IF the economic theory that 'there's no such thing as a free lunch' is true, then the prospect of getting something for nothing from a bank should be well nigh impossible . . .
But Jim McCooe instantly disputes that, insisting: "Last year we gave away £972,353 to 654 charities, no strings attached."
Since 2009 McCooe has been the Lloyds Bank Foundation "ambassador" in Northern Ireland (one of 10 across the UK) and chair of its regional executive committee.
Lloyds Bank Foundation has since morphed into the Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, reflecting the strength of the Halifax brand in the north, where it has 16 branches, a major contact centre and thousands of customers.
Yet whatever the guise, during the last three decades the financial behemoth has contributed the thick end of £35 million to thousands of organisations in the voluntary and community sectors across Northern Ireland.
That's money which has had a profound impact on the ground, supporting under-funded, grass roots charities that enable people, especially those disabled and disadvantaged, to play a fuller role in society.
And it makes Halifax the biggest corporate donor in Northern Ireland - basically it's offering 'money for nothing' if the applicant's criteria is met.
"The Halifax Foundation Northern Ireland is an independent charity which has a rolling grant programme handing out an average £4,000 to the most diverse range of worth projects, and that's something we are extremely proud of," says McCooe, himself a career banker.
"The groups we support represent the best of Northern Ireland, made up of dedicated volunteers working hard, often without recognition, to provide vital facilities and services for people of all ages in the local community, and without financial support, many of these groups simply would not exist.
“So our investment in so many important projects really is making a difference to many many lives.
"And we welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of race, colour, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, age or disability.”
In 2016 the Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, though its main Community Grant scheme, considered 377 applications and offered granted to 240 entities totally £828,885.
Halifax also continued its 'matched giving' initiative where it donates the same-again for fund-raising by its own staff. Last year 413 awards were made here totalling £140,018. One separate award of £3,450 was made through a third programme called Special Initiatives. It all adds up to £972,353.
The cash ranges from £550 towards a laser clay shooting project by the Saturday Night Extra club to £6,000-plus towards equipment and running costs at Cairn Lodge boxing club, supporting an anti-bullying programme at Larne YMCA, or paying the salaries for individual members of staff at the likes of North Belfast Foodbank, Lurgan YMCA and the Short Strand Community Forum.
But the Halifax help reaches into other areas such as education. For instance, it partners with Queen’s University to offer 15 under-graduates the chance to become a Lloyds Scholar, where it supports students from lower income households, paying their fees, offering mentoring and then opening up paid internships.
The organisation is also committed to helping charities and businesses to improve digital skills, and earlier this year organised a 'Digital Garage' event in Cookstown in association with Google, when more than 120 charities came together to look at ways to improve their online presence.
As a banking group, Lloyds certainly hasn't had its sorrows to seek in the wake of the financial crisis.
But the UK taxpayer has recovered every penny of the £20.3 billion government bail-out of 2008, with its one-time stake of 43 per cent now falling to zero.
Throughout that torrid time the Foundation remained unrelenting in its support, and McCooe oozes pride at the incredible work it undertakes every day.
"But that work isn't yet done. One of our programme's strap-lines is 'Helping Northern Ireland Prosper', and we will continue to respond to the needs of worthy charities out there," he says.
