HEY Credit Union invests in a new look for branch office

SUPPORTING PEOPLE: Pictured at the new-look office is HEY Credit Union chief executive Matthew Stevens with branch leader Patrick Scott and member services officer Rasa Kairaityte

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

A credit union which has built up more than 25 years of trust across the Humber region has underlined its commitment to offer a fairer banking alternative by investing in a stylish makeover at one of its main branches.

HEY Credit Union has transformed its office in Scunthorpe to create a safe and welcoming space for its members and attract people to the town’s High Street.

Management of the organisation said the move will also support people in the local area facing inconvenience as a result of the closure of local branches by the major banks.

Matthew Stevens, chief executive of HEY Credit Union, said: “It’s really important when the banks are closing their High Street branches on an almost daily basis that we keep our presence in Scunthorpe. The branch had not had any investment in refurbishment for a number of years and it was decided to smarten up the counter area.”

Scunthorpe’s first credit union was launched in a local church in 1999 and became North Lincolnshire Credit Union. It grew locally and in 2015 the members voted to merge with HEY Credit Union to tap into the wider product range and harness the potential for a variety of new services.

HEY Credit Union, which also dates back to 1999, has its head office in Hull and has expanded over the years to offer services in Beverley, Bridlington, Driffield, Goole and Withernsea as well as Scunthorpe.

A Grimsby branch was added in 2022 and during 2025 the organisation expanded further to embrace the whole of Lincolnshire and the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority area.

Membership has grown through geographical expansion and through increased awareness and confidence, with HEY Credit Union being named UK Treating Customers Fairly Champions in the 2025 Smart Money People Consumer Credit Awards.

‘BRIGHTER AND MORE WELCOMING’: From left, HEY Credit Union branches co-ordinator Maya Birr-Pixton, Scunthorpe branch leader Patrick Scott, chief executive Matthew Stevens and Scunthorpe member services officer Rasa Kairaityte

The current membership of nearly 20,000 is increasing at a rate of around a hundred every month and has total savings of £15.4m and a total loan book of £10m. In Northern Lincolnshire there are 2,500 members, with savings of £1m and loans of £1.5m.

The Scunthorpe branch remained open throughout the refurbishment and completion was marked with an open day with members invited to meet directors of HEY Credit Union, Scunthorpe branch leader Patrick Scott and member services officer Rasa Kairaityte, and colleagues from other branches.

Also present were representatives from the office of local MP Sir Nic Dakin, and some of the local businesses which have joined HEY Credit Union as Payroll Partners, helping employees to manage savings and loans.

Services for members include specific packages to help people meet the cost of Christmas, holidays, home improvement and other major purchases. The whole process can be managed online and the network of branches helps people who want to access services face to face.

Patrick also visits Westcliffe Community Centre in Scunthorpe regularly and the branch team also attend events in the community in collaboration with local education providers, community groups and North Lincolnshire Council.

He said: “The office is now a much more pleasant place to work. The members can see this is much better than before and they enjoy coming here.

“It’s brighter and more welcoming and it feels bigger. It’s much easier to attract people in and that should help us increase the membership. We are proud to welcome people here to a place which is nice and bright and reflects the quality of our organisation.

“We have lost a lot of the High Street banks and we expect more of them to disappear through closures and mergers. Some places in the area now have no banks at all which makes our presence even more important.”

Sir Nic said: “Scunthorpe Credit Union has been supporting the community for 27 years.  While banks have closed their branches the Credit Union has committed to carry on serving residents, the improvements to the branch confirm that they are here to stay.”