Credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions that provide banking services to their members. To become a member, you must purchase credit union shares, ranging from $5 to $100. As a shareholder, you can receive all their services, such as conventional mortgages, online banking, and a home equity line of credit. Some credit unions may even pay dividends out to shareholders. Additionally, the mortgage interest rates from credit unions are typically better than a big bank.
Many credit unions started as closed bond unions, meaning they only service a specific segment. For example, a closed bond credit union would only serve members of a particular profession or religion.
Today, only some closed bond credit unions exist, such as the Ontario Provincial Police Credit Union and various Teachers' unions. However, most of them are open bonded and provide their service to the surrounding neighbourhoods. Given most credit unions operate locally, they have a strong understanding of local first-time home buyer incentives.
All Atlantic Canada credit unions have an agreement that allows members to visit other unions. For example, if you're a Nova Scotia Credit Union member, you can walk into a separate PEI company and receive the same service.
Name | Coverage Area | History | Branch, Members & AUM |
---|---|---|
Coast Capital Savings | Transnational coverage but branches are only in BC. | 53 Branches, 535,000 Members and $25,200,000,000 AUM |
Vancity Credit Union | BC; Vancouver | 59 Branches, 518,000 Members and $24,288,000,000 AUM |
Meridian Credit Union | ON; Toronto | 93 Branches, 386,000 Members and $22,978,000,000 AUM |
Servus Credit Union | AB; Calgary, Edmonton | 101 Branches, 378,000 Members and $16,847,000,000 AUM |
First West Credit Union | BC; Southwest regions | 53 Branches, 229,000 Members and $12,036,000,000 AUM |
Prospera Credit Union | BC; Southwest mainland regions | 27 Branches, 122,000 Members and $7,378,000,000 AUM |
Steinbach Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg, Steinbach | 3 Branches, 97,000 Members and $7,097,000,000 AUM |
Conexus Credit Union | SK; Saskatoon, Regina | 30 Branches, 130,000 Members and $6,754,000,000 AUM |
Alterna Credit Union | ON; Southwest, West regions | 37 Branches, 155,000 Members and $6,584,000,000 AUM |
Affinity Credit Union | SK; Saskatoon, Regina | 56 Branches, 123,000 Members and $6,423,000,000 AUM |
Access Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg, Southern regions | 26 Branches, 92,000 Members and $6,000,000,000 AUM |
Connect First Credit Union | Central and Southern Alberta. | 41 Branches, 126,000 Members and $5,817,000,000 AUM |
Assiniboine Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg | 18 Branches, 125,000 Members and $5,450,000,000 AUM |
FirstOntario Credit Union | ON; Hamilton, Halton, Niagara, Southwest regions | 32 Branches, 122,000 Members and $4,831,000,000 AUM |
UNI Financial (UNI Coopération financière) | NB: North, East Regions | 51 Branches, 155,000 Members and $4,800,000,000 AUM |
DUCA Credit Union | ON; Southwest regions | 16 Branches, 75,000 Members and $4,647,000,000 AUM |
Libro Credit Union | ON; Southwest regions | 34 Branches, 108,000 Members and $4,624,000,000 AUM |
Cambrian Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg | 11 Branches, 66,000 Members and $4,136,000,000 AUM |
Innovation Credit Union | SK; Southern, Central regions | 25 Branches, 57,000 Members and $2,940,000,000 AUM |
Coastal Community Credit Union | BC; Vancouver Island | 24 Branches, 86,000 Members and $2,910,000,000 AUM |
Interior Savings Credit Union | BC; South region | 21 Branches, 68,000 Members and $2,734,000,000 AUM |
Crosstown Credit Union | N/A | 9 Branches, 38,000 Members and $2,597,000,000 AUM |
Cornerstone Credit Union | SK; Southeast regions | 23 Branches, 35,000 Members and $2,100,000,000 AUM |
Your Neighbourhood Credit Union (YNCU) | ON; Southwest regions | 19 Branches, 52,000 Members and $2,047,000,000 AUM |
