Credit Union Members

This is sometimes called the common bond. The credit union must define its criteria for membership and register that with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in its rule book. As a mutual financial co-operative the credit union is owned and controlled by its members and is run for the benefit of the members.

  • Both individuals and organisations can be members of a credit union.
  • Only members are entitled to credit union services.
  • The co-operative principle of one member one vote, regardless of the size of individual shareholding also applies to credit unions.

Wednesday 10 January 2024

Delivering Money Guidance v Providing Advice – Getting it Right

MONEY GUIDANCE FOR CREDIT UNIONS  WHAT IS MONEY GUIDANCE? Where financial matters are concerned, giving advice is defined as a...

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Access to Funds Scheme

What do you need to know? Some of your members with impaired capacity may not be able to budget for...

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Ban on Premium Rate Numbers for Post-Contractual Calls

Applies to all GB credit unions Introduction The FCA has made rule changes in their policy statement on complaints handling[1] to how...

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Summary Resolution Communication

Introduction Credit unions have specific reporting rules laid out in CREDS 9, and the new rules affect them differently than...

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Handling Complaints

Why do you need to know? Credit unions must have a procedure to deal with members’ complaints which adhere to...

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Consumer Rights Act 2015 – Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract

Update: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has now published a series of useful illustrated ‘at a glance guides’ aimed at...

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Corporate Members

Why do you need to know? In January 2012, the Legislative Reform Order (LRO) was brought into force that removed...

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Criteria for Membership (Common Bond)

Applies to all GB credit unions Why do you need to know? The common bonds below are the only ones...

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Customer Service

Quality customer service is more than being nice to customers. It is a set of behaviours demonstrated by the credit...

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Death of a Member

Why do you need to know? On the death of a member of a credit union, the member’s shares and...

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Dormant Accounts

Applies to all GB credit unions Why do you need to know? An account becomes dormant when there have been no transactions...

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HMRC – Direct Recovery of Debts

Applies to all GB credit unions Introduction On 18 November 2015, the government passed legislation in the Finance Act 2015 which grants...

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Junior Savers

Applies to all GB credit unions Why Do you Need to Know? Many credit unions offer junior saver accounts. These...

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Non-Qualifying Members

Applies to all GB credit unions A non-qualifying member is someone who joined the credit union when they qualified for...

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Saving for Retirement

Applies to all GB credit unions (Updated on 26/02/25) These days it’s more important than ever for everyone to get...

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Service to Muslim Members

Why do you need to know? The basic principle of Islamic banking is the prohibition of riba (usury or interest). The principles aim...

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Signing up New Members

Applies to all GB credit unions Key points A potential member must meet the criteria for membership of the credit...

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The Equalities Act

(Updated 26/02/25) Why do you need to know? The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) has been hailed as the most...

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Sample TCF After Sales Service Letter – Supervisory Review

After Sales Service Supervisory Review Dear Member As part of [name] Credit Union’s commitment to fulfilling Treating Customers Fairly (TCF)...

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Treating Customers Fairly

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Vulnerable Members

(Updated 25/03/25) Applies to Scottish credit unions  Scotland – Implementing the Disclosure (Scotland ) Act 2020. Disclosure Scotland will make...

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