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The UK credit union movement gathered in Manchester this month at a pivotal moment, with policymakers, looking for financially sustainable routes out of the cost of living crisis, planning new regulations and encouraging the sector to offer new products. This comes alongside existing pressures on the movement, with Mike Mercer – a stalwart of the credit union sector in the US state of Georgia – warning ...
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Each year at ABCUL’s conference, the Young Professionals Network (YPN) host its flagship event for young professionals to engage in interactive discussion and networking with their peers from across the country. At this month’s ABCUL annual conference over 30 members of the YPN attended the event hearing from expert speakers covering the important and relevant topics that impact the credit union sector. ...
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Benefit loans and payroll loans provide a high level of satisfaction for credit union members, and the sector should expand access to these products, according to a new report. It says that ‘deduction loans’ -in which repayments are made directly from the member’s benefit or employment income- provide a significant opportunity to improve access to affordable credit for those who might otherwise ...
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Last week, over 200+ ABCUL Members returned to the Midland Hotel in Manchester for the Association’s annual conference event. Expert speakers within the financial movement spoke to delegates in the form of plenary, breakout and young professional master class sessions providing content uniquely relevant to the needs of credit unions of all shapes and sizes. Opening the conference, ABCUL ...
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Last week, in Manchester, the Association introduced the GB Global Women’s Leadership Network’s (GWLN) Steering Committee Panel to ABCUL conference delegates, who spoke about the Network’s objectives for the years ahead. The event was a significant milestone for the British credit union sector, and guest speakers included Deputy leader of Manchester City Council, Joanna Midgley, CEO of ...
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In usual ABCUL conference tradition, the end of the day-two featured the annual graduation of the Credit Union Foundation ‘CU Futures’ programme. CU Futures now in its seventh year of operation has overseen 69 individual graduates from 41 different credit unions across England, Scotland and Wales. Last weekend, in Manchester, an additional eight credit union professionals graduated the 12-month ...
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The ABCUL Annual Conference and AGM is the largest event in the British credit union calendar and on Friday 10 March, the Association will welcome 200+ credit union professionals to the Midland Hotel. “The two-day event will provide a fantastic opportunity for credit union board members, staff and volunteers to hear from a wide range of speakers, discussing the issues that are important to them ...
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Wednesday 8 March was International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The credit union sector is significantly ahead for female majority at the most senior job level compared to the rest of the financial services sector. In 2021, ABCUL surveyed its membership and found a total of 60% of CEO’s or equivalent with female. This year’s ...
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ABCUL's Bounce Forward Fund

In early 2022, ABCUL committed to creating a Bounce Forward Fund, which would make finances available to applicants to use on business development and profitability, where credit unions’ profitability and business model were impacted by the pandemic. Following a rigorous application process, more than 30 credit unions were granted a total of close to £80,000. These grants were funded by recent ...
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Next week, the Association will welcome its membership to Manchester for its annual conference event. The conference is the largest credit union gathering in Britain and an expected 200+ ABCUL credit union professionals will be attending. “The two-day event will provide a fantastic opportunity for credit union board members, staff and volunteers to hear from a wide range of speakers, discussing ...
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The CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference (GAC) is the premier event for political impact in the US credit union industry. It gathers thousands of industry leaders from across the US and the globe, this year representatives from ABCUL, Enterprise Credit Union and Serve and Protect CU visited Washington, D.C. for the event. Delegates heard a range of expert speakers talk about the challenges ...
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Reporting to members at its AGM, Clockwise Credit Union were delighted to share positive membership growth figures, with a 22% increase, which brings total membership to over 22,000. Reflecting on a successful 2022 at its AGM, Chair of Clockwise also shared that earlier in the year reward its savers with interest and promote responsible lending with Clockwise’ Rewarding Borrowers Scheme. In total, ...
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