Latest News Stories
Advance CU is officially Cyber Essentials certified
We are pleased to announce that Advance Credit Union is Cyber Essentials certified. Cyber Essentials is a Government-backed and industry supported scheme that helps businesses to protect themselves against the ever growing threat of cyber attacks.
The Cyber Essentials scheme has two functions:
- to provide a clear statement of the basic controls all organisations should implement to mitigate cyber security risks; and
to provide a mechanism for organisations to demonstrate to their customers, investors and other stakeholders that they’ve put these controls in place. - In brief, Cyber Essentials is all about helping businesses address the basics of cyber security to prevent common attacks, like ransomeware and data breaches. Anyone can download the Cyber Essentials documents and start putting the recommended controls in place.
What does it mean to be Cyber Essentials certified?
By displaying our Cyber Essentials badge, we’re letting you know that:
- We’ve put measures in place to ensure that our IT is suitably secure
- We take cyber security seriously and meet a Government-endorsed standard
Christmas Loans 2018
It will soon be Christmas, so don’t miss out on our Christmas top tips to help you get the most for your money this Christmas.
Not a credit union member? the last date to apply for a Christmas loan is Saturday 1st December 2018. You can join as a member and start saving with us at any time. Find out how to join credit union.
To help members who want a Christmas loan top up, with effect from 1st October 2018 members may top up their loan if the outstanding balance is £300 (increased from £200).
Credit union member? the last date to apply for a loan before Christmas will be Saturday 15th December. Be sure to send in your 3-months bank statements to enable us to make your loan offer. If we have your correct email contact details on file then we will send your loan agreement with instructions to E-sign your loan if possible.
Our loans start from £300, interest rates range from 9.4%APR to 42.6%APR. see our loans.
| Christmas Loan Deadlines
Non-members: Saturday 1st December 2018 Members: Saturday 15th December 2018 |
NewStyle Radio
Great to talk to New Style radio this morning, click here for the links to the topics we talked about this morning
A Matter of Life and Debt – BBC One
In case you missed it – A Matter of Life and Debt is a BBC documentary series about credit unions and other responsible lenders across the UK, telling the stories of people whose lives have been transformed by an ethical loan. The series is available on BBC iPlayer and the next series will be returning in January on BBC One.
If you’ve seen the programme and want to join credit union, that’s great!
JoinApply for a loan
If you don’t live in Birmingham or Solihull Borough, then there will be another credit union local to you, check your postcode:
Christmas Opening 2018
Happy Christmas from Advance Credit Union! We will be open as usual on Friday 28th December. We are closed over New Year then reopen as usual on Tuesday 2nd January 2018.
Opening Times:
| Sat 22nd Dec | close at 12.00 |
| Sun 23rd Dec | closed |
| Mon 24th Dec | open 9.30 – 4pm |
| Tues 25th Dec | closed |
| Wed 26th Dec | closed |
| Thurs 27th Dec | closed |
| Fri 28th Dec | open 9.30 – 4pm |
| Sat 29th Dec | closed |
| Sun 30th Dec | closed |
| Mon 31st Dec | open 9.30 – 4pm |
| Tues 1st Jan 2019 | closed |
| Wed 2nd Jan | usual opening hours 9.30 – 4pm |
Christmas Club withdrawals 2018
Congratulations to all our Christmas Club savers – £82,000 saved this year! Our best ever!
Christmas Club withdrawals are now open until 31st December.
Three ways to withdraw your Christmas Club savings:
- Login to internet banking, select ‘Christmas’ in Share Withdrawals
- Download the withdrawal form here.
- Pick up a withdrawal form from our office
There is no fee charged for Christmas Club withdrawals.
Need to topup your Christmas Club savings with a Christmas loan? That’s OK, Members can apply for a loan until Saturday 15th December, applications received after that date may not be processed in time for Christmas.
Our loans start from £300, interest rates range from 9.4%APR to 42.6%APR. see our loans.
Christmas Loans 2018
Thinking about Christmas already?
Don’t miss our Christmas top tips to help you get the most for your money this Christmas.
To help members who want a Christmas loan top up, with effect from 1st October 2018 members may top up their loan if the outstanding balance is £300 (increased from £200).
Credit union member? the last date to apply for a loan before Christmas will be Saturday 15th December. Be sure to send in your 3-months bank statements to enable us to make your loan offer. If we have your correct email contact details on file then we will send your loan agreement with instructions to E-sign your loan if possible.
Not a credit union member? you can apply for a loan until Saturday 1st December 2018. You can join as a member and start saving with us at any time. Find out how to join credit union.
Our loans start from £300, interest rates range from 9.4%APR to 42.6%APR. see our loans.
| Christmas Loan Deadlines
Non-members: Saturday 1st December 2018 Members: Saturday 15th December 2018 |
Internet banking button
Not sure how that happened – the Internet banking button from the top of your screen seems to have disappeared – very sorry everyone, we know a lot of members use that to access their credit union Internet banking.
While we try to find the old button again, there is a new link top right of your PC screen, or at the bottom of the drop-down menu on mobile. Or you can click this new temporary button to access internet banking…
Children staying in education after GCSEs? Tell the Child Benefit Office!
Are your children staying in education beyond 16 years? Then you must inform the Child Benefit Office every year. Child Benefit stops on 31 August after your child’s 16th birthday. Parents or carers can continue to receive child benefit If they continue within approved education or training, but you must tell the Child Benefit Office. You can notify them online, by post or phone 0300 200 3100.
Find our more on the Government website www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19
Bank Holiday Monday 27th August
Don’t forget Bank Holiday Monday next week! Credit Union will be closed on Monday 27th August due to the bank holiday. Members expecting to receive Child Benefit and other benefits on Monday have been processed on Friday 24th August.
We are open as usual on Saturday 9.30-12 noon, then open again Tuesday 28th August.