10,092 bank-transfer gripes land on UK banks; Lloyds tops the crypto-access heap

Stand With Crypto said 9,803 people submitted 10,092 complaints to UK banks over restrictions on transfers to crypto platforms during a 90-day period between May and August 2026, according to a report reviewed by Cointelegraph on Tuesday. The complaints were submitted through the group’s online tool. Lloyds Banking Group, one of the UK’s largest banking groups, received the most complaints at 2,297, followed by Barclays with 1,569 and NatWest Group with 1,278.

The complaints came as the UK prepares to introduce a new regulatory regime for digital assets in 2027. Barclays and HSBC UK were listed as limiting crypto transfers to 2,500 British pounds ($3,300) per transaction and 10,000 pounds ($13,300) over 30 days, while six banks, including Starling Bank, TSB and Chase UK, were listed as banning crypto-related transfers entirely.

Stand With Crypto classified Lloyds Banking Group and Revolut as having no published crypto transfer restrictions despite customer complaints. Revolut’s official support page states that transfers to “some cryptocurrency exchanges” are unsupported, while a Stand With Crypto spokesperson said this appeared to be a technical issue rather than a stated policy.

Nick Jones, founder and CEO of Zumo, told Cointelegraph that banking restrictions are a common problem among UK crypto founders and could undermine the country’s ambitions to become a global crypto hub. “This issue of restricted access to banking services needs to be urgently addressed in order for UK crypto firms to have a level playing field where they can grow and scale,” Jones said.

Jones also warned that the UK’s incoming crypto regulatory regime may not resolve the problem. Although companies are preparing for mandatory Financial Conduct Authority approval in October 2027, access to a business bank account falls outside that framework, he said. Without coordinated action, companies could obtain full authorization yet remain unable to open a UK business bank account, Jones added.