They use money to control you
Someone tells you what you're 'allowed' to spend money on. Or they won't let you access your joint account.
Financial and economic abuse
Financial and economic abuse are types of domestic abuse. They can take lots of different forms and can happen to anyone.
If you're in immediate danger, please contact emergency services on 999.
We're here to support you
We can support you in a range of ways, depending on what feels safe and right for you. If you need support with anything else, or have any other needs you'd like us to be aware of when you contact us, please let us know.
Call us
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0800 121 8899
We're open:
Monday to Friday, 8am-7pm
Saturday, 9am-2pm
Sunday, closed
Closed bank holidays
You can choose to speak to one of our UK-based savings or mortgage specialists.
Visit a branch
Our colleagues are always happy to help you in person.
If you'd like to speak to us, visit one of our branches.
A member of the team will be able to show you a private room to speak safely.
Find out what support we and other banks can offer, get practical guidance in the It's Your Money leaflet and access help from specialist support organisations.
Our commitment to you
- Your safety comes first
We'll help protect you, your money and personal information.
- Empathy and care without judgement
You're in control of what you share.
- Guided support
Our colleagues follow guidance to respond to financial and economic abuse.
Our commitment to you
- Your safety comes first - We'll help protect you, your money and personal information.
- Empathy and care without judgement - You're in control of what you share.
- Guided support - Our colleagues follow guidance to respond to financial and economic abuse.
Recognising financial and economic abuse
When talking about financial and economic abuse, there's two terms you might see:
Survivors are people who have experienced financial or econnomic abuse.
Abusers (or perpetrators) are people who have carried out financial or economic abuse. Abusers could be partners, ex-partners, family members, or carers.
Financial abuse
When someone controls your money or has access to it. |
For example, an abuser could:
|
Economic abuse
When someone limits your ability to earn, work, learn or live independently. |
For example, an abuser could:
|
What are some of the signs of abuse?
What are some of the signs of abuse?
It can be hard to stop financial abuse. You might not know what to do, especially if you're being targeted by someone you love or someone close to you.
Take a look at the examples below of how an abuser may behave:
They make you feel ashamed
Someone makes you feel like you're bad with money.
They make you rely on them
Someone stops you from working or earning money, so you need them for support.
They take advantage of you financially
Someone offered to go shopping for you, but then started using your money without asking if they can.
They make you feel ashamed
Someone makes you feel like you're bad with money.
They make you rely on them
Someone stops you from working or earning money, so you need them for support.
They use money to control you
Someone tells you what you're 'allowed' to spend money on. Or they won't let you access your joint account.
They take advantage of you financially
Someone offered to go shopping for you, but then started using your money without asking if they can.
Stay safe while seeking help
Stay safe while seeking help
Stay safe while seeking help
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Stay safe while seeking help
Websites you visit including this page and the ones mentioned on this page, may appear in the web history on your device.
Click below to be redirected to our homepage so this page will not appear in your browsing history. If you return back to this page again, it will appear in your browser history and you will need to use this button each time to remove it.
Some actions you take to increase your security or privacy, like deleting your web history, might alert an abuser. This could cause them to increase their abusive behaviour.
It may help to use a device an abuser doesn't have access to, like:
- A phone from trusted friends, family or neighbours
- A computer in a library, school or workplace.
Domestic and economic abuse
Refuge – specialists in helping women
Refuge runs a National Domestic Abuse Helpline for women and provides emotional and practical support. They can explain who else you could contact and refer you to other specialists, such as local outreach services and refuges.
To get help from Refuge, you can:
- Call their National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (free to call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- Access their support online via live chat or web forms at www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
- Visit their website for lots more information about domestic abuse, including support for survivors of economic abuse at www.refuge.org.uk/i-need-help-now.
Respect – specialists in helping men
Respect runs the Men's Advice Line for men, including those who identify as trans and non-binary, who are experiencing domestic abuse (and the safety of any children). Their team offer conditional support, practical advice and information.
To get help from Respect, you can:
- Call their Men's Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 (free to call, Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm)
- Access their support online via live chat or email at www.mensadviceline.org.uk/contact-us
- Visit their website for lots more information about domestic abuse against men at www.meansadviceline.org.uk/male-victims
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA)
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) also provides a wide range of specialist support to women who have experienced economic abuse, and to those who are supporting victims at, survivingeconomicabuse.org.
