CAB generates £11m for Dumfries and Galloway economy
The Citizens Advice Service in Dumfries and Galloway contributed more than £11m to the local economy last year.
The Fraser of Allander Institute (FoA) study considered the advice the service gives on recovering unclaimed benefits and compensation.
It also looked at its contribution to reducing debt and preventing homelessness among local people.
The figure is part of £168.7m the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) across Scotland generate.
Sue Irving, the chief executive of the Dumfries and Galloway service, said: "We have always known that the expert advice our team give to local people has a very significant economic value and so it's great to see that value calculated by such a respected source."
She added: "However the economic value of CAB advice is just one part of the story. This £11m doesn't include the immense social and personal benefit that people get from good advice.
"Every single client who comes to any of our offices across the region comes to us with a personal crisis. In helping those people we are not really focused on generating money but on helping that person and their family."
The study was welcomed by council leader Ronnie Nicholson, who said: "In partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council, the service is providing much needed advice and support to local people.
"This is one of the reasons why our council has entered into a three year contract with an annual value of over £840,000 to enable them to provide money advice services and assistance to those people within our communities that need it most."
The CAB service has offices in Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Annan and Stranrarer.