Palestine Campaign Group Says It Has Been 'De-Banked' by Virgin Money With '£10,000 Trapped'
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A group campaigning and raising money for the Palestinians say they have had their bank account frozen by Virgin Money with over £10,000 in funds trapped - much of which was destined as aid to Gaza.
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine says the bank, which is now owned by Nationwide, has provided "absolutely no explanation" for the freeze, despite 40 years of banking without problems and is refusing to answer any questions about the decision.
The freeze occurred in the days after a separate organisation, the direct action group Palestine Action, was banned as a 'terrorist' organisation by the Labour Government.
On 10th July 2025, treasurer John Nicholson discovered their internet banking access had been completely blocked. A ban on Palestine Action came into effect on 4th July.
Unlike bank account closures which require two months' notice to customers, GM Friends of Palestine says the freeze gives them no access to funds and no way to make representations.
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The group say the bank has refused to provide any reason for the freeze, with staff allegedly stating "I can tell you nothing" and hanging up on enquiries, with no process for appeal or further discussion.
In a letter to Nationwide, treasurer John Nicholson wrote: "I pointed out that it was not that they 'could' not tell me anything - it was that they did not want to do so. They put the phone down on me…
"It is our opinion that the bank is now complicit in the genocide…Holding onto our money, seemingly indefinitely (there is no determination of the time they will do so) amounts to permanently depriving us of what is ours. That is theft."
He added: "We can all see a state increasingly frightened of even the mildest criticism and they appear to be attempting to close down all protests, through all means at their disposal."
Nicholson told Byline Times: "We know absolutely nothing. Now, what do you want me to guess? That this is about an organisation who we're not allowed to name was banned ridiculously, shamelessly, pitifully, by the useless Home Secretary. And guess what? Palestine-related accounts around the country are being threatened…
"This isn't my money: this is hundreds of individual donors and supporters who are putting small amounts of money into our bank, which we are then using, in our own small way, to help non-Governmental organisations on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank."
The Palestine campaigner added: "We've been effectively 'de-banked'." Reform's Nigel Farage made front pages for weeks when he lost access to his elite Coutts account in 2023. The Conservative Government then brought in rule changes for banks to make it harder to close customer accounts. The rules come into force in April next year.
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Packed with exclusive investigations, analysis, and features
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A group campaigning and raising money for the Palestinians say they have had their bank account frozen by Virgin Money with over £10,000 in funds trapped - much of which was destined as aid to Gaza.
Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine says the bank, which is now owned by Nationwide, has provided "absolutely no explanation" for the freeze, despite 40 years of banking without problems and is refusing to answer any questions about the decision.
The freeze occurred in the days after a separate organisation, the direct action group Palestine Action, was banned as a 'terrorist' organisation by the Labour Government.
On 10th July 2025, treasurer John Nicholson discovered their internet banking access had been completely blocked. A ban on Palestine Action came into effect on 4th July.
Unlike bank account closures which require two months' notice to customers, GM Friends of Palestine says the freeze gives them no access to funds and no way to make representations.
Don't miss a story
SIGN UP TO EMAIL UPDATES
The group say the bank has refused to provide any reason for the freeze, with staff allegedly stating "I can tell you nothing" and hanging up on enquiries, with no process for appeal or further discussion.
In a letter to Nationwide, treasurer John Nicholson wrote: "I pointed out that it was not that they 'could' not tell me anything - it was that they did not want to do so. They put the phone down on me…
"It is our opinion that the bank is now complicit in the genocide…Holding onto our money, seemingly indefinitely (there is no determination of the time they will do so) amounts to permanently depriving us of what is ours. That is theft."
He added: "We can all see a state increasingly frightened of even the mildest criticism and they appear to be attempting to close down all protests, through all means at their disposal."
Nicholson told Byline Times: "We know absolutely nothing. Now, what do you want me to guess? That this is about an organisation who we're not allowed to name was banned ridiculously, shamelessly, pitifully, by the useless Home Secretary. And guess what? Palestine-related accounts around the country are being threatened…
"This isn't my money: this is hundreds of individual donors and supporters who are putting small amounts of money into our bank, which we are then using, in our own small way, to help non-Governmental organisations on the ground in Gaza and the West Bank."
The Palestine campaigner added: "We've been effectively 'de-banked'." Reform's Nigel Farage made front pages for weeks when he lost access to his elite Coutts account in 2023. The Conservative Government then brought in rule changes for banks to make it harder to close customer accounts. The rules come into force in April next year.
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