A message from Kendall Gross | President

Dear member,

As fall approaches, I want to update you on how we’re continuing to serve you in the coming weeks and months.

Branch re-openings and expanded hours

I shared previously that we’ve been carefully following provincial guidelines in our branches, implementing safety features like plexiglass barriers, providing access to personal protective equipment and hand sanitizer for our employees, and installing helpful signage to make in-person interactions safer for everyone.

With these measures in place, I'm pleased to share that on the week of Sept. 21, we're expanding our business hours at all branches. We’re also re-opening the following branches:

• Cedar (1830 Cedar Road, Nanaimo)
• Jubilee (1955 Fort Street, Victoria)

Visit our branch locator for the full list of current branch hours.

Changes to our branch network in Ladysmith and on Pender Island

In response to steady changes in how members have been accessing our services over time, we’ve decided to close our Pender Island branch and consolidate its banking services with our Brentwood branch located at 1-7103 West Saanich Road. For the same reason, we’ve decided not to reopen our Ladysmith branch and to consolidate its banking services with our Chemainus branch located at 101C-3055 Oak Street. These are decisions we’ve made in the best interests of our credit union’s collective membership, as we take necessary action to protect the financial strength we have today well into the future.

If you’ve previously done most of your banking at the Ladysmith or Pender Island branches, you’ll soon receive a letter with important information about these changes and how we’ll continue to serve your in-person banking needs at our other locations. Know that we remain fully committed to serving you and your community – we’ve made firm commitments to continue returning our profits to support local charitable organizations where you live. Our branch teams at Island Savings, a division of First West Credit Union, look forward to continuing to serve you.

More ways to bank with us

As more and more members choose our digital offerings for their day-to-day transactions, we’ve continued enhancing our online and mobile banking services. We’ve also greatly expanded the services available through our growing Member Advice Centre, which can serve your needs seven days a week at 1-888-597-1083. Many of you have responded by learning to deposit cheques using your smartphone, using Interac e-Transfer® and adopting digital bill payments. For more insight on how to take full advantage of our digital tools, check out these step-by-step guides and video tutorials.

As we continue to offer more ways for you to bank from home or on the go, and in light of the ongoing pandemic, we ask that you limit your branch visits to those times when you need in-person expert financial planning and advice.

Thank you for your ongoing trust

In closing let me say that I’m continually impressed with how you’ve adapted to this challenging time, showing respect, patience and care for our employees and for each other as we all work through things together. Despite the ongoing challenges in the Canadian and global economies, your credit union remains in position of financial strength and stability, enabling us to continue giving back to our communities and investing in ways to serve you better. Thank you for continuing to choose Island Savings for your financial needs.

Sincerely,  

Kendall Gross | President, Island Savings