Bill introduced to Parliament this week will unlock growth and investment across the country and boost protections for consumers. Wider access to credit unions for consumers, simplifying regulation and reducing the number of regulators are some of the changes being brought forward.
An independent review will look at how shifts in face-to-face banking services affect people and communities, with new powers enabling the Government to act on what it finds. Lucy Rigby, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, has commissioned independent review to protect access to face‑to‑face banking across the UK.
If you're looking for a financial partner that puts people before profit, Scotland's credit unions are one of the strongest choices you can make. They're ethical, community‑driven, and built to help you take control of your money and not the other way around.
It's often said that millions of people in the UK don't save enough - with one in ten adults saving no money at all. That figure from a 2025 report from the Financial Conduct Authority regulator came with a warning that it's leaving people walking a financial tightrope.
As the cost of living continues to rise across Scotland, HI-Scot Credit Union is launching HI-Save, a new community campaign aimed at encouraging people across the Highlands and Islands to begin saving regularly and to build stronger financial resilience. The campaign comes in response to stark figures.
In the Highlands and Islands, community spirit runs deep. From Shetland to Skye, from Caithness to Uist, people know the power of looking out for one another.
Many people want to save and help their community by making funds available at good rates from a local entity such as Hi-Scot Credit Union that covers Highland and Islands. Credit Unions encourage savings as well as offering affordable borrowing but lets take a closer look.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has found that one in ten people have no cash savings at all, and another 21% have less than £1,000 to draw on in an emergency. The regulator's research also shows that one in four people in the UK have low financial resilience, meaning that they have missed payments, are struggling to keep up with commitments, or don't have savings to help them through difficulties.
Credit unions have been around a long time. Hi-Scot credit union covers the Highland and Islands and it is easy to save or borrow at good rates.