Social enterprise funding: Fallow deposits may bear fruit

By Zach Fuchs

For all its boldness, the idea is quite simple. Round up all the assets lying fallow in abandoned UK bank accounts and create from them an independent financial institution to drive growth in social enterprise.

The social sector, comprising private enterprises working to better the community, suffers from chronic undercapitalization. Social enterprises are averse to borrowing but lack the profit stream that would make equity financing attractive. How to bridge the financing gap?

Enter the Commission on Unclaimed Assets.