Members eNewsletter November 2022 edition
Christmas is almost here…
With Christmas just around the corner, we thought we would send you an early Christmas edition so that you can be ready for Christmas (and reduce the stress that goes with it).
At Christmas, those who are struggling financially may turn to easy ways to get money, or so they think, by borrowing from loan sharks. We strongly advise AGAINST this. Therefore, we’ve partnered with The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) in a Christmas campaign.
If you are struggling to make ends meet this Christmas, we share more information about our Christmas Loan to help you spread the cost of Christmas. You can also plan and get ready for Christmas 2023 by opening a Christmas Savings Account.
Other articles include tips on how to plan for Black Friday (and other sales); how we supported #TalkMoneyWeek earlier this month and our Christmas opening hours.
All the best with your Christmas preparations.
With kind regards,
Thamesbank editorial team
Black Friday/Cyber Monday – What’s the hype?
Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Boxing Day sales are lucrative times for retailers but the amount we, the general public, are looking to spend this year has dropped significantly.
Get tips on how you can plan for Black Friday and other sales from our website.
Fears over debt as more people could turn to loan sharks to cover Christmas
Christmas is a time to celebrate with family and friends but there are some unwelcome guests who follow the festive season – predatory loan sharks.
Be wary of the risks of loan sharks and take steps to avoid falling into their traps. Here are some warning signs of a loan shark:
❗️ Appear friendly and helpful at first
❗️ Makes you pay back more than you borrowed
❗️ Never provides paperwork
❗️ Often turns nasty
❗️ May take your possessions
The Stop Loan Sharks team can provide advice and support if you are dealing with a loan shark.
Say not to loan sharks this Christmas. #SleighNoToLoanSharks
Thamesbank supports Talk Money Week 2022
Talking about money is essential for building financial confidence and resilience. It can also have a huge impact on tackling money worries and is important for our overall health and relationships. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and pressures due to the rising cost of living has made it more important than ever to start conversations about money to look after our financial wellbeing.
Thamesbank supported ‘Talk Money Week’ where the campaign ran from 07 to 11 November 2022. Find out more about this campaign from our website.
Christmas Loans
Christmas is an exciting time of the year which many look forward to as you can spend it with your loved ones. However, sometimes if you are struggling to make ends meet, it can get stressful especially when it comes to deciding between buying Christmas presents or fixing the boiler because it broke down just before the Christmas festivities.
At Thamesbank, we are here to help you spread the cost of Christmas with our Christmas Loan. We are cheaper than most doorstep lenders or expensive credit cards. Our interest rates are low, and you can borrow up to three times what you have saved in your basic savings account up to a maximum of £10,000 above the level of savings in this account.
Christmas Savings Account
Get ready for Christmas 2023 now by opening a Christmas Savings Account with Thamesbank Credit Union.
With this savings account, you can save from January to December and get your funds automatically paid into your nominated at the end of November, in time for Christmas.
To set up your savings account, contact us via email on admin@thamesbank.org.
Members’ noticeboard
Christmas opening hours and application deadlines
The office will be closed from midday on Friday 23 December and reopen on Tuesday 03 January 2023. Any payments that come in during this time will be paid from Tuesday 03 January.
Latest date for guaranteed loan decision is Friday 16 December 2022.
Latest date for guaranteed savings withdrawal Thursday 22 December 2022.
Xmas club money was paid out on Friday 18 December 2022.
Auto-Payback Child Benefit
At present, members with more than one child usually need to manually withdraw remaining funds. We can now set this up to be paid directly back to their nominated bank accounts. To set this up they will need to email admin@cus.coop and we can do this for them.
Recruiting for board members
We are always interested to hear from individuals who would like to help govern and shape Thamesbank and be part of the Board for Non-Executive Directors.
If you live or work in the areas of: Ealing, Hounslow, Richmond, Kingston, Wandsworth or Spelthorne, we’d be especially interested to hear from you as we look to build our community presence.
Find out more about how to apply from our website.