U Account

U Account is a UK-based digital current account alternative founded by Alex Letts,[1]ex-owner of Ffrees Family Finance, and U Holdings Ltd. In 2019, the business was acquired by Shelby Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of Morses Club PLC.

U Account
IndustryFinancial services
Founded2012
Headquarters
Sheffield
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Sam Hardwick (General Manager)
ProductsCurrent account alternative
Websitewww.uaccount.uk

History

With backing from Finance Yorkshire,[2] U was originally founded as Ffrees in Sheffield in 2012 as a family savings initiative[3] and a modern-day challenger to the ‘Big Four’ banks.[4] In 2019, U was bought by U Holdings Ltd, a company with the same team and management that founded the product under Ffrees Family Finance.[5] In June 2019, U Holdings Ltd was acquired by Shelby Finance Ltd, a subsidiary of Morses Club PLC.[6]

The company now trades under the name of U Account[7] and operates out of the Electric Works on Sheffield's Digital Campus.[8]

Since launch, U Account has secured £11m of funding from UK and citywide investors and amassed over 50,000 account holders.[9]

Technology

The U platform integrates multiple banking systems, including those of partners GPS,[10] Bottomline Technologies[11] and Wirecard[12] in a centralised account.

In early 2017, U added a free Android and iOS mobile app to its existing product offerings. With the app, users can check their account balance as well as view recent transaction history, transfer money to and from sub-accounts known as ‘Extra Accounts’ and seek help and support.[13] Work is currently in progress on the development of functionalities surrounding card status and activation, as well as external payments.[14]

In April 2018, U integrated PayPoint, enabling their customers to pay cash into their accounts at any of the 29,000 participating retailers in the UK. PayPoint integration has been a significant development for U Account holders, who had previously only been able to add funds via BACS or Faster Payment.

In June 2020, U was forced to suspend activities on customer's accounts due to an investigation into their card provider, Wirecard, by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).[15]

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References
  1. "The Unbank of U - U". blog.uaccount.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  2. "Inspire Autumn 2014: Digital account provider raises third round of funding". www.finance-yorkshire.com. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  3. Industry, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and. "New investment for family saving initiative in South Yorkshire". www.scci.org.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  4. Hurley, James (2014-08-26). "Free from frills, start up takes on Big Four banks". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  5. "U HOLDINGS LTD - Officers (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  6. https://www.sharesmagazine.co.uk/news/market/6472693/Acquisition-of-U-Holdings-Limited
  7. "Britain is getting MORE banking app startups — can they all survive?". Business Insider. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  8. "U | Electric WorksElectric Works". electric-works.net. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  9. Peyton, Antony (16 April 2018). "U Account unveils cash pay-in for current account customers". FinTech Futures.
  10. "U Account". KERV. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  11. Finextra (2016-11-08). "Wirecard and Bottomline to support U account launch". Finextra Research. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  12. "FFF Ltd collaborates with Wirecard, GPS and Bottomline Technologies". www.wirecard-cardsolutions.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  13. "App update: Balance+ just got even better - U". blog.uaccount.uk. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  14. "Balance+ on the App Store". App Store. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  15. {{Cite web|url https://www.fca.org.uk/news/news-stories/requirements-imposed-wirecard-authorisation}}
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