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. Savings with UK credit unions are protected up to £85,000 per person by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), the same protection you get with a bank or building society.

Credit unions pay a dividend rather than a fixed interest rate. At the end of each financial year, our members vote at the AGM on the dividend to be paid from any surplus. The better the credit union does, the better your return.

For most accounts, yes - withdrawals from our Regular Saver and Instant Access accounts 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. Contact us to check if your employer is a partner.

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.