British Bankers' Association
At the time of an appeal more than 200,000 front-line financial services industry staff need to know where the funds should be credited to ensure that they reach the appeal account quickly and accurately. With a typical Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal likely to involve millions of pounds in donations being made through banks, the system has to be totally reliable, secure and accountable.
The British Bankers' Association (BBA) is a priority contact for the DEC. An early telephone call from the DEC kicks off a well-rehearsed plan of action to get details of banking arrangements for the appeal to all front-line bank staff across the UK. It is essential that no time is lost and that this exercise takes precedence over all other work. The immediate priority is to ensure that anyone wishing to make a donation can do so - free of charge - at any bank branch in the UK. Posters supporting the appeal will follow shortly afterwards.
Within just 48 hours - in many cases considerably less - of the initial phone call from the DEC, donations are already flowing across bank counters to support the aid efforts, wherever in the world that is.
Brian Capon, Head of Media, and Linda Dobinson, Communications Officer, British Bankers' Association