Serve and Protect Credit Union exists to serve those who serve our communities. We have now partnered with leading organisations across the police, prison, probation, military, fire, and health services for more than two decades, providing tailored and accessible financial services.
July 2026 marks a new, exciting partnership: payroll-deducted savings and loans for employees of the Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).
The implementation of the CNTW payroll deduction scheme represents a workplace wellbeing development that supports the trust as a forward-thinking employer and benefits the thousands of dedicated healthcare professionals it employs. Our work with CNTW will make regular saving simple and automatic, and help borrowing remain responsible and ethical. Employees who opt in to the CNTW payroll scheme will join 55,000+ members already empowered by financial services that place people over profit.
The importance of workplace financial support: A brief reminder
In order to fully appreciate the payroll deduction’s potential, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of today’s economic landscape and why employers are increasingly looking to include personal finances in their wider staff benefits packages.
Far from clocking out when a shift begins, financial anxiety operates as a constant background noise. We frequently discuss causes of healthcare burnout, yet so rarely do we acknowledge the numerous economic pressures that play a major role.
Our 2026 Financial Resilience Report puts data behind this claim. 58% of healthcare workers said they could not cope with a sudden change in circumstances, and 40% of respondents from across our emergency service, military, and prison membership base agreed that financial stress had impacted their productivity at work.
Why should this matter to CNTW staff?
The two statistics do not exist in isolation. They are cause and effect. If more than half of a workforce is experiencing such financial pressure, then worry is the inevitable result. There is a sense of vulnerability in the knowledge that a single stroke of bad luck could spell disaster, and staff will struggle to maintain optimum focus if their minds are busy calculating how to survive until payday. This creates a direct drag on operational output. It drains energy. It erodes workplace morale. According to research from the Centre for Inclusive Money, more than three in four employees would consider leaving their employer in favour of one who offers better financial support. Left unchecked, financial stress may result in loss of talent.
CNTW staff deliver critical mental health, learning disability, and neurorehabilitation services. Mental resilience is a must-have. The latest introduction of a CNTW payroll deduction scheme is a proactive move to combat the cause of financial anxiety. It ensures professionals have the foundation required to look after their own health.
Financial support should not be viewed as a perk by NHS employers. It is, clearly, a necessity. Automated payroll savings help healthcare staff to deliver exceptional care.
How the CNTW payroll deduction scheme works
Setting up automatic deductions from your CNTW payroll is quick and easy, with help available should you need it.
There are three easy steps to get started:
- You join as a member of Serve and Protect Credit Union. Membership is completely free.
2. You select the amount you wish to save each month, starting at a minimum of £10.
3. We handle the rest. Your chosen amount is automatically deducted from your salary each payday by the CNTW payroll department. This happens before you even notice your net pay in your standard bank account.
This integration removes your administrative burden. You do not need to make manual transfers, or juggle direct debits. Perhaps most importantly, it removes the temptation to spend the money you intended to save.
Why is CNTW investing in its staff?
Implementing this partnership is entirely cost-free for the NHS trusts, but it yields substantial organisational advantages by supporting you. The CNTW payroll scheme is the trust’s way of investing in its employees’ financial stability and mental wellbeing.
- Improved workplace morale: A financially secure professional is a more engaged professional. A tangible, usable addition that addresses the cost of living, shows that your employer cares for you more than just your operational output
- Reduced financial vulnerability: Staff without access to fair credit are more likely to fall prey to high-interest payday lenders or loan sharks. Access to our ethical loan products, serves as protection from such predatory practices.
- Proven success across the NHS: This model is already delivering results for staff across the health sector. Serve and Protect has long-term partnerships with NHS trusts across the UK, from North East Ambulance Service to Royal Devon University Healthcare.
The first advantage: Effortless saving
As an employee of CNTW, the advantages of the credit union are highly valuable. When you begin to treat your savings as an essential, automatic outgoing, just like your pension contribution, you build a robust financial safety net without needing to actively think about it. Even modest monthly contributions lead to long-term financial security.
And because no two sets of circumstances look the same, our saving options cater to a range of financial goals.
What are the savings options?
- Regular Saver: The cornerstone to your emergency fund. It requires a minimum deposit of just £10 a month and is accessible to every member, as well as benefitting from a dividend each year.
