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Who We Are

As a financial not-for-profit co-operative, Advance Credit Union is ‘owned’ by the 5,000 members who save and borrow with the credit union. Unlike a conventional bank, a Credit Union is run by the people who use it. All of our adult members can vote on key decisions at our Annual General Meeting or volunteer for one of our committees or board. Anyone who lives or works within a ‘B’ postcode including Birmingham and Solihull Borough can join

The board of directors are unpaid volunteers and bring their skills and experience to the running of the credit union and ensure compliance with our statutory duties. 

We have 8 staff at our office in Erdington who manage the day-to-day operation led by our CEO Phil Cole.

Volunteers act on our committees and staff our community Collection Points. Find out more about Volunteering.

We also work with partner organisations who provide essential support and promote credit union membership.

Find out more about our ethics, governance and transparency.

What We Do

We offer a convenient and safe way to put some money away for the future and a cost-effective way to borrow ethically and responsibly. Most of our members save by Payroll Deduction, standing order, Child Benefit or other benefits paid in. We have a customer service desk at our office in Erdington plus a network of community Collection Points across our region.

Membership of Advance Credit Union is open to everyone who lives or works within a ‘B’ postcode including Birmingham and the whole of Solihull Borough, find out more about joining

We encourage everyone to save regularly, even a small amount, and those savings are lent back exclusively to credit union members in our community. As part of our ethos, we do what we can to help people manage their money. We won’t lend if repayments are not affordable for the borrower. Every year we loan more than £2.2m to our members to help spread the cost of Christmashome improvementscar purchaseholidaysweddingsfunerals and many other purposes. 

Credit unions are for everyone in our community, regardless of income. For this reason we especially provide essential financial services to many people who would otherwise be financially excluded and susceptible to loan sharks and sub-prime lenders.

In addition to savings and loans Advance Credit Union offers a variety of other services:

Not only do we help individuals and families manage their money, we also provide valuable volunteering opportunities that help to boost the CV and work experience of those between jobs or seeking work. We also enable those with specific skills and experience to apply their capabilities to the operation of the credit union and ensure compliance with our statutory duties. Find out more about volunteering with Advance Credit Union.

Vacancies

Paid and volunteer roles with Advance Credit Union are posted here and on our Careers Portal. Volunteer roles are also listed on Reach Volunteering and Linkedin. Paid roles may also be listed on Indeed and other recruitment portals.

 

Loans Officer

Full time: (35 hours a week) Monday-Friday

Salary: £24,000

Location: Advance Credit Union offices are in Corporation Street, Birmingham city centre and in Erdington. The role is based at our City Centre Office with the flexibility of working in our Erdington office as and when necessary.

To apply please provide your CV and a cover letter explaining your suitability for the role to faye.bailey@advancecu.org.uk

Application deadline: 5pm on January 12th, 2024

Job Specification

 

Volunteer Director

The role of a Credit Union Director is to help shape the strategic direction of the Credit Union and ensuring the credit union maintains a sound financial state and operates within the law, rules and the Credit Union’s policies and procedures. As part of a team of volunteer Directors, you will work with the CEO and staff, bringing your experience, knowledge and skills to work together in promoting the continued success of Advance CU.

Role specification

Apply

 

 Volunteer Internal Auditor

A great opportunity to gain experience or apply your knowledge as part of our internal audit team, verifying our compliance. A part-time volunteer role with flexible working hours. Contact us for further information.

Volunteer

 

From time to time we do have Volunteering opportunities, find out more about volunteering with Advance Credit Union.

