Crieff Credit Union Service Opens
A new Perth and Kinross Credit Union service in Crieff has officially opened. PKCU was launched in April 2014 and offers a range of lending and saving services for anyone who lives or works in Perth and Kinross.
Based in High Street, Perth, it is a non-profit making fully regulated financial cooperative, which is owned and controlled by its members. PKCU staff and volunteers will take over a space at the Council’s Housing Offices at 32 James Square, Crieff each Thursday between 11:00am and 1:00pm, when people can drop in to discuss taking out loans or starting up a savings account. Earlier this year the organisation also launched weekly sessions at Blairgowrie housing office, Leslie Street, each Thursday between between 10.30am – 12.30pm, and there are also plans to extend this service to Pitlochry, Kinross, and in Letham, Perth. PKCU Chair Euan Walker said: “We want to reach as many people as possible and that’s why we are going out into local communities around Perth and Kinross to offer our services. I am delighted that we have been able to work with Perth & Kinross Council to open this weekly information and collection service in Crieff.
I would encourage the people of Strathearn to come along for a chat to find out more about the wide range of services we can offer.” Euan added: “Our doors are open to everyone who may need a loan or wants to set up a savings account with us. We’re now getting around 20 loan applications each week and in the majority of cases those applications are approved. “If anyone is considering taking out a loan I would strongly encourage them to compare the rates of interest being offered by the Credit Union to those being offered by payday lending companies and higher-purchase agreements or High Street shops. I would urge people to think twice before going to a payday lender or buying a washing machine or cooker on HP. Come and speak to us instead - we will do all we can to help.” The Crieff outreach sessions were officially opened by Perth & Kinross Council’s Convener of Housing and Health, Councillor Dave Doogan, who said: “Since its launch in 2014 Perth and Kinross Credit Union has become an extremely well valued local organisation, and I’m delighted to see it extend its excellent services for people across the area. “Many folk won’t be able to make it to the Perth office regularly, and without these outreach sessions these people may not be able to access the range of financial service PKCU offers. That’s why it’s great news for Crieff people that this new service is now operating each week at James Square, as well as the Blairgowrie sessions. I also look forward to the PKCU offering services in other towns and areas across Perth and Kinross. “PKCU enables local people at every income level to save and access loans, repayable at a much more affordable interest rate than those of payday lenders. Saving in a credit union is an especially positive step to take, as in so doing savers know that they are investing in sustaining our communities and helping to drive improvements in people lives. I’m sure the people of Crieff and the surrounding area make very good use of this new service.”