About Our Credit Union

Credit Union Services for those who Serve and Protect

Serve and Protect is a financial cooperative providing tailored financial solutions to those working in the police, prison, probation, military, fire and health services.

Decades of Dedicated Service to Those Who Serve

At Serve and Protect, we’re more than just a financial institution – we’re a community built on shared values of service, dedication, and mutual support. With decades of experience, we’ve grown to become one of the largest credit unions in the UK, proudly supporting those who dedicate their lives to serving and protecting others. We understand the unique financial needs of our members and are here to provide tailored solutions and unwavering support.

What Makes Credit Unions Different?

People Helping People

We are guided by the principle of “people helping people,” which sets us apart from traditional financial institutions.

Not-for-Profit

Operating as a not-for-profit cooperative allows us to prioritise our members over profits. Every decision we make is focused on the best interests of our community.

Community Focus

As a member-owned financial cooperative, you’re not just a customer—you’re part of a group dedicated to supporting one another. Our cooperative model fosters a sense of belonging, trust, and mutual success.

Member First Approach

We focus on personalised service, competitive rates, and reinvesting in our members.

Our History

Laying the Foundations

(1986-1997)

Our roots can be traced back to the late 20th century, when several police credit unions were established to support officers and staff. These included West Midlands Police Credit Union in 1986, Northumbria Police Credit Union and Merseyside Police Credit Union in 1988, Hertfordshire Constabulary Credit Union in 1989, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary Credit Union in 1990, Cleveland Constabulary Credit Union in 1993, and Money Mate Credit Union in 1997. These early efforts laid the groundwork for what would eventually become Serve and Protect.

The Formation of Police Credit Union

(2003)

In 2003, Police Credit Union was officially formed through a series of mergers with like-minded credit unions. This powerful cooperative was created to support police officers and staff nationwide, providing financial services tailored to their needs.

Broadening Our Reach

(2012)

Legislative reforms in 2012 allowed credit unions to expand their services to new groups of people. Shortly after, we partnered with the Prison Officers’ Association to extend our support to employees within the judicial system, marking a significant step in our growth.

Supporting the Armed Forces

(2015)

In 2015, we were honoured to be selected by the Ministry of Defence to provide financial services to the Armed Forces Community, including service personnel and veterans. This partnership followed a two-year campaign by the Co-operative Party to establish a credit union exclusively for the Armed Forces. To meet the unique needs of this community, we introduced the Serve and Protect brand as a tailored initiative, marking a significant milestone in our mission to support those who dedicate their lives to protecting our nation.

A Renewed Mission

(2018)

In 2018, we updated our mission statement to reflect our evolving focus on improving financial resilience. Our new mission became: “To improve the financial resilience of those who serve and protect our nation.” This shift underscored our commitment to empowering our members financially.

The Serve and Protect Umbrella Brand

(2019-2020)

Between 2019 and 2020, the Serve and Protect brand was expanded to become the umbrella brand for all our services. This marked a pivotal moment in unifying our mission and identity under one cohesive banner.

Responding to a Global Crisis

(2020)

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, we expanded our services in August 2020 to include key workers in the Fire & Rescue Services and Health & Social Care sectors. This move allowed us to support even more individuals during a time of unprecedented challenges.

Strengthening Through Partnerships

(2021)

In 2021, we merged with Durham Constabulary Credit Union, welcoming 985 new members into the Serve and Protect family. That same year, we partnered with Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service, making our free employee benefits available to hundreds of firefighters and support staff.

Welcoming National Fire Savers

(2024)

In 2024, we merged with National Fire Savers, the largest credit union solely serving the fire service. This merger brought thousands of new members into the Serve and Protect family, further strengthening our ability to support those who dedicate their lives to protecting others. By combining our resources and expertise, we expanded our reach and impact within the fire service community.

Formalising Serve and Protect

(2025)

In 2025, we officially changed our legal name to Serve and Protect Credit Union. Having traded as Serve and Protect for several years, this change was a formality that reflected the brand our members had come to know and trust. It marked the final step in uniting our history and mission under one cohesive identity.

