Council backs plans for credit union in East Renfrewshire
We've approved a proposal to re-establish a credit union presence within the area, providing initial seed-funding to support its implementation.
Published 29 May 2025
There has been a long-standing commitment to reinstate a credit union in East Renfrewshire. This commitment has been further strengthened with the recent closure of the last remaining bank in Barrhead, which also served the broader communities of Neilston and Uplawmoor. A further bank closure in Newton Mearns was also announced in March.
The proposal gives the Council the green light to work in partnership with Pollok Credit Union Ltd and other community planning partners to re-establish a credit union presence in East Renfrewshire, and provide up to £200,000 of Council resource as seed-funding to support the branch until it can cover its costs. On this basis, the Credit Union would provide a local shop-front branch in Barrhead, open at least 3 days a week, as well as online and telephone provision and future development of outreach provision across wider areas of East Renfrewshire.
Credit Unions are not-for-profit savings organisations and members pool their savings to provide each other with credit at a low interest rate. East Renfrewshire has been without a local Credit Union service since the demise of the Barrhead-based Pioneer Mutual Credit Union in 2021, which had 3,500 members at the time of closure.
East Renfrewshire Council Leader, Councillor Owen O'Donnell said: 'I am delighted that this proposal has been approved. The reintroduction of a credit union in East Renfrewshire was one of my Administration's election manifesto commitments and I am pleased that we are able to deliver on this for residents. Although we still have much work to do, in particular in securing a permanent location, I am confident that along with our partners in Pollok Credit Union, East Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, Barrhead Housing Association, Voluntary Action East Renfrewshire and along with our council colleagues in Money Advice and Rights and Housing we will be able to deliver more than just a credit union and provide additional vital support services to members.
Having access to in-person financial services, such as a bank or credit union, is critical for many people in our communities. Not everyone has internet access, the confidence to use it, or the means to travel out of the authority, so with the closure of the last bank presence in Barrhead, the need has never been greater. We are committed to helping our communities thrive and we can now move forward with our plans and work with our partners to bring back a credit union to East Renfrewshire.'
