Lewisham Plus Credit Union

Lewisham Plus Credit Union Limited (Lewisham Plus) is a highly regarded credit union offering savings and affordable loan products to individuals who live or work in the London boroughs of Lewisham and Bromley and in the SE19 postcode area. As a credit union, we operate as a community bank – we seek to encourage our members to save and borrow with us. We are a mutual organisation, owned by and run for the benefit of all our members, whose vision is to “promote financial inclusion and be the trusted and preferred provider of financial services in Lewisham and Bromley”. We focus in particular on supporting individuals who find it difficult to obtain credit from the large high street lenders. Our mission is to "deliver an excellent service of savings and loans to an increasing number and range of members in a way that is sensitive to their needs".

Lewisham Plus is at a significant stage in its progress and growth. In 2023 we absorbed another local credit union, Crownsavers which has increased our member numbers and our balance sheet, and provided opportunities for further growth. Lewisham Plus featured extensively in the two recent BBC series ‘A Matter of Life and Debt’, which showcased how we serve our members.

We are volunteer led (the Board and the Supervisory Committee are all volunteers), with a paid staff led by an experienced CEO. We are regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Lewisham Plus was formed in 1992, and has grown steadily to its current size of approximately 15,000 adult members and 1,500 junior members and total assets of approximately £18m. The common bond for Lewisham Plus membership is residence or working in the Boroughs of Lewisham or Bromley, or in the SE19 London postal district, or working for certain local employers.

Lewisham Plus has four branches, complemented by some outreach points and our online capability. We see ourselves continuing to serve our community through face-to-face services in our branches, but using technology to give members ready access to information and to manage their accounts. Our app enables members to access core services from their phones. We have a thriving presence in schools with our Junior Savers project, and partner with our local councils and housing associations.