Affinity Credit Union is the second-largest credit union in Saskatchewan and a top 10 credit union in Canada based on its assets and membership size.
This review of Affinity Credit Union covers the wide-ranging banking, investment, and lending services they provide to their members.
Who is Affinity Credit Union?
Affinity Credit Union is Saskatchewan’s second-largest credit union after Conexus Credit Union. Other popular credit unions in the province are Innovation Credit Union and Synergy Credit Union Limited.
They have over 120,000 members and more than $5.6 billion in assets under management. The credit union operates 56 branches across Saskatchewan.
Affinity is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values and is one of only three Canadian credit unions that are members. The two other members are Assiniboine Credit Union (Manitoba) and Vancity Credit Union (British Columbia).
Members of the credit union can access 1,800+ surcharge-free ATMs across Canada via the Ding-Free ATM network.
Related: Tangerine vs. EQ Bank – Best Online Banks in Canada
Affinity Credit Union Accounts: Personal Banking
They offer a complete suite of financial products and services ranging from chequing accounts to mortgages and investments for individuals, businesses, and non-profits.
Affinity Credit Union Chequing Accounts
1. Unlimited Chequing: $12 per month, unlimited transactions, including free Interac e-Transfer, and you can save 25% to 75% on the monthly account fee with 3-4 qualifying product lines.
2. Pay As You Go Chequing: No monthly account fee and pay per transaction.
3. Value Chequing: $4 per month and 12 free monthly transactions.
4. Youth Chequing: No fees for individuals aged 20 and under. Unlimited transactions and free Interac e-Transfers.
5. Student Chequing: Free unlimited transactions for post-secondary students.
6. 65+ Chequing Account: Free unlimited transactions, no monthly fees, free Interac e-Transfers, 100 free cheques per year, and no fees for staff-assisted bill payments.
7. U.S. Chequing: Pay as you go at a rate of $1 per electronic debit and processed cheque or staff-assisted debit; $1.25 per staff-assisted utility payment.
General Chequing Account Fees
- $2 for withdrawals from non-ding-free ATMs in Canada.
- $5 for ATM withdrawals outside Canada.
- $1.25 per staff-assisted bill payment.
- $1 per Interac e-Transfer transaction for Value and Pay-as-you-go chequing packages
Affinity Credit Union Savings Accounts
1. Everyday Savings: No monthly fee, two free transactions/month (and one each after), and pay $1 per Interac e-Transfer.
2. Investor Savings: No monthly fee, one free transaction per month, and $5 each after. Pay $1 per Interac e-Transfer.
Investing
You can use Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) and mutual funds inside an RRSP, TFSA, RESP, or RDSP.
Members can choose to invest their portfolios using the low-cost platforms provided by Qtrade Investor and VitualWealth, a robo-advisor.
In addition to the traditional mutual funds offered through Credential Asset Management Inc., members also have access to Labour Sponsored Funds like the Golden Opportunities Fund and SaskWorks Venture Fund.
Borrowing
They offer mortgages, loans, lines of credit, and credit cards. Their credit cards include:
1. World Mastercard: $120 annual fee, earn 2 points per $1 spent (2% reward rate), purchase protection and extended warranty, extensive travel insurance package, car rental collision insurance, 20.90% interest rate.
2. Centra Gold Mastercard: $50 annual fee, 9.90% interest rate, earn 1 point per $1 spent (1% cash back), purchase protection and extended warranty, car rental collision/loss insurance, and accident protection.
3. Cash Back Mastercard: No fee, 19.99% interest rate, earn 1 point per $1 spent, purchase protection and extended warranty, and mobile device insurance.
4. Classic Mastercard: $30 annual fee, 12.99% interest rate, mobile device insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
5. U.S. Dollar Mastercard: $50 USD fee, 19.90% interest rate, earn 1 point per $1 USD spent, travel insurance package, auto rental collision/loss insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
Related: Best Credit Cards in Canada
Affinity Credit Union Accounts: Business Banking
Chequing Accounts
- Business Basic Chequing: $6 per month and six transactions.
- Business Enhanced Chequing: $50 per month and 35 transactions.
- Business Select Chequing: $60 per month and unlimited transactions.
- Business U.S. Chequing: $6 per month and six transactions.
General Chequing Fees
- $1 for Interac e-Transfers.
- $2 per withdrawal at non-ding-free ATMs in Canada.
- $5 per withdrawal at ATMs outside Canada.
- $1.25 per staff-assisted bill payment.
Savings Accounts
- Business Savings: No monthly fee, one free transaction/month, and $5 each after.
- AgriInvest Account
Borrowing
They offer loans, mortgages, revolving credit, leasing, other financing options, and credit cards. Their business credit cards include the following:
1. Low Rate Business Mastercard: $25 annual fee, 12.99% interest rate, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
2. No Fee Cash Back Business Mastercard: No fee, 19.99% interest rate, earn 1 point per $1 spent, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
3. Platinum Business Mastercard: $99 annual fee, 19.99% interest rate, earn 2 points per $1 spent (2% reward rate), travel benefits, car rental collision/loss insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty.
Related: Best Business Credit Cards in Canada
How To Open an Affinity Credit Union Account
Members have various options for conducting their banking.
Online: Via their website or the Affinity Credit Union Mobile App, which supports cheque deposits, Touch ID and/or Face ID login (available on iPhone and Android devices).
In-Branch at one of their 56 branches.
Phone: Call the specific branch or, for general inquiries, call 1-866-863-5237. Telephone support is available Monday to Friday (7am to 8pm), Saturday (9am to 5pm) and Sunday (12pm to 4pm).
You can also email them at [email protected].
To open a new account, stop by one of their branches or apply directly online. You must be a resident of Saskatchewan, at least 18 years of age, and must purchase $5 in member equity shares.
Is Affinity Credit Union Safe?
Affinity Credit Union is a member of the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation of Saskatchewan (CUDGC). This means that your deposits are 100% guaranteed should the credit union ever become insolvent.
Note that investment instruments such as mutual funds are not considered to be deposits and, as such, are not covered by CUDGC. Contents of safety deposit boxes are also excluded.
Conclusion
Credit unions offer their members an opportunity to become part-owners with a say in how the credit union is run and who share in the profits.
This Affinity Credit Union review is part of a wider series on Canadian Credit Unions and how they stand as alternatives to traditional banks.
