Archbishop of Canterbury lays down challenge to payday lender after launching new credit union earlier this month
The Most Rev Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, says he has had a 'very good conversation' with Wonga's chief executive. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA
The archbishop of Canterbury has told Wonga that the Church of England wants to "compete" it out of existence as part of its plans to expand credit unions as an alternative to payday lenders.
The Most Rev Justin Welby said he had delivered the message to Errol Damelin, chief executive of Wonga, one of Britain's best-known payday lenders, during a "very good conversation".
"I've met the head of Wonga and we had a very good conversation and I said to him quite bluntly 'we're not in the business of trying to legislate you out of existence, we're trying to compete you out of existence'," he told Total Politics magazine.
"He's a businessman, he took that well."
The archbishop's remarks come after he launched a new credit union for clergy and church staff earlier this month at the General Synod in York.
Welby, who has served on the parliamentary Banking Standards Commission, has said he plans to expand the reach of credit unions as part of a long-term campaign to boost competition in the banking sector.
There are also plans to encourage church members with relevant skills to volunteer at credit unions. Small, local lenders could also be invited to use church buildings and other community locations with the help of church members.
The government announced an investment of £38m in credit unions in April to help them offer an alternative option to payday lenders.
The entire pay day lending industry, worth £2bn, was referred last month for a full-blown investigation by the Competition Commission after the trading watchdog uncovered "deep-rooted" problems with the industry.
The Office of Fair Trading said it decided to make the referral because it continues to suspect that features of the market "prevent, restrict or distort competition".
Wonga said in March that it welcomed any attempt to encourage responsible lending and that it has been "instrumental" in helping to raise industry standards.
Damelin, founder of Wonga, said: "The archbishop is clearly an exceptional individual and someone who understands the power of innovation.
"We discussed the future of banking and financial services, as well as our emerging digital society.
"There is mutual respect, some differing opinions and a meeting of minds on many big issues.
"On the competition point, we always welcome fresh approaches that give people a fuller set of alternatives to solve their financial challenges. I'm all for better consumer choice."
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