Robert's credit union goes national

by Stephen Smellie

A credit union started by a UNISON branch secretary in one branch, has just gone national!

The Southern General Hospital Credit Union was started by Robert Rae, then UNISON branch Secretary along with other staff representatives 11 years ago. Its ‘common bond’ (people who were allowed to join) was the staff of the SGH in Glasgow.

Last week, the Secretary of State for Health, Nicola Sturgeon MSP announced the Credit Union would now be open to all NHS staff in Scotland!

Robert - now a temporary Regional Officer for UNISON - was delighted. “When we started this CU I knew it would be a good service for the SGH staff, and if it was successful we could maybe spread it to the other NHS staff in Glasgow. I didn't anticipate it going national!”

A Credit Union is a mutual organisation set up to allow groups of people with a common bond - like an employer, or a geographical area - to save and borrow money without relying on banks or, even worse, loan sharks.

They are particularly useful to groups who do not have access to banks, but the non-profit base means that the rates are better than traditional banks and can be useful to anyone.

The SGH CU expanded to take in the staff in the rest of Glasgow’s NHS after reorganisation and now is open to all NHS staff.

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