The UK has one of the least diverse retail banking systems in Europe with a disproportionately large market share for private banks and very few cooperative, mutual or public options compared to other countries.

In Scotland particularly, bank branches have been closing at a rapid rate leaving much of the country without reliable banking services.

A model which can enable communities to found their own local bank branch providing basic but essential services free of the risky “casino banking” of the private sector is presented.