- Fixed-Rate Saver: When you have a lump sum and are secure enough to lock it away for a 12-month period, this account offers a guaranteed interest rate, meaning your money is safe from market fluctuations.
- Cash ISA: Maximise your tax-free saving allowances. Our Fixed Cash ISA offers a competitive, guaranteed return of 3.85% AER for the 2026/27 tax year.
- Prize Saver: Prize Saver makes saving fun. Each pound is an entry into the monthly national PrizeSaver draw of up to £5,000 – a sum which real Serve and Protect members have seen enter their account in the past year.
- Junior Saver: You can also give your children or grandchildren a financial headstart. You have full control of the money in this account until they reach 16, making this an effective way to teach a young person the value of saving whilst taking care of their tomorrow.
Your savings with Serve and Protect are fully-protected. We are authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Furthermore, all eligible deposits (up to a total of £120,000) are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
The second advantage: Fair, affordable borrowing
A broken-down vehicle, an urgent household repair, physical injury – unexpected expenses arise even for the most diligent savers.
The CNTW payroll scheme gives users access to loan products that are both affordable and responsible. Repayments are collected directly from your salary, so the risk of missing a payment is hugely reduced. Almost half of the healthcare workers surveyed in our Financial Resilience Report had been declined a product such as a personal loan, credit card, insurance, or mortgage in the past, but CNTW’s new payroll scheme will help to remedy this; automated repayments and salary saving significantly increases the chance of loan approval.
As well as convenience, Serve and Protect loans offer competitive interest rates. These often beat those of traditional high-street lenders, acting as a lifeline should an unexpected expense hit. Members avoid the debt trap caused by high-cost short-term credit (HCSTC), and as a not-for-profit cooperative, our priority is your financial health. We only ever lend what borrowers can comfortably afford to repay. And, what truly sets us apart as a lender: none of the interest generated goes to external shareholders. Money we make is reinvested back into our community of public sector professionals.
What are the borrowing options?
- Personal Loans: Transparent, affordable loans from £500 to £25,000 for anything from a special occasion to debt consolidation. There are no hidden fees or early repayment penalties, and rates start from 8% APR.
- Inclusion Loans: Inclusion Loans are a reliable option for those with poor credit scores. They have no credit checks, significantly more affordable rates than unethical payday loans, and decisions are made based on your financial situation. We know that there are many reasons that an individual may be struggling to access credit, and this gives more people a chance to borrow money responsibly.
- Top Up Loans: This option allows you to access extra funds whilst paying off an existing Serve and Protect Credit Union loan, offering keyworkers competitive rates, flexible terms, and personalised support.
Lending is based on the principle of ongoing financial improvement. When you take out a loan, you must allocate a small portion of your CNTW payroll deduction towards a savings account. So, once your loan is fully paid off, you will already have built a pot of savings for the future.
The third advantage: Free financial education
Our member services do not stop at savings and loans; education is viewed with equal importance.
Financial literacy is the final step on any journey towards financial resilience. Members have access to educational resources, both on and offline. You’ll find a budgeting planner to support any financial goals, a benefits calculator – especially valuable given that roughly 7 million households leave benefits unclaimed each year, free weekly webinars, a range of public sector-tailored guides and articles, and more. We also conduct regular financial briefings at payroll partner workplaces, so employees can learn about their options in person and have questions answered by a knowledgeable member of our team.
… And a shared vision
The launch of this CNTW payroll partnership is an investment in the people who keep the UK’s healthcare system running.
Serve and Protect and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust are taking the friction out of financial management. We are enabling responsible borrowing, encouraging healthy savings habits, and creating a more confident workforce.
Want to take full advantage of your CNTW payroll opportunity?
- For CNTW staff: If you are employed by CNTW, then activate your free membership and set up payroll deduction today. You can find details of all savings options and calculate any potential loan repayments on our website.
- For employers: If you represent another organisation within the police, prison, probation, military, fire or healthcare sector and would like to learn more about the benefits a free payroll partnership brings to employee wellbeing, book a demonstration with our partnerships team here.
- The information provided is for guidance and educational purposes only. Serve and Protect CU does not offer regulated financial advice. Please seek independent financial advice.
