Banking Services
Framework Description
Banking Services is a single-lot framework agreement let by the Scottish Government (Scottish Procurement) and made available to APUC member institutions. It gives public bodies, including universities and colleges, a route to appoint a provider for their core banking. It ends on 31 October 2026 with no extension option, so it is in its final weeks.
Context & Use Case
The Scottish Ministers set it up for Scottish public sector bodies, and APUC members can also use it to appoint a bank for accounts, payments and cash handling. Banking contracts tend to be long, so a contract awarded before 31 October 2026 may run on after the framework expires. Buyers starting a new requirement after that date will need another route.
Scope of Services
Provision of banking services to public bodies Transactional banking: payments, receipts and cash management Merchant card payment services
Lots
Single lot
Who Can Apply
Suits banks and authorised financial institutions able to provide corporate banking to public bodies. Applications for this framework are closed and it expires on 31 October 2026, so no new suppliers can join it. Check whether Scottish Procurement has published or plans a replacement; if not, look for banking tenders from individual institutions.
Buyer Benefits
Choosing a bank is a long-term decision, and public bodies want providers already checked on financial standing, service and regulatory compliance. A national agreement from Scottish Procurement gives institutions terms they would struggle to negotiate alone, and saves them running a full procurement for a specialist service with few capable providers.
Next Steps
With the framework ending on 31 October 2026, focus on its successor rather than this agreement. Search Public Contracts Scotland for Scottish Procurement banking notices (the original was AUG456912) and check the Scottish Government's framework pages. If a replacement is in tender, prepare now; if not, watch for banking tenders from universities and colleges.
How Athena Can Help
Banking tenders are infrequent and high value, so preparation counts. If Scottish Procurement re-lets this agreement, Athena can run the response end to end through our bid management service, including competitor analysis and a final compliance check.
We can add banking and treasury frameworks to a rolling framework pipeline covering the next 6 to 12 months, so you see openings early and have case studies, policies and certificates ready, and give bid/no-bid support on individual university banking tenders.
