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Loans for NHS Staff

Borrow up to £25,000 with The Money Co-op. We offer competitive loans for NHS staff, with interest rates as low as 7.9% APR and flexible repayment terms. As a responsible lender, we carry out full affordability and credit checks on every loan to ensure repayments stay manageable.

Whether you’re buying a new car, planning a summer getaway, or paying for much-needed home improvements, you’ll benefit from hassle-free repayments, fair interest rates, and a truly personal service.

Loans for nurses, administrative workers and so much more

At The Money Co-op, we understand the huge range of roles that make up the National Health Service. But all employees have one thing in common – working for the country’s largest employer, which looks after us all!

That’s why we’re delighted to provide loans for nurses, doctors, IT support staff, receptionists and everyone in between. The Money Co-op offers NHS loans for employees of different trusts, boards and partnerships up and down the UK. That’s thanks to our common bond, which includes the entire health and social care sector.

In 2024, 52% of our new members were from the NHS – and that’s only going to grow. We’re passionate about providing responsible lending and a safe place to save for thousands of NHS workers across the country.

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Why us?

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    Great rates: You’ll benefit from an APR as low as 7.9%, depending on the amount you borrow.

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    Flexible loans for NHS staff: Borrow £100 to £25,000 and spread your repayments over a period that suits you, from 6 months to 7 years.

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    Fair & cost effective: There are no fees for early repayment and interest is only ever charged on your remaining balance.

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    Putting you first: As a responsible lender, we’ll always explain your options clearly and there are never any hidden costs.

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    Not-for-profit: All profits are shared between our members, so we always do what’s best for you!

  • How it works

    Here’s what happens when you apply for a personal loan for NHS staff…

    Join our credit union

    If you haven’t already, become a member of our credit union. This gives you access to all our loan products and a safe place to save. As an NHS employee, you already meet the eligibility requirements.

    Apply for your loan

    Apply for a loan using our app. Simply let us know how much you’d like to borrow and over what term. Loans are available from £100 all the way up to £25,000 and repayment terms vary from six months to seven years. Any questions? Our loans team is just a phone call away – or message us on the app.

    Send us your information

    A member of our loans team will review your application and let you know what documents are needed. We’ll typically need your bank statements and a copy of your most recent payslip. In some cases, a credit check is also required. Rest assured – this is all part of our fair affordability check to ensure we’re lending responsibly.

    Reviewing your loan

    We’ll review your loan application within five working days. If we need anything else, our friendly team will be in touch. Every application is reviewed by a member of staff, so decisions are always made by real people.

    Monthly repayments

    Pay back an affordable amount each month via direct debit to remove any hassle. If you work for one of our payroll partners, your payment can even be made directly from your salary. Want to pay your loan off early? There’s no charge and you’ll even reduce the overall interest you pay.

    Join now Join & borrow

Am I eligible for a loan?

If you work for the NHS in any capacity, then you’re covered by our common bond. That means you can join our credit union and apply for a loan. NHS staff roles include:

  • Clinical roles – Including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and more.
  • Estates & facilities staff – Including security, catering, maintenance, cleaning and porters.
  • Administrative staff – Including receptionists, procurement and IT staff.
  • Public health & management – Including managers, consultants, commissioners and engagement roles.
  • Scientific, technical & diagnostic roles – Including radiographers and biomedical scientists.

As for amounts, you can borrow as little as £100 or as much as £25,000 (and pay it back monthly over a term that suits you). Our personal loan for NHS staff can be used for:

  • A new car or those unexpected car repair costs
  • Big holidays with your favourite people
  • A family Christmas to remember
  • Wedding costs (your own or your child’s)
  • Those home improvements you’ve been putting off
  • Pet surgery or vet bills
  • Debt consolidation

Join us and apply today

Access a range of flexible loans for NHS staff when you join The Money Co-op.

You’ll also get a safe place to save, an annual dividend on your savings and friendly financial support for life!

Testimonials

  • “Very satisfied and really glad I joined. It’s helped me a few times.”

    Chris

  • I cannot stress enough how happy I am to be a member. The staff are amazing, so helpful!”

    Ella

  • Love being a member! It’s the first time I’ve been consistently able to save.”

    Farah

FAQs

How do I join The Money Co-op?

You can join online by completing our online membership application. Membership is free, and you can start saving with as little as £5 per month.

Can I get a loan when I join?

You will need to join the credit union first, then once your membership is completed, you can apply for a loan.

 

Take a look at our loan products to find the option that best suits your needs.

Who can join The Money Co-op?

You can join The Money Co-op straight away if you:

  • work for one of our payroll partners
  • work in retail, co-operatives, charities, NHS, health and social care, housing, education or local government
  • are a co-op member
  • are a member of Usdaw

Not sure if you qualify? You can still apply here, and we’ll help guide you through the joining process.

What are the benefits of being a member?

As a member of The Money Co-op, you’ll have access to affordable loans, flexible savings accounts and a range of tools and support to help you manage your money.

Members may also receive annual dividend payments on eligible savings balances, as well as being part of a community-focused organisation that puts people before profit.

How do you decide whether or not I can have a loan?

All loan applications are assessed based on affordability. This helps us make sure any borrowing is manageable for you and supports our commitment to responsible, ethical lending.