 

 

 

 

 

What our Members think of us

‘Great service the people are very helpful’, ‘Thank you for helping me out of a hole :)’

‘It’s just a fabulous place and has outstanding staff and services it’s brilliant …thank you for everything you do. Top marks’

‘Have always had a fabulous experience at advance credit union, professional non-judgemental staff, excellent service ‘

‘Very happy with credit union their loans have really helped me out and I’m happy with the repayments ‘

‘I love it! Paying for a loan but also saving’

anthony Loveridge
anthony Loveridge
12:18 28 Nov 22
Always Staff shortage no reply back if is only one and takes forever. Phone line is closed and email or online 🙁 Very... low communication. When first joined very helpful but gone down hill.read more
Shane walsh Walsh
Shane walsh Walsh
11:24 25 Oct 22
It's a ok bank but takes a very long time getting back to me by email as I email first thing still no reply plus short... of staff now phone lines always closedread more
Charrisse Williams
Charrisse Williams
15:25 08 Jun 22
I have a very bad credit rating however advance credit union was able to help me with a child benefit loan just in time... for my daughters birthday. Iv be saving with them ever since. Thank youread more
Lister Moyo
Lister Moyo
22:16 20 May 22
I joined advance as a joke at work but it has helped me a lot.The staff are friendly and welcoming to the offices.I... have applied for loans and got it any time l need it.l feel it is better than a bank.read more
Jade Biddle
Jade Biddle
08:31 18 May 22
I have been a customer for over two years, amazing customer service everytime!
Kirsty Kelly
Kirsty Kelly
17:58 17 May 22
Great place, really helpful and understanding. Don not take advantage like some loan companies. Consistent workers who... always are happy to help and not judgemental and very polite. Would definitely recommend it. They have also helped me with controlling and learning to manage my finances.read more
Annemarie Johnson
Annemarie Johnson
17:57 17 May 22
Been using for over 5 years would definitely recommend great for saving and small loans
Helen Fitzgerald
Helen Fitzgerald
07:21 14 May 22
I have been with credit union for 9 years.Very helpful staff, always there to give good advice.
lorna flood
lorna flood
20:38 13 May 22
Would highly recommend!! I applied just 2 weeks before christmas 2021 thinking i wouldn’t get my loan approved in time... due to high demand but i did!! Loads of support and very fast response on questions! I now have a savings pot with Advance Credit Union and i’m so much more stable now! Thank you! xread more
Katie Brindley
Katie Brindley
12:01 22 Feb 22
I am so pleased with credit union they are always there to help and Emily is fantastic thank you for all your help
zack is A BIG DOUGHNUT
zack is A BIG DOUGHNUT
11:39 08 Feb 22
Amazing service less than 24 hours for a loan decision.Claire
Cara homan
Cara homan
08:41 24 May 21
Quick easy and you save whilst paying back your loan ! It’s a win win 😀
Shez
Shez
18:44 10 Nov 20
Everytime I phone I'm on the phone for an hour n 30 minutes soon as I get to caller number one you guys put the phone... down how am I meant to get my bank account details added when everytime I call you don't answer I need my savings for Christmas can you please add my card details to my account please so I can do it online myself I went to take my savings out and it's saying I need to phone you to add my card account but when I call you put the phone down on me after being on hold for an hour and half please let me know how I get my details added to my account please I need my money thank youread more
claire Mum
claire Mum
09:17 03 Sep 20
Had some great help from Emily today regarding my savings, she gave me some options which suited me best and I took her... up on the Xmas club savings which will come in so handy for me as I’ve got 2 children’s birthdays in December as well as Xmas!Very helpful friendly and efficient thanks again Emily 😊read more
S Jai
S Jai
11:54 11 Aug 20
Never an issue in 10years of using this service. Staff have always been willing to help and very responsive through... online messages. Phone lines are usually very busy but the service is high in demand so this is understandable. All staff have been helpful and considerate through the pandemic too. Very highly recommended.read more
Emi ly
Emi ly
10:10 09 Jun 20
Lovely staff. Great to help you. I been with them 6 years.
Irfan Malik
Irfan Malik
00:13 28 Jan 20
I applied for a loan waiting for a decision, however I would like to say the service the staff gave at the branch and... was very helpful. Thank you and all the bestread more
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Membership of Advance Credit Union is open to everyone who lives or works within a ‘B’ postcode including Birmingham and the whole of Solihull Borough, find out more about joining.

