Berwick Savings and Loans - How to Save Money

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1 Berwick Savings and Loan The easy way to save and have access to cheap loans with free life assurance.

2 Berwick Savings and Loan Facts about Credit Unions 18,000 people now hold current accounts run by Credit Unions. At the end of 2008, 1.7 million current account transactions had been made. In 2008, Credit Unions in the U.K. provided service to 638,000 adult members and 100,000 children and young people. Worldwide there are 172 million members. One quarter of the populations of the US, Canada and Australia are members of Credit Unions. About Berwick Savings and Loan Berwick Savings and Loan is a Credit Union, which is different to a bank or building society because it is a not-forprofit organisation that is owned and run by local people. It is part of the Northumberland Credit Union. Your money is safe with Berwick Savings and Loan, the Credit Union is authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), so that money saved with the Credit Union is protected in the same way as money saved with a bank or building society. Anyone aged 18 or over, living or working in the Berwick Borough can join the Credit Union and it doesn t matter if you are retired, a student or unemployed. Under 18 s can also join as junior savers. Saving with the Credit Union is really easy and makes sense for everyone. You can save as much or as little as you can afford - from only 1 per week. Interest charges for borrowing are much lower than with most other lenders and there are no additional charges for arranging the loan. You also get free insurance on savings and loans.

3 How to Save There are three easy ways: Using your Credit Union All-Pay card. You can make payments at any All-Pay outlets. You will receive a receipt for any payments made. All-Pay charge a transaction fee (however this will be waived for Berwick Borough Housing tenants only). By Standing Order. If you have a bank current account you can tell your bank to make regular payments into your Credit Union savings account. Ask us for a standing order form, please complete it and return it to your bank. Direct from your pay. If you work or receive a pension from Berwick Borough Housing or Northumberland County Council, you can save and repay loans by deduction from your wages or pension and pay them directly to your Credit Union account. Please ask us for a form, complete it and return it to us. We will send you a statement of your account every six months although you can call us and ask for your balance anytime. How to Borrow Loan repayments use the same easy payment methods as above. You can apply for your first loan after you have saved for 6 weeks, 4 fortnights or 2 months by standing order or payroll deduction. Your loan will be up to 100 plus what you have saved. If you keep your repayment agreement you will qualify for: 2nd loan: 3 x value of savings or your savings + 250, whichever is the lesser amount. 3rd loan: 3 x value of savings Subsequent loans: 4 x value of savings All loans are subject to a maximum of 2,500. Normally an application for a further loan will not be considered until at least 75% of the previous one has been repaid.

4 Berwick Savings and Loan How to Withdraw Your Savings You can withdraw your savings at any time by completing a request for withdrawal form from Berwick Borough Housing and this payment can be paid directly into your bank account or by cheque. Please ask us for more details. Interest and Repayment Rates Interest is just 1% per month, calculated on the balance outstanding at the end of the month, equivalent to 12.7% APR. We believe this is competitive for the size of loan we currently offer. The exact amount you have to pay depends on how soon you start paying, and the frequency of payment. The tables below are examples. Examples of 100 loan repaid weekly or monthly Length of Loan Weekly Repayment Last Payment Total Repaid Total Interest Charged 26 weeks weeks Length of Loan Monthly Repayment Last Payment Total Repaid Total Interest Charged 6 months months Examples of 1,500 loan repaid weekly or monthly Length of Loan Weekly Repayment Last Payment Total Repaid Total Interest Charged 26 weeks weeks Length of Loan Monthly Repayment Last Payment Total Repaid Total Interest Charged 6 months , months ,

5 Making Regular Payments Regular payments are important as it shows us that you are reliable. Remember, the money we lend you comes from other members savings. It is also important that you try to save even when paying off a loan as any further loans are based on your savings. Proof of your Identity & Address While Credit Unions set out to make financial services as accessible as possible, we are nevertheless regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), like any other lender. This gives our members the assurance that our standards are properly monitored. It also means that we must obtain proof of identity and address from all members, to prevent money laundering and fraud. We have to see originals. We will then photocopy and return them to you directly. Please see overleaf for examples of acceptable proof of identity and address and details of how you can get them to us. If you don t have the correct documents, or have a problem getting them to us, or any other queries, then please contact us on Proof of identity: You will need one of the following: Current full passport Current full driving licence, with or without photo EU national identity card Pension or benefit book issued by government A letter from a Government office about your benefit Birth certificate (under 18s only)

6 Berwick Savings and Loan Proof of address: You will need one of the following: Any of the above as long as it bears both your name and address and has not already been used as proof of identity Household bill for gas, electricity, water, council tax or a fixed line telephone, less than 3 months old Rent book or tenancy agreement Bank or building society statement If you have a driving license with photo, this can be used as proof of identity and proof of address all in one - no other proof is needed. You can bring proof of identity and address in person to Berwick Borough Housing Head Office or post them to Head Office using the Freepost address on the back page of this booklet (no stamp needed). You can, if you choose, send them by recorded delivery to the address on the back page, however do not include the Freepost part of the address as you will need to pay the normal postage cost for recorded delivery. Additional Advice for Berwick Borough Housing Tenants Advice on Benefits and how to maximise your income Members of Berwick Savings and Loan, who are Berwick Borough Housing tenants, are able to access advice on Welfare Benefits and on maximising their income from the Independent Living Officer. Please contact us on Debt Advice Berwick Borough Housing work in partnership with the Berwick Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and if you have debt problems or require debt advice, you can be referred to the CAB for advice and assistance in dealing with creditors. Energy Efficiency Advice Berwick Borough Housing can refer tenants onto agencies who provide advice on energy efficiency that will save you money on your energy bills and at the same time reduce your carbon footprint to help the environment.

7 Membership Application Mr Mrs Ms Other (please state) Full Name: Date of Birth: Address: DD MM YY National Insurance No.: Postcode: Telephone Number: I would like to save using (Tick box): Credit Union All-Pay card Banker s standing order Payroll deduction from Berwick Borough Housing or Northumberland County Council If you pay by All-Pay card you will be issued with a receipt. All members receive a quarterly statement. I enclose my 2 joining fee Take 2 from my first deposit I apply to become a member of Northumberland Credit Union. I am over the age of eighteen and agree to abide by the rules of the Credit Union, which I understand may be purchased or inspected at the Credit Union s registered office at 37 Shields Road, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2SA. I understand that my application will have to be approved by the board, and that my records will be kept on computer, for the purpose of the Credit Union only. Signed: Date: DD MM YY Please detach and return this completed form to the Freepost address overleaf. Office use only Approved: Mem. No.:

8 Please return your completed membership application form (overleaf) using the Freepost address (no stamp needed): Berwick Savings and Loan Credit Union FREEPOST RSBA-TXJB-GURC Berwick Borough Housing 1 Windmill Way North Ramparts Business Park Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 1TA The Berwick Savings and Loan Credit Union is a trading name of Northumberland Credit Union Ltd. Registered Office: 37 Shields Road Morpeth Northumberland NE61 2SA Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority reg. no Berwick Borough Housing Contact Details Berwick Borough Housing Head Office, Unit 1, Windmill Way North, Ramparts Business Park Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 1TA Open: 9.00am pm Monday to Friday Customer Services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year FREEPHONE contact@berwickboroughhousing.co.uk Visit our website at part of SLS 18 V1 AUG 09