On the MerseyMoney website you can find contact details for any credit unions covering your work or home addresses, just by entering your postcode.

This is really helpful, as there are more than a dozen credit unions operating in Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, the Wirral and Halton, all covering different areas.

Credit unions are financial co-operatives owned and controlled by their members. They offer savings and great value loans plus they are local, ethical and know what their members want. Many credit unions now offer a range of services including a current account, benefits direct, ISAs and Child Trust Funds.

Each credit union has a "common bond" which determines who can join it. This determines who can become a member of the credit union. The common bond may be for people living or working in the same area, people working for the same employer or people who belong to the same association, such as a church or trade union.