Find out about credit unions: how to register and become authorised, reporting rules, yearly fees and how to change your society’s details.
December Handbook Notice No. 39
Following our consultation in CP16/17 Quarterly Consultation Paper No.13, we have made some changes to our rules for credit unions. These rules relate to the distribution and promotion of credit union deferred shares and subordinated debt. We have also made some further minor changes, including to reporting requirements and statements.
Read Handbook Notice No. 39 (PDF)
A credit union is a financial co-operative owned by its members.
The services that credit unions can offer include:
- deposit-taking
- savings
- lending
These services are regulated activities.
Credit unions are dual-regulated, which means that they are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).
Read the PRA's webpages for credit unions.
Credit Union Governance Webinar
This webinar aims to help you improve standards of governance within your credit union by giving practical examples of what we have seen. We would encourage Boards and staff to watch it and discuss the points raised, making improvements in your own governance where necessary.
Watch the webinar below.
Register and get authorised
Before your credit union can offer financial services, it must be:
Find out more about our online reporting system Connect for applications and notifications.
Consumer credit
If your credit union also wishes to carry out regulated consumer credit activities, you may need to get authorisation from us.
Read more about credit unions and consumer credit.
Senior Managers and Certification Regime
Read more about the Senior Managers and Certification Regime for credit unions:
Report to us and the PRA
All credit unions must send an annual return and accounts to the PRA.
Read more about annual returns and reporting.
You must also report to us on other matters, including:
- the identity of controllers
Find out more about other reporting requirements.
These documents will be published in the Mutuals Public Register.
Change details
Changes to a society's rules are not effective until they have been registered by us. So, you must tell us of any changes to your credit union’s:
- name
- registered office
- rules
- accounting year-end date
We may also need information about other changes.
Cancel your registration or dissolve a credit union
You must tell us if your credit union no longer wishes to be registered, or if you wish to stop trading (be dissolved).
Find out how to dissolve, or cancel the registration of, a credit union.
Useful guides for credit unions
See our short guides:
More information
We worked with the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) on reforming some of our rules for credit unions. Read more about this:
More about mutual societies: