Manchester Credit Union opens in city centre

Manchester Credit Union has opened its first branch in the city centre. The organisation was created in 1991 by a group of volunteers based at a community centre in...

Manchester Credit Union has opened its first branch in the city centre.

The organisation was created in 1991 by a group of volunteers based at a community centre in Beswick, east Manchester, to offer local people access to affordable, ethical and friendly financial services.

A not-for-profit financial co-operative, it now serves nearly 20,000 members throughout Greater Manchester, including employees in hospitals, local authorities, companies and housing associations, as well as thousands of individuals and families in local communities.

Manchester Credit Union already has branches and service points throughout Manchester, Bury, Tameside, Trafford, Rochdale, and the High Peak, and on 15 October will open its first ever branch office in Manchester city centre, at 48-50 Brazennose Street.

The opening coincides with the 2015 International Credit Union Day, which has been celebrated on the third Thursday of October since 1948. The day recognises and reflects on the credit union movement’s history, and promotes its achievements, and is celebrated by over 57,000 credit unions in over 100 countries around the world.

The new branch will be opened by Manchester actress Julie Claire Hesmondhalgh, who played Hayley Cropper in ITV’s Coronation Street between 1998 and 2014. Ms Hesmondhalgh has been a long term supporter of credit unions and has often spoken in support of the vital work credit unions perform in communities in the North West.

“We are delighted to be opening our new flagship city-centre branch and head office on International credit union day,” said Manchester credit union’s chief executive officer, Christine Moore. “This year’s theme, People Helping People, embraces the longstanding credit union philosophy on which credit unions in Britain are founded. Together with other credit unions across the Greater Manchester City Region we are offering a real financial alternative to people across the city”

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