C R E D I T U N I O N S
S P E C I A L F E A T U R E
A Different
Level of Service
B.C.'s credit unions are driven by innovation
and commitment to their members
I
n the lookalike world of institutional
service in Canada, it's easy to mistake
credit unions for banks. Both have
similar physical structures, and even
the people driving up to the
ATMs seem
to be cut from the same cloth.
Member Driven
But appearances, as the saying goes, are
deceiving. With their roots dating back to
the early 1900s, credit unions are •nancial
cooperatives: locally owned entities that
invest their pro•ts where their members
live and work.
Credit unions are accountable to their
members and operate autonomously, each
with its own management and board of
directors, but united through provincial
centrals that provide •nancial, technol-
o-y and trade services. This network has
power, support and stability. Currently,
Credit unions are known for
offering exceptional services to
small-business customers
