In fact ‘credit unions’ are more than 150 years old and in Ireland and the USA they are almost as well used as banks.

On Monday 3rd December 2007 Mayor of Woodbridge Nigel Barratt opened Ipswich & Suffolk credit union’s first Woodbridge outlet (see picture)

The picture also shows Woodbridge’s very first customer Michael Balls with credit union volunteers Rob Watson and Rosalee Rowland from the Woodbridge and Melton Churches Together group.

The outlet at the Fred Reynolds Centre, nr Peterhouse Crescent, is open between 11.30am and 12.30pm each and every Monday.

It is run by local volunteers and offers a safe convenient place to save and borrow money.

Credit Unions are regulated by the Financial Services Authority just like the banks are and their ethical, flexible approach often leads people to call them community banks.

Services offered also include free life insurance and a prepaid maestro® card which offers a great way to budget your spending.

The Woodbridge group of volunteers run a second credit union outlet at The Salvation Army Hall, nr Woodbridge library. This is also open every week- between 11am and 12 noon.

You can find Ipswich and Suffolk Credit Union Ltd at 63 Austin Street, Ipswich
Telephone 01473 690690
Website: www.iscu.org.uk