The Credit Union Difference
A guide to what it means to be a part of a Credit Union.
How many Credit Unions are there?
What kind of services do Credit Unions offer?
Who owns and runs a Credit Union?
Why are Credit Unions ethical?
Are deposits in Credit Unions safe?
What is a Credit Union?
A credit union is a member owned, financial co-operative which provides financial services only to its members.
Credit Unions are not “open to the public” in that you have to be a member before you can save or borrow with them. Each credit union has a “common bond” which determines which members of the public can join it. Common bonds can be occupational, employment based, geographical, membership based or any combination of the four categories.
The ethical principles of credit unions means that they are non-discriminatory and therefore membership is open to everyone who qualifies under the common bond criteria.
Scotwest’s common bond comprises anyone who lives or works in the West of Scotland (the area covered by Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire Councils), Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Perth & Kinross, Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Highlands as well as employees / members of named select employers / organisations.
A credit union takes deposits (savings) from its members and then lends that money (loans) out to other members. The interest charged on those loans then provides for a return on the savings. This return is usually in the form of a retrospective dividend – as owners of the business, the depositors share in the risk and rewards of ownership and therefore the amount of the dividend depends on the performance of the credit union.
Credit unions are “not for profit” businesses in the sense that they use the income generated to build capital, provide services and provide a return to depositors.
What are Credit Unions for?
Credit Unions exist for the economic empowerment of their members. They encourage savings, provide financial education and affordable loans, all the while circulating the money within its membership community – i.e. the money and profits stay within the membership and don’t go to external shareholders.
How many Credit Unions are there?
There are over 500 Credit Unions in the United Kingdom. Collectively they have over 1.5 million members and £2 billion of deposits. Credit Unions come in all shapes and sizes, with the smallest having just a few hundred members through to the largest who have over 40,000 members. No matter where they live, everyone in the United Kingdom is eligible to join at least one credit union.
What kind of services do Credit Unions offer?
All credit unions take deposits and make loans, however, as they are there only to serve their own members the exact nature of their services and products will be unique to the individual credit union. In respect of savings, services may include instant access savings accounts; term or notice savings accounts; Christmas savings accounts and budgeting facilities.
In terms of loans, services may include unsecured lending, secured lending and business loans. The lending limits and criteria are set individually by each credit union. What unites them, however, is their view of an individual as a “member” not a customer: Credit unions are ethical lenders and do not lend where it is not in the best interests of the member.
Who owns and runs a Credit Union?
Each member of the credit union is an owner of the business and controls it in a “one member one vote” democratic structure. A credit union will have a Board of Governors/Directors elected by the membership to oversee performance and guide the strategic direction of the business. The Board are volunteers and do not get paid for their work. In small credit unions, the Board (perhaps in conjunction with other volunteers) also run the business, whereas the largest credit unions have professional staff to do that and the Board take an overseeing / strategic role. In between, different sized credit unions will have a mix of roles and responsibilities appropriate to their size. Find out about how to join our Board of Directors here.
Why are Credit Unions ethical?
Credit unions are financial co-operatives, owned by their members and are under their democratic control. Credit unions only serve their members and their interests. That means decisions are made based on the well-being of the members as individuals and as a collective. Lending decisions are based upon affordability as it is not in the interest of a credit union to see any of its members get into financial difficulty. Credit unions operate “what you see is what you get” lending with standard rates and no hidden charges.
Credit unions not only co-operate internally (i.e. among the members) but they also co-operate with other credit unions and stakeholders in order to promote a fairer society.
All this means that the dividends paid to depositors are ethically sourced.
Are Credit Unions regulated?
Credit Unions are extensively regulated. Not only do they have to comply with the appropriate legislation but, just like banks and building societies, they are regulated by both the Prudential Regulation Authority (i.e. the Bank of England) and the Financial Conduct Authority. Unlike banks and building societies, the regulations pertaining to credit unions severely restrict the type of activities which credit unions can carry out, as well as the terms on which they can do so. For example, credit unions are restricted by H.M. Treasury on the amount of interest they can charge on loans. The current limit is 3% per calendar month (42.6% APR), however, most credit unions do not lend at this level and many self-impose a lower interest cap on the basis that as ethical lenders they believe that loans should be issued at reasonable and affordable rates.
Are Deposits in Credit Unions safe?
As evidenced by the banking crash of 2008, no financial institution can ever be considered 100% safe. Just like banks and building societies, credit unions are licensed deposit takers and as such all its depositors are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Therefore deposits in credit unions are protected exactly the same as deposits in banks and building societies.
