Nationwide will introduce private rooms across more than 400 of its branches for people experiencing domestic abuse.
The Safe Spaces are discreet areas in the bank to access a phone and, if needed, contact family or friends or use any specialist support on offer.
To use the help on offer you don’t need to be a customer with the mutual. Those who require support can tell a staff member and they will guide you to an available private room, where those in need can decide the service they need.
Every Nationwide will have staff trained to spot domestic abuse
In every branch of Nationwide, staff with specialised training are on hand to help spot signs of domestic abuse and can support or manage those who need help with their finances.
It follows a study which found nearly half (48%) of the population have experienced, or know someone who has experienced domestic abuse, with a quarter (24%) personally going through it.
Further, of the 2,000 respondents surveyed by the mutual, over a quarter (26%) experienced or knew someone who has experienced domestic abuse where financial abuse was at the root of the issue.
Examples of this included abusers taking control of finances (53%) and or those in need having funds scrutinised or hidden by a partner (34%).
Like fellow high street bank Santander, Nationwide added the initiative alongside Hestia, a charity which helps adults and children in times of crisis. It currently operates over 7,000 Safe Spaces for banks and pharmacies in the UK.
‘Branches provide trusted place to talk to someone face-to-face’
Mandy Beech, director of retail services at Nationwide, said: “We’re proud to actively take a stand against domestic abuse and protect and support not only our own customers, but anyone within our communities who may be impacted.
“We hope that by rolling out Safe Spaces across over 400 of our branches and training all our branch colleagues, we are helping make a difference by giving people somewhere to go and access support safely.
“Branches are as vital today as they have always been as they provide a trusted place to talk to someone face to face.”
The chief executive of Hestia, Patrick Ryan, added: “Having a safe route to access support is a lifeline for victims of domestic abuse. That’s why we launched Safe Spaces in everyday places like banks and pharmacies – to provide a safe way to access specialist help and advice, or to call a loved one.
“By working together, we can ensure that every survivor of domestic abuse has a place to turn to.”
