Notices
  • Savings products - In preparation of the launch of our new and improved Online Service we have temporarily withdrawn online applications for all our savings products. You can still apply for these products by post or in branch. All savings products will be available to apply online from 12 May. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

  • Savings customers: Your 2024 / 2025 Annual Interest Savings Summary are currently being processed and are due to be delivered by 30 April 2025.
  • We’ll shortly be making some changes to our Online Service to make it simpler and easier for you to use.  

    Our new Online Service will have a modern design, improved navigation and many added benefits.  

    Find out more about the changes

  • Mortgage products - On Wednesday 23 April, we made changes to our mortgage product range. These include rate adjustments across our fixed rate products, and an increase to our Owner Occupier Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor maximum LTV to up to 90% (with no additional security required) for loans up to £500,000.
  • Online Service update. Due to planned essential maintenance our Online Service will be unavailable from 6pm until 12am on Wednesday 7 May. Our Online Service will also be unavailable between 5.30pm on Friday 9 May until 9am on Monday 12 May. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.


Our Bank of Mum and Dad research

The Bank of Mum and Dad - how does it really work?

In 2018, in conjunction with the London School of Economics, we carried out research with our members to look at how families approach parental help when buying a property, and their experiences during this process.

The report, The Bank of Mum and Dad: How it really works, confirmed what we suspected which is that, while parents are happy to help their children, there is rarely any discussion about how any money should change hands or be repaid.

The report recommends that a set of guidelines or a template be developed to help ensure parents and adult children have discussed exactly what they are doing and what everyone’s responsibilities are regarding when, how and indeed if repayments are to be made.


What we found out

The report provided interesting insight into how the Bank of Mum and Dad really works, such as:

  • Few parents (and indeed grandparents) take legal or financial advice before lending money to their loved one. There is usually no written record of transactions.

  • Only 8% of parents who gave money to a child for a deposit sought advice from a financial adviser, while only 14% took legal advice.

  • Families are failing to make clear whether the money is a loan or a gift.

  • Many people are uncomfortable talking about money within the family.

  • Most parents said they were pleased to be able to help their children, although about half thought it unfair that they should have to do so.

  • The most popular source of funds for family assistance was savings (70%), followed by inheritance, chosen by 14%.

  • The median parental contribution was £30,000, while the mean was much higher at £59,200 in the higher-cost areas of London and the South East.

To find out more read our report The Bank of Mum and Dad: How it really works.

 

How to run the Bank of Mum and Dad

Having talked to our members about their experiences and the report’s recommendation regarding guidelines, we produced a definitive guide on 'How to run the Bank of Mum and Dad'.

Our guide shows how it works and the important things families need to consider, covering topics such as:

  • Fairness
  • Misunderstandings and misgivings
  • Taking advice
  • Having more than one child
  • Relationship breakdowns
  • Personal circumstances and what the future holds.

For more information read our guide 'How to run the Bank of Mum and Dad'.

How to run the Bank of Mum and Dad

Our definitive guide on 'How to run the Bank of Mum and Dad' shows how it works and important things to consider.

Legal and Financial consideration guide

Useful guidance on the financial considerations and legal implications that families should be aware of when helping loved ones to buy a home.

Conversation guide

Talking about money with family can be difficult. Our simple guide can help both parents and adult children tackle that tricky conversation of financial support.