Engage account @engage_account www.engageaccount.com W: ISSN 2058-3257 Issue 6 - December2015 Alternative Banking and Payments Newspaper for Credit Unions, their Communities and Partners What’s inside... Leeds council and credit union ‘will help Why do members stay with 100’s of hard-pressed families’ their credit union? “In addition to reducing the market share of Derry Credit Union issue the high cost lenders, the plan would also see a considerable additional saving for house- £16m in loans holds and the local economy and further build the capacity of the credit union.” Engage launches Junior Visa Councillor Debra Coupar, executive member debit card and account for communities, said: “Working with Leeds City Credit Union in recent years means we’ve been able to offer hard pressed families who don’t have easy access to affordable banking Congratulations Diane Leeds council bosses have signed a new services a genuine alternative and support to long-term partnership with the city’s credit put them on a sound financial footing. We would like to congratulate Diane Calland union, as the two organisations join forces to of Unify Credit Union for winning the Engage tackle the £90m high-cost lending market. “Building on this success, our enhanced card holder competition. Membership has tripled in the past 10 years partnership with the credit union will go from to 33,000. strength to strength, making them the go-to Diane was picked at random from over 500 organisation for advice and loans and entrances and has won a £50 Argos gift card, The two organisations will also team up on a ultimately offer a real challenge to the preda- in time for Christmas. raft of new initiatives to help some of the tory high cost lending market.” city’s neediest families. A report just approved The competition was set up to give something by Leeds City Council’s decision-making Planned future initiatives including providing back to our card holders and for card holders executive board says: “The credit union has an mortgages and helping people save for a to give vital feedback about Engage and their ambition to build its loan book to £20m in deposit on a home. respective credit unions. order to make a material impact on the By Leeds City Credit Union, 27th October 2015 - Reproduced by kind estimated £90m high cost lending market in permission of Leeds City Credit Union Leeds. Credit union goes out on the road to reach new clients Another will be held on Tuesday at The Base, have signed up to the Leyland facility. 107 Bannister Drive, Leyland. It will be there “The main success story has been raising again on November 24, from 2pm to 3pm. awareness that credit unions exist,” he said. The Leyland collection point is open on all “I think a lot of folk we’ve signed up want to other Tuesdays at Leyland Reformed Church, pay standing orders. Hough Lane – access via door B on Quin Street. “It’s whatever people want really. We’re just a collection point in Leyland. We’re available if The pop-up credit union was launched at the they just want a chat with us and we can point church by Unify, which already has credit them in the right direction.” union shops in Chorley, Wigan, Leigh and ORGANISERS of Leyland’s two-year-old credit Skelmersdale. By Lancashire Evening Post, 24th October 2015 - Reproduced by union are attempting to reach out to more kind permission of Lancashire Evening Post people. It is seen as a safer way for people to save and borrow cash instead of turning to pay-day It has begun trialling some dates outside the loan sharks, which often have high interest town. One has already taken place at The rates. Place, 73 Royal Avenue, Leyland, where it will be available again on November 10, between Reverend David Coaker, of Leyland United 2pm and 3pm. Reformed Church, said currently 51 people Credit unions oer €8bn in surplus funds to build social housing Ed Farrell, chief executive of the Irish League of Credit Unions, told committee members that the relationship between them and the Central Bank is “frankly a difficult one”. “The relationship with the Central Bank is very difficult. Frankly, we have been subjected to a uphill relationship with the regulator,” he said. Kevin Johnson, CEO, Credit Union Develop- Credit unions have more than €8bn in surplus ment Association, said the over-regulation of Richard Boyd Barrett funds which could be used to help address the the sector would force its demise. social housing emergency, but have been Even government TDs said more needed to be prevented from doing so by the State, it was “Strangling credit unions with over-zealous done to help the sector. Michael Creed, Fine claimed yesterday. regulation will see their demise and force Gael, said the Government needed to be credit union members to switch to