ELLESMERE Port residents have two locally-based credit unions to help them fight the credit crunch.

Both are working hard to give people in Ellesmere Port a real alternative to the doorstep lenders and pay day loan companies that operate locally.

West Cheshire Credit Union, which operates from offices at Trinity Methodist Church on Whitby Road, was previously known as Ellesmere Port and Neston Credit Union and has been working in Ellesmere Port since 2003, encouraging people to save and borrow affordably.

West Cheshire Credit Union is open to anyone who lives or works in Cheshire West and Chester and more than a third of its membership lives in Ellesmere Port.

Ellesmere Port is also served by Cheshire Neighbours Credit Union, formerly the Crewe and Nantwich Credit Union, whose office opens daily at the Civic Offices in Ellesmere Port.

Many people in Ellesmere Port who are now using credit unions would previously have paid an interest charge of £225 on a small loan of £300 taken from a doorstep lender. Credit unions charge no more than £40 on the same amount, with a number of easy ways to repay including weekly cash repayments at local offices or by PayPoint at any Post Office and many local shops.

Cheshire Neighbours Credit Union also offers loans without a member having to save with them first.

Both credit unions work with Co-operative Electrical Services to give members an affordable, competitive option when looking to buy new white goods, like washing machines or fridges, without having to use expensive weekly repayment stores.

Damien Hinds MP, newly elected chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Credit Unions, has recently revealed his desire to see the credit union sector grow and reach its true potential. “The bigger the sector, the wider the range of products and services and the greater the impact credit unions can make.”

If you would like to join the Credit Union in Ellesmere Port, contact Cheshire Neighbours Credit Union on 0300 111 2150 at www.cncu.co.uk or West Cheshire Credit Union on 01244 399006 at www.wccu.co.uk for details of how to join.