As Bradford gears up for its 2025 City of Culture celebrations, we’re proud to be renewing our call for Muslim residents to explore faith-friendly savings accounts – ethical savings options that align with Islamic principles.

This campaign holds a special place in our hearts as iIt honours the late Cllr Abid Hussain, former Lord Mayor of Bradford, who was one of the first to publicly endorse our faith-friendly services back in 2019. Cllr Hussain was a passionate advocate for financial inclusion and worked tirelessly to ensure that Bradford’s Muslim community had access to ethical, inclusive financial services.

Although he sadly passed away during the Covid pandemic, his legacy lives on through his son, Cllr Mohsin Hussain, who is proudly continuing his father’s work alongside the current Lord Mayor, Cllr Mohammed Shafiq.

Recently, Cllr Shafiq, Cllr Hussain and the Imam of Madni Jamia Masjid on Thornbury Road hosted BDCU for a special event at the mosque. The event encouraged Muslim families to consider savings options that avoid interest and instead offer dividends – an approach that respects Islamic financial values.

In a heartfelt tribute, Cllr Mohsin Hussain reflected on his father’s vision, saying: “My father believed deeply in financial inclusion and worked tirelessly to ensure the Muslim community felt welcomed and represented. It’s an honour to continue his legacy and help others benefit from the services he championed.”

Lord Mayor Cllr Shafiq added: “BDCU has always supported our city’s diverse communities. Their faith-friendly accounts offer a safe and ethical way for Muslim residents to save. I’m proud to support this initiative and honour the legacy of Cllr Abid Hussain.”

Our spokesperson, Ian Brewer, added: “We’re humbled by the continued support from the community. This initiative reflects our mission to serve everyone in Bradford with respect, dignity and understanding.”

At BDCU, we proudly serve more than 11,000 members across Bradford, Kirklees and Craven and we’re committed to helping people improve their financial wellbeing, whatever their background or beliefs.

To find out more about our savings accounts or our other products and services, click here.