Caerphilly & Blaenau Gwent Citizens' Advice working with SMC

Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent Citizens’ Advice and Smart Money Cymru Community Bank working together to increase access to fair, affordable finance in the South Wales area.

Since it began in 1989, Smart Money Cymru has valued partnerships with likeminded organisations. Over the years it has built strong relationships with a number of valued partners. Most recently, Citizen’s Advice Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent have pledged their support for the Smart Money Cymru’s ongoing work in promoting financial inclusion.

Citizen’s Advice Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent has long recognised the vital role that Credit Unions such as Smart Money Cymru play in supporting financial wellbeing across communities. This year, they took this commitment a step further, opening one of the first Community Investment Bonds at Smart Money Cymru Community Bank.

In the face of rising demand for fair and affordable loans, driven in part by the ongoing cost of living crisis, Citizen’s Advice Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent saw this as a meaningful way to put their capital to work, directly supporting those who are struggling to access mainstream financial services.

Their investment not only strengthens Smart Money Cymru’s ability to meet growing numbers of loan applications but sets a clear example of how all organisations can make a difference in tackling financial inclusion. CEO of Citizen’s Advice Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent Ashley Comley explained why they chose to deposit with Smart Money Cymru,

“Partnering with Smart Money Cymru was a clear choice for us because their mission aligns so closely with our values. While we might have achieved higher financial returns elsewhere, the social return and seeing real impact within our community, far outweighs that. This partnership allows us to invest in people, not just numbers.”

Smart Money Cymru is calling on other organisations to follow suit and invest in the sustainable, community driven bond. Businesses are able to deposit up to £85,000, which is fully covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). There is a modest financial return on this investment of 0.5% per quarter but is focused on the social impacts of what your investment means to the work of Smart Money Cymru.

Chair of Smart Money Cymru, Alun Taylor expressed his gratitude toward Citizen’s Advice Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent and said:

“We are incredibly grateful to Citizen’s Advice Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent for investing in our Community Bond. This kind of support is vital-it allows us to meet the growing demand from our members who are seeking fair, affordable financial services. More than that though, opening a bond helps organisations make a real lasting impact in their local communities by helping people manage debt, rebuild credit ratings and save for the future.  It can even support financial education in schools through our work in creating children’s savings clubs and much more. Without the backing from valued partners such as Citizen’s Advice Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent, Smart Money Cymru would not be the thriving Community Bank it is”

If you would like more information about the Community Investment Bond account, please contact one of the team who will be happy to help.