The Bankers Benevolent Fund

Analysis

The Bankers Benevolent Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in March 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives, disability and the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 00019366). It says it makes grants to individuals, provides advocacy/advice/information and other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending March 2025, The Bankers Benevolent Fund reported income of £2.5m and spending of £5.5m, spending 219% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income grew from £1.9m to £2.5m (+35%), an average of +7.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2024, when income rose by 26%. Over the whole period it spent 257% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The Bankers Benevolent Fund sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Mid and North Essex Mind (£2.5m), Follicular Lymphoma Foundation (£2.5m) and Christian Care Homes (£2.5m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from investments 67% and donations and legacies 33%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £5,987. Charitable activities took 84% of spending and raising funds 13%. Reserves of £30.9m would cover about 66 months of spending at that rate. It employed 37 people.

Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.