Company:Kindred Credit Union

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Short description: Canadian credit union
Kindred Credit Union
FormerlyWaterloo County Mennonite Credit Union
TypeCredit union
IndustryFinancial services
Headquarters
Kitchener, Ontario
,
Canada
Key people
Ian Thomas (CEO)
Number of employees
200+
Websitekindredcu.com

Kindred Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative based in Ontario, Canada. Headquartered in Kitchener, the cooperative operates eight branches across Southern Ontario and is the province's 12th largest credit union.

History and structure

Originally called the Waterloo County Mennonite Credit Union,[1] it had two name changes prior to being renamed Kindred Credit Union in 2016.[2] The name change was done to appeal to a broader range of prospective clients. The credit union had already previously extended its membership eligibility beyond Mennonites, Amish, and Be in Christ church members in 2010.

Brent Zorgdrager was the CEO from 2010 until his retirement in 2018, when he was replaced by incumbent CEO Ian Thomas.[3]

The cooperative is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values.[4][5] Since December 2016, they are Certified B Corporation.[6] Kindred also is a Certified Living Wage Employer, part of the Ontario Living Wage Network.[7]

As a "faith-inspired" financial cooperative, the credit union strictly limits investments in alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, gambling, military and weapons, as well as other areas that have negative impacts on human rights, employees, and animal welfare. Focusing on socially responsible investments is a key component of their financial strategy in combining mutual aid put into faithful practice.[8]

Awards

As a Certified B Corporation, Kindred Credit Union has been on the "Best For The World" annual list since 2017,[6] ranking within the top 5% in their corresponding size group of all B Corporation members. For the past three years, they have consistently ranked Best For the World: Customers,[6] including 2022.[9]

The credit union was also a Platinum Winner for Aon's Canada's Best Employers in 2019, scoring among the top 25% of all companies surveyed.[10]

References

  1. "Kindred Credit Union Limited". https://www.fsrao.ca/credit-unions/kindred-credit-union-limited. 
  2. Davis, Brent (February 27, 2016). "Mennonite Savings and Credit Union considering name change at Waterloo meeting" (in en). https://www.therecord.com/business/2016/02/27/mennonite-savings-and-credit-union-considering-name-change-at-waterloo-meeting.html. 
  3. Reiner, Veronica (November 29, 2018). "Kindred Credit Union names new CEO" (in en-US). https://observerxtra.com/2018/11/29/kindred-credit-union-names-new-ceo/. 
  4. "Members" (in en-GB). https://www.gabv.org/members/. 
  5. Hadfield, Miles (October 13, 2017). "Ontario’s Kindred Credit Union joins global ethical banking group" (in en-GB). https://www.thenews.coop/123133/sector/ontarios-kindred-credit-union-joins-global-ethical-banking-group/. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 "Kindred Credit Union - Certified B Corporation - B Lab Global" (in en-us). https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us/find-a-b-corp/company/kindred-credit-union. 
  7. "Kindred Credit Union at Ontario Living Wage Network". https://www.ontariolivingwage.ca/httpstwittercomkindredcu. 
  8. Marowits, Ross (January 21, 2021). "Halal investing gives Muslims opportunity to make money in line with religious values" (in en-US). https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/2021/01/21/halal-investing-gives-muslims-opportunity-to-make-money-in-line-with-religious-values. 
  9. "Login - Canadian Credit Union Association". https://ccua.com/wp/https://ccua.com/news/four-credit-unions-named-as-2022-best-for-the-world-by-b-lab/. 
  10. "Canada’s Best Employers 2019: Small- and Medium-sized Companies". November 8, 2018. https://archive.canadianbusiness.com/lists-and-rankings/canadas-best-employers-2019-small-and-medium-sized-companies/. 

External links