Kawartha Credit Union | ON; Southeast regions | 23 Branches, 73,000 Members and $1,841,000,000 AUM |
Northern Credit Union | ON; Toronto, Sudbury, Ottawa | 31 Branches, 77,000 Members and $1,667,000,000 AUM |
Kindred Credit Union | ON; Southwest regions | 8 Branches, 25,000 Members and $1,478,000,000 AUM |
Synergy Credit Union | SK; West regions | 10 Branches, 25,000 Members and $1,465,000,000 AUM |
Westoba Credit Union | MB; Southwest regions | 16 Branches, 39,000 Members and $1,416,000,000 AUM |
Sunrise Credit Union | MB; Southwest regions | 19 Branches, 30,000 Members and $1,408,000,000 AUM |
Tandia Credit Union | ON; Southwest region | 13 Branches, 30,000 Members and $1,302,000,000 AUM |
Kootenay Savings Credit Union | BC; Southeast regions | 11 Branches, 39,000 Members and $1,296,000,000 AUM |
Vision Credit Union | AB; East, Northwest regions | 18 Branches, 26,000 Members and $1,278,000,000 AUM |
Fusion Credit Union | MB; Western regions | 18 Branches, 32,000 Members and $1,204,000,000 AUM |
Noventis Credit Union | MB; Southeast regions | 12 Branches, 27,000 Members and $1,038,000,000 AUM |
Prairie Centre Credit Union | SK; Southeast regions | 15 Branches, 15,000 Members and $1,000,000,000 AUM |
Aldergrove Credit Union | BC; Aldergrove, Mission | 6 Branches, 18,000 Members and $949,000,000 AUM |
East Coast Credit Union | NS; Eastern regions | 18 Branches, 43,000 Members and $941,000,000 AUM |
Ukrainian Credit Union | ON; Southwest regions | 18 Branches, 25,000 Members and $941,000,000 AUM |
Buduchnist Credit Union (BCU) | ON; Southwest regions | 9 Branches, 20,000 Members and $916,000,000 AUM |
Mainstreet Credit Union | ON; Southwest regions | 12 Branches, 23,000 Members and $843,000,000 AUM |
Valley First Credit Union | BC; Southwest regions | 15 Branches |
Envision Credit Union | BC; Southwest regions | 21 Branches |
Integris Credit Union | BC; Central regions | 7 Branches, 28,000 Members and $832,000,000 AUM |
Sunshine Coast Credit Union | BC; Sechelt, Gibsons, Pender Harbour | 3 Branches, 18,000 Members and $816,000,000 AUM |
Stride Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg | 9 Branches, 19,000 Members and $811,000,000 AUM |
Entegra Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg | 4 Branches, 17,000 Members and $750,000,000 AUM |
Weyburn Credit Union | SK; Weyburn, Yellow Grass, Lang | 3 Branches, 9,000 Members and $735,000,000 AUM |
Penfinancial Credit Union | ON; Niagara | 6 Branches, 20,000 Members and $699,000,000 AUM |
Northern Savings Credit Union | BC; Queen Charlotte, Prince Rupert, Terrace, Masset | 4 Branches, 15,000 Members and $696,000,000 AUM |
Lakeland Credit Union | AB; Bonnyville, Cold Lake | 2 Branches, 11,000 Members and $658,000,000 AUM |
NL Credit Union | NL; Southeast region | 12 Branches, 21,000 Members and $654,000,000 AUM |
Carpathia Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg | 6 Branches, 12,000 Members and $617,000,000 AUM |
Community Savings Credit Union | BC; Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, New Westminster, Coquitlam | 6 Branches, 13,000 Members and $592,000,000 AUM |
Diamond North Credit Union | SK; Central regions | 10 Branches, 13,000 Members and $583,000,000 AUM |
Rosenort Credit Union | MB; Rosenort, Altona, Pembina | 3 Branches, 7,000 Members and $563,000,000 AUM |
Encompass Credit Union | AB; East region | 7 Branches, 10,000 Members and $556,000,000 AUM |
Khalsa Credit Union | BC; Lower mainland, Victoria | 6 Branches, 19,000 Members and $538,000,000 AUM |
First Credit Union | BC; Vancouver Island, Powell River | 8 Branches, 12,000 Members and $526,000,000 AUM |
Sharon's Credit Union | BC; Vancouver, Coquitlam, Surrey | 5 Branches, 14,000 Members and $522,000,000 AUM |
Polish Credit Union | ON; Southeast region | 7 Branches, 17,000 Members and $518,000,000 AUM |
Copperfin Credit Union | ON; Thunder Bay, Kenora | 6 Branches, 20,000 Members and $512,000,000 AUM |
Sudbury Credit Union | ON; Sudbury | 7 Branches, 16,000 Members and $473,000,000 AUM |
North Peace Savings And Credit Union | BC; Northeast regions | 5 Branches, 12,000 Members and $473,000,000 AUM |
