Bank Holiday Opening Hours

Monday 30th August - Our offices will be closed due to Bank Holiday. Normal business will resume on Tuesday 31st August

Haiti Earthquake Disaster

Haiti Earthquake Disaster

Through a number of recent fundraising events here at Capital the staff and board members raised funds in aid of January's tragic earthquake devastation in Haiti.

The funds were sent to the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) who are co-ordinating all credit union donations. These donations will be used to help provide immediate relief to victims and rebuild a number of credit unions whose buildings have been damaged beyond repair. Most of which have lost over 50% of their members who have died in the earthquake.

Our Chief Executive, Marlene Shiels had the opportunity to travel to Haiti with the World Council to see the projects that WOCCU are undertaking to rebuild credit unions in this area.

Below are thoughts from Marlene and others in the credit union delegation during their visit:

What I am seeing cannot be true. Miles and miles of rubble. Houses, schools, churches, businesses and financial institutions. Pancaked, cracked and crumbled. Dirt and dust everywhere. Garbage piles, streets broken and potholed. And traffic weaves in and out. Tents everywhere. A former golf course with 80,000 tents. Tents in front of or among stores and homes. People won’t sleep in homes. Even those undamaged for fear of another quake. Tents in every field or lot. Thousands and thousands.... miles and miles ...but among it all were the colours of the people of Haiti. Everywhere you look, people trying to sell something or go to work or working at roadside. And they tell me what we are experiencing is so much better. There is food and water at least.

Schools are opening starting end April so kids are returning to a normal day. Walls are covered with art. Then there are the numbers painted on buildings. Red = must come down and do not enter, yellow = needs fixing but fixable, and green = welcome back. We visited four Caisse's (credit unions being supported by the Canadian Credit Union system). All with destroyed or heavily damaged buildings. All working from tents. All trying hard to serve members. Some with staff injured or dead. All needing all the help we can give them. Most will be insolvent when year ends as default rates are big. One credit union 80% members dead. Their members have lost everything including their lives. Many can not be found. Yet they try to continue to lend as it is even more important now. No insurance and all talked of a need. All took great solace in the fact that credit unions outside Haiti want to help. And all need that help. Credit unions are not buildings, they are people. And people are needing to help people.

WOCCU and credit unions around the world will continue to help the Haitian credit unions and Haitian people to rebuild their lives. If you would like the support them through making a donation to the International Credit Union Disaster Relief Fund, log on to www.woccu.org/give

Cechache Credit Union's temporary accommodation

Marlene (left) providing well needed supplies to Mamey Credit Union

CCU Members Society Lottery - Win a share of over £50,000

This year, the CCU Members Society Lottery will be paying out over £50,000 in Lottery prize money. Each month, there is one jackpot of £3,000, £500 for second place and several prizes of £100. To join the lottery click on the lottery logo on the homepage. It only costs £1 per month per ticket, and you can have up to 10 tickets.

To join Capitals Members Lottery click on the following link:

http://www.cculottery.co.uk

Banking Services with Capital Credit Union Launched!

Capital is one of the first credit unions in the UK to offer banking services to all Members. This product provides members with the opportunity to access a more comprehensive range of modern and ethical financial services through the Credit Union Current Account.

The service offers a bank account and allows members to make debit payments in shops and on the internet. In addition, members will be able to withdraw from over 58,000 ATMs in the UK connected to the LINK network.

Members are able to:

• Set up standing orders and direct debits to enable you pay all your bills in an easy and efficient way - and save money as compared with cash payments.
• Pay your salary or benefits direct into your Credit Union Current Account
• Pay for goods and services at thousands of retails outlets and on-line via the Internet*

Capitals CEO, Marlene Shiels, commented

This shows that credit unions are capable of offering their members modern, accessible financial services. We can offer members a service similar to that offered by the major banks but with  added benefit of belonging to a financial co-operative that is owned and run for the benefits of its Members.

For further information click on the contact us button or call us on 0845 634 9901

or click here to download a Credit Union Current Account application form NOW!

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