I saw something about a C.U. on the morning news last week. Apart from all the other advantages like lower APR and such like, the thing that struck me was the personal touch. If you have a problem you speak face to face with a real person, if you want a loan you speak face to face with a real person and for all other situations ,yes, you speak face to face with a real person. NOT press button 1 for this, button 2 for that and so on. This is like turning the clock back 15 - 20 years to the days when you could get to speak to someone at your bank instead of some anonymous person in Delhi, Durban or Dagenham. People were having their wages (and benefits) paid into their accounts as normal. If something like this was to start in Bedlington, I would certainly seriously consider contributing with my pittance. I have been with my bank for 30 years and started using the Blyth branch since moving back to Bedlington in 1996, I do not have a clue what the managers name is.