Newsletter Spring 2016
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Lewisham Plus Credit Union Limited 262 Kirkdale Sydenham London SE26 4RS Registered trading name also Bromley Plus Credit Union 0208 778 4738 [email protected] www.pluscu.co.uk CU Newsletter LifeSavers Schools Project Spring 2016 We are pleased to Top stories this issue: announce a successful Meet our new CEO ....................1 start for two new school LifeSavvers Schools Project.. ....1 savings schemes, at Smartcash for young savers.....2 Keston Primary School, in CUCA service to be withdrawn ..3 Bromley and at St AGM 25th Feb at Green Man......4 Bartholomew's Primary Credit Union Services ................4 School in Lewisham. Both schools are part of Meet our new CEO the 'LifeSavers' schools programme pilot being supported by the Church of LifeSavers at Keston Primary School England's financial Adults (Left to Right) Lisa Moralee, Sarah taskforce. 'LifeSavers’ is Neason, Katie Herbert and Christine Martin. being piloted in six schools across Bradford, Nottinghamshire 10,000 Member and South East London. On average 1 in 3 pupils offered the Milestone Passed savings club has taken up the Lewisham Plus passed a milestone chance to save. Credit unions are of 10,000 adult members at 31st providing the savings facility and December 2015. This makes us churches are supporting the delivery officially “a Large v1 Credit Union”, of LifeSavers, with volunteers to according to the PRA regulations. help run savings clubs and Recent highlights include: New CEO Ravi Ravindran shaking LifeSavers assemblies in schools. 10,019 adult members hands with Janet Greenwood. This is a part of Archbishop Justin 1,414 young savers under 16 After four years of dedicated service Welby's plan to support improved £4.7m savings, £5.6m assets as Chief Executive of Lewisham financial education and inclusion. He £2.6m loans to members Plus Credit Union, Janet Greenwood said "I strongly support this initiative 367 online loan and 268 online has decided to move to a different to encourage children to develop member applications Oct-Dec role. From April she will be working positive attitudes towards money 0.5% dividend (proposed to AGM) part-time as a loan underwriter and and the habit of saving." 1.5% for young savers relief branch manager. The Credit st For more about the Archbishop of (Figures at 31 Dec 2015) Union is very grateful for all the work Canterbury's wider financial initiative Janet has put into the organisation Register a web PIN see www.toyourcredit.org.uk. over the years, and is pleased to be Haven’t registered for our new retaining her expertise. Under her With help from Lifesavers Lewisham web site yet? This is quick and management Lewisham Plus has Plus hopes to bring credit union easy, and gives you secure access grown significantly to become one of savings clubs to more local schools to your account the largest credit unions in London. in Bromley and Lewisham in 2016. balances, st transaction details, Ravi Ravindran started with us on 1 Lewisham Plus Credit Union Ltd February and is working alongside and now also to is a not-for-profit savings and low online payments. Janet during their handover. cost loans service for people Ravi’s background was originally in living or working in the London Click on Members investment management before Boroughs of Lewisham and to register your web PIN, for a next running a small business and Post Bromley and all of SE19 working day confirmation. Office. He is a local man, and was CUCA PINs and telephone banking attracted by the community aspect Smartcash PINs are not linked to web site PINs. of our work, in addition to being well is an exciting new To get your overnight balance qualified. He is also the volunteer Engage card just text ‘Balance’ to 07537 410334 Treasurer for a London charity. for 8-16 year olds. or see your transactions online. Ravi is looking forward to working Save £10 with Tip: If you need to call, try to avoid busy with our staff and for our members. our special offer times (e.g. 9:30 & 1pm), or send us an email Please give him a big welcome! – see next page. asking for a call back. Thank you. