Press Releases

February 27, 2025

Vancity and First Credit Union Discuss Potential Merger

Vancity and First Credit Union are excited to share their intention to explore a potential merger. This merger would strengthen local community banking in British Columbia and enhance member access to financial services in communities on the Upper Sunshine Coast; Vancouver Island; and on Bowen, Texada and Hornby Islands.

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February 12, 2025

First Credit Union Named One of BC’s Top 100 Employers (for the Fourth Year in a Row!)

We are pleased to announce First Credit Union has been named one of BC’s Top 100 Employers by Mediacorp Canada.

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January 27, 2025

First Credit Union Recognized for Excellence by Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce

We are pleased to announce First Credit Union has been recognized as the 2024 Business of the Year by the Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce at their annual awards gala on January 25, 2025.

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August 7, 2024

Union Bay Property Sale and Leaseback

We are pleased to announce a strategic decision to sell the Union Bay branch building while simultaneously leasing back a portion of the property. This move is part of our ongoing commitment to optimize resources and enhance service delivery to our valued members.

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June 6, 2024

Community Impact Day: Closing Early Makes a Big Difference

On Thursday, June 20 (Wednesday, June 19 on Hornby Island) First Credit Union branches will close at 1PM as more than one hundred employees head out into their communities to volunteer

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February 13, 2024

First Credit Union named as one of BC's Top Employers for the third consectutive year!

Being acknowledged as a Top Employer in BC is a testament to the hard work and dedication of First Credit Union employees, who are the building blocks of the organization and who continue to work toward the vision of building financially healthy communities.

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August 24, 2023

Remembering the Legacy of Former CEO Dave Craigen: A Visionary Leader and Friend

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our former CEO, Dave Craigen. Dave passed away on August 10, 2023. The entire First Credit Union family is united in mourning the loss of a visionary leader and cherished friend.

Dave’s leadership and dedication were pivotal in driving First Credit Union’s success. He was not only a remarkable leader but also a respected mentor and friend to many within the company,” says Guy Chartier, Board Chair of First Credit Union.

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June 1, 2023

Community Impact Day: Closing Early Makes a Big Difference

On Thursday, June 15 First Credit Union branches around Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast will close at 2pm as more than one hundred employees head out into their communities to volunteer at beach cleanups, community gardens, a seniors’ residence and more.

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February 14, 2023

First Credit Union is one of BC's Top Employers for the second year in a row!

We are proud to announce that we have been named one of BC’s Top Employers for 2023!

Now in its 18th year, BC’s Top Employers recognizes employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. We are honored and grateful to receive this recognition and continue efforts to foster a healthy, vibrant and engaged workforce.

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April 5, 2022

Let's Talk Trash and First Credit Union awarded a $5,000 grant to develop educational signage at the qathet Regional District’s Resource Recovery Centre

We are excited to announce that on Tuesday, April 5, Wyth Financial awarded a $5,000 grant to Let's Talk Trash and First Credit Union to develop educational signage at the qathet Regional District’s Resource Recovery Centre through Wyth's “Empowering Your Community” annual grant program.

In addition to the $5,000 provided by Wyth, First Credit Union has committed a further $7,000 in funding. Once completed, the educational signage project will encourage visitors to creatively re-think waste and view it as a potential resource while enhancing environmental stewardship through a greater understanding of the local natural environment.

Sign categories will focus on three key areas: depicting waste management practices of the past, present, and future, identifying waste materials found on-site during the landfill closure phase that has been repurposed to provide a new function and providing native plant species identification along the trail network. Read more.

February 8, 2022

First Credit Union is one of BC's Top Employers

We are proud to announce that we have been named one of BC’s Top Employers for 2022!

This award recognizes exceptional employers/workplaces that lead in their industries and celebrates our ongoing efforts to foster a healthy, vibrant and engaged workforce. While being honored as a Top Employer in BC recognizes our focus on overall employee wellbeing, we believe it is our employees and their commitment to our members and the communities we serve that make First Credit Union an incredible place to work. Read more.

