NatWest and Lombard, the UK’s largest asset finance provider, have today announced a new partnership with the Farming Community Network (FCN), a voluntary organisation and charity dedicated to supporting farmers and their families across the UK.
Recent studies have shown that farmers are at higher risk of poor mental health compared to other professions, making targeted wellbeing support more important than ever. As one of the UK’s leading banks for agriculture, with over 40,000 farming customers nationwide, the bank is uniquely positioned to detect customers in need of support through its dedicated network of face-to-face agricultural specialist managers which are embedded in farming communities across the country.
Through this partnership, NatWest and Lombard’s agriculture sector team have received dedicated training from the FCN, enabling them to spot the early signs of stress and mental health challenges among farmers and their families. This ensures that these colleagues can offer timely support and guidance, helping customers to access FCN’s wellbeing resources, while supporting mental health awareness and resilience within the agricultural sector.
Rachael Watson, Head of Agriculture at Lombard, commented:
“Farming is more than a profession—it’s a way of life, shaped by unpredictable weather, market pressures, and the immense responsibility for land and livestock. These realities can have a profound impact on farmers’ mental health. As a bank serving over 40,000 farming customers across the UK, we believe that it’s essential to support the wellbeing of the farming community. By partnering with FCN and embedding wellbeing awareness into every customer interaction, we’re committed to ensuring farmers and their families have access to practical support. Our agricultural specialists have completed FCN’s wellbeing training, equipping them to understand and address the unique challenges faced by farmers today.”
Georgina Lamb, Head of Partnerships for the Farming Community Network, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with NatWest and Lombard to further our mission of supporting farmers and farming families during challenging times. By working together, we can reach more individuals with essential information, resources, and a listening ear, helping them manage stress and build resilience for the future.”