History
In 1974 a group of Hunter Valley Coal miners decided that the financial affairs of the workers in their industry were at the mercy of banks, loan sharks and extremely high interest. They found like minded people and set about finding alternative financial sources.
After initial talks with the Credit Union League in Sydney, the League approved the commencement of a new Credit Union, provided they got at least 500 members. This was a large hurdle to overcome but on the 6th January 1975 the'Northern Mineworkers Credit Union opened its doors for the first time.
Originally the first office was a backroom at the Northern United Mineworkers Federation Headquarters in Newcastle. As the credit union grew more branches opened up to service members.
Over the years the credit union changed to keep with the competitive demands of the economy. In 1988 the credit union changed its name from the Northern Mineworkers Credit Union to Companion Credit Union and opened its doors to the general public, today anyone can be a member of Companion Credit Union.
In 2009, credit union members voted to merge with Community CPS Australia and the merger took effect on 1 January 2010. Companion is now part of one of the largest credit unions in Australia - Community CPS Australia, and comprises activities in banking (through its credit union), the community (through the Community CPS Foundation) and professional services (wealth management, tax and accounting services via Eastwoods), and employs 585 staff across 48 branches with more than 180,000 members.
The Group comprises activities in banking (through its credit union), the community (through the Community CPS Foundation) and professional services (wealth management, tax and accounting services via Eastwoods), and employs 585 staff across 48 branches with more than 180,000 members.
Community CPS is located in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, and operates as Wagga Mutual Credit Union in Wagga Wagga, Companion Credit Union in the Hunter Region and United Community in Western Australia.
Community CPS has a subsidiary - Eastwoods - which provides Tax, Accounting and Financial Planning Services.
As a customer owned financial institution the credit union has strong ties to the community, supporting charitable organisations and initiatives through financial donations and grants on a local, regional and national level. Community CPS promotes volunteering nationally via the "make a smile" volunteering program to support local communities through Community Volunteers.
Australia’s Best Credit Union - Both the people and the experts agree – Australia’s best credit union! Named Money Magazine's Credit Union of the Year 2012 and the 2012 Mozo People’s Choice Award- Best Credit Union.
The 'We're Listening network' is the social voice for the Community CPS Australia Group - Community CPS, Companion Credit Union, United Community Credit Union, Wagga Mutual Credit Union & Eastwoods Taxation and Accounting.
Join the 'We're Listening network' http://www.companion.com.au/wearelistening/
Read more about this topic: Companion Credit Union
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“Gossip is charming! History is merely gossip. But scandal is gossip made tedious by morality.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
“The history of progress is written in the blood of men and women who have dared to espouse an unpopular cause, as, for instance, the black man’s right to his body, or woman’s right to her soul.”
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940)
“Every generation rewrites the past. In easy times history is more or less of an ornamental art, but in times of danger we are driven to the written record by a pressing need to find answers to the riddles of today.... In times of change and danger when there is a quicksand of fear under men’s reasoning, a sense of continuity with generations gone before can stretch like a lifeline across the scary present and get us past that idiot delusion of the exceptional Now that blocks good thinking.”
—John Dos Passos (1896–1970)