Co-op Bank gaining fans

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Neville Richardson, chief executive of the merged group, said: "We have a truly exciting opportunity to change the face of financial services in the UK at a time when customers have lost confidence in the shareholder and Government owned banks.

People have realised that we are customer-led, thinking of our members rather than trying to improve short-term profits at the expense of customers' interests."

Co-op Bank, which includes the popular Smile online bank, added 113,000 new current accounts in the six months to end-July taking the total to 1.2 million. Richardson pointed out that that is before it started offering current accounts to Britannia members once the merger completed on 1 August. He also believes that Co-op's ethical stance is an increasingly strong sales point for the group.

The bank fully funds its lending from customers' savings. Lending and saving rose 12% and 21% respectively in the first half. Richardson said: "Unlike others, we are very much out there in the market place continuing to lend."

First-half profits at CFS rose 11% to £81.4 million with a modest fall in bank profits more than made up by a strong turnaround at Co-op insurance. The combined group now has £70 billion of assets and nine million customers.