Criteria for BBA membership1
18/08/2010

General membership information and criteria on how to become a BBA Member.

The British Bankers' Association represents banks as corporate bodies. This section contains general membership information and criteria on how to become a BBA Member.

For further information about becoming a BBA member, please contact the BBA Membership Department, call +44 (0) 207 216 8947.

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The Objects Of The BBA Are:

• to promote the interests of the financial services industry of the United Kingdom;
• to represent the views of, and where necessary negotiate on behalf of, members in dealings with official and other bodies in the United Kingdom, the European Community and elsewhere;
• to provide members with a forum for agreeing policy matters of common interest;
• to provide information and other services to members;
• to uphold the position of London and other United Kingdom international financial centres.

The Association is able to do all such things as may be conducive to the attainment of the above objects.

Membership

Subject to the approval process of the Association exercised from time to time, Membership of the Association is open to:

• Any institution authorised by the United Kingdom·s Financial Services Authority (or any successor to it) under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (or such legislation as shall in due course replace it) with permission to carry on one or more of the following regulated activities:
  • (a) accepting deposits
  • (b) dealing in investments as principal
  • (c) dealing in investments as agent
  • (d) managing investments
  • (e) arranging deals in investments

• Any institution that does not fall within (1) above but which is authorised by a regulator of another EU member state to carry out the regulated activities described at (1) above at and which has an establishment in the United Kingdom.

Each member may appoint a Principal Contact for dealing with the Association's affairs.

Subject to the approval of the Council, membership may also be open to any other organisation serving the financial services industry which does not fulfil the membership requirements stated above.

These organisations, according to the nature of their business, will be called ‘Professional Associates’ and ‘Banking Associates’. The criteria for their acceptance shall be approved by the Council and reviewed from time to time.

Membership Rules

• Members shall adhere to the rules of the Association and shall not follow a course of conduct likely to bring the financial services industry or the Association into disrepute. Failure to do so shall entitle the Council to deprive the Member of membership, or the Associate (Associateship).
• A decision of the Council to deprive a Member of membership under the paragraph above may be reversed by the Members of the Association in a general meeting. Before a decision is taken by the Council or the Members in a general meeting, the Member in question has the right to make representations to the body in question.

Resignation of Membership

Any Member (not being in arrears for any subscription due) may at any time resign membership by giving notice in writing to the Chief Executive of the Association and, unless the notice is previously withdrawn, such resignation shall take effect three calendar months after the date of receipt of such notice. The notice shall be submitted to the next meeting of the Chief Executive's Committee for minuting.

Resignation or termination of membership shall not release the Member from liability to pay subscriptions due up to the end of the notice period.

General meetings

A general meeting of the Association shall be held in each calendar year at a time and place agreed by the Council. This shall be known as the Annual General meeting. Fourteen days· notice of the Annual General meeting shall be given to each member.

Extraordinary General Meetings may also be held at such other times as the Council may determine. Not less than seven clear days· notice of each Extraordinary General Meeting shall be given. In the case of the Extraordinary General Meeting at which alterations in or additions to the Rules are to be proposed not less than fourteen clear days· notice shall be given.

The Council shall have the power to summon an Extraordinary General Meeting at shorter notice for the purposes of considering and dealing with any matter which in the Council·s opinion is a matter of urgency.

At all General Meetings five per cent in number of the members shall be a quorum.

Members may be represented at General Meetings of the Association by the principal contact of the bank or institution, or such other officer of the bank or institution as may be nominated for the purpose. Each Member shall be entitled to one vote.

Any resolution put to General Meeting of the Association should be passed by a simple majority of the Members present and voting at such meeting, except that any resolution for alterations or additions to the Rules must be passed by a 70% majority of Members present and voting.

For further information, please contact:
Celia Fleming (+44 (0) 207 216 8947 celia.fleming@bba.org.uk )