There are 427 credit unions in Canada affiliated with Canadian Central
They have:
- 1,733 locations
- 5 million members
- $117 billion in assets
- $106 billion in deposits
- $97 billion in loans
- 24,000 employees
Together they are the second largest lender to small businesses in Canada.
The first Canadian caisse populaire, or credit union was started in December, 1900 in Levis, Que. by Alphonse Desjardins.
Credit unions are independent, community-based financial institutions, owned and controlled by their members.