CRED 10.2 General requirements concerning lending policy
A credit union must establish, maintain, and implement an up-to-date lending policy statement approved by the committee of management that is prudent and appropriate to the scale and nature of its business, having regard to the limits outlined in CRED 10.3 - CRED 10.4.
A version 2 credit union must provide the FSA with a copy of its lending policy statement as soon as is reasonably practicable after approval by the committee of management.
A principal purpose of credit unions' business is the accumulation of members' savings to provide a fund out of which loans are provided for the benefit of the members. Credit unions may often in practice have less scope to minimise credit risk through the exercise of discretion than some other lenders. It is therefore important that a credit union has a carefully considered and effective lending policy statement.
CRED 4.3.7 R requires a credit union to maintain a manual of its policies and procedures. This should include the policy and procedure for making loans.
The credit union's committee of management should review and approve its lending policy at least once a year, and more frequently if necessary (for example if there is an escalating arrears problem), especially in the light of significant changes in business.
- (1)
1A credit union must not make a loan to:
- (a)
an officer, or other approved person; and
- (b)
a relative of, or any person otherwise connected with, anyone included in (1) above, on terms more favourable than those available to other members of the credit union.
- (a)
- (2)
"Relative" has the same meaning as in section 31 of the Credit Unions Act 1979.
- (1)
To prevent conflicts of interest, a credit union should have clear arrangements for dealing with loans to the persons specified in CRED 10.2.6A R.1
- (2)
In relation to staff, the prohibition in CRED 10.2.6A R applies only to those who are officers or approved persons.1
- (3)
"Connected" in CRED 10.2.6A R includes any close business or personal relationship.1
A credit union should have a documented arrears management policy, setting out the procedures and process for dealing with borrowers who fall into arrears. This should be reviewed regularly and promptly in the light of experience.
A credit union should have a clear, robust and effective approach to handling arrears and be able to satisfy the FSA on a continuing basis that it has adequate management and control systems in place to monitor arrears.
A credit union should ensure that loan assets are valued correctly in their accounts. A provisioning policy relating to problem loans and arrears cases should be clearly defined and documented covering the circumstances in which provisions are to be made.
- (1)
1A credit union may only make loans to:
- (a)
its members who are natural persons qualifying in accordance with section 1(2) of the Credit Unions Act 1979 (see CRED 13 Annex 2 G Table 1G 1);
- (b)
other credit unions.
- (a)
- (2)
A credit union may make a loan to a member for a business purpose. However, this does not mean that a credit union may make a loan to a member who merely intends to transmit that loan to another body that will actually carry out the purpose. A credit union should not make loans to members who are acting together to achieve an aggregate loan that exceeds the limits in CRED 10.3.