Credit Union Solutions is 10

Published by Graham Tomlin for Credit Union Solutions Ltd in Local Government and also in Central Government, Education, Health, Housing

The UKs first Credit Union Service Organisation Credit Union Solutions was born on October 4^th 2000.

The champion of lost causes, Credit Union Solutions began by using the expertise of Jill Short, the advice of Bernadette Geraghty and the determination of Graham Tomlin.

Over the years Jill Short and Bernadette Geraghty resigned and Jill Oswell and Nicola Wareing replaced them, credit union clients came and went and some came back.

M for Money Credit Union was established with stirling support from Margaret Murray. Six common bond changes have been developed with all but one being approved by the FSA. Waivers have been applied for and approved by the FSA.

Credit Union Solutions now has five client credit unions, handles thirteen payrolls, five Pay Point accounts and ten school savings accounts and three Growth Fund contracts.

Six staff will soon become seven as more and more surgeries are opened in the largest areas of membership.

Interactive websites are soon to be added for those keen on managing their accounts on line. Each credit union client has a unique telephone number that members can call five days a week from Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm.

Each client has their member accounts managed using Curtains Sequel Too networked to six workstations using a file server.

Graham Tomlin Chief Executive Officer of Credit Union Solutions said.

“Over those ten years we have learned a huge amount about what works and what definitely does not work. We have tried to spread the good ideas about what works across all of our clients so that they all benefit.

Increased experience and expertise has enabled us to adapt to each credit union rather than forcing them into a system that they would find uncomfortable.

Over the next 12 months we expect to become a subsidiary of our largest credit unions. This will give them more say in how we grow and develop and more influence over the new products that we offer.

We expect the next ten years to be very challenging as the Government’s cuts increase unemployment and more of our members become unemployed. That said there will be a bigger part for credit unions to play in the recovery and sharing services and staff will become much more important.

Our sincere thanks go to Angus Nichol at Kesho for his help and support over the years without which we would have been still borne”

Credit Union Solutions can be contacted on 020 8573 8010.

Alternatively e mail admin@creditunionsolutions.co.uk or visit www.creditunionsolutions.co.uk