Vancity recognized as Best Financial Institution, Best Credit Union and Top 3 Best Local Employer for Vancouver
Vancity receives top accolades from Georgia Straight readers
September 7, 2023, Territories of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations/Vancouver B.C. – Vancity is proud to announce it has been voted Best Financial Institution, Best Credit Union and in the Top 3 Best Local Employer in The Georgia Straight Readers' Choice Best of Vancouver Awards. These awards reflect Vancity's commitment to its members, employees, and the communities it serves.
Nez Aquino, Interim President and CEO of Vancity, said, "We are deeply honoured that the people of Vancouver have once again acknowledged Vancity's commitment to both our members' financial well-being and to our employees. These recognitions reaffirm Vancity's unwavering commitment to its core values. Whether through everyday interactions in our branches, our mortgage services, or supporting transformative projects like climate-friendly building retrofits, Vancity consistently puts our members and employees first.”
Vancity secured the top spot among all banks and credit unions on the financial institution list, reflecting its impressive growth, with membership surpassing 562,000 in the past year, solidifying its position as Canada's largest credit union. Because of its continued work on climate action and financial inclusion, Vancity also ranked at the top of financial institutions in Corporate Knights' Canada's 2023 Best 50 Corporate Citizens list.
In 2023, Vancity was also recognized as one of Canada's top employers, including being honored as one of BC's Top Employers 2023, Canada's Top 100 Employers and one of Canada's Top Family-Friendly Employers.
Vancity supports its employees with clear career growth opportunities and a defined-benefit pension plan. It also offers extensive health benefits, including 85 percent maternity and parental leave with an 18-month top-up pay, as well as a mental health coverage option which offers an annual maximum of $10,000 - establishing itself as a leader among employers in providing access to mental health supports across Canada.
The credit union continues to grow, while investing in resilient communities through products and programs that put people and planet first, including:
- Planet-Wise. Members can take climate action with Planet-Wise loans for energy-efficient home renovations and vehicles that emits less carbon. Vancity member perks include a free expert home-energy checkup from City Green and a rebate up to $400 for EnerGuide Home Evaluations.
- Non-profit housing retrofit grants. Vancity is providing $5 million in grants to help non-profit housing providers and housing co-operatives take on deep energy retrofit projects.
- Carbon Counter™. Vancity is the first financial institution in Canada to offer its Visa credit cardholders a way to track the estimated carbon emissions of their credit card purchases.
- Wealth Mindset. An Indigenous financial resilience workshop developed with Elders and Indigenous peoples to embed culturally relevant content which increase financial confidence through learning banking and budgeting skills.
- Resettlement Assistance Program. We provide a strong financial foundation for newcomers. In 2022, we opened more than 1,700 accounts for displaced persons coming mostly from Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine.
- Shared Success. Since 1994, Vancity has disbursed a total of $444 million through member dividends, community grants, local initiatives that address big problems people in B.C. care about, such as affordable housing, climate change, financial resilience, Reconciliation and anti-racism.
For more information on Vancity's commitment to be a financial force for change, visit rethink.vancity.com