Registering New Rules

Your Rule Book

Your credit union’s rule book is the legal contract and the main governing document with the membership of the credit union. The rule book informs your members of the conditions, rights and entitlements associated with their membership in the credit union. The rule book also provides the governance and democratic framework of the credit union.

A rulebook becomes valid as your credit union’s legal constitution following its registration with the appropriate regulator. It cannot be used or enforced until such time as you have:

• Held a members’ meeting at which a resolution was passed to adopt the rulebook, and
• The rules have been registered with the appropriate regulator.

Until these two steps have been completed, you remain bound by the rules within your last registered rule book.

The current model rulebook available is the 2012 version of model rules which you can download a copy of below. If you choose to register a new rule book you cannot register an earlier version than the 2012 (white) rule book.

How do I go about registering the rule book?

You should download the Guide to Model Rules on the right that gives you step by step instructions on what you have to do or you can use ABCUL’s free rules service for members (details of this are also included in the Guide).

Use ABCUL’s free rules service for members

ABCUL provides a free service it member credit unions wishing to register the 2012 verison of the rule book which aims to make it as easy as possible for you to  register the new rule book. All you have to do is complete the options form (downloadable from the bottom of the page) and complete and return to your Member Relationship Manager, members@abcul.org or ABCUL, Holyoake House, Manchester, M60 0AS.  We will then create and print the rule books for you and post out to you with the relevant FCA forms endorsed by ABCUL.

Registering a partial amendment to your rule book

If you have already registered the 2012 rule book but would like to make some small changes then you will have to register a partial amendment to your rule book. Common examples of when credit unions register partial amendments are:

• Changing your common bond, including adding in employers or organisations
• Changing the age at which juniors convert to full membership
• Changing the limit on dividend payable

All of the forms for partial or complete amendments can be found on the FCA Mutual Societies’ form page. Credit Unions can now also submit forms online through the Mutuals Society Portal.

ABCUL can support you to register partial amendments by putting together the documentation based on your specifications. Please contact us on 0161 832 3694 or members@abcul.org and speak to your Member Relationship Manager.

Further guidance is available in the ABCUL Member Resource Library here.