October 17 is International Credit Union Day – a day when we celebrate our members, as well as the unique benefits of cooperative banking and the things that make us different from the big banks.

This year, we are also celebrating our recent merger, which made us one of the largest and strongest credit unions in Canada! We are now province-wide and ready to provide cooperative banking to all Albertans, no matter where they live.

outline of people in brand colours and additional palette depicting community

As a member, you may be asking why you have not yet seen or experienced any big changes since we announced the merger. Know that this is intentional. We are working hard behind the scenes to ensure that we deliver a well-planned, seamless merger experience for every member.

And please remember that the merger set the stage for us to be able to provide the products and services that will make cooperative banking better for credit union members. Although the external pressures that we told you about during the merger campaign, including evolving technologies and rapid changes to digitization, continue to impact all credit unions, we are working through these challenges and look forward to delivering the merger benefits we promised!

So, stay tuned for updates and changes, and know that together, we will continue to provide the credit union differentiators that the big banks don't offer, including:

  • Local decision making: Staying close to the people we serve is fundamental to our success. Being based in Alberta, we understand and adapt quickly to meet the needs of our members.
  • 100% deposit guarantee: Deposits at Connect First and Servus Credit Union are 100% guaranteed by the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation. This means the money you put in and the interest earned is safe and secure – up to any dollar amount. 
  • Member ownership: We operate using a cooperative model. This means that every member is also a shareholder, which allows them to have a say in the way we operate.
  • Community focus: Unlike the banks, we are deeply rooted in the communities we serve, and we are committed to contributing to the economic and social well-being of the communities where we operate.

Thank you for celebrating cooperative banking with us on International Credit Union Day – and thank you for being part of our credit union!