First Dorset Credit Union expands during troubled year (From Dorset Echo)

First Dorset Credit Union expands during troubled year

10:00am Friday 1st January 2010

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TESTING economic times in 2009 saw the ‘people’s bank’ of Dorset expand its service to help more people in their hour of need.

The First Dorset Credit Union, a community support organisation that offers affordable loans and savings, now has around 2,000 members and service points across West, South and North Dorset.

President Rosemary Britten said she was pleased with how the organisation had faced up to the challenges of the last year and was entering 2010 in ‘rude health’.

She said: “I can look back on 2009 with a degree of satisfaction.

“It has been a difficult year, not only for First Dorset Credit Union, but also for many of our members.

“But we have made impressive advances in a number of ways.”

The Union has completed installing service points in Weymouth and Portland, urban areas of West Dorset and the Blackmore Vale.

Another new service point in Blandford is due to go live in the next few weeks.

Mrs Britten said: “Our assets are approaching £1million and membership 2,000.

“The rate of increase seems to be growing and we have made more loans than ever before.”

Mrs Britten said the Union had even defied gloomy predictions early in the year to end up turning a profit.

She added: “We have successfully installed new hardware and software.

“This, coupled with embracing internet banking, gives us an up-to-the minute view of the finances of our members, which is much appreciated by them.”

Mrs Britten said the key to the organisation’s success was its band of hard-working staff and volunteers.

She said: “All this was achieved through hard work – by our dedicated staff of three and the hundred-plus volunteers manning the service points and at head office.

“I want to pay tribute to them and to all our supporters.

“They are all an example of how the community can come together to help those less fortunate in practical ways.”

Mrs Britten added: “2010 will present fresh challenges.

“We will face them and extend our service to all residents.”

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