Uniting Financial Services takes on church's loans role

Uniting Financial Services has, from May 1 2007, taken on the church loans function (inquiries and approval role) previously offered by Uniting Resources Property Services. Accordingly, all Uniting Church entities will now direct their lending applications directly to Uniting Financial Services.

This means Uniting Church congregations, agencies and organisations applying for loans relating to property or for other church purposes will gain the financial expertise of Uniting Financial Services staff who specialise in knowing the best loan options available.

For nearly three decades Uniting Financial Services has combined Christian values with sound financial management.

Its mission has always been to help assist and fund the work of the Uniting Church New South Wales Synod while offering church entities a range of investment and borrowing products and services.

With Uniting Financial Services taking on the loans function once offered by Property Services, these two arms of Uniting Resources (until recently known as the Board of Finance and Property) will offer their expertise in more focused ways - ensuring better support and a more streamlined and speedier process for property advice and approvals.

Cathy Tunbridge from Uniting Financial Services said the change will benefit the Uniting Church in terms of flexibility, accountability and assistance if people are struggling with loan repayments.

As part of the Uniting Resources team, Uniting Financial Services and Property Services will continue to work cooperatively, offering professionally rigorous service to the Uniting Church.

Property Services remains best placed to work on the delivery of property projects and to assess their feasibility. It has the skills and resources to respond to property requests and to focus on property safety and compliance issues.

Uniting Financial Services, meanwhile, is best placed to provide structured financial management for church lending, to discuss the structure of loans, to make them more affordable, and to make sure people get the right product for the right purpose.

"We will take into account specific application needs and tailor the loans accordingly," Ms Tunbridge said.

Uniting Church organisations seeking to apply for loans to help meet their needs and goals should call Uniting Financial Services on 1300 133 673 and ask to speak to a Customer Service officer.