Cooperatives NorthWest

Move Your Money – a new campaign encouraging individuals to switch to a more ethical bank was launched on the 31 January 2011.

Based on a similar campaign in the United States, the UK campaign aims to encourage people to move their current and savings accounts to fairer and more local forms of bank – specifically credit unions, building societies and The Co-operative Bank.

Ed Mayo, Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, said:
"We have co-operative and mutual options for current accounts and savings right across the UK and every pound is reinvested for good rather than for bad. At an individual level, you can't do everything to put an unfair economy right - but you can do something. Move Your Money is the new fair trade. It is THE campaign for our times."

Across Great Britain, there are now 465 credit unions that serve 870,000 members. £600 million is saved in credit unions. Building societies have £220 billion of UK savings.

Since the credit crunch, The Co-operative Bank has been named by the Financial Times as the world's most sustainable bank, while Nationwide Building Society has been listed by Global Finance Magazine as one of the world's safest financial institutions.

The UK Move Your Money campaign can aim to achieve the success of co-operatives on the continent. In the Netherlands, half the population is with the highly successful co-operative Rabobank, while in Germany co-operative banks have 30 million members.

Overall, European co-operative banks have 20% of the market.

For more information on the campaign or to pledge your intention to move your money, visit http://moveyourmoney.org.uk/

15 February, 10am-3.30pm, Back on Track, 4th Floor, Swan Buildings, Manchester M4 5JW

Basic bookkeeping & financial management free workshop for staff & volunteers looking after finances of community food co-ops and buying groups. Workshop led by Paul Cowham, an accountant specialising in work with charities and community groups. Contact Debbie@sustainweb.org / 07967 227 981.