Our Story

Our History

Cardiff & Vale Credit Union originally began as South Glamorgan County Council Staff Credit Union in September 1996. As the name suggests, the original credit union provided services exclusively for employees of South Glamorgan Council. Following local government re-organisation, the name changed in 1998 to Cardiff County and Vale of Glamorgan Council Staff Credit Union, and again in 2002, to Paysaver (Cardiff & the Vale) Credit Union.   

In subsequent years, the credit union broadened its membership by incorporating smaller community credit unions, including:

• 2003 - CPL, Llanrumney and Fairwater & District Credit Unions
• 2004 - Ely (Cardiff) and Taff (Cardiff) Credit Unions
• 2006 - First Welsh Business Credit Union
• 2008 - Vale of Glamorgan Credit Union

Following the incorporation of these community credit unions and the name change to Cardiff & Vale Credit Union, the organisation's membership gradually became more balanced. Today, we have over 7,500 members, with an equal split between members who join through a payroll scheme with their employers, and members who join us directly.  

In 2013, the credit union agreed a radical strategic vision for the future, including considerably increased membership and modernising services for our members across all communities in Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan, and staff who work for our payroll partners. 

Demonstrating our commitment to growth and inclusivity, we are now situated in central locations in both Cardiff and Barry, with the recent opening of our flagship city centre branch at 4 Working Street in Cardiff joining our popular Barry branch at 174 Holton Road. 

Our Vision

Our vision is for a vibrant, self sustaining credit union, widely accessible and comprehensively representative of the diverse range of communities within our democracy, which:

• builds on our strengths, operating in a manner based on the inclusive principles of mutuality and economic justice
• continually grows towards a long term membership goal of 5% of our democracy by 2020
• becomes a fully embedded and recognised community asset to the democracy we serve
• enables and promotes access to competitive savings and loans products and excellence in customer services to all of our members

If you would like to join the 9,000 local members already saving and borrowing with us, and want to join our local revolution, you can apply online for free membership.