People in the region who may have financial concerns at this time of year are being encouraged to approach their local credit union branch.
The Manager of the North Midlands Credit Union Tom Allen says people shouldn't panic if they find themselves in difficulty and their local Credit Union will always try to help.
The North Midlands Credit Union covers north Westmeath and a significant part of Longford following a merger with Lanesboro/Ballyleague in recent months.
Its recent Annual Report found members saved more than €30 million euro more in the last year.
Tom Allen says people who are in difficulty should never bury their heads in the sand, and the best approach is to talk to institutions like the Credit Union to find out what their best options are.
