Membership Payments
Details of the account to be used for Membership payments by Bank Transfer are on the Membership Application Form.
Please note that membership payments should be sent to the Chiswell Green u3a main account, which is different from the the account to be used for trip payments (see below).
For Membership renewal payments, these are members with an existing membership number, it would be helpful to use Mem nnn or Mem nnn nnn as the payment reference (where nnn is the membership number, or nnn nnn are the membership numbers if paying for more than one person). For new members who do not yet have a membership number, please use NEW for the new member. For example: Mem 607 or Mem 607 706 or Mem 607 NEW or Mem NEW or Mem NEW NEW
London Walks Group Payments
London Walks Group payments should also be sent to the Chiswell Green u3a main account. To help the treasurer identify these payments, please use the payment reference LWG nnn or LWG nnn nnn (where nnn or nnn nnn are the membership number(s) of the member(s) attending the walk). For example: LWG 607 or LWG 607 706.
Trip Payments
Please ensure you have registered your interest in a trip with Joy before making a payment. You will receive a trip slip with details of the account to be used for trip payments.
Please note that trip payments should be sent to the CGu3a Social Account, which is different from the account used for membership payments. Please ask Joy for the account details when booking by phone or email if you do not already have them. Please ensure the payment amount is correct as that is how the payments are sorted into the appropriate trips.
Please include your membership number (or numbers if paying for more than one person) as the payment reference. If paying for a guest please enter your membership number followed by the word GUEST. For example: 607 or 607 706 or 607 GUEST. All payments should be made within seven days.
The 18 Character Rule
Please try to use a payment reference in the form suggested above. It is a limit on all bank transfers that the payment reference can only be a maximum of 18 characters including spaces. If you attempt to use a payment reference longer than 18 characters it will be truncated and the treasurer will only see the first 18 characters on the bank statements. For example, if you submit a payment with the reference River Boat Cruise 607 706 this will be truncated to River Boat Cruise and we will not see the important membership numbers and thus not know who the payment is for.
Some Background
At the January 2026 Members Meeting Tony Jackson, our Chair, provided the following insight into some changes being applied by Lloyds Bank which will impact Chiswell Green u3a financial processes and the way members payments are handled.
Firstly I have to say that our Treasurer John Smith has guided the committee in considerations to assist our finances but some things related to banking are out of our control and affect the way we do things.
At this time we must however draw your attention to a change which affects us. Lloyds Bank is introducing a range of charges on payments into and out of accounts. The committee will attempt to minimize the impact, but as members you need to be made aware that the use of cheques will begin to incur a charge to the Chiswell Green u3a. There is also an expectation that cheques will in time be phased out completely.
Some u3a’s already reject the use of cheques in favour of Bank Transfers. We do have an increasing number of members who pay their annual membership by Bank Transfer and we need to move in that direction. We will not exercise this as a requirement in the forthcoming membership renewal in March/April 2026, but we do encourage you to utilise the Bank Transfer method of payment. This will also be phased in for payments for trips and group activities where appropriate.
Whilst necessary to our u3a cost management, we do realise this is a significant change for some of you. Unfortunately it is unavoidable, but please don’t worry about it … we will look to provide guidance to anyone with concerns.
Tony Jackson