Nigel Farage hits back at bank over account closure

Nigel Farage’s bank has been left red-faced, as customers have cast doubt on the excuse they used for closing the former MEP’s bank account.

Mr Farage had his account with Coutts closed earlier this year.

Sources close to Coutts told the BBC that the former MEP fell below the wealth threshold.

They claimed he was subsequently offered a standard account at Natwest, which owns Coutts.

People familiar with Coutts said it was a “commercial” decision.

They added: “The criteria for holding a Coutts account are clear from the bank’s website.”

Coutts requires its customers to borrow or invest at least £1m with the bank or hold £3m in savings.

But many customers of the prestigious bank said they fell below financial thresholds but, unlike Mr Farage, have not been threatened with account closure.

While Mr Farage did not dispute the fact that he had fallen below Coutts’ financial threshold, he told the BBC: “They didn’t have a problem with it for the last 10 years.”

The TV personality said he contacted seven other banks and was denied accounts.

Writing on Twitter, he called for other people affected by a similar issue to “speak out”, adding: “We have to stop this madness.”

Last week, he claimed that others who share a similar worldview to him face being treated in the same “stressful” way.

Mr Farage said the issue “may well fundamentally affect my future career going on from here and whether I could even stay living in this country.”

He said: “I have been with the same banking group since 1980. I’ve had my personal accounts with them since that date, and my business accounts right through the 1990s when I worked in the City of London and in recent years too.”

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Speaking to the BBC, Mr Farage did not dispute the fact that he did not meet Coutts’ threshold, but added: “They didn’t have a problem with it for the last 10 years.”

Mr Farage claimed that one possible explanation is the banks’ opposition to Brexit.

He claimed: “These are the organisations who did not want Brexit to happen. And I think in my case, probably the corporate world will never ever forgive me.

“Because they know if I hadn’t done what I did with the help of 1000s of people in people’s army, that never would have been a referendum, let alone a victory. I’m the one that is to carry the blame.

“So that’s the second possible reason why I can’t get a bank account – prejudice that comes from our institution”.

Speaking on his GB News show, the Brexiteer added: “It seems to be all one way. It seems to be all against people who have traditionalist or conservative views. There is something totally outrageous going on here.”

Coutts has been contacted for comment.

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