100 join Chorley credit union (From Chorley Citizen)

100 join Chorley credit union

8:00am Tuesday 15th January 2013 in News

A credit union, which recently launched in Chorley has recruited its 100th member and is to open up a new collection point.

Unify Credit Union, a financial co-operative owned and controlled by its members, set up at Chorley Council’s Union Street offices in September to offer help to people who are struggling during the economic downturn.

Since then it has added 100 members to its books, and is opening up collection points at Coppull St John’s Primary School and Astley and Buckshaw Children’s Centre.

Angela Fishwick, general manager of Unify, said: “We are delighted at the level of response we’ve had from people in Chorley and we’ve been busy setting up new collection points in the area.

“We’ve also now launched a text messaging service because the bulk of our calls are for balance inquiries and people can also find out by text if their loans have been approved.

“And we are now encouraging people to save towards Christmas 2013.”

The collection points are open at the council’s Union Street offices each Wednesday from 10.30am to 2pm and Coppull St John’s CE School on Wednesdays 8.30am – 9.00am The collection point in Astley and Buckshaw Children’s Centre will be opening towards the end of January.

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Chorley Council leader, said: “We knew that there was a need for its services in Chorley and we’re being proved right.

“There are hard-working people in Chorley who are finding it hard to get by and credit unions can offer a safe place to save and a place they can get low-cost loans without having to pay extortionate interest charges.”