 

History

Advance Credit Union was founded in 1989 as the Erdington and District Credit Union Ltd by a group of people with a common interest who joined together to save money and then loan it out to each other at a small cost.

In 2004 we became the North Birmingham Community Credit Union Ltd (NBCCU), merging Credit Unions in Erdington, Sutton Coldfield, Castle Vale, Kingstanding, then incorporating Saltley District Credit Union in 2007.

In April 2013 we changed our name to Advance Credit Union Ltd to better reflect the growth and outlook of the credit union.

Membership has continued to grow to more than 5,000 adults and 400 juniors. We hold assets in excess of £4million and lend more than £2.5m each year. We have office premises in Erdington and community based Collection Points throughout our region operated by our volunteers and partner organisations.

2019 was our 30th anniversary as a credit union! To celebrate this milestone we extended our Common Bond area to include all ‘B’ postcodes so we now cover the whole of Birmingham, Tamworth, Redditch and Solihull Borough. In 2019 we achieved Fairbanking 5-star status for our loans, and we held this accreditation until the Fairbanking Mark scheme ceased operating on 31 October 2021. 2019 we also employed 2 additional staff, Small Heath Credit Union transferred to AdvanceCU and we continued to see steady growth in active members, savings and loans. 2020 and Covid-19 has been a difficult year for all of us, we worked to support our Members to ensure they had money available when they needed it, we continued to grow with new Members joining us during the pandemic. 2021 sees the opening of our new city centre branch; bringing credit union to even more people in our region. Saving regularly and borrowing affordably remain core to what we do and we have great things planned to continue growing as we serve the communities of Birmingham and Solihull. 

Accreditation and Authorisation

Advance Credit Union Ltd is Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered number 213228. Registered Company No. IP00130C on the Mutuals Register.

FSCS Protecting your money Your money is safe; savings are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
We operate a complaints policy and any complaints that we can’t settle may be referred to the Financial Service Ombudsman Scheme
ABCUL logo We are members of the leading credit union trade body Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL)
Our loans were independently 5-star accredited by the Fairbanking Foundation and we held this accreditation until the Fairbanking Mark scheme ceased operating on 31 October 2021
As an ethical and responsible employer we are registered as a Living Wage Employer.
Disability Confident Committed lgo We are registered as a committed Disability Confident employer
Cyber Essentials badge We are Cyber Essentials certified.
We are members of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

 

Where we are

View Advance Credit Union Ltd in a larger map

The Advance Credit Union has two offices:

front of Erdington office 118Corporation street front outside

200 Sutton New Road
Erdington, Birmingham
B23 6QU (map)

And our new branch at

118 Corporation Street

Birmingham

B4 6SX (map)

 

Phone0121 350 8883

Phone hours:

Monday – Friday  10am 1pm

Bus stops outside including: X3,X4,X5,25, 28,38, 53, 66, 88, 89, 110,167, 168, 600,966. Plan your journey

 

Erdington train station within 300m. Book your ticket

 

Free street parking outside. Plan your route

 

Many AdvanceCU members manage their credit union accounts using our internet banking and never visit our office.

 

Blue badge parking available immediately in front of our Erdington office The customer area is accessible via a DDA compliant power-assisted door, touchpad entry. There is a slight slope, but no steps. Sorry, no public toilets available.

 

shhh smileyWe don’t have a specific autism hour or quiet-hour, but if you prefer to visit when the office is quieter then Thursdays and Fridays are your best option.

We accept payments by Payroll Deduction, Bank Standing Order, Child Benefit, other benefits, cheque and cash (Erdington branch only).

In addition you can learn more about credit union with one of our community partners, see credit union in the community. These are operated by our community partners and volunteers and are open at various times during the week.

Our Partners

Advance Credit Union would not be what it is today without the invaluable assistance of our partnerships.

These organisations help us by operating a Collection Point, promoting our work and by sharing our values and objectives.

Barclays Bank
stop loan sharks
Spitfire Services logo
New Heights Logo
Jaffray Care logo
Citizens Advice
Solihull-Community-Housing-logo
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council