Member Article

Credit union unveils brand new look

The Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Credit Union has a brand new name and a fresh new look as it seeks to help more people than ever before. The not-for-profit ethical lender has today become CLEVR Money in a move that signals the start of a number of changes designed to improve customer services, launch new products, and help the business to grow.

The community bank will still provide the same safe savings accounts and affordable loans to anyone living or working in the Fylde coast, with the same friendly faces behind the counter providing a personal, one-to-one service. But members will also now be able to do much more from the comfort of their own home with the launch of the new CLEVR Money website, complete with a nifty loans calculator and online application process,

Customers will see the new brand rollout from today, as new signage has also been installed at the Birley Street headquarters and all future communications with customers and stakeholders will be delivered under the CLEVR name. While the organisation remains true to its roots, it is hoped the new brand will also appeal to those people who have never engaged with the credit union before.

Mike Barry, chief executive of CLEVR Money, explained: “We’ve changed our name but not our values, we are still about people, not profit. We remain committed to providing fair and affordable loans to those who struggle to get credit elsewhere, and who often end up in a spiral of debt with high interest payday and doorstep lenders.

“But we also want to demonstrate that we’re open for business to everyone on the Fylde Coast, even those who might not necessarily think we’re for them. Everybody has the right to access fair credit, and joining the credit union is a genuinely smart option for anyone looking to save or borrow money.

“As a not-for-profit lender there’s no shareholders walking away with big pay outs, the money is reinvested or shared with members. So we are able to offer some of the fairest interest rates around. But many people don’t realise this, or that the money they pay back or save is used to help other local people needing support. That’s being clever with money, and it’s what CLEVR Money is all about.”

CLEVR Money, like all credit unions, is a professional, fully regulated financial organisation, but with a community-focused ethos which encourages financial responsibility. Mike added: “We are competing in a dynamic and rapidly growing marketplace and, in a changing world, where 63 per cent of people use online banking, we need to keep pace. This new look and feel, and the new website, will help us to do that. This is just the start of a redevelopment of the business which will see more loan products and savings schemes offered to help people avoid sky high interest rates, and further customer service improvements over the coming months.

“Not everything will change. Our same high levels of customer service and people centred approach is still at the core of what we’re about. We’re still committed to providing ethical banking that is community driven and, of course, not for profit.”

Anyone with feedback or comments on the new brand can email hello@clevr.money

The new CLEVR Money website can be found at www.clevr.money

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by BFWCU .