The Rural Voice, 2003-01, Page 25In December of this year the
membership of the North Huron
Credit Union, itself an amalgamation
of credit unions in Belgrave and
Wingham, agreed to join St.
Willibrord.
The Goderich Credit Union on the
other hand has remained as a single
branch dedicated to serving the needs
of its members in the immediate area.
Without the larger financial resources
of some of the other credit unions it
has concentrated on supporting the
needs of its member/owners with
mortgage and small-business loans.
The Heartland Credit Union has
taken a middle way. Originally
formed in the early 1950s as
the Clinton Community Credit
Union, it was joined during its
middle years by the credit union in
Exeter. In October of 2002 it changed
its name to The Heartland
Community Credit Union and opened
a new branch in Listowel.
Both Heartland and St Willibrord
have, since the beginning, been
heavily involved in the financing of
family farms.
Jim Lynn the CEO of Heartland
says that they currently have more
than $32 million in all types of
agricultural loans accounting for 28
per cent of the institution's total
loans. St.Willibrord currently has
about one third of its loans in the
agricultural sector totaling over $200
million.
In order to service the agricultural
sector, credit unions have developed
partnerships with a variety of other
financial institutions.
The Farm Credit Corporation
(FCC) and credit unions often co-
operate. A farmer's operating funds
will come from the credit union and
the FCC meets capital needs.
The unions also provide trust
services through the Co-operative
Trust Company and wealth
management services through the
Credential Group, which is owned by
the Credit Union Central of Canada.
Both Heartland and St. Willibrord
maintain agricultural advisory
committees to provide local input
into decisions. Marty Rops of St.
Willibrord discussed the importance
of this input. "They keep us aware of
what is happening on the farm," he
said. He commented that one area the
credit union covers might have a
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Heartland41,
Community Credit Union Limited
Clinton Exeter
519-482-3466 ' 519-235-0640
Listowel
519-291-6189
Mitchell & District
Credit Union Ltd.
Mitchell Stratford
519-348-8448 519-271-9083
Shakespeare Sebringville
519-625-8400 519-393-6670
ATM's - Mitchell, Stratford
www.mitchellcu.ca
Saugeen Community
Credit Union Ltd.
Durham Holstein
519-369-2931 519-334-3460
Elmwood
519-363-2305
St. Willibrord
Credit Union
Stratford Wingham
519-271-4883 519-357-2311
www.mycu.com
OTHER OFFICES IN Arkona. Blenheim, Forest. London.
Sarnia. St. Thomas. Strathroy, Waterloo & Watford
HEPCOE Credit Union
Hanover Kincardine Port Elgin Owen Sound
519-364-3473 519-395-3122 519-832-9011 519-371-7355
Member: Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario
JANUARY 2003 21