Social Impact Report
We’ve published our latest Social Impact Report so you can find out more about how Wave Community Bank works across East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Kent, Medway and the London Borough of Bexley to help fight financial exclusion and poverty.
Social impact Report
Building Brighter Futures: Our 2025 Social Impact Report
At Wave Community Bank, we believe in putting people before profit — and our 2025 Social Impact Report shows exactly what that means in action.
This year, we’ve reached more people, supported more families, and deepened our impact across East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Kent, Medway, and now the London Borough of Bexley. With over 15,000 members, £4.7 million on loan to local people, and new services launched in workplaces and communities, we’re proud to share how we’re helping our members build brighter financial futures.
💬 Real Lives. Real Impact.
From consolidating unaffordable debts to supporting first-time savers, our members say it best:
“I feel I have been given a second chance… and started saving for the first time.”
“Not only am I paying it back, but I’m also saving! I was so shocked I got accepted.”
These stories reflect the heart of what we do: offering ethical, affordable credit and a path to financial resilience.
💡 Reaching More Communities Than Ever
2024 saw the merger with Kent Savers Credit Union — a milestone that brought over 5,000 members to Wave CB and expanded our footprint into Bexley. Our lending in Kent, Medway and Bexley has grown by an incredible 170%, showing just how vital accessible finance is in these areas.
We’ve also launched a new member benefit of discounted bus travel with Arriva, supported local football teams, and continued our deep community engagement through events, outreach and education.
💚 Community First, Always
We’ve stayed close to our roots by working with local authorities, charities, and schools. Whether it’s supporting residents at cost-of-living events or helping young people at college freshers’ fairs, we’re there — listening, supporting, and offering a better alternative to high-cost credit and loan sharks.
👨⚕️ On the Front Line of Financial Wellbeing
One of our proudest innovations is our Financial Wellbeing Support Officer role, launched at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust. Tracy Cox-Horton — or “Money Tracy” to many — has helped NHS staff with budgeting, debt, savings, and financial planning. Her support has transformed lives.
👥 Saving at Work, Building Financial Health
Our Chorus Workplace Savings Scheme continues to grow, with lending through payroll reaching £1.5m and new Employer Partners coming on board. From councils to buses companies to the NHS, employers are seeing the difference payroll saving and borrowing can make to staff wellbeing.
🌍 Looking Forward
As we look to 2026 and beyond, our mission remains the same: to serve our members with compassion, trust, and practical support. Whether it’s your first savings account or help through a financial crisis, we’re here for you.
Highlights from the Report
Our Community Bank
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We have over 15,000+ members
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£4.7 million in loans
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£5.8 million in savings
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£6.7 million in assets
Working in the heart of
our community
Financial Wellbeing
In June 2023, Wave Community Bank started an innovative new project in partnership with University Hospitals Sussex (UHSx), introducing a role to the Trust of a Financial Wellbeing Support Officer (FWSO).
Our FWSO Tracy Cox-Horton – aka ‘Money Tracy’ has delivered over 1,700 one-to-one appointments with staff to help them improve their finanical position.
Our Members Views
We ask our members each year about their views on us and our service to them. Here are some of the highlights from our 2025 survey:
- 76% of our members are satisfied or very satisfied with our service.
- 33% of our members said their satisfaction with us had increased in the last year.
- “Withdrawals and loan applications processed quickly and smoothly.”
- “I found honest, working people in Wave Community Bank and are very satisfied with them.”
- “The App is easy to navigate, I can get the information I need quickly.”
Previous Social Impact Reports
Growing our Membership
We have grown our membership by 59% in 2024 through a cominbation of organic growth and merging with Kent Savers Credit Union.
Reaching the communites we serve
Our team work hard to support the local authorities and VCSE sector in their work and outreach across our area. We have continued our involvement in:
- Money Works in Brighton & Hove
- The Multi-Agency Financial Inclusion Steering Group in East Sussex
- ReferKent
- Lewes District Cost of Living Partners Action Group
Growing our Workplace Savings Scheme
We have been focusing on building our workplace savings scheme called Chorus with our Employer Partners to help workers access our services through their payoll.
Merging with Kent Savers
In February 2024, Wave Community Bank merged with Kent Savers Credit Union, welcoming over 5,000 new members to the family. The need for credit union services in Kent is clear and we wantd to ensure that Kent Savers members continued to get support from a local credit union.
Collaborations and Partnership Working
We work closely with two organiations that support our members, they are:
- The Money and Pensions Service
- The Illegal Money Lending Team
Spreading the credit union message
- Rachel Reeves visited Wave Community Bank in her time as Shadow-Chancellor, to talk about the impact of the cost-of-living crises on local people and the difficulties first time buyers face currently as a result of the rise in interest rates.
- We also hosted representatives of the Money Saving Expert Charity at the Seaside Community Hub in Eastbourne in 2023.
- Wave Community Bank are working to support the wellbeing of our communities so we have sponsored Hove Colts U7s and Mile Oak Ladies Football Teams so they can continue to encourage children and ladies to enjoy this great game and improve their wellness.
Opening Hours
Our phones are open Monday to Friday between 9.30am-1.00pm and we continue to monitor our emails between 9.30am to 4.00pm.
Contact Us
Phone: 0300 303 3188
Email: info@wavecb.org.uk
Face-to-face appointments at Hove Town Hall by arrangement only.
Addresses:
East Sussex, Brighton & Hove:
Tisbury Road Offices, Hove Town Hall, Tisbury Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ
Kent, Medway and Bexley:
39-48 Marsham Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1HH
Follow Us
Wave Community Bank serves members in East Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Kent, Medway and the London Borough of Bexley, plus members of Unite in the South East Region. Withdrawals over £5000 will take 5 working days to process
Wave Community Bank is a trading name of East Sussex Credit Union Ltd.Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. FCA Firm no 213910