Proudly Supporting Those Who Serve and Protect

Serve and Protect was founded in September 2003 through a series of mergers with like-minded police credit unions. This merger allowed the credit union to reinvest in its members, deepen relationships with police forces across the country, support great causes, and eventually build a community of those who serve and protect.

A Proud History of Serving the Police Family

Our roots to the police date back to the 1980s and 1990s when our founding police credit unions were formed. This includes: West Midlands Police Credit Union; Northumbria Police Credit Union; Merseyside Police Credit Union; Hertfordshire Constabulary Credit Union; Devon and Cornwall Constabulary Credit Union; Cleveland Constabulary Credit Union; and Money Mate Credit Union.

Expansion to the Prison & Probation Service

Following legislative reform in 2012, credit unions were allowed to reach out to new groups of people. Shortly after, we were approached by the Prison Officers’ Association to support employees in our judicial system.

10 Years of Supporting the Armed Forces

After a two-year campaign by the Co-operative Party to convince the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to establish a credit union exclusively for the Armed Forces Community, we were selected by the MoD to support service personnel and veterans. Today, we’re also proud to support reservists, MOD Civil Servants, and military families.

Opening Our Support to the Fire and Health Services

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to help more key workers access affordable credit. As such, in August 2020, we extended our services to the Fire & Rescue Services and Health & Social Care sector. Five years on and we’re now proud to be serving thousands of members in these communities.

Continuing Our History of Mergers

Since we were formed out of a super merger between several credit unions, we believe there is strength in unity. As such, we have continued our tradition of collaborating with other cooperatives, including recent mergers with Durham Constabulary Credit Union in 2021 and National Fire Saver Credit Union in 2024.

Our Credit Union Mission

At Serve and Protect, we are passionate about improving the financial resilience of those who serve and protect our nation. We know our members play important roles in serving and protecting us all, so we want to help them look after their finances so they have one less thing to worry about.

Our actions are guided by our core values, which shape every decision we make. We are committed to supporting our members, with service excellence at the heart of everything we do.

Respectful

We appreciate our members and colleagues and value them for their service and the unique contributions they make to the Credit Union. We’re proud to welcome and celebrate difference.

Reliable

We do what we say we will do, and if we get something wrong, we say sorry and put it right. Our commitment lies in being here for our members and meeting their needs. We are honest about what we can do and give a straight answer if we can’t help.

People-Centric

People are at the heart of everything we do. Meeting our members’ needs is our top priority, and we treat them as individuals. We invest in our team so they can provide exceptional services to our members and fulfil their potential.

Passionate

We love the Credit Union and the impact it makes on the lives of its members. Our passion for the Credit Union drives us to go above and beyond to exceed our members’ and colleagues’ expectations. We are always working to improve our services and embrace new ideas and ways of working.

Annual Review 2023/2024

Our Board of Directors

We are owned by and run for our members and our Board of Directors is elected by our members. They are responsible for the strategic direction of the credit union, ensuring it is run in the best interests of the members, so your needs are always above ours.

Nigel Rabbitts

Chairman

Mark Richardson

Secretary

Peter Watson

Director

Melanie Warnes

Director

Moses Njuguna

Director

Ben Ruffer

Director

Mayamiko Mtika

Director

Craig Steadman

Director

Andrew Mobbs

Director

Make a Difference to Those Who Serve and Protect

We’re inviting members to express interest in joining our Board of Directors, Audit Committee, and Friends of Serve and Protect Committee. Just fill in the form below and upload your CV and Cover Letter.

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Saving Made Simple

Serve and Protect offer a range of savings accounts, so you can get the one that’s right for your needs. Our savings accounts include:

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Our Flexible Loans

Serve and Protect personal loans allow members to access up to £25,000, with no early repayment penalties and no hidden fees, and interest calculated on reducing balance.