{"id":89087,"date":"2025-03-20T15:59:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T15:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/?p=89087"},"modified":"2025-05-19T10:01:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T09:01:24","slug":"welsh-actor-spotlights-debt-crisis-cardiff-agency-calls-for-fair-banking-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/politics-social-justice\/welsh-actor-spotlights-debt-crisis-cardiff-agency-calls-for-fair-banking-act","title":{"rendered":"Welsh actor spotlights credit crisis: Welsh agency calls for Fair Banking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Michael Sheen highlights the debt crisis for low incomes. One Welsh financial institution explains why it&#8217;s time for the Fair Banking Act now.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2276\" height=\"1280\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077.jpg 2276w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-1400x787.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2276px) 100vw, 2276px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2276\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077.jpg 2276w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1077-1400x787.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2276px) 100vw, 2276px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michael Sheen, 56, Welsh actor, his documentary was broadcasted on Channel 4 of British television. Immage: BBC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Michael Sheen, the Welsh actor, spent \u00a3100,000 of\u00a0his own money to purchase \u00a31 million of debt owed by over 900 people in South Wales. In his\u00a0documentary,\u00a0Michael Sheen\u2019s Secret One Million Pound Giveaway, the community in Port Talbot, South Wales, was affected severely by the closure of the blast furnace, resulting in thousands of workers losing their jobs. Many families around the community fall into poverty and suffer from heavy debt loads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the documentary, Kerry,\u00a0 the manager of the local boxing club gym and community center, who has a full-time job but has been forced to rely on food banks every month and is owed \u00a312,000 in credit card debt. \u201cIt\u2019s really hard because it just seems like a never ending battle. I don\u2019t know the interest is multiplying and getting bigger and bigger.\u201d Kerry says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt seems wrong that the people who are struggling the most are the ones that end up paying such high rates,\u201d says Karen Davies, the CEO of Purple Shoots, a non-profit microcredit institution, which dedicated to providing accessible and ethical financial support to those rejected by mainstream banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-1400x787.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1060-1400x787.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Karen Davies,  founded Purple Shoots in 2013. It&#8217;s a not-for-profit microfinance organisation set up to tackle unemployment and economic problems in Wales. Immage: cinnamon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the Money and Pensions Service, more than eight million people in the UK were in debt in 2023, with a further 12 million living on the edge financially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s partly to do with a system that the banks just don\u2019t serve the people at the bottom end of the market. Because the banks think they are too high-risk, and they are not interested in small amounts of money,\u201d says Karen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a 2024 Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) report, low-income households are struggling to afford their bills. In October 2024, 2.2 million low-income families (19%) held high-cost credit loans from unregulated lenders (loan sharks), doorstop lenders, payday lenders or pawnshops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As housing, energy, and other bills continue to rise, many families have been coping with the higher cost of living by depleting their savings and relying on credit cards. However, due to low credit scores, more people who might not be approved by traditional lenders are turning to high-cost lenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-1400x787.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1138-1400x787.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Purple Shoots was presented with the award for Top 100 Go-To Business organized by Zokit and presented at the The South Wales Business Expo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere are many reasons for a bad credit score. If you are late with the payment to a water board and your council tax, or new immigrants or refugees, then that counts against you,\u201d Karen says, \u201cIt\u2019s kind of a downward spiral. It\u2019s not because they can\u2019t manage money, they just don\u2019t have enough money. The only option for them is high-cost providers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople who come to us are trying to find a way out. When we look at their finances, they are really struggling. They are trying to start a business to improve that. Their income from the welfare state is not enough to cover the living costs,\u201d says Karen, \u201cThey invariably have got some sort of high-cost credit or a loan from somebody that is very expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to provide a fair financial environment for low-income families, Sheen founded the End High Cost Credit Alliance in 2017. He has campaigned against high-cost credit and is lobbying MPs to consider the Fair Banking Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1817\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1-132x300.jpg 132w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1-770x1749.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1-676x1536.jpg 676w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1-293x665.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1817\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1-132x300.jpg 132w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1-770x1749.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1-676x1536.jpg 676w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1129-1-293x665.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/financeinnovationlab.org\/our-work\/grow\/fba\/\">Finance Innovation Lab<\/a>, the Fair Banking Act would require mainstream banking institutions to disclose their performance in financial exclusion within a transparent and open data disclosure framework. Furthermore, it would require providing fair services to those who are underserved and excluded, either directly or via a partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs we are a charity, we don\u2019t have the budget that big banks have,\u201d Karen says, \u201cWe think the Fair Banking Act would be beneficial for us and for people who borrow money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although credit can provide short-term financial support, it often cannot address the long-term root causes of poverty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to providing small loan funds, Purple Shoots is also running some self-reliant groups, such as craft workshops, woodwork activities, and community cafes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-2048x1151.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-1400x787.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-89445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-2048x1151.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/WechatIMG1068-1400x787.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Self Reliant Groups was founded in 2014, which give people the opportunity to come together to make new friends, develop new skills and rebuild their confidence.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are trying to create a pathway for people into employment or enterprise. We start off the little groups with people who are very far from employment but want to change and try,\u201d Karen says, \u201cIt\u2019s a way of helping people who are not confident and who think they can\u2019t earn money. We encourage them to think about what they need to do next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt might not go all the way to employment or a job. Some of the groups just earn a little extra money. But it offers something completely for all the people at the bottom of the market.\u201d Karen says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI set up Purple Shoots to fundamentally tackle poverty and unemployment that I saw around being Wales,\u201d Karen says, \u201cTo help people who were facing poverty and want borrow money to start a business. But it\u2019s also for people that no one else will help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Purple Shoots is also supporting a program called the prison program. In the last year, Purple Shoots has been working in a local prison, helping prisoners interested in self-employment to plan their businesses and then supporting them when they are released to get those businesses off the ground. 12 prisoners so far have been supported in this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe want to cover the whole of the UK or for other organizations like us to start up the same thing so that there is a proper provision for people who are at the bottom end of the marker,\u201d Karen says.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Michael Sheen highlights the debt crisis for low incomes. A Welsh financial institution explains why it&#8217;s time for the Fair Banking Act now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1230,"featured_media":89541,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[1224,277],"coauthors":[1302],"class_list":["post-89087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics-social-justice","tag-cost-of-living","tag-human-rights"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Welsh actor spotlights credit crisis: Welsh agency calls for Fair Banking - InterCardiff<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Welsh actor spotlights credit crisis: Welsh agency calls for Fair Banking - InterCardiff\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Michael Sheen highlights the debt crisis for low incomes. A Welsh financial institution explains why it&#039;s time for the Fair Banking Act now.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/politics-social-justice\/welsh-actor-spotlights-debt-crisis-cardiff-agency-calls-for-fair-banking-act\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"InterCardiff\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61566512732231\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-20T15:59:23+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-05-19T09:01:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2025\/03\/\u7c73.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2276\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mengfei Zhou\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mengfei Zhou\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/politics-social-justice\/welsh-actor-spotlights-debt-crisis-cardiff-agency-calls-for-fair-banking-act\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/intercardiff\/politics-social-justice\/welsh-actor-spotlights-debt-crisis-cardiff-agency-calls-for-fair-banking-act\",\"name\":\"Welsh actor spotlights credit crisis: Welsh agency calls for Fair Banking - 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