The UK is very unusual in having no regional mutual banks. Come and find out why this matters to the prosperity of our city and region, and how we can benefit once again from local banking built on mutual trust.

The Community Savings Bank Association was established in 2015 to apply international best practice and provide the necessary IT, regulatory and operating infrastructure to create a network of 18 new regional banks across the UK. The first bank in the network, Greater London Mutual, has already raised £17m and commenced the regulatory process with the Bank of England.

South West Mutual has recently been set up to seek investment and a banking licence to serve the small businesses, social and community enterprises and people of Devon, Cornwall, Dorset and Somerset.

Hear from economist and South West MEP Molly Scott-Cato on why we need a new bank for the Plymouth and region. Hear from international guest speaker Thorsten Guthke, Director of the Associations of German Public Banks, about the critical role that regional banks play in the German economy. And, finally hear from the new director at the South West Mutual – Tony Greenham. Outgoing Director of Economy at the RSA, a former banker with over 25 years of commercial and management experience, Tony will tell us how we are setting up a new bank – owned by us.

Refreshments available throughout the evening, free to attend, booking essential, tickets limited.