Financial abuse

In recent years, the financial services industry has recognised how important it is to address financial domestic abuse. This has been led by UK Finance, who’ve encouraged financial services organisations like us to provide support to victims where possible. In fact, they’ve introduced a voluntary Code of Practice, which we fully support.

What does financial abuse look like?

Financial abuse can take many forms and it can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, class, religion or disability.

Often, the manipulative behaviour is carried out by a partner or ex-partner. But it can also be a family member, friend or carer.

The abuser often puts barriers in place. These might include some or all of the following:

• Stop you from working or stop you going to work.
• Make you hand over control of your bank accounts.
• Make you explain what you've spent your money on.
• Stop you buying essentials like personal hygiene products, clothing, food etc.
• Take out credit cards or loans in your name.
• Make you put the household bills in your name.
• Spend your household budget on other things without telling you.
• Withdraw money from your account without your knowledge or permission.

What can Leeds Building Society do?

We're here to help

We’ll always listen to you. We think it’s important to try and understand what you’re going through before we suggest ways that we could help. And we won’t ever judge you or put any pressure on you.

We can offer practical support to help you take back control of your money. This could include:

• Passing your information onto our Specialist Customer Support Team, so they can look at ways to provide additional help if you feel you need it.
• Logging what you tell us and any support required so you don't need to tell us again next time you get in touch.
• Helping you understand the payments going in and out of your account.
• Providing you with guidance on resetting your login details for your online account.
• Letting you know your options if you have a joint account.
• Setting up a new savings account including, in some cases, when customers don’t have all the usual documents.
• Working out a budget.

We can also tell you about other organisations who offer support and could help to keep you safe.

For more information on financial abuse please see UK Finance’s leaflet. Or if you’re concerned you or someone you know is being financially abused, please contact us on 03450 50 50 75 (Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm and Sat: 9am-5pm) or visit your local branch.

This guide is intended as a summary only and does not constitute legal or financial advice given by Leeds Building Society.