Extract of the Introduction

Over the last 18 months, two of the CFCFE’s credit union members have invested in
major research studies into the views of their members:

• Capital Credit Union in Scotland addressed member and non-member perceptions of the credit union, and in particular views on borrowing. This project completed in July 2018. Capital is a 20,000-member community credit union based in Edinburgh and with a common bond across eastern Scotland.

• Core Credit Union in Ireland looked at member borrowing and satisfaction rates, including a by-branch view. This project completed in June 2017. Core is a community credit union with 31,000 members and seven offices concentrated in south east County Dublin around Dun Laoghaire.

Further information on these credit unions is included in the Appendix. CFCFE is grateful to Capital and Core for supporting the production of this briefing paper for
the wider CFCFE membership and the movement as a whole based on their research findings.

The paper brings together the key findings of these studies in relation to the borrowing needs of adult members. These findings are augmented by several mini case studies of credit union lending growth, to inform thinking around lending practice. Given the research studies were undertaken by different organisations, the
questions and analysis do not match directly, but this briefing brings the salient points together.