The Co-operative Bank has reduced travel transaction fees on debit cards, and the Everyday Extra account is the cheapest packaged account in the UK (June 2026: Which?).

Also in July 2026, Sheffield Credit Union becomes South Yorkshire Community Bank.

Update on ethical banking and co-operative issues.

In recent times The Co-operative Bank was in capitalist hands, but it merged in early 2025 with the Coventry Building Society, making it truly member-owned for the first time in its history. (In its much earlier life it was a subsidiary of the Co-operative Group Ltd). In the new phase it shows good signs of moving back to its origins – as the first and main ethical bank choice for customer banking. (Along with business banking, where the Trade Union-owned Unity Trust is generally favoured by many organisations and co-ops).

However we all need to be cautious, so the Customer Union for Ethical Banking is an independent union where members are customers of both of these two member-owned ethical financial institutions. To join the Customer Union costs £15 a year. They also have over 10,000 email-list supporters, if you want to stay updated for free, on ethical banking and co-operative issues.

Also in July 2026, Sheffield Credit Union becomes South Yorkshire Community Bank. This follows their merger in 2025 with Rotherham’s LASER Credit Union. The new website will be www.sycb.co.uk, and their community-minded slogan is “because with us, your money means more”. Credit Unions have long been called ‘Community Banks’ so this seems a good move; banks have legal powers to do more than credit unions.