Frequently Asked Questions

You can make a lodgement ONLINE via your own bank account (adding Harp and Crown Credit Union as a payee) or by telephoning the office with a debit card, posting in a cheque made payable to Harp and Crown Credit Union or by calling into the office with cash.  The Harp and Crown’s bank details may be obtained by contacting us via phone or via the chat facility in online banking. You cannot make a lodgement via the Harp and Crown online banking facility except for Junior accounts whereby you can transfer funds from your HACCU account online directly into their account.

You can email the office or apply for a loan via online banking, outside of office hours.  If an application is made outside of office hours Monday - Friday 8am - 4.30pm, we will process your application on the next working day.  However, when the office is closed for holidays, we cannot process loan applications.  Please apply via ONLINE BANKING or email us your loan application and we will respond as soon as possible when the office reopens.  Email creditunion@harpandcrown.co.uk.

Savings Pots allow you to organise your savings into separate goals, making it easier to budget for things like holidays, Christmas, a new car or emergency expenses. You can view and manage your Savings Pots through Online Banking, helping you stay on track with your financial goals.

We have several options to update your beneficiary:

• Head over to our ONLINE APP, scroll LEFT along the bottom menu to the FORMS section and update your Beneficiary and personal details from there.
• A Beneficiary Form can be downloaded HERE and posted or dropped in to our office at Newforge.
• Or you can email us at creditunion@harpandcrown.co.uk and we'll email you a link to update your details. Easy.

A beneficiary is someone you choose to take sole responsibility of your account, in the event of your death.  This could be a loved one, family member or friend but must be named and detailed in your Harp and Crown Credit Union account. This is why it is crucial you update these details, where necessary. Up until 70 years of age, in the event of your death, your beneficiary could receive up to a maximum £5,000 on top of your savings balance (or 1.5 times your savings balance if it's to a lesser value).  Any outstanding loan balances would also be cleared.

With membership, members receive FREE Life Cover up to age 70 years. In the event of your death, up to age 70 years, any outstanding loan balance may be cleared** with your beneficiary receiving 1.5 times your savings up to £5,000**.  *Ts/Cs apply.

You can make regular savings deposits or loan repayments by payroll deduction or Direct Debit. You can also make a deposit (in addition to payroll/dd) in a variety of ways here.

You can request a share withdrawal at any time through our Online Banking App using our Faster Payments service. Withdraw up to £4,999.99 online in a single transaction each day. Most online withdrawal requests are transferred within 30 minutes. For withdrawals of £5,000 or more, please contact us before 3.00pm Monday to Friday. For security reasons, we cannot accept withdrawal requests over the phone. Requests must be submitted through Online Banking (Online Chat facility), email, post or in person.

Yes. Many Harp and Crown Credit Union members continue to save regularly while repaying a loan. Saving while borrowing can help you build healthy financial habits and may support future borrowing opportunities. Any savings requirements will depend on the loan product and your individual circumstances. A minimum of £10 is all that we require to keep your account active.

Credit Union loans are designed to provide responsible, affordable borrowing with a personal approach. As a not-for-profit organisation, Harp and Crown Credit Union puts members before profits, offering competitive rates, transparent repayments, and decisions based on individual circumstances. With us, what you see is what you get – the rate you apply for is the rate you receive. Some banks and other lenders may advertise a headline rate that can change during the application process.

Yes. You can repay your loan early with no penalty or settlement fees charged ever.  

Credit Union loans can be used for a wide range of purposes, including buying your first car, home improvements, holidays, weddings, education costs, unexpected expenses, debt consolidation (where appropriate). If you're unsure which loan is right for you, our team will be happy to help.

Credit Unions may carry out credit checks as part of the loan application process. However, we do not make decisions based solely on your credit score. We consider your overall financial circumstances and affordability to ensure any borrowing is suitable for you.

Having a poor credit history does not automatically mean your application will be declined. Every loan application is assessed individually, considering your overall financial circumstances, affordability and ability to repay. Responsible lending is always our priority.

