Celebrating International Credit Union Day

Celebrating International Credit Union Day

Thursday October 18, 2018

Guest blog
Bernard Gillis, CEO
Provincial Credit Union

Did you know that today is International Credit Union Day? Celebrated every third Thursday of October since 1948, International Credit Union Day celebrates the spirit of the global credit union movement and its dedication to community and the environment.

We are a credit union: a financial institution that is also a co-operative. Members purchase shares in the institution in order to provide financial services (like those a bank provides) to each other.

By owning shares in the institution, credit union members are entitled to specific benefits, as well as a voice in how the credit union is managed. Members are invested in us, and we are accountable to our members.

Community well-being is an integral aspect of our operations. According to statistics provided by the Canadian Credit Union Association, every year credit unions give back an average of 4% of pre-tax profits to local community organizations – well above the industry standard of 1%. And, almost 80% of credit union employees also choose to volunteer during unpaid time off.

It naturally follows that as part of our investment in the long-term health of our communities, we also care about the environment. More and more, credit unions across Canada are demonstrating that leadership in sustainability requires fostering innovative partnerships, finding creative ways to reduce the impact of their operations, and encouraging others to adopt sustainable practices.

As our contribution to a low-carbon economy, we at Provincial Credit Union are proud to announce that we are now choosing 100% green electricity with Bullfrog Power for our entire operations. This allows us to eliminate our electricity-related carbon footprint.

The bullfrogpowered credit union community includes:

Assiniboine Credit Union
East Coast Credit Union
Farm Credit Canada
Provincial Credit Union
Teachers Plus Credit Union
Your Credit Union

We are pleased to be a part of the growing group of bullfrogpowered credit unions across Canada. To all the credit unions and members in the bullfrogpowered community, happy International Credit Union Day!

Click here to learn more about a credit union near you.