Pollok Credit Union
Pollok Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit credit union founded in 1993 serving Glasgow 'G' postcode residents with ethical savings accounts, tiered loans (5.2%-26.8% APR), and CU Online+/CU Mobile digital banking, regulated by the FCA and PRA with FSCS deposit protection.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersPollok, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pollok Credit Union does
Pollok Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative established on 23 November 1993 in Glasgow, Scotland, serving residents and workers with a 'G' postcode. The institution provides ethical savings accounts (Shares, Savings, Christmas Savings, and Junior up to age 16) and a tiered loan portfolio spanning PCU Shares Loans (up to £15,000), Secured Loans, Holiday Loans, Home Improvements Loans, Car Loans, and Special Occasions Loans, with APRs ranging from 5.2% (larger home improvement/car loans) to 26.8% (first/second unsecured loans), declining to 12.68% for members with three or more repaid loans. The technology layer consists of CU Online+ (web banking) and CU Mobile (iOS and Android applications) built on a standard third-party core (live.cuonline-ebanking.com; com.wellingtonit.cumobile), enabling 24/7 account access, loan applications, transfers, and bill payments. Loan protection and life insurance are provided automatically at no member cost.
Revenue is generated primarily through loan interest on reducing-balance lending, a one-time £2.50 account opening admin fee, and ancillary transaction fees; any operating surplus is returned to members as dividends rather than retained as profit. Distribution combines three physical branches (Pollok HQ, Possil, Barrhead) with the digital banking channels. The go-to-market is community-led: members are acquired through local outreach, social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram), and an email newsletter on Mailchimp. The institution is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 213798), and offers FSCS-protected savings up to £85,000. Founded in response to the absence of affordable credit alternatives and the rise of doorstep and payday lenders in the Pollok area, PCU remains a hyper-local financial inclusion vehicle serving a single metropolitan market with a cumulative membership of over 24,000 and an active base of over 7,000.
Pollok Credit Union firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pollok Credit Union
- Legal name
- Pollok Credit Union Ltd
- Website
- https://pcu.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Pollok Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit credit union founded in 1993 serving Glasgow 'G' postcode residents with ethical savings accounts, tiered loans (5.2%-26.8% APR), and CU Online+/CU Mobile digital banking, regulated by the FCA and PRA with FSCS deposit protection.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pollok Credit Union industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Banking / Credit Union Services
- NAICS
- Credit Unions (522130)
- SIC
- Personal Credit Institutions (6141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus) (FSABAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL)
Keywords
Where Pollok Credit Union is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pollok
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Pollok Credit Union business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Loan Interest: Interest income from various loan products including Shares Loans, Secured Loans, Home Improvements Loans, Car Loans, Holiday Loans, and Special Occasions Loans. Interest calculated on reducing balance with rates varying by loan type and member history.
- Membership Fees: Admin fee of £2.50 charged to open new accounts, plus potential fees for certain payment services such as same-day bank transfers
- Dividend Payments: As a not-for-profit credit union, any surplus is shared among members as dividend payments
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | First/Second Loan - 26.8% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Subsequent Loans (3+ repaid) - 12.68% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Home Improvements Tier 1 (£1k-£5k) - 9.9% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Home Improvements Tier 2 (£5k-£7.5k) - 7.9% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Home Improvements Tier 3 (£7.5k-£15k) - 5.2% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Car Loan Tier 1 (£5k-£7.5k) - 7.9% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Car Loan Tier 2 (£7.5k-£15k) - 5.2% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Special Occasions Tier 1 (£3k-£5k) - 9.9% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Special Occasions Tier 2 (£5k-£7.5k) - 7.9% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Special Occasions Tier 3 (£7.5k-£10k) - 5.2% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Holiday Loan - From 7.7% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Secured Loan - 12.68% APR |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Account Opening Fee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Pollok Credit Union product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pollok Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative serving Glasgow residents with a 'G' postcode. It provides ethical savings products (Shares, Savings, Christmas Savings and Junior accounts) and an affordable lending portfolio including PCU Shares Loans, Secured Loans, Holiday Loans, Home Improvements Loans, Car Loans and Special Occasions Loans, complemented by 24/7 digital banking through CU Online+ and CU Mobile.
