Meet David, EVI Hub volunteer

This month, we've met up with David. David volunteers at our Community Banking Hub in Ebbw Vale Institute on Mondays. Having been with us for a couple of years, we thought we would find out more about what made him volunteer with Smart Money Cymru and what makes us different to other financial organisations.

Hi David, thank you for meeting with us. We'd love to know, what inspired you to volunteer with a credit union?

After retirement, I felt I needed to keep myself as busy as I could. Having worked in customer facing roles for the last 50 years, I felt Smart Money Cymru offered roles that would keep my brain active. It’s a varied role, that fitted with my experience with dealing with customers and administration.

Our roles are definitely suited to those who have retired and are looking to keep themselves busy. What does a typical day look like in your role at the hub?

As the hub runs alongside the EVI Food Pantry, there can be lots of people to talk to. I take cash deposits from existing members then make a beeline for new attendees to give them information about what Smart Money Cymru offers and how becoming a member would benefit them. Once everyone has been seen, I then complete the tasks needed to close the session and pass on the information to the main office for them to process.

Sounds busy! How do you support members of the credit union being in the communities?

I provide those who come into Ebbw Vale Institute with information about Smart Money Cymru and their accounts. I can process cash deposits and even speak to the Customer Services team for them. If anyone wants to open an account, apply for a loan or simply wishes to speak to someone in person without going to a branch, I am available!

So useful for those who can't get into a branch. Tell us, what skills have you gained or developed through volunteering?

Volunteering has helped me maintain skills that I developed in the workplace, whilst improving my skills in other areas. For instance, much of my working life involved me working with businesses, but I’ve been able to improve my confidence in dealing with the public.

So what do you enjoy most about volunteering here

I enjoy the variation of the role and interacting with the other volunteers at EVI.

No two days are the same at SMC! How does the credit union differ from a traditional bank, in your view?

A credit union is a not for profit organisation. All members are able to take part in decision making and volunteers are key to working in communities. We don’t offer all services that a bank offers, but we maximise the benefits of membership as far as we can.

Thank you for all you do for SMC David. If you like the sound of what David does and want to learn more about what volunteer options we have available, get in touch today.