Northern Rock has been given a national award from The Prince of Wales’ Business in the Community (BITC) charity, for its work to help tackle financial exclusion.

Last month, BITC awarded Northern Rock with a ‘Big Tick’ for its ongoing project to help rebrand, relaunch and support Bridges Community Bank, formerly South Tyneside Credit Union.

Judges were so impressed with the nomination that Northern Rock was also selected as one of only two North East organisations to be shortlisted for the coveted title of ‘Example of Excellence’ in their respective categories.

On Tuesday, representatives from the bank including Executive Chairman Ron Sandler, were highly commended in BITC’s ‘Building Stronger Communities’ for 2011, at a gala event sponsored by Unilever at The Royal Albert Hall.

The national ‘Big Tick’ award is the first level of award available to entrants of the national BITC Awards for Excellence, which recognise inspirational programmes that have a positive impact on the community, the environment or wider society. Northern Rock was one of six companies to achieve it this year before being highly commended in the category of the UK’s Example of Excellence in Building Stronger Communities.

Northern Rock’s contribution involved a team of employee volunteers skilled in a number of disciplines helping Bridges Your Community Bank. It continues to support Bridges as part of its flagship community programme which focuses on assisting those in financial difficulty.

Sandler said: “We are honoured to have received this additional commendation