In these difficult financial times, it can be a struggle to accept the fact that your savings are being slowly drained by bank fees, swelling the bank's profits at the expense of your financial security. In fact, many people would like to do as their grandparents did after the recession and start stashing cash in their mattresses, if only the danger of it being lost to fire or theft wasn't so grave. So what's the solution? Do you just roll over and accept the stiff fees? No. There is another option. You could take your patronage to another type of financial institution: a credit union.

Most people think that credit unions are the same as banks, but while they offer the same type of services, the way they are structured and run is completely different. A bank is governed by a CEO and a board of directors whose mission is to maximize the bank's profits in order to line their own pockets. When they invest their clients' money, they are able to take riskier propositions because it is their clients that shoulder most of the risk in a situation where the investment returns a loss.

A credit union, meanwhile, is a type of bank that is founded and run by the people whose money is supporting it. In other words, anyone who opens an account with a credit union is a part owner and therefore has a vested interest in the well being of the bank. And in turn, the board of directors, who are all also clients, have a vested interest in making sure the bank does well and returns dividends to all its clients. As a result, credit unions tend to be more careful with their investments and to invest closer to home in ventures that will benefit their community.

Because of this, many community organizations, such as the Church of the Brethren, have formed their own credit unions. Credit unions are also helpful in developing countries because it allows wealthier members to invest their money within the community, which works to improve the financial health of the whole community. Plus, community, church, and non-profit group members just feel safer when they know that someone who knows them, someone who shares their ideals, is looking after their money for them.

If you would like to learn more about credit unions, the role of credit unions in international development, how credit unions are formed, the roles and responsibilities of credit union owner/clients, or how to form your own credit union, this website can help. We have complied a large selection of articles on the topic of credit unions. Perhaps you can use this knowledge to form a credit union for your church, non-profit group, or community so you can be just like the Church of the Brethren. Just mouse over the topics in the navigation bar at the top of the page to see a list of articles

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Boutet Family Law & Mediation
130 King St W #2300, Toronto, ON M5X 1K6
(416) 408-0444

Dufferin Rogers Dental Clinic Family Dentist & Dental Implants
2032 Dufferin St, York, ON M6E 3R5
(416) 658-3384

The Resurfacer Barn Painters
1673 Richmond St #145, London, ON N6G 2N3
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Trinity Family Dental Clinic Whitby
185 Thickson Rd, Whitby, ON L1N 6T9
(905) 579-5551

TPI Personal Injury Lawyers
2800 Skymark Ave #503, Mississauga, ON L4W 5A6
(905) 361-1500

Uptown Yonge Dental
2717 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4N 2H8
(416) 487-3333

Adelaide Barks Dog Daycare and Boarding
23550 Highbury Ave N, London, ON N0M 1P0
(519) 854-1214

Blue Diamond Window Cleaning Service
1021 Princess Ave, London, ON N5W 5L1
(519) 681-7827

Coronation Construction - Home, Kitchen, Bathroom and Basement Renovations Contractor
2215 Lilac Avenue, London, Ontario N6K 5C5
(548) 888-7366

Super Steam London Carpet & Air Duct Cleaning
1020 Hargrieve Rd #10, London, ON N6E 1P5
(519) 857-9444

Green Collar Landscaping and In-Ground Pool Installation
1632 Wilson St. West Ancaster, Ontario L0R 1R0
(289) 339-8746

Ike's Asphalt Driveway Paving Company and Paving Contractor
4288 ON-3, Simcoe, ON N3Y 4K4
(519) 280-3122

Glenn D. Godfrey & Co. LLP Law Firm
3rd Floor, 35 Barrack Road, Belize City, Belize
+501 223-3530

Elev8 Aesthetic Medicine Inc. Botox Lip Fillers, Microneedling and PRP for Hair Loss
123 Pioneer Dr Building J, Unit #2, Kitchener, ON N2P 2A3
(519) 748-7284

Davidson's Jewellers
790 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3V6
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Easy House Loan Mortgage Broker
940 The East Mall Suite 202, Etobicoke, ON M9B 6J7
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Law Offices of Leonard F. Baer, PLLC - Elder Law Firm
1571 Bowery Rd, Highlands, NC 28741
1 828-371-0383

A to Z Storage, Self Storage Units, Boat & Car Storage
28607 Centre Rd, Strathroy, ON N7G 3H8
(519) 299-0179

Shamrock Pest Management
35 Walker St, Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0
(289) 668-8062

Forest City Bounce & Party Rentals - Bouncy Castle and Party Inflatable Rentals
1020 Hargrieve Rd #10, London, ON N6E 1P5
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