Provincial Credit Union | PEI; Charlottetown, Stratford, Montague, Stella Maris | 4 Branches, 15,000 Members and $459,000,000 AUM |
Casera Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg | 3 Branches, 12,000 Members and $444,000,000 AUM |
Bulkley Valley Credit Union | BC; New Hazelton, Houston, Burns Lake, Smithers | 4 Branches, 15,000 Members and $442,000,000 AUM |
Bayview Credit Union | NB, Southern regions | 9 Branches, 26,000 Members and $440,000,000 AUM |
East Kootenay Credit Union | BC; Elkford, Fernie, Sparwood | 4 Branches, 11,000 Members and $431,000,000 AUM |
Pathwise Credit Union | ON; Oshawa, Bowmanville | 2 Branches, 12,000 Members and $417,000,000 AUM |
Niverville Credit Union | MB; Steinbach | 3 Branches, 9,000 Members and $402,000,000 AUM |
Parama Credit Union | ON; Toronto | 2 Branches, 7,000 Members and $398,000,000 AUM |
Motor City Credit Union | ON; Windsor | 2 Branches, 13,000 Members and $395,000,000 AUM |
VantageOne Credit Union | BC; Vernon, Okanagan, Armstrong | 6 Branches, 11,000 Members and $393,000,000 AUM |
Bow Valley Credit Union | AB; Cochrane, Airdrie, Calgary, Canmore, Banff | 6 Branches, 8,000 Members and $376,000,000 AUM |
Rocky Credit Union | AB; Rocky Mountain House | 1 Branch, 7,000 Members and $363,000,000 AUM |
Williams Lake Credit Union | BC; Central regions | 3 Branches, 12,000 Members and $350,000,000 AUM |
Police Credit Union (OPPA) | ON; Barrie | 6 Branches, 13,000 Members and $348,000,000 AUM |
Lakeview Credit Union | BC; Dawson Creek, Tumbler Ridge, Chetwynd | 3 Branches, 10,000 Members and $339,000,000 AUM |
Your Credit Union | ON; Ottawa, Cornwall | 6 Branches, 12,000 Members and $339,000,000 AUM |
Summerland Credit Union | BC; Summerland | 1 Branch, 8,000 Members and $338,000,000 AUM |
Plainsview Credit Union | SK | 9 Branches, 6,000 Members and $322,000,000 AUM |
Swan Valley Credit Union | MB; Swan River | 2 Branches, 8,000 Members and $314,000,000 AUM |
Rapport Credit Union | ON; Toronto, Hamilton, Thunder Bay | 12 Branches, 18,000 Members and $312,000,000 AUM |
Crossroads Credit Union | SK; Canora, Preeceville | 4 Branches, 7,000 Members and $297,000,000 AUM |
Unity Credit Union | SK; Unity | 1 Branch, 5,000 Members and $293,000,000 AUM |
Omista Credit Union | NB; Moncton, Fredericton | 4 Branches, 11,000 Members and $290,000,000 AUM |
Nelson And District Credit Union | BC; Nelson | 3 Branches and $281,000,000 AUM |
Grand Forks Credit Union | BC; Grand Forks | 1 Branch and $277,000,000 AUM |
Sydney Credit Union | NS; Sydney | 3 Branches, 13,000 Members and $265,000,000 AUM |
Consolidated Credit Union | PEI; Summerside | 3 Branches and $258,000,000 AUM |
Accent Credit Union | SK; Quill Lake, Kelvington, Jansen | 3 Branches and $252,000,000 AUM |
Christian Credit Union | AB; Edmonton, Lethbridge | 2 Branches and $250,000,000 AUM |
Biggar Credit Union | SK; Biggar, Landis, Perdue | 3 Branches, 4,000 Members and $246,000,000 AUM |
Valley Credit Union | NS: West regions | 8 Branches, 11,000 Members and $233,000,000 AUM |
Belgian Alliance Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg | 3 Branches and $224,000,000 AUM |
Ladysmith Credit Union | BC; Vancouver Island | 4 Branches and $218,000,000 AUM |
Momentum Credit Union | ON; Oakville, Hamilton | 2 Branches and $215,000,000 AUM |
Compass Credit Union | MB; South region | 3 Branches and $214,000,000 AUM |
Winnipeg Police Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg | 2 Branches and $212,000,000 AUM |
Ganaraska Credit Union | ON; Cobourg | 3 Branches and $211,000,000 AUM |
Equity Credit Union | ON; Ajax | 1 Branch and $210,000,000 AUM |
Revelstoke Credit Union | BC; Revelstoke | 1 Branch, 5,000 Members and $200,000,000 AUM |
Advance Savings Credit Union | NB; Moncton, Petitcodiac, Rexton, Riverview | 4 Branches, 9,000 Members and $200,000,000 AUM |
Columbia Valley Credit Union | BC; Golden | 1 Branch and $194,000,000 AUM |
Spruce Credit Union | BC; Prince George | 2 Branches, 7,000 Members and $189,000,000 AUM |
