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While banks and banking are widely understood , the term credit union is still unknown to many . Is it just another name for a bank ? Is it a credit card company ? Do I have to be in a union to join ?
Here ’ s a brief history on the origins of credit unions , where the name came from and a little on what makes them unique :
Where democracy and equality are valued
According to this article , Canada ’ s credit unions were the first financial institutions to lend to women in their own name ( without a male cosigner ).
Essentially , a co-operative is an autonomous association of people who are voluntarily united to meet their common economic , social and cultural needs and aspirations . They do this through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise based on the values of self-help , selfresponsibility , democracy , equality , equity and solidarity . In the tradition of their founders , co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty , openness , social responsibility , and caring for others .
Lending money on the basis of character , not wealth
In the beginning most credit unions formed around a common bond such as a workplace , trade , church or ethnic affiliation . This made sense given that the original idea behind credit unions was to lend
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money on the basis of character rather than wealth or property . The commonbond credit unions increased access to credit , but left out those who didn ’ t belong to one of these groups .
A German model that spread to North America
The credit union model sprang up in Germany in the 1850s and by the end of the 19th century they had taken root across Europe ( where they are still very popular ). These upstart financial institutions , which drew inspiration from co-operative successes in other sectors including retail and agriculture , went by a variety of names like people ’ s banks , co-operative banks and credit associations .
While these early credit unions had slightly different names , they were all best identified by their adherence to co-operative principles , especially those related to membership and control .
North American credit unions were established in the early 20th century , emerging at a time when banks made it difficult for the average citizen to borrow or invest . The first credit union in North America , the Caisse populaire de Lévis in Quebec , began operations in 1901 with a 10 ¢ deposit . Founder Alphonse Desjardins ( a former journalist and the Frenchlanguage stenographer for the House of Commons ), was moved to take up this mission in 1897 when he learned of a Montrealer who had been ordered
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to pay nearly $ 5,000 in interest on a loan of $ 150 from a moneylender .
Drawing extensively on European precedents , Desjardins developed a distinctive parish-based model for Quebec : the caisse populaire . The literal translation of caisse populaire is “ popular cash register ,” which speaks to providing access to cash and credit to people with limited income . These people were considered as less desirable customers by the established banks , who were in business to turn a healthy profit . The Vancouver Movement In the 1940s , a few credit union activists in Vancouver began promoting the idea of an open or communitybased credit union that would allow any resident of the city to join . Although it was a rather unorthodox idea at the time , supporters of the idea were passionate . These activists eventually founded Vancouver City Savings Credit Union , known today simply as Vancity .
Although the word ‘ credit ’ might make you think that the earliest credit unions offered only credit services , they usually also offered savings services and sometimes payment and insurance services . The word ‘ union ’ can also be confusing . You may think that members of a credit union need to be member of a labour union , but that ’ s not the case . Members are simply united because they share a similar situation . This can be where they live , work or what they believe
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in . Written , July 1 , 2016 by It ’ s a
Money Thing
It ’ s a Money Thing is a financial education series supported by credit unions across North America , including Vancity . It aims to engage and teach young adults about money .
THE ONE FILIPINO COOPERATIVE OF BC
The One Filipino Co-operative of BC , the first ever Filipino Co-operative Organization in BC was launched on October 31 , 2009 . The Co-op ’ s objective is to enhance the lives of the members , our kababayans , and support one another through cooperative effort or bayanihan . It is founded on the principles of self-help , responsibility , equality , democratic governance , focus on services to members , equitable distribution of benefits and earnings , and commitment for community growth and development .
Para sa mga nais maging member ng One Filipino Cooperative of BC , Makipag- ugnayan lang po sa email : filcoopbc @ yahoo . ca ; call / text : 604-780-2061 ; website : www . filcoopbc . com or facebook : filipino cooperative .
“ MATUTULUNGAN KA NA , MAKAKATULONG KA PA
KAYANG- KAYA KUNG SAMA- SAMA !”
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