The DT headline news today is that Nigel Farage's bank, Coutts, unilaterally shut down his bank account with them, not, as they said originally because his assets fell below a minimum figure but because:
He doesn't align with our values He is seen as zenophobic and racist. He is considered by many to be a disingenuous grifter. Being associated with NF represents a material and ongoing reputaional risk to the bank
So now you know, we have a a new set of self-appointed censors in the land. Hold the wrong political views - and thats it, your bank account will be closed down.
And why should they stop at political views? Will the banks start closing the bank accounts of any one with contentious ethical or religious views, or because they are in the public eye for some aspect of their behaviour.
Will Huw Edwards, Philip Schofield, Katie Price, Prince Harry have their bank accounts closed down because the banks, who daily process millions, if not billions of £s for drug dealers, corrupt members of corrupt regimes, whose people starve while they stash £millions away in secret bank accounts, consider that the above named ^do not align with their values'
Who gave the banks, and when, the right to censor what we do and what we think and withdraw, that absolute essential of life today - a bank account - because someone's political or other views offend their delicate consciences?
tickingbird
Just returned home to find the boss of Coutts has also resigned. Brilliant, cue more gnashing of teeth
Yes tickingbird it's come quite a long way for a non story 
Fleurpepper
From Jason J Hunter:
Have I got this timeline right?
Chap called Marshall Wace (you've probably not heard of him but he's rather rich, owns GB News and is Nigel Farages boss)...
Marshalls hedge fund shorts his investments in NatWest bank a few months ago around the same time that Nigel Farage gets a letter from Coutts (owned by NatWest)... shorting is where he bets on NatWest stock crashing.
An appropriate amount of time later, Nigel Farage goes loopy all over social media claiming he's been kicked out of NatWest bank (a lie because NatWest offered him a bank account) because the public image he has created for himself is that he's a racist...
Then he witch-hunts to get the CEO sacked (she was wrong talking to the BBC)...
NatWest share price crashes.
Marshall (Farages boss at GB News) makes millions of quid.
I can't help wondering if Farage was in for a cut of the profits.
Well I'm taking your word as gospel, so if your right ok.
But, you take a few loopy leaps yourself to make the story fit your agenda!
And so far as I'm concerned makes no difference to the fact
that this is about the banks behaviour towards many other people.
Look this has been happening to people for 10 years that I know about. It has only mushroomed now because of a high profile politician being affected and making a stand.
As I've said before, it isn't necessarily about NF, it is about the banks and other institutions deciding they can do as they like!
Why get upset about NF?
Just look at it as if some people (who no doubt you or I didn't know about, or try to help before) are now able to try to get redress.
How would they be able to otherwise?
Just returned home to find the boss of Coutts has also resigned. Brilliant, cue more gnashing of teeth
Thousands of British expats resident in EU countries like France and Spain have had their banks accounts closed. Customers of Barclays Bank living in France are among the latest to receive notification their accounts must be shutdown because of red rape linked to Brexit.
Although the UK departure from the EU has not officially been blamed for the banking bombshell, there is no doubt that the move has influenced the decision. Financial institutions in the UK previously used the EU’s passporting system to help provide services to expat clients who retained their UK accounts, but this is no longer possible.
'Passporting' enables UK banks to provide services to customers in other states in the European Economic Area (EEA) – the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway – without having to get direct authorisation in those states. However, UK banks now need to have separate authorisation in every EEA country where it operates.
Some banks, including Barclays, have decided to simply close customer accounts in countries rather than obtaining approval to continue running expat accounts. Others, like Santander, won’t close existing accounts but refuse to allow new accounts to be started., it has been reported. Lloyds Bank and Halifax continue to provide services to personal customers based in most EU countries, including Spain and France, but haven’t accepted applications for new accounts from those living outside the UK for several years, pre-dating Brexit
Thousands of EU-based accounts have already been closed by the UK banks, with more expats receiving notification they should make alternative arrangements. Around 1.4 million British citizens currently reside in EU nations. Expats usually operate a UK bank account to receive pension payments, salaries and other income sources.
British expats often choose to keep a UK account open if they receive a pension, salary or other income, such as rental payments for a UK home, in pounds, as many non-UK accounts have fees or poor exchange rates for converting pounds into local currency.
Fleurpepper
Many British expats who live in the EU, who pay tax in UK and have pensions paid in UK in Sterling, into their bank account- before transferring funds to where they live, have had their accounts closed by their banks- even though they have had those accounts all their working lives, for over 40 years!
Did Farage complain on their behalf?
Those accounts were closed due to U.K. leaving the EU.
As I understand it you need an English address to have an English bank account now.
