East Sussex Credit Union (ESCU) is a not for profit savings and loans co-operative, which has been trading since August 2001. Originally working in the East of Brighton, in August 2004 we were granted a ‘common bond' extension to enable our services to be accessed by anyone living in the Brighton or Hove parliamentary constituencies.

 

The Financial Services Authority has now extended our common bond to cover the whole of East Sussex.

And we are growing quickly!  We have a current  membership of over 2,000 people and they have increased their savings with us from over £500,000.

As a Friendly Society we take our social and charitable objectives very seriously. We therefore aim to provide a high quality, sustainable and easy to access savings and loans co-operative, which is responsive to the needs of the people of Brighton & Hove and actively combats the detrimental effects of poverty and financial exclusion.

Work in partnership with local communities and other statutory and non-statutory organisations to provide joined up solutions which help to combat poverty and its detrimental effects upon health, educational attainment, employment and homelessness.

Contribute to economic regeneration by promoting savings and sensible borrowing amongst our membership, providing paid and volunteer work opportunities and offering loans facilities to entrepreneurs, and training and experience for members to improve labour market accessibility.

Offer cost effective and flexible loans that meet the needs of our members and which offer a viable alternative to predatory lending practices

Advance local wealth by redistributing our profits to our members in accordance with co-operative principles.