Coast Capital celebrates its history and looks to its future on International Credit Union Day

SURREY, BC--(Marketwired - October 20, 2016) - Coast Capital Savings is marking International Credit Union Day by reflecting on its commitment to the principles and values that continue to drive the success of the BC-based credit union.

International Credit Union Day is an initiative of the World Council of Credit Unions, the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. The day, aimed at raising awareness of the contributions of credit unions, strives to attract 50 million new members to their local credit unions by the year 2020.

Don Coulter, President and CEO of Coast Capital Savings, said the theme of this year's celebration, The Authentic Difference, echoes the vision of British Columbia's earliest credit unions to build cooperative financial institutions that offer a compelling alternative to the nation's big banks.

"We join credit unions around the world in celebrating our values and continued success as a financial cooperative, and we are honoured that Coast Capital and our legacy organizations have played a pivotal role in the growth and success of credit unions in B.C.," Coulter said. "All that we are today and all that we will become in the future is inspired by our roots and our continued commitment to helping our members achieve financial well-being and supporting the enrichment of our local communities."

Coulter noted that Coast Capital's founding credit unions on Vancouver Island, neighbouring Gulf Islands, Richmond and Surrey emerged out of difficult financial times in the 1940s and 1950s when people's financial needs were not being met by Canadian banks.

"Over the past 76 years, Coast Capital Savings has delivered an authentic difference to our members' financial well-being through our helpful products and services, our trusted relationships with members, and our deep investments in the community," Coulter said. "A key goal of International Credit Union Day is to build awareness of and invite more people to join their local credit unions. Coast Capital Savings will continue to advance this vision in British Columbia and Canada by passionately focusing on the financial well-being of our members, and contributing to a foundation from which the communities we serve can grow and prosper."

Coast Capital Savings is Canada's largest credit union by membership. A recipient of the 2015 "Outstanding Corporation" Giving Hearts Award, the credit union invested $5 million into local communities in 2015, focusing on empowering and engaging youth. Coast Capital is one of Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures™, a member of Canada's Best Managed Companies Platinum Club, and an Imagine Canada Caring Company. It has 50 branches serving its 532,000 members in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Okanagan regions of British Columbia. Product innovations include Canada's first free chequing account from a full-service financial institution. To learn more, visit coastcapitalsavings.com.