4 things credit unions do that make banking with them better

Dec 7 2017, 8:47 am

On a scale of one to 10, how much do you like financial advisors?

Be honest…

Unsurprisingly, you’re not the only one. It turns out a lot of millennials have a” negative perception of financial advisers,” according to a millennials and wealth management report by Deloitte.

It also points out that word-of-mouth and personal recommendations significantly influence around 50% of millennials. Yep, they’re more likely to “consult peers and media” instead of using a financial adviser and those who do use an advisor are likely to cross-check the facts using external sources.

So you could say that there’s a sense of distrust felt by youth in Canada when it comes to banking. If you have to question your bank that much, maybe it’s not the one for you. Banking should be easy because you don’t need any unnecessary stress factors in your life.

Luckily, you have another option (no, not carrying cash on you 24/7) – banking with a credit union. These financial institutions act in the interest of their members and work to make things better in your local community (without the drab financial advisor spiel).

With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of four lovely things credit unions do.

They’re involved with the community

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Credit unions understand that most young families in Ontario are dealing with large amounts of debt ranging from credit cards to student loans, and mortgages. Understanding the impact of heavy debt loads on the future of young people, credit unions want to step in and help any way they can. Aside from helping with debt management, they’re also involved in grassroots programs in their communities. Credit union staff members volunteer thousands of hours each year to help local non-profits and community initiatives. And they also help their communities thrive by hiring locally, keeping their members’ dollars local, and reinvesting their profits back in the local area. 

They’re environmentally friendly

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Given the very nature of their cooperative model, it should come as no surprise that over the years, many credit unions have been recognized as Canada’s Greenest Employers. In fact, Ontario’s credit unions have made environmental performance a key part of their growth strategy, and are engaged in a full spectrum of operational improvements. But it doesn’t end there, they also have social and environmental finance innovations aimed at improving every aspect of their operation – from carbon neutrality and paperless banking to responsible investing, assistance for green start-ups, and social enterprise.

They help individuals, local businesses, and charities

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The act of charity is centered around helping people in need. And since credit unions strongly believe in helping people, it’s only natural that they’re involved in a variety of charitable endeavours. From local sponsorships, to grants, bursaries, and even financial literacy blogs, credit unions are pretty much dedicated to helping everyone. They also support local community events and non-profit organizations through donations. When several provinces were suffering from floods earlier this year, multiple credit unions across Canada rallied to donate $150,000 to the Red Cross at a moment’s notice.

They offer tailored financial advice

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Credit union staff ensure products are tailored to the specific financial needs of each customer. This means you’re not going to hear about investment portfolio options when you simply want to set up a savings account (unless you want to). Irrespective of your current financial situation, credit unions can help you tackle debt, save for a large purchase, or plan for a stress-free retirement. With the expertise to provide financial guidance to help their members build a strong foundation for their future, it’s no wonder that more and more Canadians are switching to credit unions. Will you?

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