East Kilbride Credit Union

What East Kilbride Credit Union does

East Kilbride Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative founded in 1982 and operating from 43 Brouster Hill, East Kilbride, Scotland. Following a 2023 expansion, it now serves anyone living or working in South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and East Renfrewshire, with a stated base of more than 10,000 members across 42+ years of continuous operation. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Registration 213849), and deposits are FSCS-protected up to £85,000.

The product portfolio is built around two pillars: savings and lending. Savings products include Shares 1 (core), Additional Shares, Christmas Savings, and Juniors; lending products span Secure Loans, Unsecured/Signature Loans, and a series of newer fixed-APR loans — Credit Builder (£750 over 12 months at 42.6% APR, launched November 2024), Home Improvement (£1k–£15k at 7.9% APR), Surgery & Cosmetic (£500–£7.5k at 11.9% APR), and School Savers (£500–£2k at 12.9% APR), the latter three launched March 2026. The technology stack comprises the EKCU Mobile App (iOS/Android, replacing the prior Sercle app in November 2025), a 24/7 online member-services portal at cuaccount.com, SMS balance service, and Cardnet (Bank of Scotland) payment processing enabling Google Pay and Apple Pay. Credit reporting is handled via Equifax Insight.

Commercially, EKCU generates income primarily through net interest margin on lending, with supplementary revenue from membership fees (migrating from a £7 annual fee to a £0.75 monthly subscription from 1 October 2025 following a member vote). As a cooperative, surplus is largely redistributed to members as a dividend (0.5% on savings held Oct 2023–Sep 2024). Distribution is omnichannel: physical office (limited hours Wednesday–Friday), phone banking, app, and self-serve online, supplemented by employer payroll-deduction schemes and a School Savers partnership with primary schools (notably St Kenneth's). A new partnership with Thomas Bradley Legal provides members with free Will services, and the Skills for Success youth volunteering programme (launched June 2025) anchors pipeline engagement with 16+ year olds.

Name

East Kilbride Credit Union

Legal name

East Kilbride Credit Union Ltd

Website

https://ekcreditunion.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

East Kilbride Credit Union is a Scottish not-for-profit financial cooperative founded in 1982, serving over 10,000 members across South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and East Renfrewshire. It offers savings accounts, fixed-APR consumer loans, digital banking via a mobile app, and community financial-inclusion programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking / Credit Union Services

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213), Nondepository Credit Intermediation (5222)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency & Short-Term Installment Personal Loans (Unsecured) (FSAKAAAH), Employer-Sponsored / Payroll-Linked Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAM), Underbanked/Financial Inclusion Neobanks (FSABAFAJ)

Keywords

• Community credit union
• Member savings accounts
• Personal loan products
• Credit builder lending
• Financial inclusion services

Headquarters

HQ city

East Kilbridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual or monthly membership fees charged to members. Currently £7 annual fee, transitioning to £0.75 per month from October 2025.
2. Loan Interest: Interest earned on loans including Home Improvement Loans (7.9% APR), Surgery & Cosmetic Loans (11.9% APR), School Savers Loans (12.9% APR), and Credit Builder Loans (42.6% APR).
3. Savings Deposits: Members maintain savings accounts (Shares) which form the pool of funds available for lending. Savings are protected by FSCS.
4. Dividend Distribution: As a not-for-profit credit union, excess revenue is distributed back to members as dividends (0.5% paid for savings period Oct 2023 - Sep 2024).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

East Kilbride Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union that provides savings accounts (Shares 1, Additional Shares, Christmas Savings, Juniors) and personal loans (Secure Loans, Unsecured/Signature Loans, Credit Builder Loan, Home Improvement Loan, Surgery & Cosmetic Loan, School Savers Loan) to individuals living or working in South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and East Renfrewshire. Members access these services via a dedicated mobile app, online portal, SMS balance service, in-person branch, and employer payroll deduction schemes, with savings protected by the FSCS and lending authorised by the PRA and FCA.

