The inspiring true story behind Netflix sequel Bank of Dave 2

Two years after Netflix first introduced its subscribers to the inspiring work of Dave Fishwick in the 2023 movie Bank of Dave, the Lancashire businessman is back for Bank of Dave 2. Just like the first time around, the film is describing itself as "based on a true-ish story". So how true is it?

In Bank of Dave, we followed Fishwick (Rory Kinnear) as he did battle with the financial elites of London in order to set up a community bank in aid of local businesses in the north of England. The real Fishwick's journey was depicted in the 2012 Channel 4 documentary series Bank of Dave and later dramatised in the Netflix film, which became a massive hit on the streaming platform.

Netflix immediately gave the green light to a sequel, again starring Kinnear as Fishwick and Jo Hartley as his wife, Nicola. This time around, the film follows Fishwick as he takes on the scourge of payday loan companies. But how much of it is true?

The real Fishwick did lead a campaign against payday loan companies. Channel 4 aired the documentary Dave: Loan Ranger in 2014 and the show won Best Current Affairs Programme at the Scottish Baftas. Bank of Dave 2 is a loose adaptation of this story, in which Fishwick spoke to those who felt they had been mistreated by these companies.

Read more: Sneak preview of Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger ahead of Netflix premiere (LancsLive, 2 min read)

In May 2024, Fishwick told BBC Breakfast he targeted payday loan companies as he believes they "prey on the poor and vulnerable and they need shutting down". The fictionalised version of the story sees Fishwick recruit a Citizen’s Advice counsellor and an American reporter for a journey in search of justice that takes him across the Atlantic.

Fishwick recently admitted to This Morning that certain sections of the film, including a performance by Def Leppard in his local pub, are "slightly magical", but that the core of the movie's ethos is true. He also confessed that he can't hold a candle to Kinnear's singing voice, leaving people disappointed with his own karaoke exploits.

The man himself also pops up in the new film, as he explained to BBC Breakfast. "It's much bigger than anything I've ever been involved in," said Fishwick. "I play a baddie in this one. I can't play myself because Rory looks too much like me, it would be like twins."

Read more: Lender Dave Fishwick says mother asked him for loan to buy baby milk as he discusses NatWest profits (The Independent, 1 min read)

So it's true that Bank of Dave 2 will follow the first film's lead in dramatically embellishing the story of Dave Fishwick. But the core of truth is there in telling the inspiring story of a man willing to take on the big beasts of the financial world in order to secure as much justice as possible for ordinary Brits.

Bank of Dave 2: The Loan Ranger is available on Netflix from 10 January.