Many British expats who live in the EU, who pay tax in UK and have pensions paid in UK in Sterling, into their bank account- before transferring funds to where they live, have had their accounts closed by their banks- even though they have had those accounts all their working lives, for over 40 years!
Did Farage complain on their behalf?
From Jason J Hunter:
Have I got this timeline right?
Chap called Marshall Wace (you've probably not heard of him but he's rather rich, owns GB News and is Nigel Farages boss)...
Marshalls hedge fund shorts his investments in NatWest bank a few months ago around the same time that Nigel Farage gets a letter from Coutts (owned by NatWest)... shorting is where he bets on NatWest stock crashing.
An appropriate amount of time later, Nigel Farage goes loopy all over social media claiming he's been kicked out of NatWest bank (a lie because NatWest offered him a bank account) because the public image he has created for himself is that he's a racist...
Then he witch-hunts to get the CEO sacked (she was wrong talking to the BBC)...
NatWest share price crashes.
Marshall (Farages boss at GB News) makes millions of quid.
I can't help wondering if Farage was in for a cut of the profits.
I have never been a fan of Nigel Farage, despite him being very charismatic when you meet him.
I am however fully behind his campaign regarding clarity on debanking
Part of NatWest again!
Not only Nigel Farage.
"The crisis coursing through the banking sector has taken another twist after an equality campaigner and her husband were told their account was being closed.
Professor Lesley Sawers, 64, the Equalities and Human Rights Commissioner for Scotland, has been a loyal customer for 32 years. But Prof Sawers and husband Allan McKechnie have been told their Royal Bank of Scotland joint account will be shut next month."
www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/uk-news/scots-gender-equality-campaigner-bank-30398305
Freya5 what if you wrote to your local paper or wore something which showed your politics, and your bank disagreed and closed your account?
You'd be fine with it?
Btw, the same thing happened to the Triggernometry guys, some time before Farage.
Farage kept busy and the banks' bullying being checked. Win win.
ronib
Nigel Farage is now fully into his campaign and is launching a website for the de banked so that banks can be named and legislation introduced. He is on a roll.
He’s loving it isn’t he!
It’s going to keep him busy, which is no bad thing
Nigel Farage is now fully into his campaign and is launching a website for the de banked so that banks can be named and legislation introduced. He is on a roll.
Franbern... the vitriol this man spews out....
Care to give an example?
I have only really listened to him since he joined GB news, and he has been quite the gentleman over the debanking debacle.
the commusint sounding bit was
banks aren’t obliged to serve customers with conflicting values.
Franbern
fancythat
Dilly, that sounds like a comm unist statement.
Clarify how the rather accurate description of Farage could be 'communist'.? Or, are you saying that only 'Communists' do not like the vitriol that this man spews out?
Vitriol in your eyes. Not in many others. Despite your personal views, what this woman did, should ensure she never gets another job in banking again. She wont be poor, thats for sure. Can't be trusted not to divulge customer details to the beeb. Simon Jack should resign also. Imagine if this had happened to a left wing politician or such as Owen Jones, there would have been uproar on here with those who think Farage deserved this because people don't like his political views.
Ironically, Farage aside it’s the privacy laws we all support that enable many of the fraudulent and criminal activities to take place
fancythat
Dilly, that sounds like a comm unist statement.
Clarify how the rather accurate description of Farage could be 'communist'.? Or, are you saying that only 'Communists' do not like the vitriol that this man spews out?
You’re not wrong Kandinsky😂
Kandinsky
I can’t believe some people agreed with the banks over this, a few on this thread too!
But some so called liberals would agree with bringing back hanging if it involved Nigel Farage or ‘ the right’
Hypocrisy at its worst.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I can’t believe some people agreed with the banks over this, a few on this thread too!
But some so called liberals would agree with bringing back hanging if it involved Nigel Farage or ‘ the right’
Hypocrisy at its worst.
I dont bank with N w.
But I would be closing mine if I did.
If a Bank board thinks it is ok to divulge personal information...
Presume they will be apologising next?..
Maybe after more hoo haa first, more questions asked of different bodies, more media coverage, more accounts closed, more celebs or high up VIPs whispering in their ear, etc etc
Banks are built on trust.
Farage did say, or was it Boris, that it is knocking confidence overseas, for business to invest in the Uk, if it is seen in the Uk as acceptable to break confidentiality.
Poetic justice for Alison Rose and her staggering breach of client confidentiality which amounted to not much more than idle gossip. A client whether they be Joe Soap or an extremely high profile person has the right to expect their affairs to be handled in confidence. It's particularly galling that this lack of discretion emanated from the person at the highest level and on an enormous salary. Glad she's gone her behaviour was completely unacceptable.
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