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Cambridge & Counties business bank has donated £10,000 to 10 charities as part of its 10th anniversary celebrations.

The Leicester-based specialist lender ran a One Big Birthday Present initiative in July and August which saw a large number of charities put forward by the bank’s customers, brokers and business partners, with the final 10 selected at random.

They were the Bodie Hodges Foundation, Cheltenham Open Door, Focus Charity, Forever Stars, Nottinghamshire Hospice, Mill Youth Centre, Prostate Cancer º£½ÇÊÓƵ, The Bus Shelter, Warning Zone and Acorns Children Hospice. Overall, the bank had over 150 nominations.

One Big Birthday Present was one of several initiatives the bank undertook as part of its anniversary celebrations. Others included events celebrating the bank’s employees, including the introduction of a long-service reward scheme.

Over the past 10 years, Cambridge & Counties Bank has grown into a significant competitor in its selected markets and business lines. The bank passed through the £1 billion deposits mark during 2021 and went through the £1 billion lending mark in early 2022, underscoring its continued growth.

During the summer the bank reported that gross new lending had rose almost 50 per cent last year to £323 million, reflecting the work it was doing helping SMEs, entrepreneurs and real estate professionals capitalise on growth opportunities within the º£½ÇÊÓƵ.

The business said its post-tax profit was up 65 per cent at £15.5 million while the number of employs was up by around 20 at 183.

Chief executive Donald Kerr said: “We are delighted to have been able to support these 10 great charities, working closely with our clients and brokers to identify the causes they are passionate about.