Depending on your circumstances, we may ask you to provide additional information to support your loan application. This may include recent bank statements, proof of income, details of regular outgoings or other documents that help us assess affordability. As a responsible lender, we have a duty to ensure members only borrow what they can comfortably afford to repay. Reviewing this information helps us understand your financial circumstances and make a responsible lending decision. If we request additional information, this does not mean your application has been declined — it simply allows us to assess your application fully and ensure the loan is suitable for you.

JOINING US IS NOW QUICKER AND EASIER!  Harp and Crown joining applications can now be made ONLINE.  Please ensure you have the relevant Photo ID, Address ID (and Junior Birth Certificate if applicable) before commencing your online application.  If you do not wish to join online, you can still email, phone or call into the office (no appointment necessary).

Our offices are open Monday to Friday 8.00am to 4.30pm, excluding Public and Bank Holidays. You're welcome to visit us during these hours without an appointment. Details of our office locations can be found HERE.

Yes. Harp and Crown Credit union is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Saving with Harp and Crown Credit Union can help you build financial security while becoming part of a member-owned organisation. Regular saving encourages good financial habits and can help you prepare for unexpected expenses, future goals or major purchases.

Credit unions and banks both provide important financial services, but they have different aims. Credit unions are member-owned organisations that put members before profits. At Harp and Crown Credit Union, 96% of members are very satisfied with our service, and over 95% of loan applications are processed on the same day. It's a personal approach that helps set us apart.

A Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial organisation owned and controlled by its members. Unlike banks, credit unions exist to benefit their members rather than shareholders. Members can save money safely and access affordable loans while benefiting from a community-focused approach to financial services. To join a credit union, members must share a common bond, such as working for a particular organisation, living in a specific area, or being part of an eligible group. At Harp and Crown Credit Union, our Common Bond is the Police family in Northern Ireland.

• Thursday 1st January (New Year's Day)

• Tuesday 17th March (St Patrick's Day)

• Friday 3rd April (Good Friday)

• Monday 6th April (Easter Monday)

• Monday 4th May (May Day Bank Holiday)

• Monday 25th May (Spring Bank Holiday)

• Monday 13th July (Bank Holiday)

• Tuesday 14^th July (Bank Holiday)

• Monday 31st August (August Bank Holiday)

• Thursday 24th December - early closure at 2pm

• Friday 25th December (Christmas Day)

• Monday 28th December (Boxing Day Bank Holiday)

• CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS TBC 8am - 1pm Tuesday 29th, Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st December.

• Friday 1st January 2027 (New Year's Day)

Savings are limited to £250 per month for the first 6 months, and £100 per month for juniors for the first 12 months, together with one-off deposits totalling £5,000 in the first year.  Thereafter, the maximum savings is £1,000 per month, with total maximum savings of £35,000 (as of 1st October 2025). Share Product Ts/Cs can be found in full HERE.

Please note we have a WEB BASED APP and it is not available in an APP store.  We've created video tutorials with instruction on how to INSTALL THIS APP to your device (ADD TO YOUR HOMESCREEN).  View our video tutorials here.  This will depend on the device/browser you are using.

Most of our loan products allow you to apply for up to five times your savings balance, up to a maximum loan of £35,000 (Ts/C apply). Example:  if you have £1000 in savings, you are eligible to apply for a loan of up to £5000.  With the **exception** of our Loyal Saver Loan (3.9% APR) whereby 100% of the loan balance is locked in against your savings.  We also offer options to borrow without the usual share requirement such as our Flexi-Loan whereby you can apply for an amount between £500 - £3,000 (no pledged shares required), and New Signature loan where you can apply for an amount between £5,000 - £15,000 (initial 20% pledged shares not required). Ts/Cs apply.

Existing borrowers may be able to apply to top up their loan, subject to our lending criteria and affordability assessment. The interest rate and repayment terms will depend on the loan product and your individual circumstances. Please contact us for advice before applying.

