Westoba Credit Union - Our History

Chartered as Brandon Consumers Credit Union Society Ltd., October 3, 1963 and given certificate #333.
Conducted business on a part time basis out of the Brandon Consumers Co-Op administrative offices on 6th Street.
In 1967 when the Co-Op opened it's bigger store at 638 Princess Avenue, now the Convergys Building, the Credit Union opened it's first full time office and hired the first full time manager, Mr. Ernie Brown. He stayed for 3 years and moved to the Beautiful Plains Credit Union in Neepawa. Mr. Brown has since retired.
With Mr. Brown's departure, Mr. Albert Wyborn moved up from a teller/accounting clerks position to assume the management role-where he stayed until 1970 when he left for an opportunity at Credit Union Central.
At that point, Mr. Wayne McLeod came to the Credit Union as the manager on March 15, 1970 from the Royal Bank. He remains our current President and C.E.O. today.
The credit union enjoyed slow but steady growth and after 100 months of operation reached the $1,000,000 mark.
At a special membership meeting held December 11, 1972, three very important questions were dealt with.

The name WESTOBA CREDIT UNION LTD. would become effective Jan 1/73.
A motion to build our own offices at the corner of 10th and Princess was passed. (Opened May 25, 1974.)
The amalgamation with Carberry was approved.

At the February 9, 1970 annual meeting the actions of the Board amalgamating with the Food Processors Credit Union (Manco) with Brandon Consumer's Credit Union was ratified.
At the February 15, 1971 annual meeting the actions of the Board amalgamating with the Minto Credit Union was ratified.
At the February 20, 1975 annual meeting the actions of the Board amalgamating with the St. Augustine's Credit Union with Westoba was ratified.
At the February 19, 1976 annual meeting the actions of the Board amalgamating with Brandon General Hospital Employees Credit Union was ratified.
The 34th and Victoria Avenue doors opened in early 1976. A year later our assets had reached $2,000,000.
The branch on the Hospital premises relocated to the building at 1st and McTavish.
At the February 17, 1977 annual meeting the actions of the Board amalgamating with the Western Manitoba Teachers Credit Union Ltd. was ratified.
At the annual meeting in the spring of 1978 the actions of the Board amalgamating with the Brandon Branch Canadian legion were ratified.
At the March 7, 1979 annual meeting the actions of the Board amalgamating with the Souris Credit Union were ratified.
In 1980 Westoba became the first credit union in Manitoba on an on-line banking system and introduced the first ATM outside of Winnipeg.
At the April 7, 1982 annual meeting the actions of the Board amalgamating with the Rivers Credit Union were ratified.
At the April 16, 1986 annual meeting the actions of the Board amalgamating with the Glenboro Credit Union were ratified.
During 1987 Westoba became the first credit union in Manitoba connected to the Interac Network. The rest of the system followed about a year later. We also installed our second ATM at our 34th & Victoria branch.
During 1988 Westoba became the first Credit Union in Manitoba Connected to the international ATM network-Plus. Further, Westoba celebrated it's 25th anniversary on October 3, 1988.
1997 Killarney and Louise credit Unions joined Westoba making a total of 15 branches-more than any other credit union Manitoba.
1998 Westoba purchased the assets of the Brandon location of the Laurentian Bank. This is a feat only accomplished once prior.
2000 Westoba purchased assets of 3 Bank of Montreal branches. As a result a new branch added in The Pas (June 23), Souris branch is combined with B of M Souris July 7th, and a sub branch of Ninette is created in Belmont (July 21). With the acquisition, Westoba assets surpass $300 million.
In 2001, Westoba Credit Union issued its first offering of Class A Preferred Shares, also eligible for RRSP and RRIF investments.
In 2001, the STUDENTCHOICE™ Financial Package was added as a new financial option for Westoba Credit Union members furthering their education at a post-secondary institution.
Souris, Rivers, 34^th Street and Victoria Ave Brandon, and Cartwright branches all underwent major renovations in 2001. Also, the Mariapolis branch was re-built this year as a result of a fire which destroyed their building in 2000.
2002 saw Westoba Credit Union assets reach in excess of $400 million dollars. The facilities at The Pas branch were renovated and expanded. After major renovations, our 1^st Street and McTavish branch relocated to a former bank building to provide our members with a first class facility.
In 2003, Westoba Credit Union celebrated its 40^th Anniversary. That year, Westoba also opened its first Drive-Thru ATM at the Brandon Heritage Co-op Store. We also opened a service centre for members in this same Co-op Building.
Cheque Imaging was added as a service to members in the Spring of 2003.
In 2004, Killarney Branch received a new look, both inside and out, after extensive renovations to their existing building. A new branch was opened in Shilo MB on the site of Canadian Forces Base Shilo, to further extend our service to our communities. Branch expansions were completed at the Ninette and Glenboro Branches in September of 2004.
Our Service Centre in the Co-op Store was converted to our Wealth Management Centre, and was opened in the Fall of 2004 to offer specialized Financial Planning Services to our members, such as estate and retirement planning, investment planning and tax planning.
In 2004, Westoba Credit Union reached the major milestone of having one-half billion dollars ($500,000,000) in assets.
At the March 28, 2005 Annual General Meeting, it was ratified by a membership vote to acquire the assets of WestProtect Insurance Agencies under the Westoba Credit Union Subsidiary, Westoba Financial Services. This was a significant step in expanding and diversifying the services available for our members.
Summer of 2005 marked the beginning of the Westoba Credit Union Marching Band Competition, held in conjunction with the UCT Travellers’ Day Parade which takes place during the Manitoba Summer Fair in June of each year.
Our 4^th Brandon Branch was opened in May of 2006 as the main tenant of The Paddock at 18^th Street and Kirkcaldy Ave. Our newest branch boasts both an in-branch and drive-thru ATM, and will certainly enhance the services we can offer to our Brandon members.
The introduction of Westoba's "Virtual Bank"- MAXA Financial- was launched in mid 2006 providing 100% guarantee of deposits and very competitive interest rates
The biggest event in 2006 was breaking ground at the corner of 10th St and Princess as the start of construction of the new Brandon Corporate Office
In May 2007, Westoba Credit Union exceeded $700 million in assets, another milestone showing continued confidence with Westoba from existing and new members
With the near completion of the new Corporate Office buildingat 220-10th Street, Westoba Wealth Management Services, was the first to move in Fall of 2007, until this time they had occupied office space in t he Heritage Coop on Richmond Avenue. Sharing the first floor office location with Wealth Management is our WestProtect Insurance Agency Ltd., an insurance affiliate of Westoba Credit Union, which for a number of years has provided insurance services from 921 Rosser Avenue.The second WestProtect office remains in the Heritage Co-Op on Richmond Avenue.
The completion of our new Corporate Office building at 220-10th Street, brought a significant portion of our Corporate Office staff under one roof, providing much needed space and allowing for continued growth well into the future.
Our first location in Winnipeg opened at 3059 Portage Avenue as Westoba Commercial Services Centre, making this our 20th location for member service.
Westoba celebrated 45 years in business in October of 2008, with total assets exceeding $800,000,000
Being awarded the official naming rights, Westoba Credit Union Ltd. Agricultural Centre of Excellence provides the new marquee of the Brandon Keystone Centre.