Specialist banking solutions for independent financial advisers

Banking that supports advisers and the clients you act for.

Independent financial advisers (IFAs) and wealth managers play a central role in helping clients make informed, compliant financial decisions. Cater Allen works with advisers across the UK, providing banking that supports retirement and inheritance planning.

We support advisers acting for clients across a range of needs, including trusts, pensions, estate administration, powers of attorney, deputyships and corporate structures. Our approach is designed to fit alongside your advice process, providing reliable banking that is clear to oversee and straightforward to manage.

Who is this banking designed for?

Our banking services support:

independent financial advisers, financial planners and wealth managers

advisers managing client cash alongside investments

firms supporting trusts, estates and pension arrangements

advisers working with attorneys, deputies and executors

practices advising on corporate and personal structures

Whether you advise individuals, families or business owners, our accounts are designed to support control and confidence.

Supporting advisers with client fund management

We understand that advisers need banking that complements advice, not distracts from it. Our accounts help you to:

support clients with trust, pension, corporate and personal accounts

set up accounts for powers of attorney and deputyships

maintain clear oversight of client cash positions

support compliant payment processes with appropriate authorisation

reduce delays and administration during account opening

Our focus is on providing banking that supports good advice and good client outcomes.

How we support financial planners and advisers

Online applications and tracking

Apply online for limited company, trust, pension and personal accounts, including accounts for powers of attorney, and track progress in one place.
Relationship support

Work with a dedicated relationship team that understands advisory firms and supports you from referral through to account opening.
Clear payment controls

Use multi-signatory or trustee authorisation through Internet Banking to support governance, compliance and adviser oversight.
Reporting and insights

Access downloadable reports to support client reviews, cash monitoring and ongoing advice.
Strength and protection

Eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), and accounts benefit from the backing of Santander UK plc.

Why advisers choose Cater Allen

Independent financial planners and advisers choose Cater Allen because we offer:

banking aligned to advisory-led client relationships

support for trusts, pensions and estate-related arrangements

online application journeys that reduce administrative burden

relationship teams familiar with advisory and fiduciary roles

the stability of a UK bank backed by a major banking group

Our role is to support advisers and their clients with banking that is reliable, transparent and easy to work with.

What our partners say

"Cater Allen have been a trusted partner for us for many years, providing trust bank accounts, trust savings accounts and a range of trust Fixed Term Deposit Accounts with competitive interest rates. They're easy to deal with and provide a high level of service - I would recommend them to other businesses."

Lisa Simpson | Trustee Accounts Specialist, Trustee Accounts

"I've worked with Cater Allen on a large number of personal injury trust bank accounts for vulnerable clients. They are my go-to provider due to the online banking facilities. The introduction of their online application process has significantly improved efficiency, and I'm hopeful this continues. The support from our dedicated relationship manager has always been friendly and responsive, making the overall process much smoother."

Stephen Farnfield | APFS, Director, Paladin Group

"We hold Cater Allen accounts for trusts that we administer, and for attorneyship and deputyship clients. We are impressed with how quick and easy it is to withdraw funds from the accounts – funds are usually received on the same day they are requested, which enables us to efficiently manage client assets. A meeting with the Relationship Support team every few months also gives us the opportunity to provide feedback or suggest ways in which the service could be further improved."

Sue Knowles | Trust Manager, Ashfords

"Cater Allen gives us the confidence that our SSAS funds are managed through a secure, well-structured banking solution backed by a team who genuinely understand the sector. Their service has made a meaningful difference to our ability to manage and administer pension schemes scheme effectively and providing clients 24/7 visibility of their SSAS bank account. I would not hesitate to recommend them to other SSAS trustees or advisers looking for a reliable and knowledgeable banking partner."

Premal Prajapati | Director, Intrusted Pensions LTD

"We have partnered with Cater Allen for SSAS accounts because they combine a genuine understanding of the SSAS market with the backing of a large banking group. We are looked after by Chris Sanderson who is always on hand with his team. Cater Allen offer true dual online authorisation whereby both the pension provider and the client need to authorise transactions, and as another differentiator they involve us in the ongoing development of their online tools."

Andrew Roberts | Head of SSAS, Barnett Waddingham LLP

"With banks shying away from trusts, it is great to be working with an experienced and professional bank. I must say your new onboarding system has made it easier for me to help clients open accounts more quickly than before."

Mark Thompson | Mark Thompson Law

"I have now submitted 3 cases on the new online system, and I have say what a game changer! It’s so easy to use and if anything is required there is a simple response task to complete where you can attach any missing documentation. I had one of my accounts open within 5 working days which is so much faster than the paper-based approach previously used and saves my time which is of course precious. The improvement is helping my business in this area so thank you for making the process so streamline and succinct."

Matthew Isaacs | Bloomfield & Associates

"Cater Allen have delivered online access for our clients as well as an online onboarding process and our clients have welcomed this modern approach to SSAS banking. They also offer various accounts with differing access and interest rates to suit our client’s needs. We would highly recommend them and look forward to building our relationship further."

Steve Hart | Morhart Pensions