Fitch downgrades Co-operative Bank to A from A+
24 October 2026 · Fitch · Co-operative Bank plc
| Institution | Co-operative Bank plc |
| Agency | Fitch Ratings |
| Action | Downgrade |
| Long-term rating | A+ → A (-1 notch) |
| Outlook | — → — |
| Source | Co-operative Bank's published credit ratings |
What this means
Fitch now sees more risk in Co-operative Bank's ability to meet its long-term obligations, moving its rating 1 notch lower to A, in the "High Grade" band and investment grade. A downgrade is an opinion, not an event: the bank continues to operate normally, and a single notch rarely changes anything for depositors. Repeated downgrades, or a fall below BBB-/Baa3, are the signals worth acting on for balances above the FSCS limit.
As read from Co-operative Bank's disclosure: "Fitch Issuer Default Rating (IDR) column: A"
Deposit protection is unaffected by rating changes: eligible deposits remain covered by the FSCS up to £120,000 per person per banking licence. See Co-operative Bank's full rating page for the blended rating, history and FAQ, and all rating changes.
Figures are the agency's long-term rating of the licence-holding entity as published by the institution. This is information, not financial advice.