more careful not to penalise the sector by over Representatives of the country’s credit unions expensive banks,” Mr Johnson said. regulation. appeared before the Oireachtas finance committee and said they were “bewildered” “Before Minister Noonan allows further rules Fianna Fáil’s finance spokesman, Michael at the continued failure by Finance Minister come into effect, he should conduct a review McGrath, pressed committee chairman Liam Michael Noonan or the Central Bank to listen on how the commission’s recommendations Twomey to write to Mr Noonan to delay the to them. are being implemented and whether the signing of the legislation, to which Mr legislation and regulations reflect the current Twomey agreed. Central to their complaints is an objection to needs of credit union members.” pending legislation to regulate the credit The Irish Examiner has also learnt of increas- union sector, which they said is completely ill Committee members sought to explore why ing unease within Fine Gael over the failure to suited and needs to be radically amended. the massive cash reserves have not been address the concerns of the credit union tapped into at a time when there is a massive sector. On foot of their concerns, the committee is to shortage in social and affordable housing. write to Mr Noonan to delay the signing of the “There is an increased sense that some form legislation to consider the proposed amend- Sean Hosford of the Credit Union Managers’ of compromise will have to be reached over ment brought forward by the sector. Association responded by saying: “We are the new regulations. None of us want to be baffled. Everyone loves us but no one seems responsible for the demise of the credit to be able to help us.” unions in Ireland,” said one Fine Gael minister. By Daniel McConnell, 26th November 2015 - Reproduced by kind Responding to the calls for Mr Noonan to permission of The Irish Examiner delay the introduction of the legislation, People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said: “Why the hell are the Government and the Central Bank not listening and I am shocked that they have not taken up your offer to help build social houses.” Michael Noonan - Minister of Finance Capital Credit Union comes to town Lothians and the Borders. unions offer ethical products and services. The most recent Scottish Government figures “Credit unions can set up schemes with show 24 per cent of the population have no employers to allow their staff to save direct savings at all and a further 16 per cent have from payroll. It is a very simple process and less than £1000. encourages good savings habits. Research has shown that companies with such schemes Capital’s CEO Marlene Shiels said: “We will benefit from reduced absence rates and fewer work with other credit unions in the area to reported cases of financially related stress.” help boost the savings rate in Scotland. There seems to be, among other issues, a distrust of Read more: http://www.falkirkherald.- Marlene Shiels CEO of Capital Credit Union the financial services sector over the last few co.uk/news/business/business-news/ca- years, but people should bear in mind credit pital-credit-comes-to-town-1-3939510#ixzz3r The Scottish Government has given the N1tv922 country’s credit unions a mission to encour- By Falkirk Herald, 7th November 2015 - Reproduced by kind age people to save more. permission of The Falkirk Herald This drive comes as Capital Credit Union expands its operation into the Falkirk area, having recently received approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to move beyond its traditional base of Edinburgh, the Falkirk Credit Union’s 20 year success story Chairperson David Eadie, treasurer Anne Wallace and member Wendy Cockburn were also attended the meeting. Angus MacDonald said: “I was delighted to once again meet with representatives of the Falkirk District Credit Union and to hear all about their achievements and concerns. “I hope this type of meeting could become at least an annual event. My colleagues Martyn Day and John McNally share my views on this matter and we are all prepared to assist in any way that we can.” The credit union was established in 1994 by a group of taxi drivers and was initially set up as a savings club. The first loan granted was understood to be for £500 and was handed out in 1995. In 2007 Westquarter Credit Union joined the existing savings group and the name was Thousands of savers have reached their Linlithgow and East Falkirk MP Martyn Day, changed to Falkirk District Credit Union. financial goals thanks to Falkirk’s credit union, Falkirk MP John McNally and Falkirk East MSP which celebrates its 20th anniversary this Angus MacDonald, as well as representatives Grangemouth Credit Union transferred over year.