Gulf and Fraser Fishermen's Credit Union

Last updated
G&F Financial Group
Type Credit Union
Industry Financial services
Founded1940
Headquarters Burnaby, British Columbia
Key people
Jeff Shewfelt - Co-CEO
Bill Kiss - Co-CEO
Revenue$54.46 million CAD (2020) [1]
$13.59 million CAD (2020) [1]
Total assets $2.5 billion CAD (2020) [1]
Subsidiaries Gulf and Fraser Insurance Services Ltd.
Website www.gffg.com

Gulf and Fraser Fishermen's Credit Union operating as G&F Financial Group is a member-owned financial institution in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, and the eighth largest credit union in British Columbia, by asset size. [2] With a history dating back to 1940, G&F Financial Group provides banking and a variety of financial services including borrowing, investments and financial planning. It is insured by the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, a crown corporation that insures the deposits of credit union members. [3]

Contents

History

G&F Financial Group's history extends back to 1940, when a group of BC fishermen incorporated the North Arm Fisherman's Credit Union. Since that time, the credit union has gone through a number of mergers and name changesthe most significant occurring in 2004 when United Savings Credit Union merged with Gulf and Fraser Fishermen's Credit Union. One of those mergers was with the Pioneer Credit Union which was the third credit union to be chartered in British Columbia and was granted charter number 003, which G&G retained for the merged entity. As of May 2020, the combined entity has 16 branches located in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Port Coquitlam, Richmond, and Langley.

The corporate office is located in the Edmonds area of Burnaby.

Predecessors

The following is an incomplete list of previous credit unions that form part of G&F Financial Group's history (either through name changes, mergers, or acquisitions):

Community Involvement

As a member-owned credit union, G&F Financial Group has a long history of supporting the communities that they serve. In addition to financial donations, G&F Financial Group encourages staff involvement within the communities that they operate.

On February 25, 2021, G&F Financial Group announced their exclusive sponsorship of the Personal Finance program for high school students, run by Junior Achievement British Columbia. The credit union also donated $20,000 into the program. [4]

In 2020, G&F Financial Group, the Board of Directors, employees, partners and sponsors gave $575,000 to local community groups, scholarship and bursary programs, charities, and cultural and sports organizations. This included three major charitable fundraisers where employees, partners and sponsors raised $170,000. [5]

On December 30, 2020, G&F Financial Group announced a donation of $80,000 to local charities and groups impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of that, $60,000 went to local food banks, shelters, and hospitals, which were among some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On September 28, 2020, G&F Financial Group announced a donation of $132,000 to The Centre for Child Development in Surrey, BC. This was the second year of their three-year fundraising commitment for the Centre, which helps children with special needs reach their potential. The Centre provides physiotherapy, family services, childcare, communication and occupational therapy, and recreation services to thousands of children in Metro Vancouver. [6]

On January 7, 2020, G&F Financial Group announced they had reached a milestone of $1 million in donations to the United Way of the Lower Mainland [7] since they started fundraising in 2001.

On September 9, 2019, G&F Financial Group donated $124,680 to The Centre for Child Development. The Centre helps children with special needs reach their potential; it provides physiotherapy, family services, childcare, communication and occupational therapy, and recreation services to thousands of children in Metro Vancouver. Funds were raised through G&F's annual golf tournament and matched by an anonymous foundation. [8]

On June 2, 2019, G&F Financial Group presented a cheque for $26,000 to BC Children's Hospital Foundation during their Miracle Weekend event. G&F employees raised funds for the Foundation through a variety of events, including 50/50 draws, Jeans Day, music trivia, sports jersey draws, Bingo games, and by selling Purdy’s chocolates. “Superhero” employees in each corporate department and branch put extra effort into encouraging their co-workers to participate in the fundraising activities. [9]

On January 8, 2019, G&F Financial Group announced they had donated $54,000 to the United Way of the Lower Mainland. Funds will go towards the welfare of children and breaking the cycle of poverty. Over the lifetime of G&F's campaign, the credit union has donated close to $880,000 to the United Way of the Lower Mainland. [10]

In 2018, G&F Financial Group, the Board of Directors, employees, partners and sponsors gave $532,000 to the communities that they serve, distributed in the form of donations, sponsorships, educational bursaries, scholarships and through the G&F Financial Group Foundation. [11]

On September 20, 2018, G&F Financial Group announced they had donated $100,000 to the Richmond Hospital Foundation. The funds will support the foundation's ACT NOW campaign to build a much-needed acute care tower. The funds were raised through two events held by the credit union: a special retirement dinner and their annual charity golf tournament. [12]

On November 2, 2011, the South Burnaby Branch of G&F Financial Group was the winner of the Burnaby Board of Trade's Business Excellence Community Spirit Award. The award recognizes local organizations for demonstrating outstanding corporate social responsibility and for the strong support of local non-profit organizations and agencies. [13]

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References

  1. 1 2 3
  2. CCUA Top 100 Credit Unions in Canada
  3. https://www.cudicbc.ca/index.aspx?p=cudic/index
  4. G&F Financial Group Press Release, February 25, 2021
  5. G&F Financial Group Press Release, April 21, 2021
  6. G&F Financial Group Press Release, September 28, 2020
  7. "G&F Financial Group Press Release, January 7, 2020" (PDF). January 7, 2020.
  8. G&F Financial Group Press Release, September 16, 2019
  9. G&F Financial Group Press Release, June 14, 2019
  10. G&F Financial Group Press Release, January 8, 2019
  11. G&F Financial Group 2018 Annual Report
  12. G&F Financial Group Press Release, September 20, 2018
  13. Janaya Fuller-Evans. "Burnaby Business Excellence Award winners announced". Burnabynow.com. Retrieved 2015-12-27.