Bank of Dave Burnley: The Real Story and Current Status

When the big banks turned their backs on ordinary people after the 2008 financial crisis, one Burnley man decided to do something about it. Dave Fishwick started by lending his own money, then built an entire community lending movement that now spans northern England. The story inspired a Netflix film franchise, but the real Bank of Dave operates quietly in the background, still doing what it always has — fair loans for people the banks won’t touch.

Founded: September 2011 · Location: Burnley, England · Founder: Dave Fishwick · Legal Name: Burnley Savings and Loans · Inspired: Netflix Bank of Dave films

Key facts about the organisation span its founding date, founder, physical location, and financial milestones.

Does Bank of Dave exist in Burnley?

Yes — and it goes by its legal name, Burnley Savings and Loans. The company opened its doors in September 2011 at Keirby Walk in Burnley town centre, flying the flag with the slogan “Bank on Dave!”

Connection to Burnley Savings and Loans

Dave Fishwick founded Burnley Savings and Loans as an independent lending company using a peer-to-peer crowdfunding model. Savers deposit limited amounts, which are then lent directly to borrowers who repay the company. This structure allows BSAL to operate without the full banking regulations that apply to deposit-taking institutions.

Physical location and operations

Burnley Savings and Loans operates from its high street presence in Burnley, serving customers primarily across Lancashire and northern England. The company personally underwrites all loans, assessing risk by examining borrowers’ business models and repayment plans rather than relying solely on credit scores.

What happened to Bank of Dave in real life?

The real Bank of Dave reads like a case study in persistence against bureaucratic odds. Fishwick started by lending his own money to customers after the 2008 financial crisis when major banks refused loans to small businesses and individuals. Within six months, no borrowers had defaulted — a record that gave him the confidence to scale up.

Founding story

Dave Fishwick was born in March 1971 in Nelson, Lancashire, and left school at 16 with no formal qualifications. He built David Fishwick Minibus Sales into Britain’s largest minibus supplier before turning his attention to community finance. When the financial crisis hit, he began lending his own capital to people the banks wouldn’t touch.

“When the big banks turned their backs on hard-working people after the financial crisis, Dave Fishwick decided to do something about it.”

— Burnley Savings and Loans (official site)

Growth and challenges

By 2022, Burnley Savings and Loans had lent over £27 million to thousands of customers. By more recent accounts, the total loans issued surpass £30 million. The company donates all profits to local charities including food banks and community centres. In 2017, BSAL applied to become a regulated UK bank named “The Bank of Dave,” but it has not received full regulatory approval and remains an independent lending company.

The implication: a community lending model that has proven sustainable for over a decade still cannot clear the regulatory hurdle that would let it call itself a bank.

How much of the movie Bank of Dave is true?

The Netflix films take significant liberties with real events. Both the 2023 original and the 2025 sequel “Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger” dramatise Fishwick’s story for entertainment value, compressing timelines and amplifying conflicts that in reality played out more gradually.

Key accuracies

The core narrative is genuine: Fishwick did start lending his own money after the 2008 crisis, did face resistance from established banks, did build a community lending operation, and did document his efforts on Channel 4 (the 2012–2013 series and the 2014 “Dave: Loan Ranger” follow-up, both of which won British Academy Scotland Awards). The Netflix films accurately portray the spirit of fair finance that drives Burnley Savings and Loans.

Dramatized elements

Film characters have been composites or exaggerations. The lawyer character was inspired by Chris Moss, who did help challenge the banking system, though the films compress and fictionalise his involvement. More broadly, Netflix dramatises regulatory outcomes — the films imply a triumphant regulatory victory that the real organisation has not achieved.

What is Dave Fishwick doing now?

Fishwick remains the driving force behind Burnley Savings and Loans. He lives just outside Burnley with his wife Nikki and continues as the public face and operational leader of the organisation he founded.

Current role

As founder and key figure, Fishwick still oversees Burnley Savings and Loans operations. He maintains an active public profile through speaking engagements and advocacy for community banking reform. The organisation’s website reiterates its founding mission: “finance should be fair for everyone, and every penny of profit should go to good causes.”

Other ventures

Fishwick works as a keynote speaker, drawing on his experience challenging the banking establishment. His minibus business (David Fishwick Minibus Sales) continues to operate, having grown into Britain’s biggest minibus supplier before he pivoted his attention to community finance.

“Finance should be fair for everyone, and every penny of profit should go to good causes.”

— Dave Fishwick, Founder (Burnley Savings and Loans)

Is Bank of Dave still going?

Yes. Burnley Savings and Loans continues active operations as of the latest available information, maintaining its focus on fair finance and charity donations from profits.

Current status

The organisation’s official website confirms it remains operational. Its Bank on Dave Facebook page, with over 231,000 likes, continues to engage with the public. The company still fights against high-interest payday loans by offering fairer lending terms to borrowers who would otherwise turn to predatory lenders.

Contact and reviews

The company maintains its high street presence in Burnley town centre at Keirby Walk. For those seeking ethical lending alternatives or wishing to support community finance, Burnley Savings and Loans remains accessible through its website at burnleysavingsandloans.co.uk.

“If I use the word deposit or say I’m a bank then I will go to prison.”

— Dave Fishwick, quoting advice received (Digital Spy)

Related reading: DWP Pension Bank Rules Update

The real-life saga of Dave Fishwick’s Burnley venture, which inspired the Netflix sensation, unfolds further in this true story behind Netflix hit tracing its origins against the banking giants.

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