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Affinity Credit Union at a glance
Affinity Credit Union, based in Saskatchewan, is Canada’s 11th-largest credit union.
- Affinity Credit Union account optionsSavings
Chequing
Investing - Other Affinity Credit Union servicesMortgages
Loans and lines of credit
Wealth management
Business and agriculture financing
Affinity Credit Union overview
Affinity Credit Union is a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based co-operative financial institution. Affinity provides many of the same services as a traditional bank, including savings and chequing accounts, mortgages and wealth management services. Being a credit union means Affinity has members, rather than mere customers, who are given a say in how the business is run. Affinity Credit Union membership is primarily limited to Saskatchewan residents.
Online banking capabilities at Affinity Credit Union
While members have the option of visiting one of Affinity Credit Union’s more than 50 branches, they can also do their banking online using the Affinity website or its dedicated app.
Affinity Credit Union’s online banking services allow members to perform day-to-day personal and business transactions, file their taxes and receive direct deposits from the Canada Revenue Agency. The credit union’s app gives members access to daily banking services, financial management tools, bill payments and credit card applications while on the go.
Is my money safe at Affinity Credit Union?
In the unlikely event that it closes unexpectedly, Affinity fully guarantees its members’ deposits by insuring them through the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation.
The CUDGC offers full coverage for all deposits — chequing and savings accounts, GICs, RRSPs, RIFs, foreign currency deposits — and the interest earned on those accounts. Similar coverage at banks typically tops out at $100,000 per account.
Like many financial institutions, Affinity also uses security tools like 256-bit encryption, multi-factor authentication and automatic session terminations after inactivity to protect your account.
Affinity Credit Union account types
Affinity Credit Union savings accounts
- Everyday Savings account: geared toward short-term savings goals. No monthly fee and two free transactions per month.
- Investor Savings account: offers higher interest rates but charges $5 per transaction after the first one each month.
Affinity Credit Union chequing accounts
- Youth Chequing: for clients 20 years of age and under. No monthly fees and unlimited transactions.
- Student Chequing: for post-secondary students and new graduates. No monthly fees and unlimited transactions.
- 65+ Chequing: for members aged 65 and older. No monthly fees and unlimited transactions.
- U.S. Chequing: interest paid in U.S. dollars. No monthly fees, but all transactions have fees.
- Unlimited Chequing: $13 a month for unlimited transactions, and options to waive the fee by having multiple Affinity products.
- Pay-as-you-go Chequing: no monthly fee, but pay fees for all transactions.
- Value Chequing: $4 for 12 transactions per month and two free Interac e-transfers.
Affinity Credit Union registered accounts
- Registered retirement savings plans (RRSPs).
- Tax-free savings accounts (TFSAs).
- Registered education savings plans (RESPs).
- Registered disability savings plans (RDSPs).
- First home savings accounts (FHSAs).
Other Affinity Credit Union services
- Mortgages.
- Loans.
- Lines of credit.
- Mutual funds.
- Wealth management.
- Guaranteed investment certificates (GICs).
- Specialty financing for business and agricultural needs.
- Business bank accounts.
Affinity Credit Union fees
Banking fees can vary based on the accounts you have and how you use them. Here are some of the common fees you may encounter using Access Credit Union’s financial products and services:
- Non-sufficient funds: $43
- Overdraft: $5
- ATM withdrawals outside network: $2 (in Canada) $5 (outside of Canada)
- Foreign currency transfers: $10 flat fee per transaction
- Staff-assisted bill payments: $1.25 – $5.00 per transaction
Who Affinity Credit Union is best for
Saskatchewan residents looking for competitive interest rates.
Affinity Credit Union offers many of the same services you’d find at a typical bank, albeit at a slightly lower cost to its members. Affinity’s location and business model make it best suited for Saskatchewan residents who are interested in earning competitive interest rates and seeing their money invested back into the province.
Affinity Credit Union pros and cons
Like banks, credit unions have areas where they shine and where they fall short. Affinity Credit Union is no exception. Here’s what you should consider:
Pros of Affinity Credit Union
- Variety of chequing account types and mortgage products to choose from.
- Competitive interest rates on savings accounts.
- Deposits support local businesses, clubs and community organizations.
Cons of Affinity Credit Union
- Limited selection of savings accounts.
- No short-term GICs under a year.
- Just one free monthly transaction with the Investor Savings account, after which members pay $5 per transaction.
How Affinity Credit Union compares to other credit unions
| Mobile and online banking | Are deposits insured? | |
|---|---|---|
| Affinity Credit Union | Yes. | Yes, by the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation. |
| Conexus Credit Union | Yes. | Yes, by the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation. |
| Innovation Federal Credit Union | Yes. | Yes, by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation. |
» MORE: Read our Banking reviews of other Big Banks, credit unions and online-only banks.
Affinity Credit Union frequently asked questions
The fees you’ll pay at Affinity Credit Union vary depending on what kind of account you decide to open. Affinity’s chequing accounts for seniors, post-secondary students and customers of up to 20 years of age charge no fees for most transactions. The rest of the bank’s customers can choose to pay account fees based on select transaction plans or pay on a per-transaction basis.
Credit unions offer many of the same services as banks, including chequing and savings accounts, business accounts and mortgage lending, often while offering lower fees and competitive interest rates.
The main difference between banks and credit unions is how they operate. Credit unions are co-operatives that run on a membership basis, which allows members to vote on the institution’s direction. For example, members of Innovation Federal Credit Union voted for the local credit union to become a federal institution in 2023. Banks, being private companies, only allow investors to have a say in the company’s initiatives.
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