Co-op bank refuses services to feminist group

[chaoticgood]

twitter.com/SaveOurBank/status/1006920527292846080

www.co-operativebank.co.uk/assets/pdf/bank/news/values-and-ethics-report-2017.pdf

I would love to know what human right they are referring to.

I'd want to know more about this feminist organisation and what 'rights' they denied; was it housing? Food? Employment? Oxygen? Freedom from slavery? Did they torture them? Refuse education?

If they did encourage hate and hate speech I can understand it but I'd want to know more about what was denied (and indeed, how one group can actively deny those rights).

Intrigued.

Or are you saying you agree with denying the trans community rights?

What rights are being denied??

*Or are you saying you agree with denying the trans community rights?

What rights are being denied??*

I have no idea I wasn't part of the Coop board who made the decision but pretty sure they don't do these things on a whim

@africat

If a group is denying the rights of a protected community why is it a bad thing to refuse to do business with them?

It isn't.

are you saying you agree with denying the trans community rights?

No, of course not, silly.

I just find it extremely unlikely that a feminist group exists that is actually denying anyone's human rights. I believe that the group in question is gender critical or gender abolitionist, and is being sanctioned for having these political views. Of course I don't know for sure but where is this feminist group who is going around stopping trans people from, e.g, owning property or joining a trade union? hrlibrary.umn.edu/edumat/hreduseries/hereandnow/Part-5/8_udhr-abbr.htm

I think the Coop has shown their discernment to be as good as their past money management

pretty sure they don't do these things on a whim

Not a whim. A desire to display how "right on" they are according to the current political fashion, which is to demonise gender critical feminists.

I have no idea I wasn't part of the Coop board who made the decision but pretty sure they don't do these things on a whim

No of course you weren't - sorry.

It may not have been on a whim but I'd love to know who the group is as I've yet to come across a feminist group powerful enough to deny anyone rights.

Here is the financial ombudsman on a related question. My suspicion is that this stuff is all a bit untested but if I was the feminist group I would complain.

is a firm entitled to close a customer’s account – even without the customer’s agreement-
The general answer is – yes, the firm is entitled to do this. Like most other commercial organisations, banks and building societies are under no obligation to continue doing business with someone if they do not consider it appropriate to do so. But they should not decide to close an account for an improper reason – for instance, because of unfair bias or unlawful discrimination.

www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/ombudsman-news/48/banking-closing-accounts.htm

It'd be worth someone digging out the business banking code...

Incidentally banking is not the same as selling potatoes or providing print services or whatever, it has significantly more rules on what you can and can't do due to the public detriment if banking services are not available.

I work in financial services, we r humans and humans sometimes make very foolish, very whimful decisions. I wouldn't say "oh the board signed it off so it must be the best idea fully in line with compliance requirements having considered...etc"

When are people going to engage their brains and realise that being pro women and girls is NOT anti-trans

Ffs can we really not have anything to ourselves or does everything we do and say need to involve a penis

Someone has now stated that the group that was refused service by the Co-Op bank is "Hands Across the Aisle" which is here:

handsacrosstheaislewomen.com/

I've not heard of them before and am reading through their site. They do not seem to be anti-Trans from anything I've read before. Merely opposed to accepting a MtF trans person is actually a woman. Things most here would agree with, I suspect.

might have a rummage in the regs later.

this is why I love mumsnet, the beautiful turn of phrase and the fact that there is always someone who knows where to look and what to look for.

People have tried to get them to explain, but they haven't.

N.b. the person who said this isn't a spokesperson for the bank. It's not authenticated and I don't know how they know this, though they sound confident.

Hmm...

I wonder if it could possibly be anything to do with this

handsacrosstheaislewomen.com/2018/03/14/mother-interrogated-by-the-police-for-gender-critical-tweets/

Interesting. I have heard of banks declining political groups entirely

also poised to change banks. have heard metro bank is good

I'm currently leaving co-op anyway so this confirms I did the right thing.

I wonder if it could possibly be anything to do with this

It might well be. I consider that pretty despicable if so. First someone is arrested for their opinion and then an organization is denied services because of it.

Excellent, I need a kick up the arse to close the business account and move my two personal accounts.

I'd be surprised if the group was "Hands Across the Aisle". It's not a feminist group and it's American.

I used to consider the Co-Op a good thing. "Ethical retailer" and all that. I got my wake-up when I learned they were one of the backers of Tony Blair's election. I don't like banks interfering in democracy at the best of time, but especially not when it's that mass-murdering human oil-slick.

I agree Oldman

OldCrone yes, but they have recently given their support to a very vocal gender-critical UK woman (see my link)

If this is what is behind it, I can only be glad that I do not bank with co-op.

But would they even require a UK bank account?

Ah! I take your point OC