Product overview

East Kilbride Credit Union operates as a not-for-profit financial cooperative offering a comprehensive suite of financial services. The core product portfolio includes multiple savings products (Shares 1, Additional Shares, Christmas Savings, and Juniors savings accounts) and loan products (Secure Loans, Unsecured/Signature Loans, Credit Builder Loan, Home Improvement Loan, Surgery & Cosmetic Loan, and School Savers Loan). Digital banking services are provided through the EKCU Mobile App (available on Apple App Store and Google Play) and Online Member Services portal (cuaccount.com). The organization also offers ancillary services including payroll saving schemes for employer partners, text balance services, the School Savers Scheme for financial education, and the Skills for Success youth volunteering programme. Insurance protection is included through Life Savings & Loan Protection. The credit union is authorised and regulated by the FCA and PRA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shares 1 (Core Savings Account) Primary savings account product forming the basis of credit union membership, allowing members to save and accumulate funds with a minimum balance requirement of £5.
• Additional Shares Supplementary savings account allowing members to hold additional funds beyond the standard Shares 1 account.
• Christmas Savings Dedicated savings scheme designed to help members save throughout the year for Christmas expenses.
• Juniors Savings Savings accounts designed for children and young people to encourage early financial literacy and saving habits.
• Secure Loans Loans secured against the member's savings balance, offering lower interest rates for borrowers who have accumulated savings with the credit union.
• Unsecured Loans (Signature Loans) Personal loans available without collateral requirement, based on the member's creditworthiness and relationship with the credit union.
• Credit Builder Loan Loan product specifically designed for members with lower credit scores to help improve their credit rating while managing repayments responsibly; £750 loan amount over 12 months at 42.6% APR.
• Home Improvement Loan Loan product for essential home repairs, improvements and upgrades; borrow £1,000–£15,000 at 7.9% APR fixed with repayment terms of 12–60 months.
• Surgery & Cosmetic Loan Loan product for medical, dental or cosmetic procedures; borrow £500–£7,500 at 11.9% APR fixed with repayment terms of 12–48 months.
• School Savers Loan Loan product to help families manage school-related expenses while encouraging saving habits; borrow £500–£2,000 at 12.9% APR fixed with repayment terms of 6–24 months, including a linked savings element.
• EKCU Mobile App Mobile banking application available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, allowing members to check balances, request share withdrawals, apply for loans, send secure enquiries, update personal details, and enabling new members to join directly.
• Online Member Services Portal (cuaccount.com) 24/7 online banking platform accessible through the cuaccount.com portal, allowing members to apply for loans, request share withdrawals, check balances, send secure messages, and update contact details.
• Life Savings & Loan Protection Insurance Insurance protection provided at no direct cost to members, covering life savings and loan obligations (eligibility, age limits and terms apply).

Quantifiable outcome

• Dividend paid to members on savings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Thomas Bradley & Co. (Thomas Bradley Legal Ltd)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offering EKCU members free professionally drafted Wills and free Will reviews. Thomas Bradley Legal provides legal services with no obligation for members to take further services. They may introduce customers to financial products as a credit broker.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Monzo: UK digital challenger bank offering consumer current accounts, savings pots, and personal loans. Comparable as a competing destination for UK consumer deposits and small-ticket credit, particularly relevant given EKCU's limited office hours.

Direct peers

• Glasgow Credit Union: Scottish credit union serving Glasgow with a similar community-based, member-owned model offering savings accounts and personal loans to a defined common-bond area. Directly comparable in product portfolio (savings + unsecured lending) and regulatory standing (FCA/PRA authorised).
• TransaveUK Credit Union: Smaller UK affinity-based credit union offering savings and loan services to a defined membership. Comparable as a community credit union operating under the same FCA/PRA regulatory framework with similar product mix.
• London Mutual Credit Union: UK credit union serving London boroughs with savings and loan products under a community mutual model. Directly comparable peer for credit-union structure, member services, and FCA/PRA authorisation.
• Manchester Credit Union: UK community credit union serving Greater Manchester residents with savings accounts and affordable personal loans under a common-bond structure. Comparable community-based UK credit union model with similar regulatory regime (FCA/PRA/FSCS).
• Hull & East Yorkshire Credit Union: Regional UK credit union offering savings, loans, and community financial inclusion services to residents in the Hull and East Yorkshire area. Comparable as a community-focused credit union serving a defined common-bond region.
• Capital Credit Union: Edinburgh-based credit union operating with a similar FCA/PRA-authorised, member-owned structure serving Central Scotland residents. Comparable as a Scottish-region credit union with savings, Christmas savings, and personal loan offerings.

Others

• StepChange Debt Charity (financial inclusion provider): UK financial inclusion charity that partners with credit unions and offers debt advice to financially vulnerable consumers. Relevant as an ecosystem partner in the financial inclusion / affordable credit space in which EKCU also operates.

Broad incumbents

• Scotmid Co-operative Society (Scotmid Credit Union services): Large Scottish consumer co-operative that historically operated credit union services alongside retail food. Comparable as a large-scale Scottish mutual financial-services provider with member-owned ethos and community focus.
• Clydesdale Bank (now Virgin Money): Large incumbent UK retail bank with personal savings and loan products competing for the same Scottish consumer deposit and credit relationships. Comparable as a regulated deposit-taker/lender competing in EKCU's core geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ekcu82
• Facebookfacebook.com/eastkilbride.creditunion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/east-kilbride-credit-union-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/ekcreditunion
• TikToktiktok.com/@eastkilbridecreditunion

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about East Kilbride Credit Union