A British humanitarian worker has found himself cut off from his bank accounts while providing disaster relief in one of the world’s most financially restricted nations.
Jonathan Brass, a 49-year-old father of two, discovered his Halifax and Lloyds accounts had been closed down earlier this year whilst waiting in Malaysia for his Myanmar visa.
The operations manager for an international aid organisation has spent decades responding to crises in locations including Ukraine, Turkey and Honduras.
He is currently assisting survivors of the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar last March, killing thousands.
“[The credit card has] been my only lifeline in some countries,” Mr Brass said. “Particularly somewhere like Myanmar where there are sanctions, there are restrictions on banking.”
The closure of Mr Brass’s accounts reflects a far broader pattern affecting British banking customers.
Freedom of Information data reveals that approximately 453,230 accounts were shut down during 2024-25.
This figure represents more than a tenfold surge compared with the 45,091 closures recorded in 2016-17. It also marks an 11 per cent rise from the previous year, when around 408,000 accounts were terminated.
Financial institutions typically decline to disclose their rationale for such decisions. Banks argue that explaining why they close accounts could assist money launderers and other criminals in circumventing their detection systems.
Mr Brass was given no explanation when he queried the termination of his accounts. The banks informed him he should have received notification by post.
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Mr Brass maintains his home in East Sussex as his British base, but his overseas work meant the postal notifications never reached him. The banks made no attempt to contact him through alternative channels.
Unable to telephone from Myanmar to seek clarification, he also could not collect the cheques containing his closing balances.
“I never received the letters. I am sure they are at my home,” he said.
Despite having informed his banks about his profession, Mr Brass believes automated systems failed to comprehend his circumstances.
The father of two, discovered his Halifax and Lloyds accounts had been terminated earlier this year
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GETTY“There’s an algorithm somewhere which doesn’t quite understand why aid workers are in all these funny countries. It’s put two and two together to make six and felt I deserved cancelling.”
The long-standing customer, whose father opened his first account during childhood, now fears his wedding rings business could face similar treatment.
“It’s frustrating. You think you deserve some customer service, some loyalty, for being with the bank for so long,” Mr Brass said.
Reform leader Nigel Farage has championed the debanking issue since Coutts terminated his accounts in 2023.
He has attributed the rising closure figures to European legislation that “makes it cheaper for banks to close accounts over unusual transactions”.
New government regulations taking effect on 28 April will require banks to provide 90 days’ notice rather than the current two months, along with improved explanations. However, these protections apply only to newly opened accounts, meaning Mr Brass would not have benefited.
A Lloyds spokesman stated the bank had requested information from Mr Brass multiple times, including by email, without receiving a response.
Following media enquiries, Lloyds contacted Mr Brass directly. He will retain his credit cards and has been offered a new account.