When reviewing your application, we take a number of factors into account, including:

 

  • Your history with us
  • How much you would like to borrow
  • Information from your credit report
  • Your recent bank statements
  • Your most recent payslip

 

At The Money Co-op, our approach is always judgement-free, and we pride ourselves on looking at every application from a human perspective. We understand that everyone’s financial circumstances are different, and a credit score alone doesn’t tell the whole story. That’s why we look at your overall financial situation to make sure a loan is affordable and sustainable for you.

How long does it take to get an answer on a loan application?

We always aim to process loan applications as quickly as possible. The time it takes to receive a decision can vary depending on the application and the information we need to review.

In most cases, you’ll receive a decision within 3–5 working days of us receiving all the documents we’ve requested from you. To help us assess your application as quickly as possible, we encourage you to submit any requested information promptly.

Please be aware that during particularly busy periods, such as the run-up to Christmas, processing times may be longer than usual.

You don’t need to chase your application. We’ll contact you if we need any additional information and we’ll let you know as soon as a decision has been made.

Do you run credit searches for loan applications? Will it leave a mark on my credit file?

As part of our loan assessment process, we may carry out a credit search when assessing your application.

In some cases, this will be a soft credit search, which is only visible to you and does not affect your credit score. However, some loan applications require a hard credit search, which will be recorded on your credit file and may be visible to other lenders.

The type of search we carry out will depend on the loan application and the information needed to complete our assessment.

Please remember that a credit search is only one part of our decision-making process. Our members are more than their credit score, so we carry out a full affordability assessment and consider your overall financial circumstances.

What is Open Banking and how do you use it to make a loan decision?

Open Banking is a secure and regulated way for you to share information from your bank account with us when you apply for a loan.

We use Open Banking to give us a snapshot of your transactions from the last three months. This helps us understand your income and spending so we can assess whether a loan is affordable for you.

Using Open Banking is quick and easy, and is the most secure way to share your statements.

Sharing your bank account information through Open Banking doesn’t affect your credit score, and you can withdraw your consent through your bank at any time. You remain in control at all times and can choose whether or not to give your consent.

We only use the information provided to support our affordability assessment and help us make responsible lending decisions that are in your best interests.

Can I top up my loan and how often?

Yes. You can apply to top up your loan once you have made at least four repayments on your current loan.

All top-up applications are subject to a full affordability assessment and, in some cases, we may carry out a further credit search. This helps us make sure any additional borrowing remains affordable for you.

If your application is approved, the additional borrowing will be combined with your existing loan to create one new loan with a single monthly repayment.

 

If your top-up application results in a move to a different loan product, the interest rate on the combined loan may change. We’ll always confirm the interest rate, repayment amount and loan terms before you accept the new loan.

Can I overpay or repay my loan early and are there any penalties if I do?

Yes, you can overpay or repay your loan early at any time. There are no charges for doing so, aside from any interest that has accrued on the outstanding balance since your last repayment. The interest is calculated and accrued daily at the rate you agreed to when you took out the loan.

To make an ad hoc overpayment, simply contact us for payment details and let us know when you have made a payment which you want to be applied to your loan. This will reduce the amount of interest owing overall.

In order to make a full early settlement of your loan, please contact us and let us know that you would like a settlement figure. A member of the team will confirm how much you need to pay to clear your loan balance.

Interest is calculated daily, so we will round the settlement figure up slightly to ensure any outstanding interest is included. This helps avoid a small balance remaining if there is a delay between receiving the settlement figure and making the payment.

If you pay more than is required to settle your loan, any remaining balance will be credited to your savings account.

If I’m declined for a loan, can I apply again?

Yes. If your loan application is declined, you can apply again after at least 3 months.

Before reapplying, we recommend taking some time to improve the areas that may have affected your application. This could include catching up on missed payments, reducing outstanding debts, building a stronger repayment history, or addressing any other financial difficulties that may have impacted our affordability assessment. Our loans team are always on hand to talk you through the reason your loan was declined.

Waiting a little longer than the minimum 3 months can sometimes improve your chances of a successful application, as it gives any positive changes you’ve made more time to be reflected in your financial situation and credit report.

Can I access my savings while I have a loan?

Yes. However, some of your savings are held as security for your loan and cannot be withdrawn.

You’ll need to keep a minimum balance equal to two months’ loan repayments, plus £5 and the cost of any lottery tickets you hold, where applicable.

Any savings above this amount may be available to withdraw.

Will my regular payment automatically stop when my loan is repaid?

No. Your regular payment will continue after your loan has been repaid unless you ask us to change or stop it.

Any payments made after your loan is cleared will be paid directly into your savings account, where you will be able to withdraw them.

Many members choose to keep their regular payment running after their loan is repaid, as it can be an easy way to build up savings without having to think about it. However, if you’d like to change the amount you save or stop your payments, simply get in touch and let us know.

What happens if I miss a loan payment or have trouble making my repayments?

If you’re having difficulty keeping up with your loan repayments, the best thing to do is contact us as soon as possible. We’ll listen to your circumstances and do everything we can to support you.

Depending on your situation, we may be able to agree a temporary arrangement, such as reducing or pausing your repayments for a period of time. We may ask for evidence of any financial difficulties so that we can assess the support available.

If you miss payments or are unable to maintain the agreed repayment amount, this may be reported to credit reference agencies and could affect your ability to obtain credit in the future.

If we don’t hear from you, we’ll try to get in touch to discuss your account and agree a way forward. If payments remain unpaid and we are unable to make contact or reach an arrangement with you, we may need to take further action to recover the debt, which could include legal proceedings.