This podcast captures the views of some financial services industry commentators on the merits and drawbacks of ESAS (Employee Salary Advance Schemes). Guests on this podcast are: Matt Bland, CEO Co-op Credit Union, UK Emily Trant, head of Impact & Inclusion, Wagestream Lindsay Melvyn, CEO Flexiwage Erik Porter, Wellbeing expert How a Employee Salary Advance Scheme works: Specialist scheme operators, which are usually unregulated businesses, often provide the product as part of a 'wellbeing package' to help employees with financial management. Some offer employees an app based platform ..read more

The past two years has been the ultimate stress test for the financial, operational, competitive, and cultural resiliency of credit unions. Leaders have greater depth of insight into the risks facing their credit union and can now better plan for and address those risks, allowing the organisation to focus primarily on longer-term opportunities. Some credit unions are only now emerging from the lockdown to seek new members in a tremendously competitive and digital world. The economic challenges of the past two years have amplified the essential role credit unions can play in the lives of their ..read more

An interview with Robert Kelly CEO at ABCUL (Assoc. of British Credit Unions Ltd). I was really interested in the news that ABCUL are to launch a Strategic Merger Taskforce. Robert Kelly, CEO at ABCUL, once again appears to tackle subjects that appear sometimes to be difficult to deal with but nevertheless are really of the moment. Credit Union mergers, or transfer of engagements, in the past have typically been a way of saving a struggling credit union from failure, by being absorbed into a healthier partner. However, could two, or more, credit unions join; and become strategically stronger ..read more

This edition provides a snap shot of two Irish credit unions and their immediate actions taken to help credit union members, staff and communities in response to the COVID-19 crisis in March and April 2020. These actions demonstrate and exemplify the ‘credit union difference’. The COVID-19 health crisis has meant extraordinary operational and commercial challenges to credit unions. This podcast refers to the CFCFE report that in turn refers solely to credit unions in the Republic of Ireland; CFCFE has published separately on the actions taken by British credit unions, along with the podcast ED ..read more

Robert Kelly CEO, of the trade association ABCUL (Association of British Credit Unions Ltd), talks about is first months in the role and the forthcoming national conference in Manchester (March 2020 ..read more

This interview took place immediately after Manchester CFCFE Conference in Manchester. At that conference Todd had outlined his extensive experience of IT solutions in the credit union sector in the USA, and his recent engagement with Irish credit unions. Todd noted that core IT system replacement, the focus of his presentation, is a very significant project for credit unions, but because there have been so many of these in the US (over 600 in the last five years) there is now increasing competence at core system conversions. For most core processor businesses, the overwhelming majority of the ..read more

This summer saw the publication 'Gambling, Vulnerability and FCA Compliance'  (How financial services firms can achieve the best outcomes for vulnerable customers who gamble). by Sharon Collard and Katie Cross at the Bristol University Personal Finance Research Centre. Credit unions are reporting increased levels of gambling activity is being observed on members accounts, especially since  the pandemic. Many credit unions have the ability to conduct more forensic assessment of members accounts following the uptake in use of 'open banking'. This has contributed to the rising concern ..read more

Booking is now open for our first CFCFE conference of the year, on Monday 29th March. Towards New Business Models: great speakers and plenty of group discussion, looking at the 2021 and future external operating context, the importance of building a business model on a clear and agreed purpose, and credit union leader experience of making mergers work. Join other credit union leaders, directors, suppliers, regulators and policymakers for stimulating ideas and to share your own views, with plenty of opportunities for interaction. Book your place here! https://cfcfe.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11 ..read more

Interview with Abbie Shelton about a Oral History project about the Uk Credit Union movement. Starting with a possible pilot in the north of the country leading to a national roll-out if the project receives the funding. abbieshel@icloud.com A preview of the forthcoming CFCFE Manchester Conference, in January 17th 2020 from an interview by Nick Money. nick@nickmoney.co.uk A run through of some of the topics these podcasts will cover in 2020 by Chris Smith Any feedback on smithowls@gmail.com ..read more

This edition asks how prepared are our credit unions for the possible employment issues that the pandemic has forced onto their businesses? Some of the changes may be positive and some may be relatively painless. However, changing a workforce to suit the new circumstances, or restructuring as it is called, is always a challenge and there are clearly good ways to do it and pitfalls to avoid.  In this podcast we will hear from credit union leaders, professionals and practitioners that have experienced considerable workforce change in their credit union careers. On this edition you’ll hear f ..read more