100% NZ owned

Unity is not your typical finance company. We are a 100% NZ owned financial co-operative, which means we are owned by the people – you and other fellow New Zealanders just like you.

100% NZ owned

Unity is not your typical finance company. We are a 100% NZ owned financial co-operative, which means we are owned by the people – you and other fellow New Zealanders just like you.

Our history

We have a long history of helping Kiwi’s with their everyday banking needs. Originally established in 1971 as Whakatu Freezing Works Employee's Credit Union, we now have 8 branches throughout New Zealand and nationwide internet and mobile banking services. While we may have grown in size our values have remained the same 'helping members achieve their financial goals'.

Key milestones

1971 Whakatu Freezing Works Employees’ Credit Union was formed. Membership was restricted to employees of Hawke's Bay Farmers Meat Co.
1981 Expanded membership to associate companies of the Hawke's Bay Farmer’s Meat Co. and renamed HBMC Employees’ Credit Union (HBFMCECU).
1986 Name changed to Baywide Credit Union.
1987

Following closure of Whakatu plant, membership is opened to employees of Hawke's Bay industries.

Pan Pac Employees’ Credit Union and Williams & Kettle Employees’ Credit Union transfer to Baywide.

1988 HB Consumer’s Co-op Credit Union and Awatoto Workers’ Credit Union transfer to Baywide.
1989 Membership now open to residents of Hawke's Bay province.
1990 Waipukurau service centre is opened.
1991

Napier service centre opened.

Moved from Whakatu site to 500 Karamu Road North, Hastings.

1993

Waiapu Anglican Credit Union transferred to Credit Union Baywide.

Napier branch established.

1996 Waipukurau branch was opened.
1999

Hastings premises was extended.

Havelock North service centre was opened.

Wairoa District Credit Union and Hawke's Bay Power Employees’ Credit Union transferred to Credit Union Baywide. The Wairoa branch was established in shared premises.

2001

Napier City Council Employees Credit Union transferred to Credit Union Baywide.

Relocated Napier branch to Thackeray Street.

Opened new branch in High Street, Dannevirke.

Relocated Wairoa branch to stand alone location on Wairoa’s Marine Parade.

2004 Waipukurau branch relocated from further up Ruataniwha Street.
2006 The Contact Centre was established in Hastings branch in March.
2007

Relocated the Hastings premises from 500 Karamu Road North to 303 Karamu Road North on 5 November.

Opened a new branch in Gisborne in November.

2008

A new branch opened in Masterton.

Credit Union Midcentral merged with Credit Union Baywide.

Harbour City Credit Union merged with Credit Union Baywide.

Hutt Valley Co-Operative Credit Union merged with Credit Union Baywide.

2010 NZCU Taranaki merged with Credit Union Baywide.
2011 Wine Country Credit Union merged with Credit Union Baywide.
2012 Manchester Unity Credit Union merged with Credit Union Baywide.
2014 Credit Union Bay Health merged with Credit Union Baywide.
2018

Launched new banking system.

Closure of Hastings and Palmerston North hospital branches.

2019

Head office and Hastings branch moved into new purpose built building on St Aubyn Street East.

The merger in 2019 brought ACU, NZCU Central, NZCU South and NZCU Baywide together as Credit Union Baywide, a credit union with $509m of assets, serving 60,000 members across New Zealand. Now positioned as one of New Zealand’s largest credit unions.

Acquired Co-op Money NZ. 

2020

New Mobile banking app launched for members.

2021

Rebranded from NZCU Baywide, NZCU South, NZCU Central and ACU to Unity Credit Union.

Why join?

Unity provides the same kind of products and services you'd find at a bank, including:

We are proud to be a credit union and not a registered bank:

  • We are not-for-profit, we serve you, our member-owners, not outside investors.
  • Our Board of Directors are elected by you, our members.
  • We educate customers to help you achieve your financial goals.
  • Our number one responsibility is to our member-owners.
  • Our funds are sourced from the community we serve.
  • Our lending supports individuals and families who live or work in New Zealand.
  • We care about service and treat you with dignity and respect.

You have a say in how your credit union is run. As a member, and an owner, you can vote at Annual General Meetings as well as stand for a position on the Board of Directors.

 

^Insurances offered by Unity are from third parties: Provident Insurance Corporation Limited, Southsure Assurance, Pinnacle Life and Vero Insurance New Zealand. The KiwiSaver fund is administered by Booster.