1st Choice Savings & Credit Union Ltd is a credit union located in AB. It was founded in 2001 through the merger of Southland Credit Union and St. Patrick's Savings and Credit Union. It serves Southern Alberta.
1st Choice Savings & Credit Union is a Lethbridge based financial cooperative with roots reaching back to 1938, when St. Patrick’s Credit Union began serving members in the city. A separate predecessor, Lethbridge Central Savings & Credit Union, was formed in 1941 and later became Southland Credit Union through local amalgamations. In 2001, Southland and St. Patrick’s joined together to create 1st Choice Savings.
Today, 1st Choice serves communities across southern Alberta with personal, business, and agricultural banking, including lending, mortgages, investments, and financial advice. Its work is focused on cooperative ownership, local service, and financial support for families, farms, and businesses in the region.
As a member owned cooperative, 1st Choice emphasizes fair treatment, personalized service, and the use of member deposits to support local financial activity.
| Metric | 2025 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Assets | $940.0M | +13.1% |
| Loans | $820.0M | +17.0% |
| Deposits | $807.0M | +7.2% |
| Mortgages + HELOCs | $538.0M | +12.3% |
| Efficiency Ratio | 86.4% | — |
| Members | 18,000 | — |
| Branches | 5 | — |
| Target Members | Southern Alberta | — |
To find more information refer to our lenders report at WOWA.io.
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