LONDON–Your Credit Union here has set up what it is Banking Buddy” program as part of an effort to get members to improve their credit scores and, in turn, make them less likely to use payday lenders.
Under the program, a credit union representative accompanies the member to a branch of Barclays Bank in the area, where a new bank account is then set up for the customer.
Your CU has held several regular “pop-up” sessions at a number of venues, including Beethoven Community Information Centre in Beethoven Street, Queen’s Park.
“If someone’s not confident speaking English it can sometimes be difficult to be heard; others might simply lack the confidence to go in a bank, some have been turned down in the past, but don’t know why,” said William Rhodes, the CU’s CEO. “That is where having a Banking Buddy comes in.”