Dave starts his fight in his hometown of Burnley and his plan is simple: he promises is give 5% interest on savings and then use that money to lend to people struggling to secure loans from the big banks. If after six months his local bank works, instead of paying bonuses, he'll give any profits to charity. Dave soon discovers that if he calls his venture a bank, he could end up in prison.

Dave believes that Bank managers need to meet their customers and take a close look at their businesses. From a busker needing a loan for a new amplifier to a tropical fish store needing a snappy attraction, it seems that he's succeeded. But just after he takes his first money in from a member of the public, he hears that his solution could be illegal and he could end up in prison after all.

After a trip to the US, Dave is convinced he has an idea that works and takes Bank of Dave around the country pulling up outside the Bank of England and almost getting arrested in the process. As the 180-day deadline he set himself arrives, Dave finds out whether his venture is in profit. If it is, he has promised to do what the big banks never could - give all the money away to charity.