Envision Financial
Encyclopedia
Envision Financial, a division of First West Credit Union
, is a member-owned financial institution
based in British Columbia
, Canada
. Founded in 1946, Envision Financial was established in 2001 through a merger between Lower Mainland
-based Delta Credit Union, whose roots were in the fishing industry, and Fraser Valley
-based First Heritage Savings Credit Union, which had historic ties to the farming and agriculture industries. First Heritage Savings Credit Union was the product of a merger between East Chilliwack Credit Union and Clearbrook District Mennonite Savings Credit Union in 1983.
In 2008, Envision Financial entered into discussions with Penticton-based Valley First Credit Union to merge with one another and develop a new financial services organization for Western Canada.
In September 2009, members at both credit unions voted in favour of the merger proposal, and on Jan. 1, 2010, Envision and Valley First merged to become First West Credit Union. Through First West, members have access to 37 branches and 29 insurance offices throughout B.C. The credit union
has approximately $6.2 billion in assets under administration, 1,300 employees, and 167,000 members. First West is the third-largest credit union in B.C. and the fifth-largest in Canada. Envision and Valley First continue operating as divisions of First West, retaining their existing brand names in each respective market.
, Chilliwack
, Coquitlam, Delta
, Hope
, Kelowna
, Kitimat
, Langley
, Mission
, Surrey
, Westbank
, Kamloops and Maple Ridge
. Its regional administration centre is located in Langley.
A number of First West subsidiary businesses operate under the Envision Financial name, including Envision Insurance Services, Envision Investment Services and Envision Leasing. Envision has become known for its trademark Redfrog mortgage, which was introduced in 2005.
For eight years running, Envision Financial has been recognized as one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada by the Globe & Mail's Report on Business
magazine, which publishes the annual 50 Best Employers in Canada survey conducted by Hewitt Associates
. In 2007, Envision Financial has also won the inaugural "Employer of Choice" WorkLife BC Award sponsored by the British Columbia provincial government's Ministry of Children and Family Development, and is designated a Caring Company by Imagine Canada.
and is registered with the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation of BC.
First West Credit Union
First West Credit Union is the third-largest credit union in British Columbia by asset size following Vancity and Coast Capital Savings. Led by Chief Executive Officer Launi Skinner and with approximately 167,000 members and $6.2 billion in assets under administration, First West was formed in...
, is a member-owned financial institution
Financial institution
In financial economics, a financial institution is an institution that provides financial services for its clients or members. Probably the most important financial service provided by financial institutions is acting as financial intermediaries...
based in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Founded in 1946, Envision Financial was established in 2001 through a merger between Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
-based Delta Credit Union, whose roots were in the fishing industry, and Fraser Valley
Fraser Valley
The Fraser Valley is the section of the Fraser River basin in southwestern British Columbia downstream of the Fraser Canyon. The term is sometimes used to refer to the Fraser Canyon and stretches upstream from there, but in general British Columbian usage of the term refers to the stretch of the...
-based First Heritage Savings Credit Union, which had historic ties to the farming and agriculture industries. First Heritage Savings Credit Union was the product of a merger between East Chilliwack Credit Union and Clearbrook District Mennonite Savings Credit Union in 1983.
In 2008, Envision Financial entered into discussions with Penticton-based Valley First Credit Union to merge with one another and develop a new financial services organization for Western Canada.
In September 2009, members at both credit unions voted in favour of the merger proposal, and on Jan. 1, 2010, Envision and Valley First merged to become First West Credit Union. Through First West, members have access to 37 branches and 29 insurance offices throughout B.C. The credit union
Credit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
has approximately $6.2 billion in assets under administration, 1,300 employees, and 167,000 members. First West is the third-largest credit union in B.C. and the fifth-largest in Canada. Envision and Valley First continue operating as divisions of First West, retaining their existing brand names in each respective market.
About Envision
Envision Financial has a network of 21 branches and 20 insurance offices throughout B.C. in the communities of AbbotsfordAbbotsford, British Columbia
Abbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
, Chilliwack
Chilliwack, British Columbia
Chilliwack is a Canadian city in the Province of British Columbia. It is a predominantly agricultural community with an estimated population of 80,000 people. Chilliwack is the second largest city in the Fraser Valley Regional District after Abbotsford. The city is surrounded by mountains and...
, Coquitlam, Delta
Delta, British Columbia
Delta is a district municipality in British Columbia, and forms part of Metro Vancouver. Located south of Richmond, it is bordered by the Fraser River to the north, the United States to the south and the city of Surrey to the east...
, Hope
Hope, British Columbia
Hope is a district municipality located at the confluence of the Fraser and Coquihalla rivers in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Hope is at the eastern end of both the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland region, and is at the southern end of the Fraser Canyon...
, Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
, Kitimat
Kitimat, British Columbia
Kitimat is a coastal city in northwestern British Columbia, in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine. The Kitimat Valley, which includes the adjacent community of Terrace, is the most populous urban district in Northwest British Columbia...
, Langley
Langley, British Columbia (city)
The City of Langley is a municipality in Metro Vancouver. It lies directly east of the City of Surrey, adjacent to Cloverdale, and surrounded on the north, east and south by Township of Langley.-History:...
, Mission
Mission, British Columbia
Mission, the core of which was formerly known as Mission City, is a district municipality in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is situated on the north bank of the Fraser River overlooking the City of Abbotsford and with that city is part of the Central Fraser Valley. Mission is the...
, Surrey
Surrey, British Columbia
Surrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...
, Westbank
Westbank, British Columbia
Westbank is one of the communities within the district municipality of West Kelowna in the province of British Columbia. It is 12 km to the west of Kelowna. Other communities in West Kelowna include Casa Loma, West Kelowna Estates, Shannon Lake, Smith Creek, Glenrosa, Rose Valley and Lakeview...
, Kamloops and Maple Ridge
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Maple Ridge is a District Municipality in British Columbia, located in the northeastern section of Metro Vancouver. Maple Ridge has a population of approximately 68,949.-History:...
. Its regional administration centre is located in Langley.
A number of First West subsidiary businesses operate under the Envision Financial name, including Envision Insurance Services, Envision Investment Services and Envision Leasing. Envision has become known for its trademark Redfrog mortgage, which was introduced in 2005.
For eight years running, Envision Financial has been recognized as one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada by the Globe & Mail's Report on Business
Report on Business
Report on Business, commonly referred to as simply ROB, is the financial section of The Globe and Mail, a large Toronto-based Canadian newspaper. It is the most lengthy completion of economic news in Canada, and is considered an integral part of the newspaper...
magazine, which publishes the annual 50 Best Employers in Canada survey conducted by Hewitt Associates
Hewitt Associates
Hewitt Associates , based in Lincolnshire, Illinois, United States was a global human resources outsourcing and consulting firm delivering a complete range of integrated services to help companies manage their total HR and employee costs, enhance HR services, and improve their workforces.Hewitt...
. In 2007, Envision Financial has also won the inaugural "Employer of Choice" WorkLife BC Award sponsored by the British Columbia provincial government's Ministry of Children and Family Development, and is designated a Caring Company by Imagine Canada.
Membership
Envision Financial is a member of Central 1 Credit UnionCentral 1 Credit Union
Central 1 Credit Union is a Vancouver, British Columbia-based, member-owned financial institution. It was formed in 2008 by the merger of Credit Union Central of British Columbia and the Credit Union Central of Ontario....
and is registered with the Credit Union Deposit Insurance Corporation of BC.