The Co-operative Bank - saving a great idea: a one-day mini-conference in November 2016 in Manchester hosted by the Customer Union for Ethical Banking.

10.15 Arrival Registration and Coffee

10.30 am to 10.45 am – Welcome and practical information from the Save our Bank team.

Morning theme - All about the Co-operative Bank

10.45am to 11.45 am  Ownership and ethics at the Co-op Bank

A panel of three speakers speaking for roughly 10 minutes each and then opening to questions and discussion.

  • Frances Coppola economist, commentator and former banker – on the Co-op Bank and the wider banking sector in 2016
  • Shaun Fensom from the Customer Union– on ideas for building a stake in the Co-op Bank
  • Nick Crofts President of the Co-operative Group national member council - on working together.

Coffee Break: 11.45 – 12.00

12.00 – 1.00  The closure of Palestine and other solidarity support group accounts

A representative from Amnesty presenting research findings into this issue.  Also discussing wider pressures on campaign groups with new banking regulations.  Panel discussion and questions from the floor.

  • Peter Frankental from Amnesty - NGO account closures.
  • Kathy Brooks from Saddleworth Palestine Women's Scholarship Fund - impact of account closures
  • Ryan Brightwell from Bank Track on human rights issues in the wider banking sector.

LUNCH 1.00pm to 1.45pm

Afternoon Theme – Shaping a Customer Union

1.45 – 2.45  Learning from other co-operatives

Starting with keynote address from Dirk Coeckelbergh CEO of Newb - Europe’s new crowdfunded co-op bank.  Could this model be a plan B for the customer union if the Co-op Bank loses its way under the new owners?  Or perhaps an additional direction of value in itself?

Rob Harrison from Ethical Consumer will also talk briefly about what co-operatives inside football supporters clubs can tell us about how a customer union might work.  Opening to discussion from the floor.

2.45 – 3.00 Coffee Break

3.00 - 4.00 Where next for the Customer Union?

For CUEB members. Reflections and practical deliberations on how to include members in decision-making inside the organisation.

4.00 Conference Closes