One in four parents will be forced to deny their children basic school items in September.

The average back to-school outlay will be €1,209 per child, up from €1,185 last year, which is a 2% rise, according to a survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions.

It shows that 20% of parents with primary school children and 31% of those with children attending secondary school intend cutting items from the back-to-school list.

More than two-thirds say they cannot pay for extracurricular activities for their children and almost 40% say money is too tight to buy their children school shoes.

A third of parents will use saved money to cover school costs, but 4% say they will consider using a moneylender, a rise of 1% on last year.

Read more here.

Our office will be open with limited service on Monday June 26th due to an IT Upgrade.

Please note that our Online Banking system will be unavailable from close of business on Saturday June 24th until Tuesday June 27th while the upgrade takes place.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience.

Notice to Members who have Outstanding Loans and Loan Applicants re Central Credit Register

The Central Bank of Ireland are setting up a Central Credit Register under the Credit Reporting Act 2013.

The Central Credit Register is a national database that will, on request, provide:

• a borrower with an individual credit report detailing their credit agreements;
• a lender with comprehensive information to help with credit assessments; and
• the Central Bank with better insights into national trends in the provision of credit.

The Credit Reporting Act 2013 requires us to process your personal and credit information for the Central Credit Register. From 30 June 2017, we will submit personal information to the Central Credit Register that we may already have about you, like:

• your name;
• address;
• date of birth; and
• personal public service number (PPSN) – a very important piece of information for matching.

The Central Credit Register needs this information to make sure it accurately matches your loans, including loans that you may have with other lenders. Producing a full and accurate credit report is one of the main aims of the Central Credit Register. We will also submit credit information each month about your loans, if the loan is for €500 or more.

Your loan information will be stored securely on the Central Credit Register where it will be used to create your credit report. The Central Credit Register will not calculate a score or grade for your credit report. Information will be kept on the Central Credit Register for five years after your loan is paid off.

In early 2018, credit reports will become available from the Central Credit Register. Once available, you may request your report at any time and are entitled to one free report each calendar year.

Lenders may only access your credit report:

• when considering an application for a new loan;
• if you ask to change the terms of a loan; or
• if they are reviewing a loan in arrears.

Employers, landlords, or any other person or entity cannot access your credit report without your written consent.

You do not need to take any action. We will shortly begin to send information on your loans to the Central Credit Register.

We invite you to read the Central Credit Register factsheet at https://www.centralcreditregister.ie/media/1083/a-consumer-guide-to-the-central-credit-register.pdf . If you have any other question about any of your loans with us, you can contact us at (01) 8451400.

#GR8Savers #Tip4

Develop a savings plan, calendar or mood-board with a countdown to when the savings goal will be reached.

A visual aid can be help to remind young people to stick to their goal.

Credit Union GR8 Savers Week 2017

#GR8Savers #Tip3

Why not reward young people for saving regularly, especially if they resist the urge to impulse buy?

Remember, it’s the savings habit itself and not the amount being saved that’s important.

Credit Union GR8 Savers Week 2017

#GR8Savers #Tip2

Encourage young people not to buy on impulse.

Reassure them that by sticking to their savings target they will be able to afford something they’ve always wanted.

Credit Union GR8 Savers Week 2017

#GR8Savers #Tip1

Help young people to identify savings goals, both short-term and long-term.

A lot of the time, the concept of savings only becomes real when they can visualise the rewards waiting for them.

Credit Union GR8 Savers Week 2017

Congratulations to Amy O’connor who is the lucky winner of our Easter Hamper Competition.

Amy has won a lovely Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates Easter Hamper for herself.

Well done again Amy and thanks to everyone who entered our competition.

Good Friday – Closed at 4pm
Saturday 15th April – Closed
Easter Monday – Closed

Normal Business Resumes on Tuesday 18th April at 10.30am.

Happy Easter to all our members.