LONDON–Total assets of credit unions in the U.K. are projected to reach £2.2 billion by 2020. The data is part of a new report, “Future Trends in U.K. Banking,” which was commissioned by Fiserv and compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr).
According to the report, the number of credit union members, including individuals and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), is set to increase by 70%, growing from the current one-million to 1.7 million over the next five years.
The growth is also projected to boost lending by credit unions in the U.K, as well.
With the increase in members and assets, credit unions are projected to support an estimated £1.3 billion in loans to members by 2020, compared to £680 million in 2014. SMEs are estimated to receive 10% of this amount (£130 million).
Fiserv quoted Guy Opperman, conservative MP and supporter of community banking, as saying, “The ability for small businesses to thrive is vital to the U.K. economy, and I believe community lending has an important part to play in the future of U.K. banking and growth of SMEs. The technology drive and forecasted growth over the next few years of SMEs accessing finance via credit unions is a massive step, and it will enable business owners to access the best sources of funding. This in turn will have a positive impact on U.K. employment figures and economy.”
According to the report, credit unions are a source of finance that is still relatively underused in the U.K. compared to other countries. Until recently, membership of credit unions was limited to private individuals, but legislation introduced in 2012 allows corporate bodies to join and gain access to the funding pool. This has helped facilitate the increase in credit union membership.
In addition, the Bank of England’s “Credit Conditions Survey” reports that the average availability of credit to small businesses diminished in Q4 2014, taking credit availability levels back towards the first half of 2013. This decline in credit availability among the main market lenders highlights the potential for credit union lending to fill the gap for the U.K.’s small business population, the report states.
The Credit Union Expansion Project, being delivered by the Association of British Credit Unions (ABCUL), has already supplied an automated lending decision tool which is speeding up loan making in over 70 credit unions, and collaboration in less technical areas, such as group purchasing, is also paying dividends for credit unions.