Campaign Against Antisemitism has requested an explanation from a leading High Street Bank after the account of the UK branch of Yad Vashem was shut down. CAA added that this was particularly so at a time of surging anti-Semitism and pressure on financial institutions to sever ties with Jewish groups and the Jewish state

NatWest bank issued an apology after the UK branch of Yad Vashem was “de-banked”. and had its bank account shut down. NatWest bank blamed the decision on an “administrative error”.

Simon Bentley, Yad Vashem’s UK chairman, told the Daily Mail of NatWest’s “shocking” actions regarding the UK’s arm of Israel’s national holocaust museum. Mr Bentley said, “Yad Vashem is an apolitical registered charity focused on Holocaust education, handling unprecedented levels of anti-Semitism here in the UK and worldwide. We have, I’m sure, only proven to be a model customer with NatWest for many years, consistently maintaining our current account in credit, with large levels of funding on deposit with them.”

In terminating the bank account, Yad Vashem UK was informed that it had under four months to find a new bank before its account would be permanently closed.

Last week NatWest sparked outrage when it ended all relations with Yad Vashem “following a recent review” in July. NatWest is believed to have informed Yad Vashem that they were not able to discuss this decision or provide any further information in relation to their decision-making.

NatWest have apologized to Yad Vashem and has explained it was an administrative error and that they would continue to bank Yad Vashem UK. NatWest added that they “are working to ensure something similar does not happen again and are sorry for the upset caused.”