Product overview
Pollok Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative offering a comprehensive suite of lending and savings products. The core lending portfolio includes PCU Shares Loan (unsecured/secured options), PCU Secured Loan (backed by savings), and a Lifestyle Loan range comprising Holiday Loans, Home Improvements Loans, Car Loans, and Special Occasions Loans—available to both members and non-members with tiered APR structures ranging from 5.2% to 26.8%. The savings portfolio encompasses Shares Account (primary membership account), Savings Account (flexible access), Christmas Savings Account, and Junior Account (for children 0-16). Digital banking services include CU Online+ (web-based) and CU Mobile (iOS/Android apps) providing 24/7 account access, transfers, and loan management. All members receive complimentary Loan Protection (loan write-off on death) and Life Insurance coverage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CU Mobile: Mobile banking application allowing members to access their accounts, transfer funds, apply for loans, and make payments.
- CU Online+
Products and services
- PCU Shares Loan Unsecured personal loan available to PCU members; first and second loans priced at 2% per month on reducing balance (26.8% APR) up to a £15,000 combined savings limit, reducing to 1% per month (12.68% APR) for members with 3 or more repaid loans. Interest calculated on reducing balance.
- PCU Secured Loan Loan secured against a member's existing PCU savings with same-day issuance (e.g., £500 savings = £500 loan eligibility) at 12.68% APR. Members can only withdraw savings if their balance exceeds the outstanding loan balance. Designed to onboard first-time borrowers and those building a credit history.
- Holiday Loan Lifestyle loan for holiday expenses with no early repayment penalties and free loan protection insurance. Interest rates start from 7.7% APR on a decreasing balance. Available to both members and non-members.
- Home Improvements Loan Lifestyle loan for home improvement projects with tiered APR: 9.9% APR on £1k–£5k, 7.9% APR on £5k–£7.5k, and 5.2% APR on £7.5k–£10k (up to £15k per other sources). Available to members and non-members across Glasgow.
- Car Loan Loan for vehicle purchases with tiered APR: 7.9% APR on £5k–£7.5k and 5.2% APR on £7.5k–£15k. Repayment terms up to 5 years; borrower owns the car outright at the end. Available to members and non-members.
- Special Occasions Loan Lifestyle loan for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries with tiered APR: 9.9% APR on £3k–£5k, 7.9% APR on £5k–£7.5k and 5.2% APR on £7.5k–£10k. Available to members and non-members.
- Shares Account Primary membership account automatically allocated upon joining PCU. Provides access to credit union services including saving and borrowing; savings history positively influences borrowing eligibility. Combined Shares and Savings limit of £15,000 per member.
- Savings Account Flexible savings account allowing withdrawals at any time, even with an outstanding loan. Subject to the combined £15,000 shares-and-savings limit and a maximum monthly deposit of £500.
- Christmas Savings Account Dedicated savings account that lets members spread the cost of Christmas across the year, keeping funds separate from regular savings to discourage early withdrawal.
- Junior Account Savings account for children aged 0–16 with a maximum balance of £4,000. Managed by a trustee until age 14 (when the junior can withdraw with consent) and converts to an adult Shares Account at age 16.
- CU Online+ Web-based online banking platform giving members 24/7 access to accounts, full statements, loan applications, a loan calculator, bill payments, money transfers and secure messaging with PCU.
- CU Mobile Native mobile banking application available on iOS and Android offering 24/7 account access, money transfers, loan applications, transaction history viewing and payments functionality for PCU members.
- Loan Protection Non-contributory life insurance that writes off a member's outstanding PCU loan balance upon death. Automatically provided at no additional cost to all eligible members, subject to a six-month pre-existing condition limitation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Interest rates 2% per month (26.8% APR) for first loans, reducing to 1% per month (12.68% APR) for established members
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Pollok Credit Union
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pollok Credit Union technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Pollok Credit Union partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- MailchimpminorMailchimp is used as the marketing platform for PCU's email newsletters. By subscribing to the newsletter, members acknowledge that their information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.
- FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme)coreFSCS provides protection for customer deposits, ensuring savings are safe up to £85,000 even if the credit union fails. PCU displays the FSCS Protected Logo on their website.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Pollok Credit Union competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Glasgow Credit Union: Another community credit union serving Glasgow residents with similar savings, loan, and member-ownership models. Most directly comparable given shared geography, product set, and member-base characteristics.
- Scotwest Credit Union: Scottish community credit union offering savings and loans to members across West Scotland. Comparable member-owned cooperative model, similar loan product range, and shared Scottish regulatory environment under PRA/FCA.
- Capital Credit Union: Scottish credit union serving Edinburgh and surrounding areas. Comparable community credit union model with personal loans, savings accounts, and member ownership—differentiated primarily by geography.
Broad incumbents
- Clydesdale Bank (Virgin Money): Major UK retail bank with strong Glasgow and Scottish presence. Overlaps with PCU on personal loans, savings, and digital banking but operates at vastly greater scale and serves a far broader customer base.
- Triodos Bank UK: UK arm of European ethical bank offering savings, lending, and investment products with explicit social and environmental mission. Comparable ethical-banking positioning to PCU, with a much broader product range and UK-wide reach.
Emerging players
- Fair for You: Not-for-profit UK lender offering affordable credit to low-income households, competing in the same financial-inclusion space as PCU. Comparable ethical-lending positioning and target demographic, though delivered via different distribution channels.
- Moneyline (formerly CLB Co-operative): UK ethical lender providing small-sum loans to financially excluded consumers. Overlaps with PCU on affordable-credit mission and target segment, though operates without a community-credit-union membership structure.
- Ecology Building Society: UK ethical, member-owned building society offering savings and mortgages to environmentally and socially minded customers. Comparable mutual structure and ethical-banking positioning to PCU, with focus on sustainable lending.
- Charity Bank: UK ethical bank owned by charitable and social-sector savers. Shares PCU's social-mission ethos and member-owned model but focuses on lending to charities and social enterprises rather than consumer credit.
Others
- Locality Saving & Loans: UK organisation supporting community lenders and credit unions. Adjacent to PCU as an ecosystem enabler for community finance rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pollok Credit Union social profiles
Digital presencePollok Credit Union financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pollok Credit Union leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Pollok Credit Union funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pollok Credit Union M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pollok Credit Union
What does Pollok Credit Union do?
Pollok Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative serving Glasgow residents with a 'G' postcode. It provides ethical savings products (Shares, Savings, Christmas Savings and Junior accounts) and an affordable lending portfolio including PCU Shares Loans, Secured Loans, Holiday Loans, Home Improvements Loans, Car Loans and Special Occasions Loans, complemented by 24/7 digital banking through CU Online+ and CU Mobile.
Is Pollok Credit Union a public or private company?
Pollok Credit Union is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Pollok Credit Union founded?
Pollok Credit Union was founded in 1993. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pollok Credit Union based?
Pollok Credit Union is headquartered in Pollok, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Pollok Credit Union make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Loan Interest is the primary driver. The others are membership Fees and dividend Payments.
Who are Pollok Credit Union's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Glasgow Credit Union, Scotwest Credit Union and Capital Credit Union. Broad incumbents are Clydesdale Bank (Virgin Money) and Triodos Bank UK. Emerging players are Fair for You, Moneyline (formerly CLB Co-operative), Ecology Building Society and Charity Bank. Locality Saving & Loans is listed as an others.
Does Pollok Credit Union have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pollok Credit Union.
What industry is Pollok Credit Union in?
Pollok Credit Union's product category is Retail Banking / Credit Union Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABAEAA, Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus), with a secondary code of FSAKAAAL, Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment). Its NAICS code is 522130 and its SIC code is 6141.