise our business lending to those organisations that deliver positive social impact in the UK
We provide loans for:
Features:
Tailored loan pricing on a case-by-case basis
Simple application process and fast decisions
Early indication of our appetite to lend
Specialist not-for-profit sector experience
Tailored solution to suit your organisations unique requirements
You’ll have a named Relationship Director and Portfolio Manager to contact directly when you need to speak to someone
Power to change lives for the better
Reliance Bank aligns its lending practices to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) – a global framework for achieving a better and more sustainable future.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals were adopted by the UN member states as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and are a blueprint for governments, businesses and societies around the world to help reduce poverty, protect the planet’s future and improve lives for everyone
Reliance Bank want to be the socially responsible bank of choice for people who want their money to make a difference.
We prioritise our business lending to charities and businesses delivering positive social impact in the UK. We specifically focus on the impact themes of Community, Faith, Healthcare and Social Housing
Reliance Bank’s funding helped:
What our customers say about us!
Julie Thomas, Business Manager and Company Secretary for South Devon Steiner School commented
The process was relatively straightforward, we were supported throughout by David Price It was nice to speak to a person rather than a computer. We were kept informed all through the process and everyone was very friendly.”
Yinka Tomori – Chair of City Praise Centre CIO commented
When we were thinking about taking a loan we were looking at the various banks it was important to note that Reliance Bank is owned by The Salvation Army They are a Christian organisation and we are a Christian church We thought it would be a good way of making sure that the money we have also goes back into Reliance Bank and I know that Reliance Bank also supports a lot of charitable causes. And it has a desire to see that a church grows So, we thought it was a good fit on both sides ”
Reliance Bank Commercial Finance team have an events programme where they attend conferences in our core sectors They enjoy insightful presentations, meeting contacts and making new connections
NACFB Commercial Finance Expo
Events attended include:
Housing Finance Conference Liverpool 19 March 2025 th
Care Show London – 30 April 2025 th
Social Housing Finance Summit London – 14 May 2025 th
UKREiiF Leeds – 20 May 2025 th
Charity Times Annual Conference – 21 May 2025 st
Laing Buisson Social Care Summit – 5 June 2025 th
NACFB Expo NEC – 11 June 2025 th
Housing 2025 Manchester – 24 June 2025 th
Faith Charities Forum – 10 September 2025 th
Charity Finance Summit – 16 October 2025 th
Commercial Director - Morag Davies at NACFB Commercial Finance Expo
Reliance Bank help facilitate the lifechanging work of our customers including The Salvation Army
Giving money meaning We call it
Open a Reliance Bank Business & Charity Current Account and the money you deposit with us contributes to providing funding to organisations delivering positive social impact in the UK
Charity Giving Savings Account ad
Earn Interest and make a Grow Your Savings Positive Social Impact
Our customer’s deposits are used to provide funding to organisations like food banks that reduce hunger for people living in poverty And our funding is used by community centres that allow young people who feel abandoned by society, by school, by family, the opportunity to feel cared for and included
Fixed Term Deposit or Notice Savings Accounts if you can put the money aside for a period of time.
Instant Access if you need to access your money
Helping good people do great things with money
and
Reliance Bank has been at the forefront of socially responsible banking since 1890 when we were formed as the bank for The Salvation Army
The power to change lives for the better
As a Bank, we’ve supported businesses and charities for over 135 years and we prioritise business lending to organisations that deliver positive social impact in the UK, so you’ll be joining a group of like-minded people
RelianceBankhavebeenawardedFIRSTplaceoverallinthe2025CharityFinanceBanking Survey,asvotedforbyourcustomers.
RelianceBankalsoachievedfirstplaceinthefollowingcategories: