Dividends are a share of the organisation's surplus, which is the money we make each year after we have paid our operating costs, and which we pay to members with savings. It is a bit like interest, but the amount paid will depend on how the organisation performs. Sheffield Credit Union is a not-for-profit organisation. This means that our main focus is helping people, not making money. In most years though we do make a small surplus - and we use this to reward our savers as well as continuing to invest in the services we provide.

For an illustration of our recent dividends and the amounts we have paid, please click here.

All savings held in your accounts with Sheffield Credit Union are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so are safe should anything to the organisation. For further information on FSCS, please see our page here.

You can save up to £25,000 with Sheffield Credit Union - split between your chosen savings accounts.

Each member has to keep a minimum of £1 in their savings accounts, to remain a member of Sheffield Credit Union. We sometimes move this into a separate savings product, so that you don't withdraw it by accident. We will gradually be moving £1 into every member's Membership Share account to make this clear and so members don't accidentally close their account when they are not intending to.

You can request a withdrawal to your nominated bank account, either online, via our helpline or in branch. You can also request a withdrawal to another bank account using our online services.

For details on how to withdraw from your savings, please see our page on Withdrawing.

Secured Savings are held as security against a loan, so they are not withdrawable until the loan has been repaid in full. They do give you access to our great value and flexible Savings Based Loans though. For full details and Terms & Conditions please see our Secured Savings page.

You can withdraw from your Christmas Saver from 1st November. For full details and Terms & Conditions, please see our Christmas Saver page.

Members who do save regularly for a minimum of 12 weeks with us will have access to our Savings Based Loans. However, if you can't or don't wish to save first, we have other Loans which don't require you to save first. Full details are available on our Loans pages.

Your savings will usually be paid to the beneficiary you have named on your account.

Some of your savings may also be eligible for our free Life Savings Insurance, which we will automatically apply to your account if you qualify, and pay this along with your savings to your beneficiary.