Delivering Huge Savings on Travel Across Greater Manchester

The SoundPound Group is a consortium of credit unions who have teamed up to strengthen the credit union message of co-operation and are focused on delivering ethical and fair financial products that make a real difference.

At Metro Moneywise Credit Union we’re incredibly proud to be involved in The SoundPound Group and be one of the credit unions offering these incredible savings on travel across Greater Manchester to their membership.

Press release 10/04/25

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester (GM), with chiefs of credit unions representing The SoundPound Group consortium of GM credit unions.

People across Greater Manchester can now access even more savings on annual Bee Network travel thanks to the introduction of more Annual Bee Network Tickets, available through The SoundPound Group credit unions.

The fruitful partnership between Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and The SoundPound Group, the consortium of Greater Manchester (GM) credit unions, is already successfully delivering the Annual Bee Bus Ticket across the city region. Since the January launch, 242 tickets have been issued, saving the people of Greater Manchester at least £80,000 on their annual bus travel.

Following this landmark achievement in affordable city travel, TfGM and The SoundPound Group have been determined to build on their collaboration to give local people access to further savings on city-wide Bee Network travel through the Annual Tram Ticket and the Annual Bee Bus + Tram Ticket,

The Annual Tram Ticket saves people at least 10% on unlimited annual tram travel compared to 7-day or 28-day tickets and is paid for by weekly or monthly repayments through a GM credit union at no extra cost. Annual Tram Ticket holders only pay for the zones they travel through.

The Annual Bee Bus + Tram Ticket combines unlimited bus + tram travel across GM throughout a whole year into one ticket. The ticket represents a saving of 15% compared to 7-day or 28-day tickets with weekly or monthly repayments through a GM credit union at no extra cost, with ticket holders only paying for their selected tram zones.

You can apply for an Annual Bee Network Ticket through your local credit union today by using the Credit Union Matcher on Tthe SoundPound Group website.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of GM, today celebrated the sustained growth of GM credit union and the successful delivery of the Annual Bee Network Tickets with the chiefs of The SoundPound Group credit unions, “This is exactly what the Bee Network is all about, making travel across Greater Manchester simpler, fairer, and more affordable for everyone. Our partnership with The SoundPound Group is helping thousands of people access the savings and flexibility they need to get around our city-region. It’s a great example of local organisations coming together to deliver real benefits to our communities.“By giving more people the chance to spread the cost of annual travel and unlock bigger savings, we’re making it easier to leave the car at home and choose public transport with confidence. I’m proud to see our credit unions at the heart of that effort and encourage residents across Greater Manchester to have a look at what your local credit union can offer.”

Credit unions are community-owned financial institutions offering safe savings and access to affordable credit. GM Credit unions have been improving lives in Greater Manchester for over 30 years and have been delivering community benefit through the GM consortium of credit unions since 2016.

Ciara Davies, CEO of Metro Moneywise Credit Union and Executive Director of The SoundPound Group with Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester (GM).

Ciara Davies, Executive Director of The SoundPound Group and Chief Executive Officer of Metro Moneywise Credit Union, said, “The Soundpound Group is delighted to be involved in this innovative partnership with Andy Burnham and TfGM which opens up cheaper travel to people living and working in Greater Manchester. Paying for an annual travel ticket upfront means you benefit from some great savings, but we know that not everyone can afford to do that. Now you can spread the cost either weekly or monthly by purchasing an annual ticket, available across the whole Bee Network, through your local credit union.”

The consortium was rebranded as The Sound Pound Group in 2024 to reflect the growing influence of credit unions in shaping local financial services for good. The SoundPound Group is a robust collective of 14 credit unions based across Greater Manchester, focused on delivering ethical and fair financial products that make a real difference. They are empowering Greater Manchester communities with access to financing that’s designed to enhance everyday economic stability, turning pounds into power together.

Partner up with us and find out more about GM credit unions on The SoundPound Group website.

Press enquiries to Josie Shohet - hello@soundpoundgroup.co.uk or 07432220712.