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WELCOME TO HALTON CREDIT UNION

Everybody benefits from having savings.

Wedding

It allows us to work towards our financial goals, a well needed holiday; a planned event such as a wedding or a new expensive item such as a TV; laptop or mobile phone.

Emergency

It establishes financial well being. Savings can give us peace of mind when an unexpected or an unplanned emergency arises especially when we least expect it.

Access affordable credit

It enables us to access affordable credit in times of need. With Halton Credit Union every £1.00 saved is worth £2.00 in your loan account.

 

Credit Unions offer the redistribution of wealth and to have a fair society people should have the same opportunities as others. Halton Credit Union recognises this, and with its fair ethical values HCU benefits the wider community by offering an accessible means of saving and affordable credit for all. So when you’re saving with us there is the added bonus of knowing that your savings are being used to make loans to other members... members just like you!

It’s so easy to save with HCU

  • Click here for Location Map or Click here for Opening Times,

  • Call in to set up a Standing Order,

  • Make an appointment and set up payment via your Child Benefit,

  • Log into your account online to check your balances at your convenience.

Your Savings Are Fully Protected

All member savings are fully protected by the Financial Savings Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to the value of £85,000 which means that your savings are 100% protected with HCU.

Dividend Payout – A Return On Your Savings

Subject to a business surplus, it would be announced at the AGM if it would be suitable for a dividend to be paid out to all members. A dividend is the return on your shares and it is paid by HCU out of surplus. Therefore, the more shares you have saved with us the greater the dividend you will receive. Every share you hold with the credit union (every £1 saved) for the year is eligible for a dividend when declared at the AGM. This year (2017) HCU paid out a dividend of 2.5%, continuing its proud record of rewarding savers with an increasing dividend every year since 2013.

Free Life Savings Assurance

HCU offers a policy which is aimed at making the lives of families & next of kin easier in event of a members’ death. This means of helping to relieve the financial burden at such a sad time is at no cost to member - T&C’s may apply, but generally, any outstanding loan that the deceased owed will be paid off by insurance and any shares (savings) will be DOUBLED. Therefore the more money you have saved in your shares the bigger the amount that will be left for loved ones.

The Joys Of Christmas

Why pay all year for vouchers which restrict you to certain shops or order hampers that include food stuff that no one eats.... when HCU now offers members the opportunity to spread the cost of Christmas in a lockable Christmas Account – no loan is available on these savings but regular saving throughout the year will give you a lump sum which allows you to choose where to shop and what to buy. Payout is automatic via BAC’s transfer into a nominated bank account on the first working day in December. Click here for further details

The Joys of Christmas

Withdrawing Savings

To withdraw your shares (savings) you must make a share withdrawal application, in person, at one of our Main Offices during Opening Hours. All share withdrawals will be transferred by BAC’s into a bank of your choice the next working day.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAVE A KINGS RANSOM FOR REGULAR SAVINGS TO MOUNT UP...

With Halton Credit Union you can regularly save at a level affordable to you on a weekly; fortnightly; 4-weekly or monthly basis by any of the methods aforementioned.

Here is a table to show how quickly a small amount saved each week can grow over a period of time:

Weekly Savings Table:

Amount Saved

£2

£5

£10

£20

£25

Year 1

£104

£260

£520

£1,040

£1,300

Year 2

£208

£520

£1,040

£2,080

£2,600

Year 3

£312

£780

£1,560

£3,120

£3,900

 

AND REMEMBER... When you save with Halton Credit Union

“You’re not just another customer, but an active member of a successful financial co-operative which provides security and protection for your savings”.

Name Change

  1. From Tuesday 1st October, Halton Credit Union will be trading as Beacon Savings & Loans, read on to see why we are changing our name.


  1.  

  2. Why has Halton Credit Union changed its name 

  3.  

Halton Credit Union is now trading under the name Beacon Savings & Loans 

 

In 2019, Halton Credit Union extended its common bond i.e. the thing that links us all together as members, to cover a larger area. Formerly members had to live or work in Halton but with the extended common bond people who live or work in the whole of Cheshire, plus the adjacent WA postcodes are now able to join our credit union.  

Therefore, it was envisaged that having a geographical place name, Halton Credit Union, would hinder our expansion as location names do not travel well. The need for member connection is vital and any potential members in our extended common bond may not be familiar with the location, Halton, therefore it would it not evoke a ‘sense of belonging’ to them. 

Additionally, individuals in these other regions may be unaware that they can join.  

Therefore, the most important thing was to make our credit union relevant to the members, both potential and existing and to the communities in which we will operate.  

The new name ‘Beacon’ emotes reliability and security and ‘Savings & Loans’ gives clarity to what we do – it is clear and straightforward. The name is also easy to remember and recognise and will appeal to a more diverse range of potential members, avoiding terms that might feel exclusive or limiting, such as the place name Halton.  

 

  1. Who chose the name Beacon Savings & Loans? 

  2.  

Our existing members inadvertently helped to choose the trading name Beacon Savings & Loans  


A working group shortlisted several suitable and available names. Existing members were then asked to complete a survey about their credit union, without being informed of its true purpose. Their responses were used to help select the new name. The survey was conducted blind to ensure that the chosen name would reflect the essence and values of the organization, rather than simply being selected based on popularity. 

 

The new brand is fresh and modern and as ‘Beacon Savings & Loans’ feels more authentic as it accurately reflects some of the members comments: 

 

  • Who we are: ‘a beacon of light’ for those that need our services, a ‘lifesaver’ who people can turn to and a ‘light at the end of the tunnel.’ 

  • What we do: ‘provide a safe place for people to save as well as offer affordable loans to members.’ 

 

  1. Does that mean Halton Credit Unions brand/logo change? 

  2.  

The new branding will now feature a modern, fresh design with a more professional appearance. 

 

Our original brand is also outdated and not really what we are about as an organisation. The logo was designed over 20 years ago and incorporated a pound sign – today HCU is less about money and more what we can do for members.  
The recent changes align with our mission which is... ‘People and Planet before Profit.’ At Beacon, we aim to shine a light on the changes needed in our communities, but much more than that...  we also want to actively participate in creating the solutions 

 

  1. Does that mean that you are no longer a credit union?

  2.  

We will also be a credit union, we are proud to be a credit union

 

When you know what a credit union is, you know they are the best thing. Many people do not know what a credit union is and the name can feel misleading to some people. Whilst we are a union, given that we all come together for the greater good of everyone involved, we're not a trade union. Credit unions are a part of the cooperative movement, meaning that we are owned by our members. In fact we are a Savings & Loans cooperative.