Stride Credit Union reviews 2022-23 year

By Casper Wehrhahn Neepawa Banner & Press

taining the Chamber, but revitalizing it. And while that wasn’t an easy task over the last few years, the Gladstone & Area Chamber of Commerce has been able to achieve those lofty goals.

White said, in its own way, this upcoming Trade Show and Expo parallels, the Chambers return to relevance.

“[A few years ago] our Chamber of Commerce was running with just a handful of members, but we’ve been able to turn it around and turn it into a great way to network. We’re hoping the Trade Show and Expo will be to build off of that, as well.”

The event will feature what is being called silver collection entry, and will have all donations used to off-set the costs of event and toward initiatives hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.

The Gladstone and Area Chamber of Commerce Trade Show and Expo will run from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on May 6. The final deadline for display registration is due by Apr. 30. Additional details can be found on the Chamber’s Facebook page.

Stride Credit Union held its digital Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the 2022-23 year on Apr. 12, 2023. A total of 75 members and five guests attended the proceedings.

Three board positions were available, to which the following were successfully nominated: Keith Jury, Verna Otto and Gerald Plaisier. MNP was voted to remain as Stride’s auditor for the 2023-24 season. A variety of by-law changes were also proposed at this AGM, the full extent of which can be reviewed by the public via the AGM package available on their website.

In the report made by CEO Brent Budz, he reflected on the 2022 year, stating, “digital service updates will be done by enhancing member engagement and experience through the digital channels. Journey Wealth had a successful year. Journey offers products that we were unable to offer before. We will continue to have pro-active conversations with our members.”

Stride’s asset report for the year states that members’ loans were up by 12 per cent and total assets by 3.29 per cent compared to 2021. The 2022 numbers for these, respectively, are $793,370,362 and $932,281,196.

Liabilities and equity have members’ savings and deposits at $853,001,219, an increase of 2.55 per cent, while members’ shares went down by 3.61 per cent to create a total of $6,940,330. Stride’s ‘retained and contributed surplus’ increased by 9.93 per cent for a total of $64,346,105.

Stride’s financial income for the year, accounting for a patronage refund of $700,000, was listed at $5,812,279. This is up by $806,653 from 2021.

Looking forward to the future, Stride said that it wishes to “invest in the member experience” by: utilizing streamlined, updated statements; updated and modernized online banking; a new phone system with expanded capabilities; expanding its communications via adding text and chat options for members; and introducing CARE+, which it defines as an enhanced member experience using digital and phone offerings.

Statistics provided by Credit Union Dynamics shows that 88 per cent of Manitobans conduct their banking via mobile app or via web browser.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Stride announced that Surplus Share Buy Back for members 71 years of age and older, as of Dec. 31, 2022 is $242,015. With this, plus the aforementioned member patronage refund of $700,000 Stride states this means over $942,000 is going back to its members.