We are proud to announce the new trading name of Halton Credit Union – Beacon Savings and Loans! After many years serving the community and our members, we wanted to better reflect the true heart of what we do in a more clear and transparent way, and this new brand brings us to life.

We know that some of our members have been worried that we’ve been bought out or are changing who we are. This blog will hopefully reassure you that we’re still the same people at heart and give you peace of mind that you’ll keep getting the excellent service and personal attention you’ve been used to with us.

It’s been an exciting journey. We’ll share a bit more of what the new brand means, and what the future holds below.

What’s changing?

You’ll see our new name and logo, along with a vibrant colour palette and illustration style, which we believe reflects our friendly and inclusive approach.

When people find themselves struggling with money, it can be scary to reach out – we want our members and potential customers to feel comfortable and cared for, and our new identity does this even better than before.

Whilst the community of Halton and the surrounding areas remain vitally important to us, as we continue to grow and provide our services to people in other locations, we wanted our name to reflect that broader reach.

We remain a member-focused business and understand that it’s that personal touch that makes a difference. You can expect the same level of dedication from our team as you’ve had before.

Why Beacon?

Several years ago, we realised that many areas surrounding Halton were not covered by any credit unions. We wanted to be part of the solution in bringing these services to more people, and in 2019 decided to expand our common bond – the area a credit union is allowed to work in. Following member support at a special general meeting in 2019, it became official. That meant that our name – Halton Credit Union – no longer reflected our membership.

As always, it was important to us that our members were a part of our decision to move away from a location-specific name, and so we conducted a member survey in 2022 to find a name that was a stronger reflection of our values.

A common theme in the feedback was we offered members “a light in the dark”, and provided hope when people found themselves in difficult circumstances.

Being a beacon in the community, a source of opportunity, and to light the path out of difficulty, is something that has remained true to our business for many decades, and it’s important to us that it’s still who we are as we grow. It therefore felt only natural that this becomes our new name.

We chose to move away from the term ‘Credit Union’, so we can be more transparent with our services, and remove any misconceptions or confusion of what we offer. We provide customers with savings and loan options, and now we truly do what it says on the tin!

Part of the journey has also been moving into a digitised world and providing access to our members and future customers in ways that are convenient and comfortable to them. This has led to the development of an app, and our revamped website will include resources and information that is clear and transparent. This constant innovation is key to remaining relevant and making sure those who work with us get what they need in the right way.

For Our Members 

The fundamentals of who we are and what we offer have not changed – we’re still here to help our members when they need it, and we hope that our new approach will make that process even better.  

We’re looking to improve the way we communicate, make things easier to understand, so you can feel in control of your finances. By providing information in a more straightforward way, you’ll also have more time to do what’s important to you. 

We’ll be rolling out new products too, to suit our members’ evolving lives and offer opportunities for people to save in different ways. You can read our other blog post for more information.  

Our CEO Gareth Heesom said:

“The thing we do is make a difference in people’s lives. That’s what we’re trying to communicate, and we feel this new brand does that in a much clearer way.” 

The next steps in the journey

This is only the start, and over the coming weeks and months we’ll share more updates on our website and social media channels.

As Beacon Savings and Loans, we will continue to provide excellent service to the community, ensuring our members get the right support at the right times.

If you have any questions about the changes or what it may mean for you, please get in touch.