Scotland gains on Poland in European credit union rankings as membership grows

“The number of people using credit unions is continuing to increase at quite a fast rate in Scotland,” said Frank McKillop, communications manager at the Association of British Credit Unions (ABCUL). “We’re at the stage now where Scotland has the fourth highest level of credit union membership in Europe behind the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Poland. However, Scotland is gaining on Poland for third place. Poland has 8.1 per cent of the adult population using credit unions, while Scotland is now at 7.3 per cent.”

In 2015, savers put £454 million into credit unions in Scotland, up almost 8 per cent on 2014, while borrowers took out £276m, up 5 per cent. Glasgow is the nation’s ‘credit union capital’, with the highest level of credit union membership of any city in Britain. About a quarter of people in Glasgow are using credit unions, versus 2 per cent across Britain. Two of Britain’s biggest credit unions are based in the city – the NHS Credit Union, with 14,000 members – and The Transport Credit Union, with 13,000 members.

“When members of the former Transport and General Workers’ Union started that credit union more than 30 years ago for a few bus drivers, transport was largely public sector,” Mr McKillop said. “But with privatisation over the last 20 years, they now have a lot of commercial operators in there like Stagecoach, First Group and Arriva.”

Ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections this May, ABCUL is calling for all employers to offer credit union membership, which would allow workers to save and repay loans via payroll deduction.

Mr McKillop said more credit unions were partnering directly with employers and added: “Employers recognise the business case for their staff having access to regular savings and affordable credit. That’s backed up by some recent research showing that people who have money worries are more likely to be absent from work, more likely to have health problems and lower productivity when they’re at work.”

Mr McKillop said credit unions were among the most competitive in the market for small loans of up to £3,000. Because they are self-help bodies set up to help their members rather than make a profit, lending decisions can take into account the member’s personal circumstances and the credit union’s knowledge of their sector – including typical pay rates and shift patterns.

Savers can also receive dividends once a year of up to 3 per cent of the total amount saved, depending on performance.

Traditionally set up to fill a gap in banking provision for those on lower incomes, Mr McKillop said credit unions were now appealing to people in reasonably well-paid employment.

“The message is that credit unions are good for your financial health however much you’re earning,” he added.

There are also 52,000 junior savers in Scotland’s credit unions who have usually saved through school savings clubs. ABCUL’s Credit Union Charter is calling for every school to have a credit union champion to help pupils learn about saving and budgeting.

More than 70 candidates from from all five parties represented in the last parliament have now pledged support to the charter, including Deputy First Minister John Swinney, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale, Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, and Scottish Green Party co-convener Patrick Harvie.

There are 100 credit unions in Scotland including the 1st Alliance Credit Union in Ayrshire, Perth & Kinross Credit Union, Dumbarton Credit Union and the Western Isles Credit Union.

The ideas and values behind credit unions were developed in the 19th century during the flourishing of the co-operative movement.