Assiniboine Credit Union Explained

Assiniboine Credit Union
Type:Credit union
Foundation:1943
Location City:Winnipeg, Manitoba
Location Country:Canada
Area Served:Winnipeg and northern Manitoba, Canada
Industry:Financial services
Net Income: C$38.5 million (2022)
Assets: C$6.10 billion (2022)
Num Employees:500 (2018)[1]
Members:140,000 (2022)[2]
Locations:18
Divisions:Outlook Financial

Assiniboine Credit Union (ACU) is a credit union based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

ACU was formed in 1943 by 15 employees of the Winnipeg Electric Company who got together to form the credit union.[3] They named the new credit union after the street their company headquarters was on—Assiniboine Avenue.[4]

ACU now has 18 branches in Winnipeg and northern Manitoba.[5] ACU merged with Astra and Vantis credit unions in 2007.[6]

Branches

, Assiniboine Credit Union has 18 branches: 16 in Winnipeg and 2 in northern ManitobaThompson and Gillam.[7]

, ACU has three community economic development, one in Gillam and the other two in the West Broadway and North End neighborhoods of Winnipeg.[8] These branches are deliberately placed in low-income areas in order to provide financial services to those ignored by the large commercial banks.[9]

The North End location was opened in 2012, on McGregor Street at College Avenue. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall toured the facility during her visit to Winnipeg to learn more about Manitoba Credit Unions.[10]

History

In 1943, under the backdrop of World War II and its impact on the world's economies, Ed McCaffrey and 8 co-workers from the Winnipeg Electric Company formed Assiniboine Credit Union, naming it after the street its headquarters was on—Assiniboine Avenue. Many Manitobans at the time were subjected to high interest rates charged by money lenders. McCaffrey and his colleagues thereby established ACU as an open bond credit union that welcomed everyone in the community to join.

In 2020, Assiniboine Credit Union received its B Corporation certification, after received an assessment score of 166.4, the highest in Canada and 6th highest in the world among over 3,500 certified B Corps.

Mergers

Mergers have been a large part of the history and success of credit unions over the years. ACU's history of mergers began in 1948, when Winnipeg Postal District Employees and Federal Employees of Manitoba merged with Keystone Credit Union, which ultimately merged with Assiniboine Credit Union in 1979.

On 24 June 2021, Assiniboine Credit Union signed a formal agreement to merge with Entegra Credit Union, followed by a public announcement 5 days later.[11] [12] [13] Formally taking effect on 1 January 2022, the new entity will retain the Assiniboine Credit Union name; likewise, the current President and CEO of ACU, Kevin Sitka, will head the new credit union, while the CEO of Entegra, Brent Turman, will become Chief Operations and Strategic Initiatives Officer.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Assiniboine Credit Union 2018 Annual Report . Assiniboine Credit Union . 2019-04-05.
  2. Web site: ACU Membership . Assiniboine Credit Union . August 29, 2023.
  3. Web site: ACU. ACU - Our Roots. 2021-05-28. www.acu.ca. en-US.
  4. Web site: Assiniboine Credit Union: Canada . Global Alliance - For Banking on Values . October 10, 2014.
  5. Web site: Locations and Hours of Service . Assiniboine Credit Union . 2016-07-28.
  6. http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/13611.cfm Manitoba credit unions vote to merge.
  7. Web site: ACU. About ACU . 24 April 2024. Assiniboine Credit Union.
  8. http://acu.ca/media/1825/acu-2020-annual-report.pdf ACU 2020 annual report
  9. News: 20 October 2011. Assiniboine Credit Union to open branch in North End: Institutions had abandoned area. Winnipeg Free Press. 2020-09-10.
  10. News: Royal visit 2014: How Camilla found her niche . . 21 May 2014 . 2020-09-10.
  11. Web site: Assiniboine Credit Union and Entegra Credit Union propose merger. live. 2021-07-03. Assiniboine Credit Union. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210629180312/https://www.acu.ca/en/news/assiniboine-credit-union-and-entegra-credit-union-propose-merger . 2021-06-29 .
  12. Web site: An important message for all members: we're getting stronger by coming together. live. 2021-07-03. Assiniboine Credit Union. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182801/https://www.acu.ca/en/news/an-important-message-for-all-members-we-re-getting-stronger-by-coming-together . 2021-07-09 .
  13. News: 2021-06-30. Assiniboine, Entegra credit union boards agree to merge. en-CA. Winnipeg Free Press. 2021-07-03.