Responsible Lending

We are a responsible financial institution, and we want to make sure you can afford to repay what you borrow. We want to understand your personal circumstances so that we don't lend you an amount that you would struggle to pay back.

If debt is a problem for you, then you can get free confidential advice and help.

Our responsibilities

We are committed to lending in a responsible way. Treating clients fairly is at the heart of our organization and this means designing products that give you value, understanding your needs, ensuring the way we do business with you is transparent and generally helping you to make informed choices.

Before we lend you money or increase your overdraft we like to be certain you can afford to repay it, meaning you're always in control of your money. For a loan that means we want to make sure you can afford your borrowing over the whole term of the loan.

If you can foresee changes in your circumstances that may increase your outgoings or reduce your disposable income then please give us a call or visit one of our offices.

Changes to consider are:

• Employment situation changes - for example, imminent retirement, maternity or paternity or extended leave
• Reduction in working hours - like fixed contract end dates or zero hour contracts
• Increase in living costs - e.g. rent or mortgage repayment increases.

Deciding what's best is a tricky business, so we look at many pieces of information and use a variety of techniques to help us make the right decision. That means things like affordability, credit scoring, credit reference agency information and your history with us.

We have real people using their judgment, experience and skill to make a genuine assessment of your ability to repay.

If we decide not to lend money to you, it will usually be because we are trying to protect your financial health or it is too risky.

Your responsibilities

We have responsibilities when lending money and you do too. Before you ask to borrow money or increase your overdraft, it's worth thinking about your own circumstances.

• Can you afford to repay the borrowing?
• What happens if your lifestyle changes and you find yourself with less income or more costs?
• How will you cope if interest rates increase or reduce?

Always bear in mind the potential risks and the long-term damage or benefit it might do to your financial health.