A Bank of the South West > to serve the everyday financial needs of ordinary people, local community groups, and small and medium sized companies >> Tony Greenham in Exeter: Thursday 12th October

The last few days have been very busy with the Transition Town network in Exeter:
Futures Forum: Transition Exeter >>> 24th & 26th Sept: the film 'Demain' / 'Tomorrow' >>> 23rd Sept: the Transition Network south-west regional workshop

In a fortnight's time, there'll be another inspiring event in Exeter:

Imagine if there was a bank dedicated to the South West that put the welfare of its local communities before profits. A bank that helped local economies to grow by supporting all residents to upskill, regardless of their financial means. A bank that empowered people to grow their ideas into thriving local businesses. A bank that people trusted. What would Glastonbury look like in twenty, or thirty years time?

Join us for an interactive event with the RSAs Director of Economics, Tony Greenham, to discuss the economic and social case for regional banks, and to explore the opportunities and challenges of creating a co-cooperative bank dedicated to the South West.

"Our economy needs a more diverse, locally focused and sustainable approach to finance if we are to rebalance the economy and fulfil the growth potential of all our cities and all our citizens" - John Clancy - Leader, Birmingham City Council.

The need for regional banking was highlighted in the RSA's Inclusive Growth Commission where we saw that lack of access to appropriate banking and financial tools can have a serious impact on people on low incomes or with a poor financial history, as well as on SMEs and micro businesses. Incredibly, there are over 1.7 million adults in the UK that don’t have a bank account, while at the same time the pace of branch closures has accelerated rapidly, leaving 1,500 communities without a bank. Whilst already severe, these challenges are likely to become even more acute in the context of Brexit and upcoming reforms to local government financing. There has never been a more urgent need to rebalance the UK economy.

At the RSA we’re supporting the Community Savings Bank Association create a UK-wide network of customer-owned, regional banks to serve the everyday financial needs of ordinary people, local community groups, and small and medium sized companies.

This event will bring together a wide range of local stakeholders including local business owners and representatives of local government. Following the talks we will move in to interactive table discussions to leverage the expertise, knowledge and experience of the participants in the room. We will explore:

● What are the motivations and barriers in Glastonbury & other local areas to establishing this kind of bank?

● What role can different stakeholders play in catalysing the establishment of a South West bank?

We hope you can join us.

Agenda

7.00 - 7.30 – Registration 
7.30 - 7.35 – Welcome, Mark Hall. RSA, Deputy Head of Engagement
7.35 - 7.50 – Glastonbury's Last Bank Standing Campaign, Kevin Redpath
7.50 - 8.30 – A bank for the South West, Tony Greenham. RSA, Director of Economics
8.30 - 9.00 – Table discussion
9.00 - 9.30 – Refreshments

If you have any questions, or to let us know of any access requirements, severe nut allergies, or reasonable adjustments you may have, please email the RSA team: engagement@rsa.org.uk.

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The Speakers

Tony Greenham leads the Economy, Enterprise and Manufacturing programme at the RSA. He is a chartered accountant and former investment banker with experience both in business and with social and environmental NGOs. Tony’s career has ranged from blue-chip professional services and banking experience with PwC, Barclays Bank and Credit Suisse, through small business start-ups and social and environmental NGOs to economic policy research. He is author and co-author of many books and reports on economic reform including People Powered Prosperity: Ultra-local approaches to making poorer places wealthier, the Reality of Now: how social processes drive organisational behaviour, Stakeholder Banks: the benefits of banking diversity and the best-selling economic textbook, Where Does Money Come From? A guide to the UK monetary and banking system.

Kevin Redpath was one of the creative team behind Glastonbury's Last Bank Standing campaign. With a background in multi-media production he contributed his skills to raise the profile of the campaign in the regional and national media. Before that he managed the Business Adviser team on the Connecting Somerset broadband programme and was invited to speak at the European Parliament on the importance of ICT in helping rural businesses thrive in the 21st Century.

A South West bank for inclusive growth Tickets, Thu, 12 Oct 2017 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

It's all about the money:
Futures Forum: Low wages in the South West
Futures Forum: Exeter Community Energy >>> solar power share offer >>> closes 27th November
Futures Forum: Exeter Pound official launch >>> Tuesday 1st September
Futures Forum: Alternative currencies >>> responding to market and government failures
Futures Forum: A land conference: Exeter: Saturday 21st March >>>>> "How can we grow a proper relationship between people and place?"
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