Yes. There are several ways to deposit money into your Harp & Crown Credit Union account:

• Online bank transfer – add The Harp and Crown CU Ltd as a payee in your regular bank account online via mobile banking. You'll need your 6-digit Harp & Crown account number as the payment reference. For security reasons, our sort code and account number will be provided by telephone or via the secure Online Chat Function within our APP.
• Debit card payment – Call us on 028 9068 5198 to make a payment over the phone. If our lines are busy, email creditunion@harpandcrown.co.uk and we'll call you back. 
• Cheque – Post a cheque payable to The Harp and Crown CU Ltd. 
• Cash – Call into our office during opening hours (no appointment necessary).

You can make a lodgement ONLINE via your own bank account (adding Harp and Crown Credit Union as a payee) or by telephoning the office with a debit card, posting in a cheque made payable to Harp and Crown Credit Union or by calling into the office with cash.  You cannot make a lodgement via the Harp and Crown online banking facility except for Junior accounts whereby you can transfer funds from your HACCU account online directly into their account.

If you have a loan with Harp and Crown Credit Union, you may be able to withdraw savings above your pledged share limit. In all cases, members can withdraw shares that exceed their outstanding loan balance. If you are considering applying for a top-up loan, please remember that future borrowing may be affected by our 5:1 loan-to-share ratio. If you're unsure how a withdrawal may affect your borrowing, please contact us before making a request.

We don't offer payment breaks for loans however we can provide other options to help.

1. Complete a financial summary form outlining your circumstances so that we can investigate whether a "refinanced loan" may be the best option for you.

2. Members who have a loan with us may withdraw their shares down to their ‘Pledged Share limit’. In all cases members may withdraw shares in excess of their outstanding loan amount. We would urge those who may be considering a ‘Top-up’ loan in the near future to take into account the 5 to 1 loan to share ratio required for future borrowing.

Email creditunion@harpandcrown.co.uk or phone 028 9068 5198.

YES! With our NEW Faster Payments facility and Online Banking APP, you can now request share withdrawal online AT ANY TIME (24/7).  A maximum of £4999.99 shares can be requested (maximum ONE online transaction DAILY).  Transfers will be swept through our bank regularly throughout the day/night and within 30 MINUTES of your request.  

For share withdrawal requests over £5,000, please contact the office via creditunion@harpandcrown.co.uk before 3.00 PM Monday-Friday.  If the office is closed, we will respond as soon as we can on our return.

**please remember you must contact us first to ACTIVATE online banking and receive a 5-digit PIN (you'll need your 6-digit HACCU membership number also).

Yes. As a Trustee, you can view your Junior Account balances within your own online banking and transfer money from your Harp and Crown Credit Union account into your Junior's savings. Details on how to make a withdrawal can be found HERE. Trustees can access Junior Accounts online until the member turns 16. At this stage, the Junior's details must be updated and they will need to register for their own online banking.

First check that you're using the correct email address and the first six digits of your Harp and Crown membership number.

If you've forgotten your 5-digit PIN or continue to experience problems, please contact our team and we'll help you regain access as quickly as possible.

If you need access to the NEW online banking facility for the first time, please email us at creditunion@harpandcrown.co.uk. You'll be logging into your account in no time.

Please note we now have Biometric login, fingerprint (Android) and facial recognition (Apple).

This is no problem, simply email us at creditunion@harpandcrown.co.uk and we can verify your membership with a few security questions.  Remember you'll need to use the first 6-digits of your membership number to access online banking.

As a member you can enjoy the following flexibility and benefits of accessing your account online.  This includes access your shares 24/7 with faster payments, an easier loan application process, savings pots to plan for financial goals, statement download, facility to amend your personal details and you can now access your Junior Accounts online.

Please contact the Harp and Crown CU team first to ACTIVATE online banking via creditunion@harpandcrown.co.uk.  Once your membership is verified you will then be sent a 5-digit PIN to login.  Make sure you have the following details before you login to online banking:

• Email address used when becoming a member
• First 6-digits of your HACCU Membership number (not your PSNI payroll number)

More detail on our ONLINE BANKING facility HERE.

