Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. 22.02.2018 The sweeping overhaul of the US tax system passed in 2017 has attracted widespread debate across America. Many believe that multinational corporations and the extremely wealthy are set to… Continue reading
Tag: community finance
Is a local finance partnership for you?
A practical toolkit for local finance partnerships 26.10.2017 Partnerships between local finance organisations have many benefits, evidenced by existing collaborations between some responsible finance organisations. The ‘Creating Local Finance Partnerships Toolkit’ was created as a… Continue reading
CIC blog: ‘Our partner bank cashed in its chips’
How data analysis can help to improve access to finance for small businesses… but only with support of banks. Kent Hudson from LABO ESS writes about a pilot scheme in France to use effective data management… Continue reading
CIC blog: 2015 Closure of National Westminster Bank in Dulverton
Introduction The following account (under the heading ‘Timeline of the branch closure’) was delivered to the Community Investment Coalition (CIC) by Nick Thwaites, Mayor and Chairman Dulverton Town Council and West Somerset District Councillor. It depicts… Continue reading
My Community
19.06.2015 What would make your community a better place: a vibrant high street, more jobs, improved services, green spaces and a thriving local pub? The government introduced the Community Rights (Localism Act 2011) including neighbourhood planning… Continue reading
Improving the financial health of the nation: ideas for the next Parliament
The United Kingdom leads the world in financial services and yet more than two million adult Britons don’t have a bank account. In the autumn of 2014, the Financial Inclusion Commission came together to find out why, and to put the issue on the political agenda ahead of the General Election. Chris Pond explains what the Commission is calling for from the next government. Continue reading
Just Money – Civil Society Action for Community Finance
David Barclay explains how the Just Money campaign has been working with experts (including the CDFA) to develop a proposal for a Community Finance Foundation, endowed through £200 million of fines on banks and payday lenders over the next parliament. Continue reading
How do we meet the growing need for affordable credit?
13.04.2015 A new discussion paper by the Carnegie UK Trust has set out the need for a range of affordable alternatives to meet the demand for small sum short-term credit – including CDFIs and credit unions.… Continue reading
Financial Inclusion Commission calls for new Minister for Financial Health
New report sets out vision for financially inclusive Britain and recommends measures to promote sustainability of community finance and for banks and other lenders to work more closely with community finance firms Continue reading
Citizens UK launches proposal to save half a million people from debt
A proposal to use £200m of fines on banks and payday lenders to support community finance organisations such as credit unions has today been launched by the national community organising charity Citizens UK. The idea, which is supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Task Group on Responsible Credit and Savings, would see the creation of a Community Finance Foundation to help ethical alternatives to high-cost credit expand their reach and improve their sustainability. It is estimated that over the next five years such a venture would help 500,000 people avoid high-cost credit, saving them over £200m per year in interest and fees and reducing the cost of problem debt on wider society by £1.4bn. Continue reading