Here at South Manchester Credit Union, we will never stop talking about saving. We encourage our members to save into their ethical savings account, as alongside them we believe building a strong savings habit is important for the future. Not only do savings allow you to be prepared for life’s ups and downs but tucking some away with us also directly benefits members of your local community.
However, you don’t need us to tell you the importance of saving, hear it from one of our members, Lawrence.
Lawrence's start at the credit union
Lawrence knew the pioneers who set up our credit union. He became a member because he wanted to support them, and he strongly believes in the purpose credit unions serve to local people.
“Credit unions are a good idea and a very practical way to support cooperation. It’s not just talk, it’s doing.”
As a young man, Lawrence struggled with his finances, so as soon as he could start saving, he did. He wanted to get ahead of his bills. Throughout his life, Lawrence has always valued saving and told us it is “always good to have some savings if you can”
Why Lawrence decided to set up an ethical savings account with us
We wanted to know why Lawrence chose to save with us over other places – so we asked him!
He told us why he liked being a member with us – “Easy access to my money and I could get a loan if I needed one”.
When saving with us Lawrence finds it convenient, he simply has a regular standing order set up, so he knows he is putting a few quid aside for the future. Lawrence also commented on the security he feels saving here at the credit union, knowing that we are regulated he is assured his “money is safe”.
Lawrence is a big advocate for the credit union movement – he values the strong sense of community we share here at South Manchester Credit Union, sharing with us that he likes “the community and local ethos of the credit union, it’s run by people like me”. We would
have to strongly agree with Lawrence here, our credit union is run by local people, for local people.
How Lawrence feels being a member here
Lawrence feels proud to be a member here, he recognises how, through his savings, we can help support local people. He is a true believer in cooperatives.
“I look at the annual figures of the amount being loaned and it’s fantastic that this happening because people like me are saving”
Moving into the future he wants to see credit unions break into the mainstream.
“I’d like to see credit unions being used as the local financial alternative to the banks and other profit-driven money companies. They are good for everyone involved”
We’re right there with you Lawrence! He shared his advice for anyone wanting to join.
“If you can afford to save, then a credit union is a good place to have an account. You can withdraw your money anytime and you can be eligible for a loan. You don’t know what the future holds but having some savings or being able to borrow is reassuring”
The only way we can achieve fairer finance for everyone in our community is if you join and support your local credit union today. Once you have opened your account you can start depositing, whether it’s a little or a lot we all start from somewhere – become a member today!
