A Guide To Credit Union Accounting

By Nelda Powers


Many people turn to credit unions if they have been refused credit elsewhere or if they want to an alternative to other forms of lending. These tend to be smaller than other lenders. Therefore it helps to have specialist credit union accounting that can adapt to their requirements.

The reason this is important is that in many respects unions have more of a reputation to uphold. While all lenders are expected to follow certain standards and practises there is pressure for them to invest ethically. Therefore the records they keep need to be accurate so that people know where the money has been invested.

For example they should lend to people they know will have difficulty giving money back. Furthermore they should not invest in companies that engage in unethical practises. This may sound obvious but sometimes a company you can invest may or may not be indirectly involved with unethical practises so it is important for a lender to be able to demonstrate they know where their money is going.

There is also the need to demonstrate where the money goes on a day to day basis. You need to show how much the union spends on expenses such as rent and utilities as well as payment for people who work for them and so forth. It is important that people can clearly see these records.

There also need to be proper receipts and any funds need to be properly dispersed. This should be clearly shown so that people know where any funds are being lent. Furthermore it can demonstrate that the funds involved are being lent in the right way and that people know where their money is being lent to.

If you can use a professional accountant then you should find one. There is a lot of work involved in keeping the books and while it is possible to do it yourself any professional assistance can make a big difference. However you have to be sure that the person you use is reliable.

The right system in this instance is a double entry. In simple terms you have debit on the left and credit on the right side of the ledger. The idea is that both credit and debit should balance out equally. You also need to list assets, expenses and so forth. It is important to check that you have the right information to hand when it is required. Expenses can include stationary, rent, utility bills and so forth while assets could include a house or other forms of property. All of these things need to be properly reflected and it is vital to find the right people to help with this.

In short you need to be careful when looking for credit union accounting. There is a level of accountability that may result in more scrutiny than other forms of lending. This is why you need to check online to keep updated on the latest standards and practises. With the right approach you can reassure customers and any other relevant parties that your accounting has been properly recorded and demonstrate that you are adhering to all the relevant standards in your local area.




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