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm 213588. Corporate Accounts New staff member at Service Launched The Albany, Deptford An AGM commitment was made last The credit union’s Deptford outreach year to allow corporate members to service, previously at 1a Eddystone join the credit union. This facility is Tower, moved with Lewisham now available for local charities, Homes to Unit 13 A-B, The Albany, trusts, clubs and societies. Our first Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG. account has just been opened for a Find us at the far end of The Albany local residents’ association. Smartcash pre-paid as viewed from Deptford market. Conditions apply, so please see our Our Deptford desk is open to serve card for Young Savers website for further details. credit union members from Mon to www.pluscu.co.uk/accounts-for- Available from March, Smartcash is Wed, 10am to 3pm. Note: This an exciting new Engage card just for societies-and-charities. service does not handle any cash. young savers aged 8-16, and is exclusive to credit unions. Meet Your Board Designed to help children and teens Getting everyone on our Board of take control of their finances in the Directors together for a photo is connected world – electronic pocket always difficult and we almost money to use and to learn the managed it. From Left to right: Tim importance of money management. Pagan, Keith Howick, Liz Ballaster, Parental access to the child’s online Frank Whittle, Mark Plummer, John McCarthy (President), Paul Treece, account ensures safe, responsible Arun Prasad and Peter Dulley. spending, whilst the ability to send money direct to the credit union encourages young savers to add to their savings on a regular basis. Each Smartcash account comes Janet Palmer is our new member of with a contactless staff at The Albany. If you live in the Visa debit card, north of Lewisham, why not pop in to Missing from the photo are James free mobile app, ask her about our services? Gardner, who was away celebrating online account a birthday (21 again!), and member and a range of Engage Classic Cards engagement director Geoff Cave. rewards and discounts to save going contactless on everyday The Engage Classic spending and Prepaid card is an purchases like ethical low-cost Visa games or fashion. debit card. Engage There will normally be a one-off £10 is easy to use, very flexible, and has fee for a Smartcash card, but no exciting high street cashback monthly fee and no fee to load from We have three new directors, left to rewards too. a credit union account. As a special right Keith Howick, Arun Prasad, Members with Engage Classic introductory offer, Lewisham Plus and Tim Pagan (awaiting approval) Cards, which were not contactless will pay the £10 fee on the first 500 We were sorry to see Nene Addo when they were issued, will shortly cards, so they will be free for kids. step down as a director due to family be receiving a new card with the and work commitments. However Note: A parent must also be a credit facility for contactless payments. we have welcomed David Blane and union member and hold an Engage Please ensure your old card is Barney Wanstall to join David Smith card to validate the child’s identity. destroyed. Benefits are: on the Supervisory Committee. For full details see our web site and UK sort code & account number Terms and Conditions (coming soon) FSCS change Contactless Visa debit card Payments Online On 1st January 2016 ATM, cash back & money transfers the FSCS deposit Cashback rewards at many stores Our website can already accept new protection limit member entrance fees on-line. Online portal and mobile app changed from Envelope™ Money Management Members are now able to add to £85,000 to £75,000. their credit union savings or make No issue cost – no credit checks For further details see our website: loan repayments using a debit card, Ethical £2/month, no load fees* www.pluscu.co.uk/is-your-money-safe by signing into the Members area. See our web site for full details IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL CREDIT UNION CURRENT ACCOUNT (CUCA) CUSTOMERS CUCA Service to How does this be withdrawn affect my CUCA? We are sorry to announce that due We appreciate this is unwelcome to changes at the Co-operative Bank news, but we are here to help you. the national CUCA system is being Your CUCA account will continue withdrawn for all credit unions. All to work normally until the date we our CUCA accounts will need to be set out in your personal “Notice st closed by 31 August 2016. of Closure” letter when we write. What are “Your We will be working hard to support In February we will send you a members with CUCA in making their “Your CUCA Choices” letter. This CUCA choices”? choices, and in helping to migrate to is to set out your choices and, as a These will include: new services where we can. first step, to ask you to transfer your Open a new ethical Engage Lewisham Plus will not open new benefit or other credits to the Credit Current Account. We expect CUCAs after 29th February 2016. Union Main Account. This is shown these to become available from in the diagram below.