Dave Fishwick now – what is the Bank of Dave founder up to?

Once again, Dave Fishwick graces our screens on Netflix with “Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger,” the follow-up to the hugely popular 2023 British film.

In the initial film, we followed the tale of a self-made millionaire striving to establish a neighborhood bank within Burnley for the benefit of his local residents. The subsequent installment presents us with the journey of Dave as he takes on predatory payday loan institutions.

Just like its predecessor, Bank of Dave 2 presents a somewhat true tale, albeit one that employs creative liberties. This may spark curiosity about the whereabouts and recent activities of the genuine Dave Fishwick.

And that’s where we come in.

Dave Fishwick now - what is the Bank of Dave founder up to?

Where is Dave Fishwick now?

Initially, a film depicted Dave establishing a new bank following the granting of the first banking license in over a century. Yet, it’s important to clarify that in reality, this bank isn’t officially known as “The Bank of Dave.

As officially known, it goes by Burnley Savings and Loans, and Dave continues his endeavor to transform this institution into a fully UK-regulated banking entity. In an interview with The Guardian back in 2012, he mentioned that a financial expert had warned him, “If I use the term ‘deposit’ or claim I am a bank, then I will end up in prison.

In essence, he doesn’t work for any larger financial institution but operates his own self-reliant lending firm instead. The clients can only deposit funds up to a certain limit. However, Dave has made remarkable contributions to the community by loaning out approximately £30 million to local businesses and families. Similar to what we witnessed in the initial movie, all earnings from this venture are still being generously donated to local charities.

In the same way that Dave’s actions portrayed in the film serve as an inspiration, so too does the concept of a ‘bank’. After the 2008 financial crisis, Dave stepped in to assist his customers by providing loans from his personal funds when traditional banks began denying them.

Dave Fishwick now - what is the Bank of Dave founder up to?

In the end, it inspired him to establish a community bank, overcoming the obstacles along the way. He expressed this resolve in his book, stating, “Everyone from the man on the street to the queen was telling me I couldn’t become a bank without a banking license, a privilege reserved for the wealthy and the banking elite. But I wanted to prove them wrong.” (The Guardian)

In simple terms, Burnley Savings and Loans was launched in September 2011 with a catchy slogan “Bank on Dave!” The name was subtly displayed in their storefront window. They function using a peer-to-peer lending model, meaning that the savings are loaned to a borrower who is then responsible for repaying the loans.

In the sequel titled “Bank of Dave 2: The Guardian of Loans,” we find Dave taking on payday lending institutions as individuals continued to seek his aid, struggling with mounting debt from exorbitant interest rates.

In the real world, Dave’s efforts significantly influenced the UK government to enact rules governing the payday loan sector. Consequently, a number of significant payday loan companies like Wonga were forced to cease operations.

However, Dave has consistently fought against this sector up until the present day. On the show “This Morning” in January 2025, he expressed, “With Netflix, we have a massive spotlight that can expose this industry and advocate for change, saying ‘This is unacceptable’.

Although Wonga was closed down due to our efforts and the law has been modified, it seems that payday lenders are still in operation.

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These individuals are particularly unscrupulous, among the most wicked, yet their existence serves as a catalyst. By casting the bright light of Netflix over their actions, we can illuminate and scrutinize a pressing issue – the alarming rate of 54 banks closing every month. This situation leaves many without cash access, as 15,000 ATMs previously available for use have vanished.”
He also mentioned this to RadioTimes.com.

It appears that the loan shark is on a continuous upward trend, and I will try to close as many of them down as possible.

Apart from that, Dave continues his efforts to transform his financial institution into a bank regulated by the United Kingdom, as well as to propagate his concept of a community-based banking system nationwide.

Bank of Dave and Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger are available to watch now on Netflix.

2025-01-10 14:19