There is no upfront membership fee, however we do recommend an initial deposit of £1.00.You must keep a minimum of £10 in your account to keep your membership active. There is an annual service fee of £10, this is taken from the share account in September.

You can opt in for annual statements at any time. By accessing your account online, you can view all transactions. Additional statements can be provided on request.

All members receive a member account, known as a Share Account. This operates as a savings account and represents your share of the Credit Union.

You can access your account online, by telephone or by visiting our office.

• Cash, debit card or cheques directly into your account at our office.
• Telephone payment - give us a call and pay with your debit card.
• Standing Order from your bank account.
• Payroll deduction. We have a number of employer partnerships enabling Payroll membership where a regular amount is deducted from your wages/salary.

The maximum amount you can have deposited with the Credit Union is £20,000 across all accounts.

Interest on savings is paid in the form of a yearly dividend. When you join 1^st Alliance Community Bank you become a shareholder. This means that at the end of each year, any cash surplus is divided between members as a dividend on their savings. The dividend is subject to approval at the annual general meeting and is not guaranteed.

Subject to any loans secured against shares, you can withdraw up to £100 in cash from your savings at any time through our office. As well as coming into the office, you also have the option of transferring your savings to other bank accounts.

You can also manage your account via CU Online.

Yes. We are regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Prudential Regulatory Authority 473340. All your monies are 100% safe as we have full FSCS protection.

Please read this important statement:

Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme, (FSCS), is the UK’s statutory fund of last resort for customers of authorised financial services firms.
The Financial Ombudsman Services, (FOS), is the independent service for settling disputes between businesses providing financial services and their customers.

Important information about compensation arrangements

Your savings are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). The FSCS can pay compensation to depositors if a credit union is unable to meet its financial obligations. Most depositors – including most individuals and small businesses – are covered by the scheme.

In respect of deposits, an eligible depositor is entitled to claim up to £85,000. For joint accounts each account holder is treated as having a claim in respect of their share so, for a joint account held by two eligible depositors, the maximum amount that could be claimed would be £85,000 each (making a total of £170,000). The £85,000 limit relates to the combined amount in all the eligible depositor’s accounts with the Credit Union, including their share of any joint account, and not to each separate account.

For further information about the scheme (including the amounts covered and eligibility to claim) please ask at your local branch, refer to the FSCS website www.fscs.org.uk/ or call 0800 678 1100.

1^st Alliance Community Bank is a financial co-operative run by members for members. Any profits are reinvested into the development of the credit union and divided between members as a dividend on savings. We use these savings to provide our members affordable low-cost loans. Any reserves are not invested in the financial markets, your money is not used for big ‘fat cat’ bonuses. Also, we provide a safe and affordable alternative to those at risk of loan sharks and other illegal or usury lenders. Where banks turn down customers because they have a poor history or are low paid, we do not. We look at everyone as individuals and recognise that anyone can get into financial difficulties from time to time. This means that if you have been a victim of circumstance we will still look at your application with fresh eyes. In accordance with the Credit Union Act 1979, 1^st Alliance Community Bank educates its members on the wise use of money and promotes responsible saving and lending.

Yes, same day payments can be made using our faster payments service. You register your bank account details with us at time of joining then transfers can be requested over the telephone or in branch. You can update your bank datils with us at any time.

You can also request a transfer via your CU Online.

A standing order is an arrangement you make with your bank to pay into your 1^st Alliance Community Bank account or loan. To change this, you need to contact your bank and ask them to adjust the payment amount. You can also do this yourself online if you have set up internet banking with your bank.