The first week of March!

NLCU merger

We are thrilled to learn that the members of North Lincolnshire Credit Union (NLCU) have held two special general meetings and voted to merge their credit union with ours!    We are looking forward to working with their staff and volunteers to build on their good work and help to bring affordable not-for-profit credit union services to many more people across Northern Lincolnshire.  

Running a small credit union isn't easy these days and the NLCU members deserve congratulations for all they have achieved over the years, and for having the foresight to recognise that a merger from strength with a reputable larger credit union offers the best way to achieve long term success for their members and ours.

We've set up a web page to keep NLCU members and the people of Northern Lincolnshire informed about our "merger story" as it unfolds.   Once the regulators have registered the transfer we'll be able to set a date for introducing the HEYCU range of services to the wider region. But rest assured the branch in Scunthorpe High Street will continue to offer a friendly welcome and caring service to all who call in to do business there.  It will trade as Northern Lincolnshire Credit Union (part of Hull & East Yorkshire Credit Union Limited). 

So, if you happen to be a member of NLCU, welcome to the family!

Pennies 2 Pounds progress

Our school banks team - Rita, Jo, Julie, Carmel and Beth - have been exceptionally busy recently, finding new places to open our very popular Pennies2Pounds school banks.   During February new school banks were launched at Hutton Cranswick (Driffield) Primary School and St Nicholas (Beverley) Primary School.   We also opened a community contact point at The Moorlands Centre, Old Goole which operates every Wednesday morning.  On 5 March we opened at the Sure Start Children's Centre in Cottingham (every Thursday).   Then, next week, we are starting up at Roos Primary School in Holderness!    

Day one at the new school banks has generally been very hectic, with lots of eager children and their parents too pressing forward with their joining forms to claim their free money box, saver card and sticker!    It's a great time for the adults in the family to start saving up for Christmas - as until the end of March we are matching the first deposit (up to £10). 

Lots of other places are now asking if they can have a school bank, but we will have to prove the success of these first and not try to do too much all at once.  Who knows, one day we may achieve our aim of introducing all families in our area to good money management through an early engagement with a school bank.

Happy Birthday!

Just a quick note to say Happy 10th Birthday to The Shores Centre at Withernsea!  The Shores is home to our Withernsea branch which opens every Wednesday morning, and it always seems to be teeming with activity whenever you enter. It's one of those places that would really be missed if it wasn't there.  The Diner's pretty good for food and drink too!   We salute your success over the past decade, Jayne and team, and here's to the next ten years!

While were on the subject of anniversaries, congratulations to our Wetwang branch, which has just had its first birthday.   Over the past year Pat and her volunteers have done wonders getting the local community saving.  Well done!  Tuesday mornings in the Community Hall is the time and place to be to join up.

Hull BID Awards

As a business with a big presence in Hull City Centre (Brook Street to be precise), we are part of Hull Business Improvement District (Hull BID for short).   They are holding their second round of Business Awards very soon, with eight different categories, including such things as Outstanding Employee or Team Award; Service with a Smile Award.

Members of the public can nominate businesses in the city centre for an award.  It's really easy to do, by visiting www.hulldailymail.co.uk/bidawards for a nomination form.  Our member feedback slips suggest that many members are delighted with the service they get from our staff team when they visit Brook Street.   Perhaps someone might consider us worthy of a nomination?  Now, that would be nice . . .

Fairtrade Fortnight

We've been celebrating Fairtrade Fortnight 2015 by raising awareness of the great work of the Fairtrade Foundation, who promote fairly traded foods, clothing and crafts to help ensure a better life for producers and farmers in less developed countries of the world.   The Fairtrade premium - an extra sum that farmers and workers receive - is invested in community projects like ambulances, local schools, clean water supply and business improvements.

When you buy Fairtrade products you are helping to transform people's lives through fair prices, better wages and the Fairtrade premium.  As a credit union we support Fairtrade because fairness is what we are all about - the fairer alternative is our strapline.  It's the right thing to do.   At our AGM our Fairtrade products stall always proves popular, which shows that what our members believe too. 

Our Dream Loan makes dreams come true!

Anyone need a loan for a special holiday or a wedding?   Now is the time to apply.   Have a look at our Dream Loan - it's like a bank loan but at a lower interest rate.