Credit unions in Canada


has significant per-capita membership in credit unions, representing more than a third of the working-age population. Credit union membership is largest in Quebec, where they are known as caisses populaires, and in western Canada.

Legislation

Responsibility for the incorporation and regulation of credit unions resides primarily at the provincial and territorial level in Canada. Credit union legislation exists in every province of Canada but does not currently exist in the three northern territories. Credit unions and caisses populaires operate in every province of Canada. In Quebec, caisses populaires are required to be formally federated with the Caisses Populaires Desjardins.

Federally regulated credit unions

Legislation was adopted under the federal Bank Act in 2012 to allow for the creation of federal credit unions. On July 1, 2016, the Caisse populaire acadienne ltée, with its 155,000 members, became the first federal credit union in Canada. Coast Capital Savings announced the approval from OSFI to become the second federally regulated credit union in Canada beginning on November 1st 2018, the first federal credit union based in British Columbia.
Credit UnionFoundedFederally Expanded
UNI Financial Cooperation19462016
Coast Capital Savings19402018

Provincially regulated credit unions

As of September 30, 2014, there were 696 credit unions or caisses populaires operating in Canada.

Outside Quebec

As of December 31, 2017 there were 286 independently operated credit unions and caisses populaires operating in the nine provinces outside of Quebec holding combined consolidated assets of $223.7 billion CAD.
The largest of these include Vancity, Coast Capital Savings, Servus Credit Union, Meridian Credit Union, First West Credit Union, Conexus Credit Union, Steinbach Credit Union, Assiniboine Credit Union, Cambrian Credit Union, Connect First Credit Union and Affinity Credit Union.
272 of these credit unions and caisses populaires were affiliated through a provincial or regional credit union central to Canadian Credit Union Association, the national trade association. These credit unions operated 1,746 branches across the country with 5.3 million members and $216.3 billion in assets.

Within Quebec

Within Quebec there are 344 caisses that are formally federated with the Caisses Populaires Desjardins as of September 30, 2014.
In 2012, Desjardins served nearly 5.6 million members from 897 locations, with $196.7 billion in assets.

Insurance

Most credit unions in Canada are incorporated provincially and are insured by provincially established institutions.
Federally-incorporated credit unions are insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Credit union firsts in Canada

Credit unions have a history of innovation in Canadian financial services. Here are some of the products and services that credit unions were first to market: