Latest news with #ethicalbanking
Zawya
08-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Gatehouse Bank achieves fifth consecutive year of profitability
The Bank's 12-month rolling net promoter score reached 71+, the highest in its history. Gatehouse Bank surpassed the milestone of 50,000 trees planted through its Woodland Saver Accounts. 2024 marked the five-year anniversary of the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, of which Gatehouse Bank was a founding signatory. The Bank has refined its ESG strategy across four key pillars. London – Gatehouse Bank, a Shariah-compliant ethical bank, majority owned by Kuwait shareholders, has published its annual results for the year ending 31 December 2024. The Bank reported a post-tax profit for 2024 amounting to £3.8 million (up 20% from £3.2 million in 2023), marking its fifth year of profitability. In line with its business strategy for the year, the Bank managed growth across its core markets, with total home finance originations amounting to £148 million. 2024 Key Highlights Home Finance The Bank completed a forward flow arrangement to originate £650 million of home financing to a third party, in addition to originating for the Bank's balance sheet. The Bank reintroduced its range of Home Purchase Plans* offering finance up to 95% of the property value, to support those taking their first step on the property ladder. For Buy-to-Let customers, the Bank reintroduced 'top slicing', allowing landlords to use their personal income to top up the shortfall if their tenant's rent does not achieve the required threshold. Gatehouse Bank continued to support customers financing a more energy efficient property through its green home finance products. These offer a reduced rental rate** for customers acquiring or refinancing a property with an energy efficiency rating of A or B. In addition, the Bank also offsets the carbon emissions generated by the average UK property for the product's initial fixed term. The Bank enhanced the customer journey for home finance customers by investing in technology, contributing to a milestone all-bank net promoter score of +71. In 2024, Gatehouse Bank extended its online Decision in Principle (DIP) facility to also include overseas customers, with 8,700 DIPs successfully competed online, more than double compared to the previous year. Savings In line with business strategy and the Bank's targets for the year, total retail deposits reduced by 2.1% in 2024 to £1.289 billion. Gatehouse Bank's range of fixed-term deposit and cash ISA Woodland Saver accounts remained popular with customers. For every account opened or renewed, Gatehouse partners with Forest Carbon, a leader in developing woodland creation, to plant a tree on behalf of the customer across nine woodland projects certified by the government's Woodland Carbon Code. In December 2024, the Bank surpassed the milestone of 50,000 trees planted. Build to Rent The Bank's Build to Rent activity is consolidated under one roof by subsidiary, Gatehouse Build to Rent Group, trading as Gatehouse Living Group. The Group is a vertically integrated, residential investment and management platform, comprising of Gatehouse Investment Management and the UK's largest manager of single family rental homes, Ascend. Gatehouse Living Group continued its expansion of new home developments, with properties under management now in excess of 11,500 in the UK. Performance of the Build to Rent portfolios remained favourable in 2024, with strong year-on-year rental growth and high occupancy. In 2024, Gatehouse Living Group sold an 800-home single-family housing fund on behalf of investors and launched a new strategic venture with a UK-based private equity business, acquiring over 1,000 homes from leading housebuilders. ESG Gatehouse Bank refined its ESG strategy across four pillars: biodiversity and deforestation, financial education and inclusion, climate change and community health and wellbeing. 2024 marked the five-year anniversary of the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, of which Gatehouse Bank is a founding signatory and the first Shariah-compliant bank in the UK to sign up. Gatehouse Bank has now been certified as operationally carbon neutral for four consecutive years. Colleagues across the Bank raised over £21,000 for its 2024 charity partner, the Bone Cancer Research Trust. The funds raised will help the charity continue its vital work of supporting those affected by primary bone cancer. Having continued to provide opportunities for colleagues to take two paid days of volunteering leave per year, the Bank saw its highest uptake on this policy, with 132 colleagues supporting over 40 organisations. Overall, 78% of Gatehouse Bank colleagues took part in fundraising or volunteering in 2024, marking a 38% increase compared to 2023. During the year, the Bank launched a Community Sports Fund and has partnered with five local sports teams. Through this initiative, the teams received new sports kits. Fahed Boodai, Chairman of Gatehouse Bank, added: 'I remain incredibly proud of Gatehouse Bank's progress in 2024, which marked the milestone of five consecutive years of profitability. 