Credit Unions Act 1979

Operation of credit unionE+W+S

7 Shares.E+W+S

(1)All shares in a credit union shall be of £1 denomination and may, subject to the rules of the credit union, be subscribed for either in full or by periodical or other subscriptions but no share shall be allotted to a member until it has been fully paid in cash.

(2)Shares in a credit union shall not be transferable and a credit union shall not issue to a member a certificate denoting ownership of a share.

(3)Nothing in subsection (2) above shall affect the operation of section 24(1) of the 1965 Act (transfer in pursuance of nomination on death of nominator).

(4)Subject to subsection (5) below, shares in a credit union shall be withdrawable but a credit union shall not issue shares except on terms enabling it to require not less than sixty days’ notice of withdrawal.

(5)If a withdrawal of shares would reduce a member’s paid-up shareholding in the credit union to less than his total liability (including contingent liability) to the credit union whether as borrower, guarantor or otherwise, then—

[F1(a)in the case of a member to whom there is a loan by the credit union which is treated by virtue of section 11A below as a secured loan, the withdrawal shall not be permitted;]

F1(b)in any other case the withdrawal shall be permitted only at the discretion of the committee.

Textual Amendments

F1S. 7(5)(a) substituted (1.9.1996) by S.I. 1996/1189, art. 5(2)

8 General prohibition on deposit-taking.E+W+S

(1)Subject to sections 9 and 10 below, a credit union shall not accept a deposit from any person except by way of subscription for its shares.

F2(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F2(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F2S. 8(2)(4)(5) omitted (2.7.2002) by virtue of S.I. 2002/1501, arts. 1(1), 2(5)

9 Deposits by persons too young to be members.E+W+S

(1)A credit union may take deposits F3. . .from a person who is under the age at which, by virtue of section 20 of the 1965 Act, he may become a member of the credit union F3. . .

F4(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F4(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F3Words in s. 9(1) omitted (2.7.2002) by virtue of S.I. 2002/1501, arts. 1(1), 2(6)(a)

F4S. 9(2)-(5) omitted (2.7.2002) by virtue of S.I. 2002/1501, arts. 1(1), 2(6)(b)

10 Power to borrow money.E+W+S

(1)A credit union may borrow money F5. . ..

F6(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F5Words in s. 10(1) omitted (2.7.2002) by virtue of S.I. 2002/1501, arts. 1(1), 2(7)(a)

F6S. 10(2)-(6) omitted (2.7.2002) by virtue of S.I. 2002/1501, arts. 1(1), 2(7)(b)

11 Loans.E+W+S

[F7(1)A credit union may make to a member a loan, upon such security (or without security) and terms as the rules of the credit union may provide.]

F8(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3)F9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F10(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(5)A credit union may charge interest on loans made by it but such interest shall be at a rate not exceeding one per cent. per month, or such other rate as may from time to time be specified, on the amount of the loan outstanding and such interest shall be inclusive of all administrative and other expenses incurred in connection with the making of the loan.

F8(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(7)In this section “specified” means specified by order made by the F11. . . Treasury.

Textual Amendments

F7S. 11(1) substituted (2.7.2002) by S.I. 2002/1501, arts. 1(1), 2(8)(a)

F9S. 11(3) repealed (1.9.1996) by S.I. 1996/1189, art. 6(a)

F10S. 11(4) omitted (2.7.2002) by virtue of S.I. 2002/1501, arts. 1(1), 2(8)(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1S. 11(7): Functions of the chief registrar transferred to the Treasury (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2(b), 4(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I (with art. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)

[F1211A Loans to be treated as securedE+W+S

(1)This section applies where—

(a)a credit union makes a loan to a member of the credit union, and

(b)at the time the loan is made, the member’s paid-up shareholding in the credit union is equal to or greater than his total liability (including contingent liability) to the credit union, whether as borrower, guarantor or otherwise.

(2)On the application of the member to the credit union, the loan shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as a secured loan.]

Textual Amendments

F12S. 11A inserted (1.9.1996) by S.I. 1996/1189 arts. 1, 5

F1311B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W+S

F1411C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W+S

F1511D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W+S

12 Power to hold land for limited purposes.E+W+S

(1)A credit union may hold, purchase or take on lease in its own name any land for the purpose of conducting its business thereon but, subject to subsection (3) below, for no other purpose, and may sell, exchange, mortgage or lease any such land, and erect, alter or pull down buildings on it.

(2)In the application of subsection (1) above to Scotland—

(a)for the word “exchange" there shall be substituted the word “ excamb" ”, and

(b)for the word “mortgage" there shall be substituted the words “ grant a heritable security over" ”.

(3)A credit union shall have power to hold any interest in land so far as is necessary for the purpose of making loans to its members on the security of an interest in land and of enforcing any such security.

F16(4). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F16(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(6)No person shall be bound to inquire as to the authority for any dealing with land by a credit union; and the receipt of a credit union shall be a discharge for all moneys arising from or in connection with any dealing with land by it.

F1713. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E+W+S

Textual Amendments

F17S. 13 omitted (2.7.2002) by virtue of S.I. 2002/1501, arts. 1(1), 2(9)

14 Computation and application of profits.E+W+S

F18(1). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F19(2). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F19(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)The dividend payable on any shares of a credit union shall not exceed a rate of 8 per cent. per annum or such other rate as may from time to time by specified by order made by the F20. . . Treasury.

F19(5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F19(6). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F18(7). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F18S. 14(1)(7) omitted (2.7.2002) by virtue of S.I. 2002/1501, arts. 1(1), 2(10)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C2S. 14(4): functions of the chief registrar transferred to the Treasury (1.12.2001) by S.I. 2001/2617, arts. 2(b), 4(1), Sch. 1 Pt. I (with art. 5); S.I. 2001/3538, art. 2(1)