Happy Holidays! It’s PenFi’s Social Purpose Coordinator Dana here, checking in for our yearly ‘Truly Local Commitment’ (TLC) recap. In case you need a reminder, our Truly Local Commitment is to improve lives and strengthen communities, specifically the Niagara and Haldimand communities. Now, this isn’t something we just use as a slogan or as a hashtag on social media, it’s a promise that’s weaved into everything we do. If you’re a member, you’re probably already aware of how we do this as a credit union. If you’re not a member, or maybe a new member, you’ve come to the right blog post because it’s literally my job to show people how we keep this promise. That should be your first clue that PenFinancial takes this commitment seriously, because they created an actual job to ensure it gets done. One of my favourite parts of my job is explaining to people what a Social Purpose Coordinator is, and what I do, and hearing this response after I tell them: “Wow, that’s awesome.” And yes, yes, it is. We invest in our Truly Local Commitment every day, not just through my position, but through our B Corp certification, Living Wage commitment and our partnership with Bullfrog Power.

Did you know that March is B Corp Month?

Did you know that PenFinancial is a certified B Corp organization?

Do you know what B Corp means?

Have you heard of responsible investing (RI)? Maybe you’ve heard of socially responsible investing, or sustainable, impact, or ethical investing. They’re all the same great idea: a type of investing that aligns your values with your money to give back.

What does truly local banking mean to you?

At many banks, it could mean the ability to walk into a branch located in your community. And while we agree with that, at PenFinancial, it also means that we reinvest significant portion of our profits directly back into the local communities in Niagara, like Fonthill.

The rest of our profits? Well they go back into the products and services right here at PenFinancial, Niagara’s truly local Credit Union.

As life continues to return to “normal”, whatever this new normal looks like, we are seeing an increase in people asking about improving their credit score. Your credit score may have been impacted throughout the pandemic for a variety of reasons, but let’s focus on moving forward and improving it.

The Reality

It seems that every day we read how expensive housing is becoming in Niagara and beyond. 

If you’re not hearing about it as you scroll through Instagram or TikTok, you might hear from your parents or relatives about how much their home is now worth, and how you should buy a house before it’s “too late”.

Because we all have $100,000 sitting in a savings account ready for a down payment, right?

Fraud. It includes a lot of faking. Fake companies and employees. Fake messages or emails. Fake fines or balances. All of that faking can amount to real problems. Financial fraud can result in lost money, added stress, and more embarrassment than most would like to admit.

With the holidays fast approaching, it’s hard to know exactly how this year’s festivities will play out. You may be looking forward to celebrating with a big meal and your little family. Or maybe you’re going to share a drink with friends via video call… and show off the elf outfit you bought your dog. Whatever your plans, the holidays and gift giving are sure to be a little different in 2020.

A growing problem

Many Canadians trust their finances – and a large portion of their livelihood – to one of five major banks in Canada. They trust the banks, and their employees, to offer solid advice and good products and services to manage their money.