For people, not profit
-
As a member you have a say in how we’re run
-
We support our members for life
-
We provide fair savings to build financial resilience
-
We encourage wise use of credit
Why Kent Savers?
Kent Savers has provided ethical and affordable financial products to people in Kent, Medway and Bexley since 2010.
We are a co-operative, owned and operated by our members on a not-for-profit basis.
We aim to help everyone – even if your credit score needs improving – to stop people using payday lenders, doorstep lenders or loan sharks.
Become a member and we will support you through life’s journey. Get kids savings from an early age with our Junior Savers account.
Branches
Kent Savers has branches and access points throughout Kent.
At a Branch or Access Point you will be able to get more information about Kent Savers and help and advice in completing any of our forms.
Annual General Meeting
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) is your chance to participate in the running of Kent Savers.
Each year, the Board, Supervisory Committee and CEO present on the performance of Kent Savers in the previous financial year. You will also have the chance to vote on appointments to the Board and on key resolutions.
Find out more about our AGMs, key records and documents.
Our team
Always ready to serve our members, here’s a little bit more about your team at Kent Savers:
Rebecca Tomkins
Member Services Officer
Rebecca joined Kent Savers in 2015 and is an important and vital part of our team.
Whether she is welcoming new members or helping with account queries, payments or withdrawals, our members are in safe hands.
Rebecca is Maidstone born and bred. She has four children and one grandchild.
In her spare time, she enjoys cycling, long walks and outdoor adventures.
Karen Richardson
Loans Officer
Karen is one of our longest serving and best known of the Kent Savers team and lives in Maidstone with one son.
She joined us in March 2013. She helps our members with their loan applications and her sunny disposition helps keep the whole team happy.
Outside of work, she enjoys listening to music, watching drama on TV and is a keen football supporter.
Board of directors
The Board of Directors determine the policies and priorities of Kent Savers. They have strategic responsibility for organising and controlling the affairs of the Credit Union responsibly and effectively.
John Stokes
Treasurer
John joined Kent Savers’ board in August 2019. Previously he had, for 4 years been a volunteer member of the board of Fairshare Credit Union in Shropshire, from where he moved to Kent in 2018. He is a qualified accountant and a member of the CIMA. He has used that qualification to have a career in Financial Management in manufacturing companies up to and including Director level positions. Since finishing full time work in 2011 he has undertaken volunteer roles in various not-for-profit organisations both in the UK and overseas.
Kathy Cox
Chair
Kathy joined Kent Savers’ Board in November 2018, serving as Chair from April 2019 – March 2021. She has broad experience in UK consumer credit and financial markets, with a particular interest in helping people access fairly priced credit. She is an experienced company director and has served on boards and committees of various trade associations and industry panels in connection with consumer credit and financial services.
She grew up in a HM Forces family and is married with two sons. She enjoys walking the Kent countryside, watching rugby and travelling.
Lucy Swannell
Secretary
Lucy joined Kent Savers’ Board in February 2019. She has more than 20 years experience in the consumer credit sector, with a current focus on conduct and operational risk management. Serving various industry forums and working groups, her focus remains on how creditors can help customers in vulnerable positions and/or financial difficulties.
Lucy lives in Kent and enjoys visiting the county’s many historic castles and gardens.
Alberto Martellini
Director
Alberto joined Kent Savers’ Board in October 2020. He has more than 15 years’ international business development, consulting and finance experience and currently works for a Dow-listed financial institution as Director of Strategy and Analytics. Alberto holds an MBA in Finance, Strategy and Behavioural Sciences and an award in Cash Management from the Association of Corporate Treasurers.
He has lived in Kent since 2017 with his wife and their teenage son. Alberto enjoys running, cycling and open-water swimming.
Samantha Bagnall
Director
Sam joined Kent Savers in January 2021 and specialises in complex programme delivery.
Sam has more than 25 years experience in driving transformational change across retail, consumer finance and capital markets sectors in support of regulation, structural reform and M&S activity. She has a comprehensive appreciation of the architecture, governance and key controls frameworks underpinning change.
Supervisory Committee
Working on behalf of members, an independent committee that assesses the effectiveness of the controls operating throughout Kent Savers, through audit, attendance at Board meetings and review of governance.
Muhitur Rahman
Muhitur joined Kent Savers’ Supervisory Committee in January 2021. He is a seasoned Risk Manager with broad experience in credit risk portfolio management in wholesale and retail banking, covering multiple asset classes and geographies.
Muhitur is ethically minded with a keen interest in philanthropy and addressing social and environmental issues.
He was born and raised in the Medway Towns where he continues to live.
Nigel Clibbins
Nigel has over 35 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry, particularly in the disciplines of finance, risk, operations and auditing. He has worked in both large and small regulated lending organisations at Board level.
More recently Nigel has used his vast experience to advise business across a range of industries on strategic issues.
Nigel is a champion of financial inclusion and treating customers fairly. He has lived in Kent for 20 years.
Expert volunteers
The board and management team are grateful for the contribution of expert volunteers, who work with in advisory capacity and to assist with projects across the credit union. It is natural progression for expert volunteers to move into formal Board and/or supervisory committee roles over time.
Perry Inglis
Financial Services
Perry joined Kent Savers in 2023. From University he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor before moving into Banking. He has over 30 years experience in Investment Banking particularly raising finance for best in class lending companies across the UK and Europe. He has held responsibility for large teams in Banks and Credit Rating Agencies and currently also runs a finance boutique. He believes that fair finance should be available for all members of society when they need it. He is married with three adult sons (but so far no grandchildren).
Adam Male
Fin tech
Adam joined Kent Savers in September 2021 and he focusses on Business Development for Kent Savers.
He began his career in investment banking before leaving to start his own business within the property technology sector. He developed innovative technology streamlining the rental process for landlords and tenants in the UK before exiting the business in 2018 to a major media company.
Adam is married with two children and lives in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
Anthony Taylor
Risk management
Anthony joined Kent Savers in May 2022. Anthony has always lived in Kent, currently in Ashford and has three children, with three grandchildren.
Anthony has had a 30 year career in operational H&S, compliance and risk management and supports our marketing while chairing our Risk & Compliance sub-committee.
Mary Reuben
Regulatory
Mary Reuben is a financial crime audit specialist with over 16 years’ of working experience within the financial services industry. She focuses on AML/MLRO and regulatory responsibilities for Kent Savers (KS).
Prior to joining KS, Mary volunteered as the Chair of the Board of a non-for-profit organisation in the UK for 10years.
Mary lives in Kent with her husband and their children.
Mary has broad range of academic and professional affiliations. She has master’s degree in Accounting and Finance from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). She is fellow of the Association Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) while being a member/affiliate of the Institute of Compliance Association (ICA), Association of Certified Anti-money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), Certified in Mortgage Advice Practice (CeMAP), Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Institute of Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).
