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At Envision Financial, our members are at the centre of everything we do. We want your experience at Envision to be the best banking experience you've ever had. And what better way to start than by removing banking fees. The introduction of our Simply Free Account™ was a highlight for me this past year and a great way to thank you for your loyalty and support.
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Over the past few years, there's been a notable shift in the banking industry. Consumers are asking for more convenient banking options and locations and for help to gain a clearer understanding of their financial future. We are listening and taking action.
This year, we were proud to introduce our Mobile Banking app and Me-to-Me Transfers, making it more convenient than ever for our members to access their accounts and banking information. We were also proud to launch a new online referral program, allowing our members to easily recommend Envision to their friends and family and to be rewarded for doing so. There's even more to come in 2013, including new online enhancements.
Our branch and insurance office locations are also important when it comes to convenience. This year, we relocated our Scottsdale branch to the Sunshine Hills area and our Scottsdale insurance office to Newton. In late December, our business banking team from Minter Street moved into our centrally-located Town Centre branch. In mid-2013 we will be relocating our Minter Street branch to the new High Street development in West Abbotsford.
The driving force behind all of these changes is to make banking simple for our members. Our employees are committed to providing you, our members, with an amazing experience that is easy and convenient. I'm so proud of the progress we've made in 2012.
If you're not yet an Envision Financial member, please join us—we'd love to get to know you. To all of our members, thank you for your ongoing loyalty and support and for continuing to choose Envision Financial. We are here because of you.
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The goal of every Envision Financial employee is simple: to make a real difference in the financial lives of our members. Whether you are a student, working professional, young family, empty-nester or retiree, we want to help you and your family through every stage of life. More importantly, we're committed to keeping banking simple, because finances don't need to be complicated.
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Globe West Printers and Envision Financial: Succeeding together
When Ken Giesbrecht moved from Saskatchewan to B.C. 25 years ago, one of his first goals was to set up an extension of the family commercial print shop business his father started in Saskatchewan in 1973. A short time later, Globe West Printers in Abbotsford was born.
"When I started my own print shop, my father's advice was to bank with a credit union," says Giesbrecht. "It wasn't long before I figured out why. After several years of renting I was ready to purchase my own building, but my financial services provider at the time wasn't interested in helping me. When I went into Envision Financial and met with commercial account manager Lyndon Fransoo, it was like night and day. Lyndon took a personal interest in me and even came to tour my business so he could better understand how Envision Financial could partner with me."
Globe West Printers started out as a one-man show but over the years it has grown to become the largest commercial printer in the Fraser Valley with 30 employees. The reasons behind their success are simple.
"Our team is focused on helping our customers achieve significant business results," says Giesbrecht. "We take pride in consistently delivering high quality, cost-effective printing with fast turnaround times and exceptional customer service."
"I feel lucky to have Envision Financial and Lyndon in my corner," he adds. "They have been with us at every milestone—the purchase of our building, our printing press and the acquisition of our local competitor this past fall."
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As Giesbrecht looks another 25 years down the road, he sees further expansion of his business and more acquisitions, and he knows Envision Financial will be with him every step of the way.
By the numbers
- Member Experience Index scores continue to surpass industry averages: 87% for credit union members and insurance clients
- 86% of members would refer family or friends to Envision Financial
- 3,901 net new members joined the Envision Financial family
- $0—the monthly service fee our members pay for our Simply Free Account™
- 23 new employees licensed to offer investment advice to our members
- 31 senior leaders spent a day in Envision Financial branches and insurance offices connecting with members as part of our Closer-to-the-Member day
- 16 member-facing processes review and streamlined through Lean, making it easier for our members to do business with us
Highlights
- Envision Financial said good-bye to banking fees with the introduction of its new Simply Free Account™, the only banking account that offers free Interac® e-Transfers in Canada
- Scottsdale branch relocated to a brand new, state-of-the-art branch facility at 6481-120 Street in the Sunshine Hills area
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- Scottsdale insurance office relocated to 114-7322 King George Boulevard in Newton, beside our Newton branch
- Referral Perks program launched, making it easy and rewarding for members of Envision Financial to refer their family and friends to the credit union
- Me-to-Me Transfers launched, enabling Envision Financial members to link their accounts at other financial institutions to their Envision Financial account and thus making it easier to transfer funds
- Envision Financial Mobile Banking app launched, allowing members to check account information, transfer money, pay bills and schedule transactions all from an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad
- Envision Financial re-launched the Unlimited Chequing for Business® account—the best small business account in the marketplace
- Envision Financial partnered with Travel Insurance Coordinators Ltd. as our exclusive travel insurance provider to provide members with better pricing and an enhanced product offering
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For more than 65 years, Envision Financial has been striving to make the communities that we serve better places to live, work and play. We endeavor to create good things in our communities by taking a proactive approach in our partnerships and investing in ways that make a meaningful difference. Our goal is to involve all aspects of our business in helping our communities, from providing funding and guidance, to engaging our employees and members in volunteer efforts.