Specialist support
Galop - specialists in helping lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people
Galop is the UK's LGBT+ anti-abuse charity. They work with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence.
To get help from Galop, you can:
- Visit their website www.galop.org.uk/helpline
- Call their National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428 (free to call, Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 10am to 5pm, Wednesday and Thursday, 10am to 8pm).
Hourglass - specialists in helping older people
- Hourglass works to prevent isolation, neglect and abuse of older people.
- To get help from Hourglass you can:
- Call their 247 helpline on 0808 808 8141 (free to call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- Visit their website www.wearehourglass.org/hourglass-services
Unseen - specialists in helping survivors of modern slavery
Unseen works towards a world without slavery. They provide safehouses and support in the community for survivprs of trafficking and modern slavery.
To get help from Unseen, you can:
- Call their Modern Slavery helpline on 08000 121 700 (free to call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and available in 200 languages)
- Access their support online at modernsaveryhelping.org/report
Safeguarding
Support from your local council
Local councils offer safeguarding support.
You can check which local council you live in through the government's find your local council service. You can then find you local adult safeguarding services from their website.
Domestic and economic abuse
Refuge - specialist in helping women
Refuge runs a National Domestic Abuse Helpline for women and provides emotional and practical support. They can explain who else you could contact and refer you to other specialists, such as local outreach services and refuges.
To get help from Refuge, you can:
- Call their National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (free to call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- Access their support online via live chat or web forms at www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
- Visit their website for lots more information about domestic abuse, including support for survivors of economic abuse at www.refuge.org.uk/i-need-help-now.
Respect - specialists in helping men
Respect runs the Men's Advice Line for men, including those who identify as trans and non-binary, who are experiencing domestic abuse (and the safety of any children). Their team offer conditional support, practical advice and information.
To get help from Respect, you can:
- Call their Men's Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 (free to call, Monday to Friday, 10am to 8pm)
- Access their support online via live chat or email at www.mensadviceline.org.uk/contact-us
- Visit their website for lots more information about domestic abuse against men at www.meansadviceline.org.uk/male-victims
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA)
Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) also provides a wide range of specialist support to women who have experienced economic abuse, and to those who are supporting victims at, survivingeconomicabuse.org.
Specialist support
Galop - specialists in helping lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people
Galop is the UK's LGBT+ anti-abuse charity. They work with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence.
To get help from Galop, you can:
- Visit their website www.galop.org.uk/helpline
- Call their National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0800 999 5428 (free to call, Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 10am to 5pm, Wednesday and Thursday, 10am to 8pm).
Hourglass - specialists in helping older people
Hourglass works to prevent isolation, neglect and abuse of older people.
To get help from Hourglass you can:
- Call their 247 helpline on 0808 808 8141 (free to call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
- Visit their website www.wearehourglass.org/hourglass-services
Unseen - specialists in helping survivors of modern slavery
- Unseen works towards a world without slavery. They provide safehouses and support in the community for survivprs of trafficking and modern slavery.
To get help from Unseen, you can: - Call their Modern Slavery helpline on 08000 121 700 (free to call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and available in 200 languages)
- Access their support online at modernsaveryhelping.org/report
Safeguarding
Support from your local council
Local councils offer safeguarding support.
You can check which local council you live in through the government's find your local council service. You can then find you local adult safeguarding services from their website.
Want help?
Our help section is bursting with useful information. If you'd rather chat, just give us a call.
Call us on 0800 121 8899
Lines open
- Mon-Fri 8am-7pm
- Saturday 9am-2pm
- Sunday & Bank holidays Closed
Yesterday, people waited on average
17 seconds for savings enquiries
17 seconds for mortgage enquiries
Want help?
Our help section is bursting with useful information. If you'd rather chat, just give us a call.
Call us on
0800 121 8899
Monday - Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Saturday
Sunday
Bank holidays
8am - 7pm
9am - 2pm
Closed
Closed
9am - 2pm
Closed
Closed
Yesterday, people waited on average
86 seconds for savings enquiries
60 seconds for mortgage enquiries
