Understanding financial inclusion in the public sector
In our seventh annual Financial Resilience Report, we capture the views of 7,647 respondents from Serve and Protect Credit Union’s membership base. Data from the report was collected in our annual member survey between January and February 2026.
The report presents an accurate evaluation of the current financial landscape for employees across the public sector. From this, our aim is to equip employers with a clear understanding of the specific financial pressures facing your people.
This year the focus is on financial inclusion. With this theme in mind, we hope to build upon our work in providing access to convenient savings and safe, responsible credit to our members by working alongside employers to develop innovative solutions to build workplace financial resilience.
Key findings:
With 21 findings from our survey, this year’s report helps you to understand the range of challenges facing your employees. We have listed some of the most impactful statistics below:
- Just 58% of respondents said they could cope financially with a change in circumstances such as relationship breakdown, unemployment, or sickness.
- 1 in 3 respondents admitted they have been declined a financial product in the past, such as a personal loan, credit card, mortgage, or insurance.
- Almost 1 in 3 respondents said they have abandoned a financial application in the past because it was too difficult or confusing.
- 19% of respondents said they had turned to a loan shark or payday lender in the past.
- Just 31% of respondents feel their employer understands the financial challenges faced by them and their colleagues.
Read the full report below to discover the unique financial challenges faced by your people in 2026.
Ready to take action and improve the financial resilience of your workforce? Book a meeting with our team to get started.
- Having trouble accessing the flipbook? Click here to view a PDF version of our 2026 Financial Resilience Report.
