Unity is not your typical finance company. We are a 100% NZ owned financial co-operative, which means we are owned by the people – you and other fellow New Zealanders just like you.
Unity is not your typical finance company. We are a 100% NZ owned financial co-operative, which means we are owned by the people – you and other fellow New Zealanders just like you.
We have a long history of helping Kiwi’s with their everyday banking needs. Originally established in 1971 as Whakatu Freezing Works Employee's Credit Union, we now have 8 branches throughout New Zealand. While we may have grown in size our values have remained the same 'helping members achieve their financial goals'.
| 1971 | Whakatu Freezing Works Employees’ Credit Union is formed. Membership was restricted to employees of Hawke's Bay Farmers Meat Co. |
| 1981 | Membership expands to associate companies of the Hawke's Bay Farmer’s Meat Co. and Whakatu Freezing Works Employees’ Credit Union is renamed as HBMC Employees’ Credit Union (HBFMCECU). |
| 1986 | HBMC Employees’ Credit Union (HBFMCECU) name changes to Baywide Credit Union. |
| 1987 |
Following closure of the Whakatu meat processing plant, membership is opened to employees of Hawke's Bay industries. Pan Pac Employees’ Credit Union and Williams & Kettle Employees’ Credit Union transfer to Baywide Credit Union. |
| 1988 | HB Consumer’s Co-op Credit Union and Awatoto Workers’ Credit Union transfer to Baywide Credit Union. |
| 1989 | Membership opens to residents of Hawke's Bay province. |
| 1990 | Waipukurau service centre is opened. |
| 1991 |
Napier service centre is opened. Baywide Credit Union moves from Whakatu site to 500 Karamu Road North, Hastings. |
| 1993 |
Waiapu Anglican Credit Union transfers to Credit Union Baywide. Napier branch is established. |
| 1996 | Waipukurau branch is opened. |
| 1999 |
Hastings premises is extended. Havelock North service centre is opened. Wairoa District Credit Union and Hawke's Bay Power Employees’ Credit Union transfers to Credit Union Baywide. The Wairoa branch is established in shared premises. |
| 2001 |
Napier City Council Employees Credit Union transfers to Credit Union Baywide. Napier branch relocates to Thackeray Street. Dannevirke branch is opened. Wairoa branch relocates to a standalone location on Wairoa’s Marine Parade. |
| 2004 | Waipukurau branch relocates to further up Ruataniwha Street. |
| 2006 | The Contact Centre is established in Hastings. |
| 2007 |
Hastings premises is relocated from 500 Karamu Road North to 303 Karamu Road North. Gisborne branch opens. |
| 2008 |
Masterton branch opens. Credit Union Midcentral merges with Credit Union Baywide. Harbour City Credit Union merges with Credit Union Baywide. Hutt Valley Co-Operative Credit Union merges with Credit Union Baywide. |
| 2010 | NZCU Taranaki merges with Credit Union Baywide. |
| 2011 | Wine Country Credit Union merges with Credit Union Baywide. |
| 2012 | Manchester Unity Credit Union merges with Credit Union Baywide. |
| 2014 | Credit Union Bay Health merges with Credit Union Baywide. |
| 2018 |
New core banking system launches. |
| 2019 |
Head office and Hastings branch move into a new purpose-built building on St Aubyn Street East. Merger of ACU, NZCU Central, NZCU South and NZCU Baywide together as Credit Union Baywide, a credit union with $509m of assets, serving 60,000 members across New Zealand. Now positioned as one of New Zealand’s largest credit unions. Acquisition of Co-op Money NZ, now trading as Banzpay. |
| 2020 |
New mobile banking app launches. |
|
2021 |
Rebrand of NZCU Baywide, NZCU South, NZCU Central and ACU to Unity Credit Union. Unity sells 50% ownership of Banzpay to Booster Financial Services Limited. |
|
2023 |
Rotorua branch moves to the corner of Fenton and Eruera Streets. Unity prepares to launch a new core banking system in partnership with Finzsoft. |
|
2024 |
Unity sells the remaining 50% share of Banzpay, completing the transfer to Booster Financial Services Limited. New core banking system launches, including new Debit cards, mobile banking app, and upgraded internet banking. |
Unity provides the same kind of products and services you'd find at a bank, including:
We are proud to be a credit union and not a registered bank:
You have a say in how your credit union is run. As a member, and an owner, you can vote at Annual General Meetings as well as stand for a position on the Board of Directors.
^Insurances offered by Unity are from third parties: Provident Insurance Corporation Limited, Southsure Assurance, Pinnacle Life and Vero Insurance New Zealand. The KiwiSaver fund is administered by Booster.