'We continue to have a strong track record in the retail savings, home finance and institutional Build to Rent markets, and I am confident that the Bank is well primed to deliver robust growth while upholding an excellent experience for our customers in the year ahead.' Charles Haresnape, CEO of Gatehouse Bank, commented: 'Thanks to the hard work of colleagues across Gatehouse Bank, we continue to challenge in our chosen specialisms while ensuring we put the needs of customers at the heart of everything we do. This was reflected in reaching a 12-month rolling net promoter score of 71+, a new milestone within the Bank's history. 'At Gatehouse Bank, we have appetite for further growth in 2025 and see demand from our specialist markets to achieve this. We aim to uphold an excellent customer experience for new and existing customers, while continuing to help more savers, homeowners and landlords achieve their financial goals.' To read the full 2024 Annual Report, please click here. *A Home Purchase Plan is a Shariah-compliant alternative to a mortgage. **As a Shariah-compliant bank, Gatehouse charges rental rates rather than interest rates, which reflect the share the customer owns of the property. For more information contact: H/Advisors Dubai | E: GatehouseBank@ Ashleigh Clark | E: Melissa Economou | E: About Gatehouse Bank: Gatehouse Bank is a Shariah compliant ethical bank, headquartered in London and with offices in Birmingham, Milton Keynes and Wilmslow. Majority owned by Kuwait shareholders, Gatehouse Bank offers a range of ethical savings products for UK customers, as well as residential property finance in England and Wales for UK Residents, UK Expats and International homebuyers and landlords. Gatehouse Bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the PRA and the Financial Conduct Authority. A founding signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, Gatehouse is committed to playing its part in creating a sustainable future for all. @gatehousebank
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Ex-archbishop of Canterbury urges cathedrals to ditch banks funding fossil fuels
A former archbishop of Canterbury has urged cathedrals to cut ties with banks funding fossil fuel companies. Dr Rowan Williams, who held the post from 2002 to 2012, said he wants to see more Church of England cathedrals switching to 'more ethically grounded banking options' after several recently committed to do so. Durham, Southwark, Truro and Worcester Cathedrals said they would move away from banks which fund fossil fuels, joining Chelmsford, Derby and Sheffield Cathedrals, who either already bank with a fossil-free institution, or have committed to switch. Dr Williams said: 'It is excellent news that so many cathedrals have already signalled their willingness to change to more ethically grounded banking options. 'The public profile and reputation of cathedrals remains high, even in a society that is less openly religious than it was, so the standards of vision and hope that they set matter to everyone. 'It would be wonderful to see more joining in this witness.' His comments come as green group Christian Climate Action launches a campaign calling on cathedrals and the wider church to move away from Barclays, HSBC, Santander, Natwest and Lloyds because of their ties to fossil fuel firms. The group has already coordinated vigils and protests outside cathedrals across the UK, including Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Bristol and Ripon. Dr Stephen Edwards, the Dean of Worcester Cathedral, said its declaration of a climate emergency and its Eco Church programme focuses on 'the wider implications of the climate crisis and how we can make a difference across the Cathedral's activity'. 'We began exploring alternative banking arrangements last year and are working to seek the best ethical and sustainable approach to financial processes. 'In doing so we live out our values as a Christian organisation proclaiming the Kingdom of God.' It comes as part of a wider trend of organisations moving to greener banks, such as The Cooperative Bank, Nationwide, Starling and Triodos. Adam Durrant, campaign's officer at Make My Money Matter – which campaigns for green finance, said: 'It's fantastic to see even more cathedrals and churches leaving these polluting high street banks. 'They are part of a growing movement demanding better from their money, including universities, charities and medical institutions.'
