Financial news

Chase Bank, the digital bank owned by JP Morgan, has become the Official Banking Partner of the Home Nations football teams.

Chase will work with the England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales Men’s, Women’s, Youth and Para national teams, across four years. The partnerships will see the Chase logo added to the training kits worn by both the men’s and women’s national teams.

At the heart of the partnerships, Chase Bank will support individuals across the UK from low-income and low socio-economic backgrounds by providing access to fully funded coaching qualifications and free learning tools, helping to develop transferable skills for life on and off the football pitch.

The new partnerships build on Chase’s ongoing investment in community-based programmes and extend JP Morgan Chase’s decades-long support for local communities in the UK, where it employs over 22,000 people.

Through this sponsorship and Chase’s existing partnership with the National Literacy Trust, Chase will look to empower individuals by improving access to the resources and tools they need to unlock their potential and help build pathways towards future employment.

Chase will also provide opportunities for customers to get closer to the national teams through memorable experiences at matches and training grounds.

Supporting disadvantaged communities

Deborah Keay, UK chief marketing officer at Chase, explained the decision to become the Official Banking Partner of the Home Nations football teams: “Football has the unique ability to drive positive societal change, bringing together millions of people across every corner of the UK.

“We recognise there are barriers that make obtaining coaching qualifications difficult for many. By supporting individuals with access to the right resources and tools they need to succeed, we can help people develop key life skills on and off the pitch that will have a positive impact on their lives.”

Mark Bullingham, chief executive at the English Football Association, also added: “Our new partnership with Chase is an exciting opportunity that will help us to develop the next generation of coaching talent across all levels of English football.

“Importantly, this collaborative programme will directly support people from disadvantaged communities across the country who wish to pursue a future in football coaching. Together, we will create a new pathway for aspiring coaches by providing access to fully funded courses and free training resources so that they can achieve a range of industry-leading qualifications.”

Home nations footballing promise

Ian Maxwell, chief executive of the Scottish FA, said: ”We look forward to kicking off this exciting partnership with Chase that will not only support our national teams, but some of Scotland’s most committed grassroots coaches of today and tomorrow.

“We talk regularly about the power of football making an impact on and off the pitch – whether it’s our talented players striving to inspire the nation, or the game itself making a real difference in everyday life across a host of areas. Those are ambitions we share with Chase. Our national teams have a lot to look forward to in the coming months and I know our coach education team is looking forward to supporting Chase in their community work.”

Noel Mooney, CEO of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), said: ”The FAW is incredibly excited to partner with Chase, who will help the nation develop important life skills and increase opportunities through the provision of access to fully funded coaching qualifications for people from low-income backgrounds.”

Finally, Patrick Nelson, chief executive of the Irish Football Association, commented: ”We know that our senior teams attract significant attention, and rightly so. But we are committed to enhancing the skillset of individuals right across our football family and the bursary for aspiring coaches that comes as part of our partnership with Chase, an organisation that shares our vision and values here at the Irish FA, will help us continue to do that.”