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I’m proud of what our team accomplished in 2015. We made significant strides forward in becoming more accessible to members and providing them with expert advice and financial products and services that fit their needs. We launched new products, made improvements to several services, and opened another innovative branch that embodies a fresh approach to banking, while making important upgrades to some of our existing branches.
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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One of the highlights of the year was the opening of our Cloverdale branch in Surrey, one of the fastest-growing communities in B.C. This new location in Brick Yard Station continues the updated, modern approach to banking we introduced at our Garrison Village branch in Chilliwack in 2014. We’ve replaced the traditional wicket queues and tellers with a banking representative who welcomes members to the branch and serves all of their banking, borrowing and investing needs. The result is a convenient one-stop experience. But there’s more: this new branch concept brings even more ease to the banking experience. All staff in the branch are equipped for mobile service, meeting members wherever it’s most convenient for them.
In 2016 we’ll continue to advance our new approach to banking, bringing further convenience and accessibility to members throughout our branch network. We’ll also strive to elevate the trusted experience we deliver by partnering with our members and clients to provide exemplary advice, service and products that fit their needs and stages of life.
None of our success would be possible without each of you who does business with Envision Financial. I’m grateful that you continue to choose us for your banking, investment and insurance needs. You are the reason we open our doors every morning and strive to get better and better every day. Thank you.
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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At Envision Financial, we strive to be a trusted advisor and partner who is truly committed to making a positive difference in the financial lives of our members. From market-leading products and services that simplify banking, to new locations to make banking more convenient and accessible, to the expert advice we provide every day, we’re focused on making every single interaction with you positive, memorable and remarkable.
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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Raising the Bar
From its base in Chilliwack, Bar None Metalworks specializes in offering structural steel installation, steel fabrication and miscellaneous metal products throughout the Lower Mainland. Since its formation in 2000, Bar None has become well known for its ability to deliver projects on time with an unwavering commitment to quality and safety. Its 25,000 square-foot plant operates a fully staffed fabrication workshop capable of producing up to 2,000 metric tons of fabricated structural steel per year.
If you’ve spent much time in the Lower Mainland, chances are you have been in a Bar None project without knowing it. Bar None’s work includes medical and professional office buildings, big-box retail stores, shopping centres, educational and recreational facilities, churches, theatres, and industrial and special-use projects.
General Manager Jonathon (JD) Dugdale spent years in the specialty manufacturing sector, but he’s also the “big picture guy.” JD also spent several years in the banking industry and has a MBA to boot, so he knows a thing or two about what to expect from a financial institution.
“When I went looking for a financial partner, I spent a lot of time trying to explain what we do and how it was going to be profitable,” says JD. “There wasn’t much opportunity to share the knowledge and passion of my partners and our vision for the company.”
Envision Financial knows that there is more to a financial relationship than the facts and figures and it takes a real time commitment to understand what makes a business successful.
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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“When it came time to make some financing decisions, it was amazing to have Envision’s vice-president of credit visit our facility and see what we do firsthand. The team spent hours asking us questions about our business to get a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges ahead, along with sitting down face-to-face, getting to know all of the owners.”
Bar None’s future success rests on continued growth and prosperity in the Lower Mainland, and dealing with a financial institution that shares this commitment is invaluable.
“Envision operates locally and makes their decisions locally. They understand our business and the strong relationship we have with our account management team provides the consistency and stability we need for our business. Our confidence in their team allows us to focus on growing our business and giving back to our community.”
By the Numbers
- 87% of credit union members who do personal banking under the Envision Financial banner would most likely recommend us to a friend or family member
- 88% of clients would most likely recommend our insurance services to a friend or family member
- 3,763 net new members joined Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union
- 82% of credit union members state we are better than other companies they regularly use for products and services
- 1,000 members referred a friend or family member through our Referral Perks program
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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Member Highlights
- Unveiled our new, modern concept branch in Surrey’s Cloverdale neighbourhood, where members can try new banking technologies and consult our money experts on all their banking, borrowing and investment needs
- Launched our new Simple Stability Mortgage™ for budget-savvy homebuyers who want our lowest rate for the entire term
- Trialed the DASHBAND™ wearable payment accessory for people who need a convenient payment method to fit their lifestyle
- Helped members get a jump start on saving for next year’s TFSA contributions by offering the TFSA Early Bird Account for the second straight year
- Renovated our Sardis and Willoughby branches to provide a better in-branch experience for our members
- Added nine additional foreign exchange ATMs to our branch network to provide members with easier access to U.S. cash
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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Envision Financial is proud to be recognized as a strong community partner and good neighbour. Our goal is to make a meaningful difference in the local communities we serve. We create good things with our community partners by leveraging all aspects of our business in our partnerships—financial donations, employee engagement and member involvement. In 2015, we were proud to invest more than $1.5 million in donations, grants, education awards, program support and gifts-in-kind and contribute thousands of employee volunteer hours.
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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Alouette Addictions Services gets a hand-up from unique community program
In 2015, Alouette Addictions Services got to see firsthand the benefits of a new community-building program created through a partnership between Envision Financial and Douglas College. The Envision Financial Douglas College Community Building program provides local non-profit organizations the opportunity to work with a dedicated team of Douglas College marketing students to carry out research, uncover opportunities and create strategies to overcome current challenges facing the agencies. The program exposes students to the growing social sector and gives them hands-on learning experiences that will ultimately benefit the community.
“Many non-profit agencies are stretched thin and don’t have the time or expertise to research and develop new programs or marketing campaigns,” says Susan Byrom, senior manager of community investment at First West Credit Union. “This program fills that need while providing enriched learning opportunities for the students. We want to make a meaningful difference in our local communities and this program allows us to do just that.”
The way Annika Polegato sees it, the program not only provided welcome resources but also created new, refreshing perspectives for her and the team at Alouette Addictions Services.
“The biggest benefit to us was how it helped us see our agency through new eyes,” says Polegato, executive director of the non-profit addiction and substance abuse outpatient agency in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. “It’s critical for us to be able to adapt to changing needs—the students asked new questions and brought ideas that encouraged us to see ourselves differently, to see potential and new ways of doing business.”
To Polegato’s delight, the support from Envision Financial has continued to escalate.
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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“We’re thankful to have benefited from the program, but we’re even more touched by the support we’ve received from Envision Financial outside the community-building program,” she says. In October, as part of First West’s annual Make A Difference Days, members of Envision Financial’s leadership team made over 150 homemade, individually packaged meals to ensure the agency’s clients didn’t go without a hot meal.
“We’ve seen that Envision Financial is truly committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients and our community. Our staff and our clients are grateful for their ongoing support.”
Community Investment: By the Numbers
- More than $1.5 million donated to worthy causes and organizations in our local communities
- More than $28,600 of in-kind contributions to charitable partners
- 6,775 total hours volunteered by staff in the Envision Financial region supporting community partners throughout our region
- $121,373 raised and 14,072 pounds of food collected for The Full Cupboard and 11 local food banks
- Staff volunteered 984.5 hours holding 82 fundraising events and activities for The Full Cupboard in the Envision Financial region
- 929 gifts collected, $4,198 raised and 3,515 pounds of food donated through The Full Cupboard holiday program
- 845 hours of volunteerism with 24 projects in ten Envision Financial communities for our Make a Difference Days program
- 60 free concerts for local residents through the Envision Financial Twilight Concert Series, Envision Financial Coffee House Concert Series and Envision Financial Concert in the Park Series
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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- More than 50 classrooms in seven districts and over 1,200 students participated with Envision Financial’s PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs® program in which students donate 10% of earned profit to a non-profit organization of their choice; since 2012, over $26,000 has been donated to local charities throughout our region
- $312,000 raised for Envision Financial Run for Water; 50 local and area schools a participated in the Envision a Better World: Learn, Create, Run educational curriculum
- More than $17,140 donated to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation in our annual campaign bringing our total giving since 2007 to $266,616
- $27,000 contributed to students’ post-secondary education through the Envision Financial Education Award program
- 20 secondary students received mentoring from employees in the Envision Financial region
- $45,029 pledged to local charities and community organizations by employees as part of our employee giving campaign
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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2015 Community Partners
Throughout the year, Envision Financial supports a variety of non-profit and charitable organizations in our communities. In 2015, our community partners included:
- Abbotsford Arts Council
- Abbotsford Community Foundation
- Abbotsford Community Services Society
- Abbotsford Food Bank/Christmas Bureau
- Abbotsford Hospice Society
- Alouette Addiction Services
- BC Children's Hospital Foundation
- BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund
- Beach Grove Golf Club
- Canadian Cancer Society
- Canuck Place
- Chilliwack and District Senior Resources Society
- Chilliwack Arts and Cultural Centre Society
- Chilliwack Bowls of Hope Society
- Chilliwack Community Services/Christmas Bureau
- Cloverdale Rodeo Youth Initiative Foundation
- Delta Hospital Foundation
- Deltassist
- Douglas College Foundation
- Food Banks BC
- Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation – Chilliwack
- Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society
- Friends in Need Food Bank
- Hope Area Transition Society
- Hope Brigade Days
- Hope Community Services Society
- Junior Achievement
- Kitimat Concert Series
- Kitimat Food Bank
- Kwantlen Polytechnic University
- Langley Christmas Bureau
- Langley Environmental Partners Society
- Langley Montessori School
- Langley School District Foundation
Envision Financial is proud to be a division of First West Credit Union.
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- Maples Discovery Gardens Co-op
- Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows Art Council
- Mission Community Services Society/Christmas Bureau
- Mission Heritage Association
- Mission Hospice Society
- Peninsula Community Foundation
- PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs®
- Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation
- Run for Water Foundation
- Salvation Army, Care and Share Centre
- Salvation Army, Caring Place
- Salvation Army, Gateway of Hope
- Share Family & Community Services Society
- Sikh Academy
- Sources Food Bank
- Sources Langley Food Bank
- South Delta Food Bank
- The Sparkle Project
- St. Joseph’s Food Bank
- Success By 6
- Surrey Board of Trade, Junior Achievement of BC Youth Leaders of Today
- Surrey Food Bank
- Surrey International Children’s Festival
- Surrey School District
- United Way of the Fraser Valley
- University of the Fraser Valley
- Volunteer Abbotsford
- Yarrow Volunteer Society
Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union, is a proud participant of London Benchmarking Group (Canada), a growing group of companies committed to maximizing the value of their community investment—for community partners and for business. Our community investment results are based on London Benchmarking Group (Canada) valuation principles.
In 2010, Envision Financial became a division of First West Credit Union.
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