Credit union for Hexham East residents

RESIDENTS of Hexham now have access to fair and equitable savings and loans right on their doorstep thanks to a credit union opening a new office in the town.

The Hexham Community Partnership has organised for a new PayPoint facility to be set up in its 'No. 28' community house on the Hexham East estate.

Anyone wanting to join the Northumberland Credit Union, which is open to anyone living or working in the county, will be able to use No. 28 for making deposits and withdrawals.

The credit union offers a wide range of benefits to its members. It's local and easy to use, and once you have saved for just six weeks, you can benefit from the low cost loans it offers.

Investing with the credit union also means your money is used to help and support other members of your local community whilst still being protected in the same way as it is with banks or building societies.

Grace Burke is the Hexham East Regeneration Officer based at No, 28. Her role is jointly funded by Milecastle Housing and Northumberland County Council.

She has been working hard to get the credit union up and running on the estate - the latest of a number of projects and activities she has organised as part of her regeneration work.

She said: "The support I have had so far has been amazing. I didn't expect to get things going so soon. The volunteers were so quick to show their support and people have contacted me asking to become members.
"It just confirms our belief that there is a demand for this service in Hexham."

The Northumberland Credit Union already has a successful and well established service in Prudhoe at the Prudhoe Community Partnership Office.

The aim of both facilities is to raise awareness of credit unions, to promote their them and enourage people to use them, which will help get other services open within the Tyne Valley.

Anyone interested in supporting and benefiting from this service should go to No.28 on Tuesday, July 21st, or any subsequent Tuesday from 12-2pm.

Anyone interested in opening an account just needs to take along two forms of identification, such as a driving licence or utility bill, and a £2 joining fee (Milecastle Housing residents are exempt from this charge).

You can start by saving as little as £1 per week, and can make regular deposits through your bank or building society, directly from your salary or in cash at the pay point facility at No.28.

For more details about the Credit Union or No.28, please contact Grace on 01434 605553.