---

First Nations Advantage Credit Union

Launched May 1999.
 

NAME:	First Nations Australian Credit Union
PROVIDER:	Credit Union Australia (CUA)
PURPOSE:	Provides financial services predominantly for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander communities
OVERVIEW:	First Nations members have access to all CUA branches, products and services. Cultural respect and understanding. Conduct your business with Indigenous people (wherever possible)
WHO CAN APPLY:	Indigenous communities within a 300km radius of Perth, Sydney and Melbourne
CONTACT DETAILS:	(07) 3365 0055 http://www.cua.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/website/home belong@cua.com.au

---

Traditional Credit Union

Traditional Credit Union Limited ("TCU") was established in 1994 to provide culturally appropriate financial services to Aboriginal people living in remote communities in the Northern Territory, particularly those disadvantaged by a lack of existing services.

Products and Services provided by TCU include:

Savings Accounts (including debit card access)
Budget Accounts
Christmas Club Accounts
Clan or Family Accounts
Business Accounts
Personal Loans of up to $10,000
Small Business loans of up to $15,000
Cheque Payments to 3rd parties
Term Deposits
BPAY

Branches & Agencies

Casuarina NT (Head Office)
Milingimbi
Galiwinku
Gapuwiyak
Ramingining
Maningrida
Wadeye
Gunbalanya
Warruwi
Ngukurr
Numbulwar

The Board of TCU, all voluntary, consist of elders from remote communities and some Darwin based Directors with skills in law, accounting and training.

For further information on the products and services provided by Traditional Credit Union Limited contact:

Cathy Hunt, General Manager
Traditional Credit Union Limited
ABN 50 087 650 922
PO Box 40425
Casuarina NT 0811
Phone: 08 8928 0777
Fax: 08 8928 0788
Email: accounts@tcu.com.au

Brotherhood Of St Laurence

Financial Services and Solutions

Financial stability is often the biggest concern people face in their lives. The Brotherhood has partnered with financial institutions and developed a range of programs to provide people on low incomes with real solutions to their financial concerns.

The Brotherhood has programs to address a wide range of monetary problems; from the need to buy a new fridge to school uniform costs. From health care services to small business opportunities.

Saver Plus
The Brotherhood of St Laurence has teamed with ANZ Bank to help parents of teenage children save money toward their education.

Saver Plus is an award winning matched savings program that turns one dollar saved into two dollars in the bank. ANZ matches each dollar saved by participants with a further dollar to a maximum of $1,000. Funds must be spent on a pre-agreed educational cost.

Contact: Sonia McCann (03) 97815724

Progress Loan
The Brotherhood is working in partnership with ANZ Bank to provide small personal loans of $500 - $3,000 for the purchase of household goods.

These loans charge a commercial rate of interest and are a viable alternative to high interest 'pay-day' lenders or pawn brokers.

Contact: 03 9483 1183

Fitzroy         03 9483 1183
Craigieburn   03 9305 5100
Frankston     03 8781 5900

Achiever Business Loan
Self-employment is the dream of many people facing an uncertain financial future.

The Brotherhood and Fitzroy Carlton Community Credit Cooperative have joined together to offer the Achiever Business Loan - a variable interest rate loan to help grow or stabilise small business. Loans of $1,000 - $2,000 will help a small business purchase something to increase profitability, reduce overhead costs or improve efficiency.

This initial small loan will also help participants prove their ability to repay and may lead to larger loans from us and, eventually, mainstream institutions.

Contact: 03 9483 1183

For further information on the Brotherhood of St Laurence visit their website www.bsl.org.au

Foresters ANA Friendly Society

Friendly societies have been implementing concepts of mutuality and self-help for over 100 years. Foresters ANA Mutual Society continues this tradition with its Micro Finance activities. This enables people to have more control over their money and their lives, and encourages the concept of self-help as well as helping others.

Foresters ANA practices 2 models of micro finance:

• Mutual funds - This is a contributory rotating loan system. Individuals deposit a minimum of $10 per month into the fund and after 6 months are eligible for a loan of up to $250. On a sliding scale, the maximum loan after 2 years is $2000. These are no interest loans. New members are generally referred by current members.

• Savings and Loans Circles – For over thirteen years, F/ANA has been supporting the development of savings and loans groups in a number of locations in south east Queensland. Savings and loans groups are a model of self-help and mutual aid – where people help themselves and others at the same time, with all members receiving equal benefit. The extremely high loan repayment rate challenges the notion that people on low incomes are high credit risks. While all savings and loans circles have the same purpose, each develops their own rules and ways of operating to suit their particular members.
  
  Members regularly contribute small amounts of money, which is pooled into a group account. After a qualifying period, members are eligible for a no interest loan, which is paid back in affordable instalments. These circles are administered entirely by the members – some groups rotate the positions so everyone gets a turn and the responsibility is shared by all.
  
  Apart from the "financial peace of mind", members report a number of other benefits of belonging to a savings and loans group including increased social and support networks; opportunities to learn new skills; a sense of self-reliance and feeling good about being able to help others. The oldest savings and loans group, which has been operating for about thirteen years, has estimated that over $250, 000 has been rotated between its members!

For more information contact:
Belinda Drew or Vanessa Smith
Foresters ANA Mutual Society
email: bdrew@forestersana.com.au
Ph: 07 3210 6772

Website: www.forestersana.com.au