Mission, Vision and Values
Banking with purpose
At Unity Trust Bank, we believe finance should help society. We provide responsible banking to organisations that create positive social, economic and environmental impact across the UK.
As a purpose led bank, we work to achieve two things at the same time: strong financial performance and a positive difference for people and the environment.
Our mission, vision and values guide every decision we make, from how we lend and invest, to how we support our customers and communities.
Our Mission
To help create a better society.
We exist to support organisations that make a meaningful difference. We champion those creating genuine, positive change, and our customers trust us to use their money responsibly, supporting only the people and projects working for a better world. Our ambition is to be the bank people are proud to choose: in every sense, a bank you can truly rely on.
By bringing together deep sector expertise, responsible lending, and ethical decision‑making, we help our customers grow sustainably and deliver long‑term impact.
Our Vision
To become the bank of choice for socially minded organisations in the UK.
We believe banking can, and should, be a force for good. Our vision is part of a broader, purpose‑led approach that focuses on:
- Serving organisations that create positive social impact, from charities to community enterprises.
- Using finance to help build a better society, linking our lending to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Staying true to our roots in the trade union movement and our belief in banking for the common good.
We aim to lead by example, demonstrating that commercial success and positive social impact go hand in hand.
Our Values
Our values shape everything we do – how we work, how we serve customers and how we contribute to society.
Integrity: We do what’s right, consistently, transparently and ethically.
We lend responsibly and assess risk carefully, balancing financial performance with long‑term social impact. We communicate openly with customers and stakeholders, follow strong governance rules and take responsibility for the outcomes we help create.
Inclusive: We make sure things are fair and open to everyone, so colleagues, customers and communities can grow.
We support groups that help local communities and give more people opportunities across the UK. Inside our organisation, we work to create a welcoming place where different ideas and experiences are valued and respected.
Collaborative: We work in partnership, building trusted relationships to achieve better outcomes together.
We take time to understand our customers’ goals and challenges, working with them as long‑term partners. We collaborate across teams to share knowledge, improve decisions and increase our collective impact.
Bold: We think differently and act decisively, challenging convention to deliver positive change.
We confidently support organisations that drive social and environmental progress. We welcome new ideas and look for better ways to help our customers and increase impact.
Straightforward: We speak clearly and keep things simple, so banking is easy for everyone to understand.
We avoid confusing language in our products, processes and messages. We explain our choices clearly, set honest expectations and aim to make every step simple, open and human.
Turning values into action
Our mission, vision and values are not just statements, they guide how we lend, how we operate and how we grow.
Our values are built into our lending decisions, risk frameworks and governance. We recruit, develop and support colleagues who share our commitment to responsible banking. And we keep clear responsibility for delivering both financial strength and positive social impact – we call this our double bottom line.
| Value | How we live it | How we deliver it |
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We demonstrate integrity through independently verified impact practices aligned to the Operating Principles for Impact Management and recognition via the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. |
Through our commitment to Just Transition to Net Zero, we work to ensure the shift to a low-carbon economy advances social justice as well as environment progress. |
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We’ve created a workplace where different voices are encouraged and supported. We support colleagues through initiatives like Mental Health Awareness Week and International Women’s Day. |
We focus on lending to organisations that help people in places that need it most. In 2025, more than half of our lending (53.7%) went to areas with high deprivation. This shows our strong commitment to lending that makes a positive impact. |
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Our teams design solutions across departments to structure products that balance commercial viability with measurable social value. |
In 2025, we became the first UK bank to back Local Climate Bonds, partnering with Abundance Investment and the Green Finance Institute to help local authorities fund climate projects co-designed with communities. |
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Our colleagues champion innovative ideas, such as new impact measurement tools for customers and our Unity Impact Grants, even when they require stepping outside of traditional banking norms. |
We have repeatedly set the benchmark for ethical banking, including becoming the first UK bank to be accredited as a Living Wage employer and the first to achieve the Fair Tax mark. |
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We use clear, jargon‑free communication between teams, ensuring everyone understands decisions, processes, and expectations without unnecessary complexity. This is reinforced by our 2025 award for being an Outstanding Employer by Best Companies. |
We’re clear about where our lending goes and the impact it delivers, publishing clear data in our annual impact report to show how our funding benefits communities and contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. |
Our ethical commitments
We’re committed to making sure the money we lend helps society in a positive way.
This means we support organisations that strengthen communities, increase opportunities and help build a more sustainable future.
It also means we follow clear principles when deciding who to lend to, looking at financial strength as well as social and environmental impact.
How we measure success
We’re committed to ensuring the funds we provide help society in a good way.
This means we support groups that help local communities, give people more chances and work towards a greener, safer future.
It also means we follow simple, clear rules when deciding who to lend money to, looking at financial strength as well as social and environmental impact.
Governance and oversight
We take our responsibility seriously, and this guides the whole organisation.
Our Board and senior leaders review our plans, how we manage risk and how we behave as a business. We have clear rules to make sure our lending matches our purpose and values. We also review our work regularly to stay focused on our long‑term social and environmental goals.
Our ethical partnerships
Our impact hub
Our corporate governance
Guided by purpose
We’re proud of the role we play in supporting organisations that create social, economic and environmental impact.
We recognise that our responsibility goes further – to lead responsibly, act transparently and continually strengthen the positive difference we make.
That’s what it means to be Unity Trust Bank.
It’s simple, secure and stress-free to switch to us
If you’re ready to switch your Business Current Account to Unity Trust Bank, we’ll make sure it happens like clockwork. The account switch process is guaranteed to take 7 working days or less, and it’s all taken care of by the Current Account Switch Service.