Frequently asked questions

Membership is open to anyone within our common bond - that means anyone who lives or works in our local area, plus employees of our payroll partner organisations. You can apply online in minutes.

Just a form of ID (such as a passport or driving licence), your address details, and your bank details if you want to set up a regular savings payment. Our online application guides you through everything.

There are no monthly fees. When you join you open a share account with a small minimum balance (from £1), which makes you a member-owner of the credit union with an equal vote at our AGM.

A credit union is a not-for-profit financial co-operative owned by its members. There are no external shareholders - savings are pooled and lent to other members at fair rates, and any surplus is returned to members as a dividend or reinvested in services.

Yes - our Junior Saver is open to anyone under 18, managed by a parent or guardian, from £1 a month. It's a great way to start the savings habit early. See membership for families and juniors.

Yes - organisations in our common bond can join as corporate members and hold their funds with us, and employers can partner with us to offer payroll deduction savings to their staff. See corporate membership.

Yes. Savings with UK credit unions are protected up to £120,000 per person by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), the same protection you get with a bank or building society.

It depends on the account. Our regular savings accounts pay a dividend - at the end of each financial year, members vote at the AGM on the dividend to be paid from any surplus. Our interest-bearing accounts and Cash ISA pay a set rate of interest instead, so you know exactly what you'll earn. See the Save page for both.

Yes - our Cash ISA lets you use your annual ISA allowance and pay no tax on the interest you earn. You can open one from £1, and transfers in from other ISA providers are accepted.

For most accounts, yes - withdrawals from our Regular Saver and Instant Access Interest Account can be made online at any time. Some accounts, like the Christmas Saver, have planned withdrawal dates to help you stick to your goal. Savings held as security against a loan may also be restricted until the loan is repaid.

If your employer is one of our payroll partners, you can save (and make loan repayments) directly from your salary. It's the easiest way to save - the money is put aside before you ever see it. See our membership page for more on payroll savings, or contact us to check if your employer is a partner.

Two: a loan - a one-off amount for a specific plan (Standard, Secured on your savings, or Family Loan) - or Budget Booster, a debit card that lets you spread the cost of everyday purchases using revolving credit.

Budget Booster is a debit card - you spend your own money at any checkout that accepts Mastercard. The "boost" is that you can spread the cost of purchases over the months ahead, backed by a revolving credit account, so there's always enough left at the end of the month. Repay at a steady pace and your limit grows and your rate falls. Find out more.

No - new customers can apply for a loan first and join later. Use our loan calculator to choose your amount and term, start your application, and complete your membership as part of the process.

Use our Quick Loan. It lets you find your account or log in first, so your details are prefilled and your application takes just a couple of minutes.

Yes - members with an existing loan can apply to top it up. The date you become eligible to top up is shown in the members' area when you log in. Once you're eligible, apply through the Quick Loan as usual.

Interest is charged on the reducing balance - you only pay interest on what you still owe, so every repayment brings the total cost down. There are no arrangement fees and no penalties for paying your loan off early.

Most applications receive a decision within two working days, and many much sooner. If we need any extra information, our loans team will get in touch directly.

Yes - like all responsible lenders we carry out credit and affordability checks. But a less-than-perfect credit history doesn't automatically mean no: our loans team looks at your real circumstances, not just a score.

Yes - members can check balances, make withdrawals, and apply for loans online 24/7 through our secure members' area.

Talk to us as early as you can - we're on your side. Our team can look at adjusting your repayment plan and point you towards free, independent debt advice. We never use aggressive collection practices.