Currently we can accept a maximum £5,000 deposit per calendar month via debit card payment.  In addition, a maximum £1,000 can be paid per month via payroll or direct debit.  There are restrictions in place for the first year of membership - a maximum £250 can be paid per month (first 6 months) and a maximum £5,000 deposit within the first year (not per month). For Juniors, the maximum is £100 per month over the first year.

Visit our Junior Saver FAQs section HERE.

A dividend is a return paid to members based on the shares they hold with Harp and Crown Credit Union during the financial year. Our financial year runs from 1 October to 30 September, and dividends are calculated based on the member’s average daily shares balance over the course of one financial year. Dividend payments are subject to approval at our Annual General Meeting. Full Ts/Cs on Dividends HERE.

You don't need to close your account when you retire!  Here are the benefits of staying with the Harp & Crown.  We have a very simple process to switch you over from payroll to direct debit to allow a seamless transition into retirement. Everything else remains the same. 

If you go over the savings limit, we simply return the excess to your linked bank account.

No. We collect direct debits on the 5^th of the month unless that falls on the weekend or a Bank Holiday. In this case, we collect on the next banking day.

Withdrawal requests received before approximately 3.00pm Monday to Friday are usually transferred to your linked bank account by close of business the same day. Loan funds are normally issued on the day your application is approved. Requests made during office closures or public holidays will be processed on the next working day.

There are a variety of reasons why your application may need further information. It may be the size of the loan, a recent missed payment, you’re not registered on the electoral roll at your given address or something else which raises a flag on your application. Please remember that it is your opportunity to give your side of the story and we want to help you.  If you want to consolidate your credit card debt, don’t put the loan application reason down as ‘Home Improvements’.  We would rather lend to consolidate your debt than assume this is additional lending for a new sunroom.

Around 95% of our loan applications are approved and issued same day.  The process is now much quicker when applying via our Online Banking App.

We adhere to responsible lending guidelines. This means we have a duty to ensure members only borrow what they can afford.  Having sight of bank statements provides reassurance that members are remaining within reasonable credit limits.

You do not need a PSNI email address to join Harp and Crown Credit Union. We accept applications using either a PSNI or personal email address, provided the required security details are supplied. You will also need to provide a form of photo ID and proof of address to verify your identity and eligibility for membership.

The quickest way to apply is through our Online Banking App, where you can complete and submit your application securely. Alternatively, you can complete a paper application form and return it by email or post. Applications received outside normal office hours will be processed on the next working day.

A minimum of £10 must be paid via payroll or by direct debit per month into your savings account to keep your membership active.

Every Member has an equal say in running the Credit Union by making their views known at AGM and seeking election to the Board of Directors. Members can also put themselves forward as volunteers to carry out the other essential tasks of running the Credit Union. A wide variety of skills are required and welcomed.

Each Member of a Credit Union is an equal owner having one vote on decisions regardless of their savings or borrowings. The Credit Union is run by an unpaid Board of Directors elected by the Members and voluntary committees. The Board can in turn employ Management and Staff.

Credit unions and banks both offer savings and lending services, but they operate differently. Banks are usually owned by shareholders and aim to make a profit, while credit unions are owned by their members and operate on a not-for-profit basis. Any surplus made by a credit union is used to benefit members through services, fair lending, and supporting the financial wellbeing of the community and in Harp and Crown Credit Union's case, this benefits the wider Police family community in Northern Ireland.

Harp and Crown Credit Union is available to members of the Police and wider Police family in Northern Ireland. Membership is based on our Common Bond, which defines who is eligible to join. You can find more information about Harp and Crown’s membership criteria HERE.

The 'Common Bond' defines the field of membership of a Credit Union and is the factor that unites Members. Every Credit Union serves a group of Members that has a mutual interest. Our Common Bond includes the Police and wider “police family” in Northern Ireland. You can find more information about Harp and Crown’s membership criteria HERE.