CO-OPERATIVE BANK TRIAL OFFERS CUSTOMERS PERSONAL ACCESS TO FUNERAL PLANS

The Co-operative Bank today (31 October) launches a pioneering trial to offer funeral plans to its customers through its high street branches.

The trial, at 30 selected branches of The Co-operative Bank and Britannia across the UK, will offer customers an alternative way to buy a funeral plan.

The Co-operative, the UK’s largest provider of funeral plans, is now offering a personal and approachable service which enables customers to sit down with a branch advisor who will guide them through the choice of funeral plans available to suit their needs.

Funeral plans from The Co-operative provide consumers with a financial solution to avoiding rapidly rising funeral prices. A funeral plan enables you to avoid future price increases by paying for a funeral in advance at today’s prices. They also help to relieve much of the emotional and costly burden to family and friends left behind as the key arrangements are made and paid for.

Over 100,000 funeral plans were sold across the UK in 2010 showing that more and more people are realising that planning and paying for their funeral in advance makes sense.

A range of funeral plan options will be available to consumers through these Co-operative Bank and Britannia branches, including Set Burial and Set Cremation Plans at varying price levels according to the customer’s budget either in one single payment or over 12 months at no additional fee.

Rod Bulmer, The Co-operative Bank’s Managing Director, Retail, said: “The Co-operative is in the unique position of being able to combine a trusted bank brand with a successful funeral planning division. By bringing these businesses closer together, we can offer our customers much easier access to personal funeral planning services.”

Ian Mackie, Managing Director of The Co-operative Life Planning, is also enthusiastic about the project: “It’s an exciting trial for The Co-operative and for customers because it allows us to help so many more people find out about the significant benefits of funeral planning within a more accessible and approachable  environment.”

Notes to editors:

The Co-operative movement conducts 1 in 4 funerals in the UK, has over 70 years experience in the funeral market and operates to The Co-operative core values of openness, trust and honesty.

Funeral plans can be purchased at any of The Co-operative movement’s 1,100 funeral homes across the UK with coverage of 93 per cent of postcode districts.  And for set funeral plan holders, no matter where they move to in the UK, their funeral plan can be used at any of its funeral homes without any further costs.

The Co-operative is a member of the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA).  Ian Mackie, managing director of The Co-operative Life Planning, is one of the directors of the FPA.

All funeral plans provided by The Co-operative Group are fully guaranteed. This means no further payments are required when it comes to the actual arranging of the funeral regardless of how much prices have increased – all items detailed in the plan are fully covered.

Funeral plans from The Co-operative also cover the full costs of all disbursements (such as the crematoria fee, doctor’s fees etc). There is not a part “contribution” to the disbursements, everything is covered and no further payment is required at the time of need.

For further details on The Co-operative Group’s Funeral Plans visit: www.co-operative.coop/funeralcare/Funeral-Plans/

Contact:

Dave Smith

Co-operative Group Limited

PR Manager Corporate

Manchester

United Kingdom

Tel: 0161 827 5614

http://www.co-operative.coop/