Access Credit Union, which has a number of branches here in southeastern Manitoba, reports its assets grew by about eight per cent last year to $2.438 billion. At the annual meeting Wednesday night in Winkler, it announced growth in loans and deposits both outperformed the average for the Manitoba credit union system.

Larry Davey CEO and President of ACU shared there has been steady growth at the branch. Over the past five years, ACU's total growth in assets is over $1 billion.

Meanwhile, in 2017 there was a continued trend of members using technology, said Davey.

"More people are utilizing all the other channels but the branch. We are now down to 10 percent of the transactions are the branch, probably more than 50 percent of our members weren't in a branch last year."

With 52,000 members that's a lot of people to think about said Davey, which is why ACU continues to work towards serving their members to the best of their ability.

To continue to be competitive in the increasingly technological world ACU will be opening an Innovation Centre.

"It's basically a footprint of what we see as the branch of the future. We're trying to gauge if that's the correct size. We're trying to open it up to people to go there to learn about the technology so it will make their life a little bit easier."

With the provincial government's decision to remove the tax credit which was given to 40 years ago. This tax credit was implemented due to Credit Unions inability to go into the market and raise funds.

Credit Unions only way to raise their equity is through their profits. With the loss of this tax credit, over five years could cost the Credit Union approximately $3 million to $4 million.

This could be a substantial hit to ACU says, Davey.

ACU continues to strive by giving back to the community it serves. In 2017 approximately $563,000 was given back to the community.

$250,000 was also donated to STARS Air Ambulance, with STARS aiding numerous communities where ACU branches are located, Davey explained it's ACU's duty to assist their members in any way they can.

"We're big believers in sustaining our communities," explained Davey. "We do it in a few ways, at a branch level where they contribute to their community. We do it at a corporate level where we give larger donations across a number of years. We also do it from a volunteer side.

95 percent of ACU employees volunteered time in their communities, a total of 8124 volunteer hours.

Looking forward, he says the future of Credit Unions is fewer and larger Credit Unions. In 2000 there were 65 Credit Unions, currently, there are 28.