Credit Union Ltd

262 Kirkdale  Sydenham  London SE26 4RS Also in Catford, Deptford and St Paul’s Cray 020 8778 4738  [email protected]  www.pluscu.co.uk Registered trading name Bromley Plus Credit Union  SMS balances by texting the with Phoenix Community Housing nd Community word “Balance” to 07537 410334 Association staff on 22 October. You can use these to access credit Newsletter union services from your home or Autumn 2014 other locations whenever you wish. Deptford Outreach Service Top stories this issue: An outreach service is available for New Cross branch closing ...... 1 all members in the New Cross and Homelessness prevented ...... 1 Deptford area. This is provided with Church Credit Champions...... 2 support from Lewisham Homes. We Faster Loans Update ...... 2 have a Service Level Agreement with Lewisham Homes until March UK credit unions have over 1 million New Cross Branch 2015 and are confident that this members and £1 billion assets. th service will continue. Note: This Closing 30 Jan 2015 Homelessness prevented We have written to members who service does not handle any cash. A woman fleeing domestic violence have recently visited our New Cross The outreach service is at Pepys was referred to our Bromley Plus branch, and now need to let all our Housing Office, 1a Eddystone branch for a Homeless Prevention members know that this branch will Tower, Deptford, SE8 3QU, is open Loan. Once the loan was allocated, be closing in January 2015. from Mon to Wed, 10am to 3pm. our staff helped her to open a Credit th Friday 30 January 2015 will be If you have any questions about the Union Current Account and to pay the last day the branch will be open branch closure or need help benefits in. She had only had a Post to provide services for members. accessing alternative services, Office card account before this. We The decision to close the New Cross please speak with our staff, or write were able to set up direct debits for branch was prompted by the new to me at our address in Sydenham. utility bills and a regular standing landlord’s proposal to substantially John McCarthy order to begin her savings. increase the rent. After carefully "This has really made a difference to John McCarthy, President, LPCU considering a number of options, the my life, I am finally in control of my Board has concluded that closure is Lewisham Plus Credit Union Ltd money, I know that all my bills are the right decision. is a not-for-profit savings and low being paid and my loan. But what We will continue to provide a full cost loans service for people makes me really happy I've finally service at The Green Man, Bromley living or working in the London learned to save and I haven't got to Road, Catford SE6, at our main Boroughs of Lewisham and worry where I'm going to find the office at Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 Bromley and all of SE19 money when things come up that I and in St. Paul’s Cray BR5. can’t plan for.” Access Services Anywhere "The staff at Bromley+ are so helpful Increasingly, more of our services and friendly but most of all they can be used without visiting a make me feel comfortable and not branch. These include: embarrassed about my situation." We are proud to work with both  Pre-Paid Debit Card, which can Lewisham and Bromley Councils to be loaded and used to access prevent homelessness. Since 2011 cash without visiting a branch. we have issued nearly 100 loans to  Credit Union Current Account, help people find or keep a home. which provides cash machine, standing order, direct debit and Vital Statistics bill payment services.  8,834 adults (double since 2009)  Upgraded web site services,  1,493 young savers under 16 including loan applications and Celebrating 50 years  2,254 CUCAs or Pre-Paid cards recent transactions online.  £3,621,886 in savings Lewisham Plus celebrated 50 years  £1,989,108 loans to members  Telephone banking service to of credit unions in the UK with an  0.5% dividend proposed for listen to your balance and event to mark International Credit adults, 1.5% for young savers authorise transfers 24x7. Union Day, held at The Green Man (Figures at 30th September 2014)

Church Credit Our Branch Opening Hours Sydenham 262 Kirkdale, SE26 4RS Champions Network The Green Man, 355 Bromley Road, In May 2014 Lewisham Plus took Catford, SE6 2RP part in the launch of the Church Bromley Plus at 54 Cotmandene Credit Champions Network, at St. Cres. St.Paul’s Cray, BR5 2RG Martin-in-the-fields, Trafalgar Sq. New Cross Branch at 165 New Sir Hector Sants, the Bishop of Cross Road, SE14 5DG Stepney and others explained how the Network will help to promote All open 9.30-1pm Mon-Fri. affordable, responsible credit and Sydenham only 7.30-9pm Friday church support for credit unions. and 10am-noon Saturday. In June the Archbishop addressed a Deptford at 1a Eddystone Tower reception at The House of Lords for SE8 (Mon-Wed 10am-3pm) the Credit Union Foundation. See: Closed Bank Holidays and as per notices. http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/ Remember to use your credit union. articles.php/5339/archbishop-justins- Dormant adult accounts under £10 speech-to-the-credit-union-foundation We have new signage outside The balance - annual £2.50 fee. Green Man, Bromley Road in SE6. Online Transaction Enquiries Faster Loans – Update View recent transactions online in Since the launch of our faster loan our Members area (Web PIN required) decision service, in January 2014, 24/7 Telephone Balances we have seen a sustained rise in Automated balances and transfers borrowing through the credit union. 24/7 on 0208 778 4738 (PIN required) By responding more quickly we SMS Balance Enquiries hope to divert funds from expensive Text Balance to 07537 410334 “payday loans” – playing our part in The text will cost your standard network rate “competing Wonga out of existence”, for an SMS. If you try the service but don’t as Archbishop Justin Welby put it. get a response email [email protected] 4 in 10 loan decisions are now made with your name, member number and your correct mobile phone number. “next day”, in addition to fast-track Lewisham Plus is pleased to be SAYB loan top-ups and Flexi-loans. Pre-Paid VISA Card Service working with the CCCN and the For example, in June 2014: Low cost pre-paid VISA debit card. Diocese of Rochester to explore and No weekly fee. 50p load charge.* develop church support for the credit  496 loans were granted, total of £274,000 – average £552 each. Credit Union Current Account union in Lewisham and Bromley. ATM facility and VISA debit card,  354 were SAYB loans, of which direct credits and standing orders. People Matter Most approx 230 were fast-tracked. £1.25p per week fee.* S. has a disabled son who is due to  98 loans were accepted next day *See full Terms and Conditions for details. have major surgery soon. She has  156 loans were accepted after little income and had been unable to To protect your funds we require further assessment. proof of ID for all withdrawals. obtain credit elsewhere. Our Green 9 in 10 decisions are within a week. Life Insurance Man branch arranged a small loan, Most delays are waiting for further Members up to age 70 receive life which enabled her to take her son info – please be prompt if we ask! away, where he met his aunt for the insurance at no charge. Loans are first time. “This has made such a Credit Union Services also covered up to age 75.** difference to my family. We needed Anyone living or working in **All insurances subject to policy limits a break to enable us to cope with my Lewisham, Bromley or SE19 can Western Union (Sydenham only) son’s illness and future treatment.” join Lewisham Plus Credit Union. International money transfer from shares, cash or credit union loan. Johan Allen, our outreach officer in Saving and Borrowing Deptford, helped two Lewisham Save up to £30,000, £3 joining fee Contact us for further information Homes tenants to open CU Current for adults, £2 for young savers. and application forms, or go online. Accounts and to transfer a whopping Salary/benefit direct credit facility. Our individual and friendly £5,000 from their rent accounts. Personal Loans up to £10,000 from service is volunteer led but One had £3,600 on her rent account 0.75% to 2% pm (9.4% to 26.8% APR) professionally managed. We reduced to £600, and the other had SAYB 3% pm/42.6% APR, save as work for a fair and inclusive £2,000 credit on his rent. you borrow – our most popular loan. local community. The first tenant was so happy with Flexi-loan 3% pm/42.6% APR. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority the service she gave Johan a box of and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority chocolates. Well done Johan! Flexible access to top-up borrowing. and the Prudential Regulation Authority -213588.