May 15, 2021

Union Bay Credit Union members vote strongly in favour of a merger with First Credit Union

Members of Union Bay Credit Union have approved a merger with First Credit Union. Operating as First Credit Union, the merged entity will have over $600 million in assets and serve a combined membership of more than 15,500. Read more.

November 13, 2020

Powell River Community Response Fund Awards Additional Funds to Local Community Organizations

The Powell River Community Response Fund has awarded an additional $35,545 to be distributed to ten different projects affected by COVID-19, bringing the total amount donated to local community organizations to over $184,983.00. Read more.

September 11, 2020

Powell River Community Response Fund Announce Fifth Round of Awards

The Powell River Community Response Fund has awarded an additional $6,000.00 to be distributed to two different projects affected by COVID-19, bringing the total amount donated to local community organizations to over $148,465.00. Read more.

August 31, 2020

First Credit Union Announces Branch Renovation to Begin Fall 2020

First Credit Union announced that it will begin an exterior and interior renovation of its Powell River branch (located at 4721 Joyce Avenue) in fall 2020 with an expected completion date late 2021. Read more.

September 1, 2020

Qtrade Asset Management, What’s New?!

You may see a mix of the Qtrade Asset Management & Credential Asset Management Inc. brands. Rest assured, while the logos may be different, they are the same company. Read more.

August 25, 2020

First Credit Union Awards $18,000 in Scholarships

To support the purpose of ‘empowering through knowledge’, First Credit Union offers multiple scholarships annually in each of the communities they serve; Bowen Island, Powell River, Texada Island, Courtenay, and Cumberland. These scholarships support First Credit Union members who are pursuing accredited post-secondary education, including recent high school graduates and adults returning to studies. First Credit Union values the impact these individuals make in their unique communities and local economies. Read more.

August 24, 2020

Let’s Talk Trash receives First Credit Union Sponsorship

The qathet Regional District’s Waste Reduction Education Program, Let’s Talk Trash, has been awarded sponsorship funding from First Credit Union for Zero Waste event equipment. Read more.

August 19, 2020

Powell River Community Response Fund Announces Fourth Round of Awards

The Powell River Community Response Fund has awarded an additional $26,465.00 to be distributed to three different projects affected by COVID-19, bringing the total amount donated to local community organizations to over $142,465.00. Read more.

August 4, 2020

NEI’s Responsible Investment Program Earns Highest Marks Possible

NEI Investments (“NEI”) is proud to announce it has been awarded the top score of “A+” across all assessed categories in the 2020 report by the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (the “PRI”), the world’s leading proponent of responsible investment. While NEI has consistently received strong marks for its responsible investment program, these are the highest grades the company has achieved. Read more.

July 31, 2020

Powell River Community Response Fund Announce Third Round of Awards

The Powell River Community Response Fund has awarded an additional $23,000 to be distributed to three different projects affected by COVID-19, bringing the total amount donated to local community organizations to over $116,000. Read more.

July 10, 2020

Powell River Community Response Fund Awards Additional $32,000 to Local Organizations

The Powell River Community Response Fund has awarded an additional $32,000 to be distributed to five different projects affected by COVID-19, bringing the total amount donated to local community organizations to over $93,000. Read more.

June 22, 2020

Powell River Community Response Fund Announce Awards

The Powell River Community Response Fund has awarded $61,973 to be distributed to seven different projects. Read more.

June 12, 2020

First Credit Union Shares Profits with Members

We are proud to announce that in conjunction with our 81st Anniversary we are giving back over $305,000 in profit share to our members! Sharing profits is our way to reward members, and a differentiator when it comes to doing business with credit unions. Read more.

May 20, 2020

Local community organizations join together to launch Community Response Fund

A group of local organizations announced today the creation of the Powell River Community Response Fund (CRF) — a special fund to rapidly deploy essential relief to organizations providing frontline services to those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Read more.