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London Mutual Credit Union

Community partners

We exist to make our community better off. That’s why we work alongside local services, schools, and voluntary organisations to help people save, borrow fairly, and get the support they need.

Who we are

We’re a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union serving South London for more than 30 years. We were founded by staff at Southwark Council, and we’ve grown to work with local authorities, schools, housing providers, and voluntary groups across the area.

Our role is simple: to give local people access to fair savings and affordable loans, and to reduce reliance on payday and doorstep lenders.

What is a credit union?

How we work and why we’re different from banks

Our values

What drives us and shapes our decisions

How we can support your work

Housing and tenancy

Affordable loans and savings that help tenants avoid arrears, manage rent, and stay securely housed.

Vulnerable adults

Safe accounts and fair credit options that reduce the risk of exploitation by high-cost lenders or loan sharks.

Families and children

Parents under financial stress. Our save-as-you repay Child Benefit loans ease pressure, enabling parents to spread one-off costs.

Schools & young people

Pupils distracted by what’s happening at home. Savings clubs and parent support help build financial confidence early.

Who we work with

  • Local authority teams (housing, children’s services, social care)

  • Schools and colleges

  • Housing associations

  • Charities and advice services

  • Community and voluntary groups

  • Open Quote Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com
    London Mutual has a long and successful relationship with Southwark Council. Having started in 1982 by employees, the mutual has continued to grow into the professional organisation that we see today. The mutual offers a reliable, customer focused service and continues to deliver excellent service.  

    Dominic Cain IRRV(hons) MBA

    Director of Exchequer, London Borough of Southwark

    • Work with us

    Whether it’s sorting out access to a bank account, help with applying for a loan, running workshops, or helping people manage rent arrears, we can step in alongside your service to offer practical support.

    Make a referral

    If you’re working with someone who would benefit from the credit union, use our secure referral form. We’ll contact them directly, handle everything sensitively, and keep you updated.
    Client referral form

    Invite us to your event

    From school fairs and assemblies to wellbeing days and roadshows, our team can attend, run a stall, or deliver a short workshop on a range of financial wellbeing topics.
    Event request form

    Get in touch

    Aisha Stewart

    Community Outreach Officer
    Email us

    School & colleges information pack

    From savings clubs to assemblies and work experience, download our guide for how we can support the school curriculum and the financial wellbeing of local families.
    Download guide

    Organisations we work with

    From our origins as Southwark Council Employees Credit Union, we're proud to work across four London boroughs and beyond to support the financial wellbeing of our over 42000 members.

    Frequently asked questions

    We’ve put together answers to the most common questions about partnering with us as a local organisation

    • Do you charge fees for referrals?

      No. There’s no cost to you or your organisation when you refer someone to us. There is a one-off membership fee of £2 payable when someone becomes a member.

    • What information do I need to provide when making a referral?

      Just basic contact details and a short note about why you’re referring them. We’ll handle the rest directly with the client.

    • What kind of ID do people need to join or open an account?

      We’re flexible. Standard photo ID and proof of address is ideal, but where this isn’t available, we can often accept alternatives. With prior arrangement, we can even accept a letter from your organisation as temporary proof while more formal documents are obtained.

    • Do you provide regulated debt advice?

      No. We don’t offer regulated debt advice or other specialist financial advice, but we can signpost people to trusted advice services if that’s what they need.

      In any conversation, we are clear about the boundaries between guidance and advice, and what we can and can’t offer.

    • Can you provide materials for our staff or clients?

      Yes. We have printed and digital leaflets, posters, and digital resources that explain who we are and how we can help. Please get in touch if you’d like us to send you some.

    • Can someone help my client manage their account on their behalf?

      Yes, in certain circumstances. We have clear processes to keep members safe, and can accept authorised third-party arrangements. You can find full details on our Third Party Access page

    • Does it cost anything for you to attend my event or provide training?

      No. We don’t charge for attending community events or delivering one-off workshops. If you’d like something more in-depth, such as a tailored training programme, we’ll be happy to discuss how we could work together to deliver it, and ways that we can cover the costs of staff time.

    • Do you offer school visits or work experience?

      Yes. We’re happy to visit schools to talk about money and saving, and we sometimes host work experience placements at our head office. Get in touch to discuss what might work best for your school or young people.

    • Do you offer grants?

      We’re not a grant funder, and as a financial co-operative, our own resources are limited and belong to our members – many of whom may be service users themselves!

      However, we have received and delivered grant funding for one-off projects in the past. If you have an idea for a project or collaboration that supports local people, we’d be happy to talk it through.

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