Bank of Dave now: Is the Bank of Dave still open?

Burnley Savings and Loans (BSAL) founder Dave Fishwick
-Credit:Tim Merry / Daily Mirror


Bank of Dave: The Loan Ranger is on Netflix and the film tells the true story of businessman Dave Fishwick who set up his own community bank with the slogan "Bank on Dave". Dave, who owned David Fishwick Minibus Sales, launched the life-changing venture when he realised high street banks were not lending his customers money after the recession.

The real Dave Fishwick, 53, from Lancashire, opened the bank in 2011 but it is actually called Burnley Savings and Loans - not Bank of Dave. Although it is still open and thriving to this day, it is not technically an official UK registered bank.

With this in mind, it means his customers are only able to deposit a limited amount. The independent lending company gained attention in 2012 following Dave's call for Parliament to reform the banking system.

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He first applied for official banking status in 2017 so he could offer a wider range of products and services. Since opening, the enterprise has lent cash to thousands of customers.

By 2022 it had given loans totalling more than £27 million and had grown from just three members of staff to a large, thriving team.

Dave Fishwick's business is still going strong
Dave Fishwick's business is still going strong -Credit:ExpressStar

The company offers help with a number of services from vehicle finance to business loans, mortgages and credit cards.

Dave is also still running his mini bus company, meaning he has been extremely busy juggling both projects.

His website says: "The company (BASL) continues to make decisions based on experience and good, old fashioned common sense, making a difference to small businesses and real people, helping a large number of different charities and good causes along the way.

Rory Kinnear and Dave Fishwick
Rory Kinnear and Dave Fishwick -Credit:Getty Images

"Through his media profile, Dave has continued to lobby parliament to make changes to the banking industry and help educate the general public to improve their finances.

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"He firmly believes that BSAL is the future, and wants to prove that the financial industry can also be socially responsible.

"Currently BSAL is applying to become a UK regulated bank; The Bank of Dave; a bank for the community, by the community, offering an expanded range of products to an expanded audience."

Bank of Dave 2 is based on the Channel 4 documentary Dave Fishwick: Loan Ranger, which aired in 2014.

Bank of Dave: The Loan Ranger is on Netflix.