The Affinity Credit Union is a financial establishment based in Saskatchewan, Canada. It has 45 branches in 36 communities, scattered around the province. They offer in-branch services and Internet banking through the official website of the union.
Affinity is 100 percent owned by the members, with district councils duly elected by the union membership base. As a community-based organization, the institution supports local life, striving to enhance the social and economic well-being of members. The union recognizes the importance of diversity and heritage and works in partnership with communities and members. Being a cooperative financial establishment, Affinity supports the values of education, training, and information, democratic member control, autonomy and independence, member economic participation, cooperation among co-operatives, voluntary open membership, and concern for the community.
Opening an Account
Individuals can open an account at the website of the union. The difference between online and in-branch services is that Internet offers easier and more convenient banking options. Members who choose this option can make mortgage payments, check account balances, pay utility bills, download and import transaction information into software programs, and much more. However, there are people who prefer in-branch banking as it is a little less complicated, and some individuals are not comfortable using Internet for money matters. Those rank-and-file union members can open an account at the local branch of the institution.
Ways of Banking
Individuals can visit any of the 45 branches all over the province or access ATMs, TeleLendoing, Online Lending, Internet Banking, TeleService Representative Banking, Automated TeleBanking, and Online Trading.
Products and Services
There are four major areas in which the union offers products and services: personal, business, agricultural, and aboriginal.
With personal products and services, clients may open accounts, borrow money, or invest. Customers are offered a wide range of accounts, debit and credit cards, loans, lines of credit, mortgages, credit protection, and others. Members can also choose from a number of different investment plans, e.g. mutual funds, stocks and bonds, educational plans, financial plans, etc.
Business products and services come in a variety of forms. Union members are offered different credit and debit card options, among which the Global Payment MasterCard, Choice Rewards, Global Gold, and Credit Union MasterCard. The Global Payment MasterCard goes with no annual fee, 90-day purchase protection, 24 hours lost/ stolen assistance, protection against damage and theft, etc. Global Gold comes with interest rate of 19.49 percent, annual fee of $96, and grace period of 21 days. The credit limit is between $5000 and $50,000. Members who opt for deposit guarantee should know that no limit applies to the amount of coverage. There are a number of loans on offer: micro loans, mortgages, etc, together with different investment plans suited for businesses.
Aside from personal and business services, the credit union features products for the agricultural sectors (farming and ranching). The branches of Affinity are serviced by experts in the field who help meet the financial needs of farming families. Some of the featured products are deposit guarantees, debit and credit cards, loans through the Business Micro Loan Program, and investment instruments: mutual funds, stocks and bonds, RRSPs, retirement income services, etc. In addition to these products, the institution makes it easy for clients belonging to the aboriginal community to open accounts. Finally, Affinity also provides financial education, aiming to improve member access to its services.