5.25.2023

Setting Up A Rotating Savings Club In The UK: Everything You Need To Know

Setting up a savings club relies on community and tradition. That’s why rotating savings clubs are popular in cultures all over the world — from Bangladeshi committee to Nigerian ajo.

When you move to the UK, it can be difficult to strike a balance between your traditions and local customs. But by setting up a rotating savings club or informal loan club, you and your community can save and share funds the way you always have.

Follow this guide to find out everything you need to know about setting up a ROSCA in the UK.

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What is a rotating savings club and how do they work?

A rotating savings club and association (ROSCA) is the academic name for any kind of informal saving or loan club. Savings clubs are widely used around the world, and are often more commonly known by their local names, such as pardna, gameeya, committees, ayuuto, ajo, susu, tandas, or hagbad.

Each club consists of a group of people known to one another — usually family and friends — who commit to paying a certain amount of money into the group pot each month (or another agreed time period). It's different from other family savings clubs like Christmas savings clubs.

Every month, one person from the group receives a payout from the pot. Those who receive the money early effectively borrow money from the group, and pay it back over the course of the scheme. People who receive the money later will have contributed enough that they are effectively withdrawing their savings.

Why are savings clubs used?

Savings clubs and ROSCAs are a popular alternative to bank loans and other money lending schemes. This is particularly true in Muslim countries, where Islamic law prohibits receiving or paying interest. But communities in dozens of other regions are also known to use savings clubs and pardna schemes.

From community support to social networking, there are many benefits to joining or starting a ROSCA:

Contributing to causes that are important to you and others in your community
Save money without needing a UK bank account
Borrow money from trusted friends and family, without a defined credit score
Borrow money from your community without paying interest

At their heart, ROSCAs are designed to help people save money while building wealth across the entire community. Bloom’s technology enables you to manage your ROSCA from a single central app, creating a safer, easier way to support your friends and family.

How can I set up a savings club in the UK?

Savings clubs are usually organised by one person. It is the organiser’s responsibility to:

Collect the details of the club contributors
Determine how much each person will pay in
Establish how much money will be contributed and paid out each month
The order people receive the payout.

The organiser must then track the incoming and outgoing payments to make sure there is always enough money in the pot. They may also need to travel to collect and deliver cash for contributors.

Contributors often pay a token gratitude fee to the organiser, known as tipping or throwing a hand.

Who should I invite to be part of my savings club?

Most savings clubs consist of family and friendship groups. Some people form savings clubs with fellow churchgoers or friends from mosques. They're also popular among work colleagues. That’s because the system relies on trust and community to work effectively.

There’s no limit to how many people you can invite to become part of a savings club. The more people you invite, the more money each person will get — but it may also be more difficult to manage.

Is it easy to set up a savings club in the UK?

Setting up a savings club isn’t always easy, especially if you have a large group of contributors. You need to be very organised, and it helps if you’re a well-known member of the group, so contributors trust you with their money.

You’ll also need to ensure each member pays into the club promptly each month, so the other members can receive their money on time. This sometimes involves collecting and delivering large sums of money from around the country.

However, with the right technology, it can be easy and secure to set up a savings club for you, your friends, and your family.

What are the risks of setting up a savings club?

There are some risks involved in setting up and being part of an informal savings club or ROSCA. For example:

Carrying cash can make you a target for criminals
It can be expensive and inconvenient to send or deliver money around the country (or even to the other side of town)
Organisers will spend a lot of time collecting, withdrawing, and delivering cash
Organisers must carefully track and send incoming and outgoing money
If someone stops paying in, it can cause problems for the rest of the club.

Spotting fake savings clubs

Savings clubs can be the subject of scams. Profiteers and scam artists have been known to set up savings clubs with the promise of making money, only to disappear with your cash once you’ve paid into the club.

Savings clubs should be built around people you know and trust. To avoid losing money to a fake savings club, never transfer money to someone you don’t know, and be wary of schemes that promise big profits.

Is a pardna scheme the same as a savings club?

Yes! Savings clubs have dozens of names, depending on the community using them. This includes pardna, gameeya, ajo, esusu, committee, and more.

How technology can help you create a rotating savings club

Savings clubs are steeped in tradition — but that doesn’t mean you can’t use technology to make them easier to manage. Using a purpose-built app like Bloom, you can set up and manage your savings club online, while minimising the risk of fake scams, theft, and inconvenient cash delivery.

Bloom offers a trustworthy way to set up and manage your rotating savings club. It’s also designed to be ethical and Sharia-safe, so people across all communities can benefit from our technology.

Learn more about what Bloom does and who it’s for.