Kingston Community Credit Union (KCCU) | ON; Kingston | 2 Branches and $185,000,000 AUM |
Eagle River Credit Union | NL; East regions | 6 Branches, 7,000 Members and $180,000,000 AUM |
Raymore Credit Union | SK; Raymore, Dysart | 2 Branches, 3,000 Members and $180,000,000 AUM |
Southwest Credit Union | ON; Sarnia, Corunna, Wyoming, Wallaceburg | 4 Branches and $168,000,000 AUM |
Member Savings Credit Union | ON; Toronto | 1 Branch and $130,000,000 AUM |
Community Credit Union | NS; Truro, Amherst | 3 Branches, 7,000 Members and $128,000,000 AUM |
Progressive Credit Union | NB; West regions | 3 Branches, 6,000 Members and $125,000,000 AUM |
Oshawa Community Credit Union | ON; Oshawa | 1 Branch and $125,000,000 AUM |
Leading Edge Credit Union | NL; West region | 5 Branches, 9,000 Members and $122,000,000 AUM |
Turtleford Credit Union | SK; Turtleford | 1 Branch, 3,000 Members and $91,000,000 AUM |
St Joseph's Credit Union | NS; Petit-de-Grat | 1 Branch, 3,000 Members and $86,000,000 AUM |
Bay Credit Union | ON; Thunder Bay | 2 Branches, 6,000 Members and $83,000,000 AUM |
Median Credit Union | MB; Winnipeg | 1 Branch and $80,000,000 AUM |
Eastern Edge Credit Union | NL; Mount Pearl | 1 Branch and $76,000,000 AUM |
Souris Credit Union | PEI; Souris | 1 Branch, 4,000 Members and $72,000,000 AUM |
Beaubear Credit Union | NB; Beaubear | 2 Branches, 5,000 Members and $69,000,000 AUM |
Dundalk Credit Union | ON; Dundalk, Feversham | 2 Branches, 3,000 Members and $60,000,000 AUM |
Teachers Plus Credit Union | NS; Bedford | 1 Branch, 3,000 Members and $56,000,000 AUM |
Hamilton Sound Credit Union | NL; Gander, Triton, Carmanvile | 3 Branches, 4,000 Members and $55,000,000 AUM |
Acadian Credit Union | NS; Chéticamp | 1 Branch, 4,000 Members and $54,000,000 AUM |
Lahave River Credit Union | NS; Bridgewater | 1 Branch, 3,000 Members and $53,000,000 AUM |
Victory Credit Union | NS; North regions | 3 Branches, 5,000 Members and $51,000,000 AUM |
iNova Credit Union | NS; Halifax | 1 Branch and $50,000,000 AUM |
Glace Bay Central Credit Union | NS; Glace Bay, Sydney | 2 Branches, 4,000 Members and $45,000,000 AUM |
Public Service Credit Union | NL; St. John's | 1 Branch, 6,000 Members and $43,000,000 AUM |
New Waterford Credit Union | NS; New Waterford | 1 Branch, 3,000 Members and $39,000,000 AUM |
Venture Credit Union | NL; Eastern regions | 4 Branches, 4,000 Members and $34,000,000 AUM |
Heritage Credit Union | ON; Chatham | 1 Branch and $32,000,000 AUM |
Morell Credit Union | PEI; Morell | 1 Branch, 3,000 Members and $28,000,000 AUM |
New Ross Credit Union | NS; New Ross, Chester Basin | 2 Branches, 3,000 Members and $25,000,000 AUM |
North Sydney Credit Union | NS; North Sydney | 1 Branch, 2,000 Members and $24,000,000 AUM |
Amaranth Credit Union | MB; Amaranth | 1 Branch and $17,000,000 AUM |
Community First Credit Union | ON; Sault Ste. Marie | 3 Branches |
Educators Credit Union (ECU) | ON; Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge | 3 Branches |
ACBU Credit Union | AB; Beaumont | 3 Branches |
Northern Birch Credit Union | ON; Toronto, Hamilton | 3 Branches |
Cape Breton Credit Union | NS; Sydney, Glace Bay | 2 Branches |
Golden Horseshoe Credit Union | ON; Hamilton | 2 Branches, 8,000 Members |
Vermilion Credit Union | AB; Vermillion, Mannville | 2 Branches |
Osoyoos Credit Union | BC; Osoyoos | 1 Branch |
Pincher Creek Credit Union | AB; Pincher Creek | 1 Branch |
Princess Credit Union | NS; Sydney | 1 Branch |
Dominion Credit Union | NS; Dominion | 1 Branch |
NBTA Credit Union | NB; Fredericton | 1 Branch |
Sandhills Credit Union | SK; Leader | 1 Branch |
Ontario Educational Credit Union | ON; Mississauga | 1 Branch |
New Community Credit Union | SK; Saskatoon | 1 Branch |
Evangeline Credit Union | N/A | N/A |
Malpeque Bay Credit Union | N/A | N/A |
Mountain View Credit Union | N/A | N/A |
Quinte First Credit Union | N/A | N/A |
Union Bay Credit Union | N/A | N/A |
Metro Credit Union | N/A | N/A |
Enderby Credit Union | N/A | N/A |