Affinity is a financial co-operative owned and run by its members offering a secure, ethical saving facility and fair, affordable loans. Members of a credit union share a common bond, such as living or working in the same area. Members are accountable to and dependent upon each other. They believe in restoring pride and a sense of community spirit, keeping money within the local economy and in helping each other by working, saving and sharing together. The establishment of Cleator Moor credit union grew from a joint Church initiative in 1994. In the year 2000 the Maryport and North Allerdale Credit Union was launched and a couple of years later, in 2002, Workington & District Credit Union opened its doors. All of these Credit Unions were built and run by local people who were passionate about getting a better deal for their communities. Their aim was to provide an alternative financial service locally that would help break the cycle and high level of dependency of families and individuals on doorstep and other unscrupulous lenders operating in the community. It was important to safeguard the future of these organisations and on the 1st October 2015 these Credit Unions, recognising their common cause, merged to form the West Cumbria Credit Union. We are tremendously proud of our beginnings and the volunteers who worked to build these organisations. As we move forward under our new Affinity brand we remain true to the same values we had in the beginning; to provide fair and affordable loans and secure, ethical savings to our members.