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Helping the homeless with time, commitment and passion
When the Salvation Army began the capital campaign to address the development of an emergency shelter in Langley, Envision Financial was quick to jump on board. Employees participated in the public fundraising campaign, spoke at several town hall community forums, volunteered on the Salvation Army's community advisory committee, provided support on the grand opening planning committee and acted as volunteers during open house celebrations in December 2009.
"The original vision for our Gateway of Hope facility was born from a desire to address the needs of the homeless in our local community in a comprehensive way," says Troy Gaglardi, director of operations at the Gateway of Hope. "Our goal is to see people get to a place where they're productive and able to connect with other people."
Since the start of the partnership, Envision Financial has given more than $75,000 to the Gateway of Hope. Over the years Envision Financial's involvement has deepened to include sponsorship of many of its fundraising events and involvement from Envision employees. Each year, the Envision team participates in the Christmas Kettle Campaign and volunteers at the Gateway of Hope as part of Envision's annual community service volunteer week.
Three years ago, Envision Financial partnered with the Gateway of Hope to design and develop a six-week financial literacy program. The program, now held twice each year, is facilitated by Envision Financial volunteers, and focuses on knowledge-building skills and interactive learning in the areas of financial decision-making, budgeting and savings, debit and credit, and planning for the future.
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"Envision Financial has been a tremendous partner—they're aligned with our values of relationship, authenticity and innovation," says Gaglardi. "They really want to be part of the solution and they recognize that it doesn't just take money. It takes time, commitment and passion. Ultimately, we're looking for people first. If you have people working with you who share your vision, you can achieve much more together."
By the numbers
- Nearly $1.3 million donated to worthy causes and organizations in our local communities
- More than $215,000 of in-kind contributions to charitable partners
- 1,368 gifts, 3,400 lbs of food and almost $15,000 collected for local families and seniors through our Angel Tree program
- $44,000 donated to local charities and community organizations by employees as part of our employee giving campaign
- More than $31,000 contributed to nonprofit partners as employee volunteerism during working hours
- 4,445 hours of employee time donated through Envision Financial's employee volunteerism program
- 50 free concerts for local residents through the Envision Twilight Concert Series, Envision Coffee House Concert Series and Envision Concert in the Park Series
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- 184 employees participated in our sixth annual community volunteer service week, up 8% from 2011
- 18 seniors and children impacted through our Big Brothers Big Sisters' Between Generations Program
- 4,300 runners participated in Run for Water, up 47% from 2011
- More than $50,000 raised for B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation by Envision Financial employees
Envision Financial is a proud participant of LBG Canada, a growing group of companies committed to maximizing the value of their community investment—for community partners and for the business. Our community investment results are based on LBG Canada valuation principles.
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A selection of Envision Financial’s community partners in 2012 includes:
Education Partners
- Big Brothers and Big Sisters Fraser
- Valley
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Langley
- Cougar Canyon Elementary
- Delta School District
- Douglas College Foundation
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Langley Environmental Partners Society
- Langley Montessori School
- Langley School District Foundation
- Maples Discovery Gardens Co-op
- PowerPlay Strategies
- Run for Water Society
- Sikh Academy
- Success By 6
- Surrey School District
- University of the Fraser Valley
Emerging Opportunities
- Abbotsford Community Services Society
- Ann Davis Transition Society
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Chilliwack Hospital Health Care Foundation
- Crossroads Hospice Society
- Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation - Chilliwack
- Fraser Canyon Hospice Society
- Fraser Valley Gleaners
- Friends in Need Food Bank
- Haney Rotary
- Heart & Stroke Foundation
- Hope Community Services Society
- Hope Hospice Society
- Kitimat Food Bank
- Langley Homelessness Steering Committee
- SAINTS Rescue
- Mission Community Services Society
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- Pacific Community Resources Society
- Salvation Army, Care and Share Centre
- Share Family & Community Services Society
- Soroptimist International of the Langleys
- Sources BC
- South Delta Food Bank
- Tillicum Adult Learning Centre
Arts and Culture
- Abbotsford Arts Council
- Chilliwack Academy of Music
- Chilliwack Arts and Cultural Centre Society
- Chilliwack Canada Days
- Free Rein Associates
- Hope Brigade Days
- Ladner May Days
- Ladner Village Quilt Walk & Classic Car Show
- Hope & District Arts Council
- Kitimat Concert Series
- Kiwanis Fraser Valley Music Festival
- Semiahmoo House Society
Strengthening the Volunteer Sector
- Abbotsford Hospice Society
- Angel Tree
- BC Children’s Hospital Foundation
- BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund
- Canuck Place
- CARE Transit
- Chilliwack and District Senior Resources Society
- Delta Hospice Society
- Delta Hospital Foundation
- Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Langley Food Bank
- Langley Senior Resources Society
- Mission Heritage Association
- Mission Hospice Society
- Peace Arch Hospital Foundation
- Peninsula Community Foundation
- Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation
- Salvation Army, Gateway of Hope
- Surrey Food Bank
- Surrey Hospice Society
- Sources Rent Bank
- Vantage Point
- YWCA Metro Vancouver
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