Credit Union Frequently Asked Questions.

1. What Is A Credit Union?

Credit Unions are regulated ‘Not for Profit’, Member-Owned (mutual), Financial Service Co-operatives and can best be described as organisations that encourage their members to save together and lend to each other responsibly. This allows these members the opportunity to gain greater control over their finances.

2. What Makes Credit Unions Ethical?

The primary driving force behind the Credit Union movement is to offer non-exploitative, competitive financial services to individuals from all walks of life, regardless of their social status and economic background.

This ethos is very much reinforced by the concept of ‘Self Help’. All Credit Unions require their members to commit to saving on a regular basis. This is in order for Credit Union members to help themselves secure their own long term future by encouraging them to accrue healthy funds through saving.

3. Who Regulates Credit Unions and How?

Motherwell & District Credit Union Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. As a consequence, we are required to send regular financial reports to both authorities and to operate under the same rules and regulations as every high street bank or building society.

The credit union is required by law to maintain an insurance policy to protect the credit union and its members against fraud or theft. An external auditor carries out an annual inspection of the credit union’s business and reports to the membership at the Annual general meeting each year.

In addition, the credit union is also a member of the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

4. What is the Financial Ombudsman Service?

The Financial Ombudsman Service has been set up by law to help settle individual disputes between consumers and financial firms.

The Financial Ombudsman Service will only look at complaints if the firm has had the opportunity to investigate the complaint first and provide a response.

If you are not happy with a final response given to a complaint or if no final response has been provided within an 8-week period from the date of the initial complaint, you are eligible to contact the Financial Ombudsman Service and request that they investigate the matter on your behalf. No charge will be made for this and any decisions made will be binding on the financial institution concerned. Further information on the Financial Ombudsman Service can be found at http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk or by phone on 0800 023 4567.

5. What is the Financial Services Compensation Scheme?

The credit union is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). This scheme provides a safety net if a bank, building society or credit union should fail. If the worst should happen, the FSCS is able to provide compensation to ensure that you do not lose all of your savings. Under the current scheme, 100% compensation for all savings up to £85 000 is provided. This is the same level of cover provided for banks and building societies.

30th January 2017 – People have more financial protection for their deposits from today. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) limit is now £85,000. It’s up £10,000 after an increase by the regulator earlier this month. And the limit for joint accounts moves to £170,000.