Caerphilly AM Jeff Cuthbert opened the refurbished Smart Money office in Caerphilly after they received a grant of £26,526 from the Welsh Assembly Government. The grant was used for improvements to the reception area, upgraded computers and a rebranded logo and colour scheme.
Smart Money Credit Union is a not for profit organisation set up to provide affordable financial services to a growing number of people in Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Newport. Smart Money focuses on people rather than profit and aims to help local communities regenerate.
Jeff Cuthbert said “I was very pleased to formally open the office, which I know has been experiencing growing popularity in the area. It is fantastic to see how a relatively small amount of WAG funding used in the right way can make such a difference to an organisation and its surrounding community.”
The refurbishment comes amid calls last week by Local Government and Social Justice Minister Carl Sargeant to end the operations of loan sharks across Wales and to instead use local credit unions which offer an affordable, safe and reliable source of credit.
