RYEDALE District Council has joined forces with a credit union to offer an alternative to high street banks and help those excluded from mainstream financial institutions.

The council is working in partnership with Community First Credit Union to allow residents in Ryedale to open a current account with card access and online banking facilities through the savings and loans co-operative.

The union offer loans, savings accounts and a budgeting account which helps households to manage their monthly income and ensure priority bills are paid.

It will help people ensure that rent, council tax, gas and electricity bills are paid automatically.

Community First has been operating as South Yorkshire Credit Union for many years and has already expanded into North Yorkshire with branches in York and Scarborough. It is owned and controlled by its members.

As well as offering an alternative to high street banks, it helps people who may have found borrowing difficult in the past from main stream lenders due to unemployment or low wages. The credit union aims to alleviate poverty and contribute to communities’ economic regeneration.

For more information, go to communityfirstcu.co.uk, phone; 03030 300010 or email; info@communityfirstcu.co.uk