3 minute read
From Our Chair and CEO
As we look forward to where we’re going, it’s often beneficial to reflect on where we’ve been.
We’ve managed our way through the second year of the pandemic and COVID-19’s implications on Saskatchewan communities. While 2020 and 2021 challenged the plans of most organizations, Affinity’s priority of putting employees, members and communities first, rooted in who we are as a co-operative, never shifted. We continued our focus on you, our members, by helping you meet ever-shifting needs while still realizing your goals. In turn, the support and business received from members reflected very positively on our credit union in 2021.
In continuing our journey to be the best credit union we can be for members; we were pleased to again join the list of the 10 largest credit unions in Canada. And for the second year in a row, we were proud to be among Forbes list of World’s Best Banks, as based on members’ sentiment and feedback.
As promised a year ago, we released a refreshed online and mobile banking platform in 2021. With this release, a new Personal Financial Management (PFM) tool named Know Your Money (KYM) was also introduced. This tool intuitively allows members to create and manage budgets, set goals and view spending habits. The tool has been well-received and is an example of the innovation in products and services that members can continue to expect.
2021 also included some significant endings and new beginnings. While we were proud to call the Fairhaven area of Saskatoon home for 30 years, we also recognized that as the city grows and expands, so must our presence. Many of our locations in Saskatoon were concentrated in the central part of the city, with five advice centres located west of the river. Given Saskatoon’s growth, we identified a need to better balance our presence across the city, as to best support our members. With this in mind, we closed the doors of our Fairhaven location in March 2021 and opened the doors of our new Brighton Advice Centre that same month.
The spring and summer of 2021 led to record drought conditions in much of Saskatchewan, which led to increased pressure and stress on farmers and producers. They’re an integral part of our province and membership, and we were called upon to work with many, making efforts to help during a very difficult time. As producers worked hard to meet the challenges on their farms, we offered support and guidance and our advisors remained connected – both on and off the field.
We continue to see evolution and transformation within the financial services industry, and we can assure you your credit union is adapting during this formative time. In 2021, we continued to make strategic business decisions that have been integral to the success your credit union is experiencing today. This success allows Affinity to offer our members enhanced advice and service, competitive rates, quality of access, modernized conveniences and so much more.
We’re excited for what’s in store for your credit union in 2022. Through our shared commitment to excellence and continuous improvement in the service of members, we’re poised to achieve even more!
Mark Lane Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Anderson Board Chair
33,871
enrolled Government Sign-In by Verified.Me users 100% owned by our 141,661
members
786
incredible employees
provided funding to 547
organizations across Saskatchewan
10th
