Partner Article

Bank builds Bridges

NORTHERN Rock last week helped bring new life and a new identity to a community service in South Tyneside.

Bridges, Your Community Bank, formerly known as South Tyneside Credit Union, has moved to a new and fully refurbished premises on Sunderland Road in South Shields, and opened its doors to members of the local community.

The facility is part of a country-wide network of 800 savings and loans cooperatives run by local people to service the financial needs of their own communities on a not-for-profit basis.

This is in line with Northern Rock’s Community Programme, which aims to help communities in financial difficulty.

Northern Rock’s Customer and Commercial Director Andy Tate, who is Executive Sponsor of the bank’s Community Programme said: “We are delighted to have been involved in supporting such a wonderful facility that is so well respected and well utilised in its local community, and it’s been great to see Bridges come to life under its new name.”

The move and rebranding was made possible with support from the Department for Work and Pensions, South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council and The Northern Rock Foundation as well as the dedication of the many local volunteers that help run Bridges on a day-to-day basis.

Bridges Chairperson Shelagh Barton said: “We would like to thank everyone involved for their support assistance, which culminated in the official reopening of Bridges yesterday.

“We are delighted the event was such a success and that our new premises will allow us to expand our range of savings and loan products to help more local people.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .