People's Choice Credit Union
 | |
| Credit union | |
| Industry | Financial services |
| Headquarters | Adelaide, South Australia |
Key people | John Cossons, Chair of Board of Directors, Steve Laidlaw, Chief Executive Officer[1] |
| Products | Retail banking, Investment, Insurance, Financial Planning |
| Members | 348,000 (2016) |
Number of employees | 1,100 (2016) |
| Website | peopleschoicecu.com.au/ |
People's Choice Credit Union is one of Australia’s largest credit unions, offering loans, credit cards, transaction and savings accounts, financial advice and insurance.
With over 1,100 employees, $9.6 billion of funds under management and advice, 348,000 members, 45 branches and 4 advice centres and a network of more than 3,000 rediATMs across Australia,[2] People’s Choice Credit Union offers an alternative to the ‘big four’.
Created through the merger of Australian Central Credit Union and Savings & Loans Credit Union in December 2009, People’s Choice Credit Union’s origins date back to 1949.[3]
People’s Choice Credit Union is involved socially and economically with its members and the wider Australian community. This involvement takes many forms, including:
- Corporate social responsibility (CSR) partnerships with Cancer Council SA, The Big Issue, Riding for the Disabled, HeartKids and Life Without Barriers;
- The People’s Choice Community Lottery, which has raised almost $16 million for thousands of not-for-profit organisations;
- Employee fundraising and volunteering, with more than $62,500 raised and 2,360 hours volunteered by hundreds of staff throughout 2015/16;
- Sponsorship of major community events, such as the Credit Union Christmas Pageant, the People’s Choice Classic as part of the Santos Tour Down Under and People’s Choice BASSINTHEGRASS [4]
History
It has merged with a number of other credit unions in its history, including the Northern Territory Credit Union.[5] In August 2009, it announced plans to merge with another credit union, Savings & Loans,[6] with the first post-merger branch opened in December 2010.[7]
On 27 June 2011, members of the credit union voted to change the name to People's Choice Credit Union,[8] this change was adopted on 18 July 2011.[9] Ironically, the members of Australian Central Savings and Loans were not given a list of names to choose from, and instead were given a Hobson's choice.[10] They were given one name at a time, in ignorance of any other possible names, until there were enough votes to approve the name they were asked to vote about.[11] The first name proposed was People's Credit Union.[12] This name failed. The second name proposed was People's Choice Credit Union which passed the vote in the 27 June meeting.[13]
References
- ↑ https://www.peopleschoicecu.com.au/about-us/news-centre/2015/steve-laidlaw-appointed-peoples-choice-ceo/
- ↑ https://www.peopleschoicecu.com.au/about-us/our-story/
- ↑ "'Our story'". People's Choice Credit Union. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ↑ "'In the community'". People's Choice Credit Union. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ↑ "Merger brings $7.2m profit for Australian Central Credit Union". ABC News. 18 February 2002. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
- ↑ McDonald, Sarah (13 August 2009). "Savings & Loans, Australian Central Credit Union Plan to Merge". Bloomberg. Retrieved 16 November 2009.
- ↑ Emmerson, Russell (2010-12-07). "First branch of merged credit union". adelaidenow. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ↑ 27Jun2011. "People's Choice Credit Union - Members approve People's Choice Credit Union". Peopleschoicecu.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ↑ 15Jul2011 (2011-07-18). "People's Choice Credit Union - Launch of People's Choice Credit Union". Peopleschoicecu.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ↑ "here&now". Savingsloans.typepad.com. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ↑ "here&now". Savingsloans.typepad.com. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ↑ "here&now". Savingsloans.typepad.com. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
- ↑ Booth, Meredith (2011-06-27). "Australian Central Savings & Loans now People's Choice". adelaidenow. Retrieved 2012-06-06.