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 and nationwide internet and mobile banking services. 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 was formed. Membership was restricted to employees of Hawke's Bay Farmers Meat Co. |
| 1981 | Expanded membership to associate companies of the Hawke's Bay Farmer’s Meat Co. and renamed HBMC Employees’ Credit Union (HBFMCECU). |
| 1986 | Name changed to Baywide Credit Union. |
| 1987 |
Following closure of Whakatu 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. |
| 1988 | HB Consumer’s Co-op Credit Union and Awatoto Workers’ Credit Union transfer to Baywide. |
| 1989 | Membership now open to residents of Hawke's Bay province. |
| 1990 | Waipukurau service centre is opened. |
| 1991 |
Napier service centre opened. Moved from Whakatu site to 500 Karamu Road North, Hastings. |
| 1993 |
Waiapu Anglican Credit Union transferred to Credit Union Baywide. Napier branch established. |
| 1996 | Waipukurau branch was opened. |
| 1999 |
Hastings premises was extended. Havelock North service centre was opened. Wairoa District Credit Union and Hawke's Bay Power Employees’ Credit Union transferred to Credit Union Baywide. The Wairoa branch was established in shared premises. |
| 2001 |
Napier City Council Employees Credit Union transferred to Credit Union Baywide. Relocated Napier branch to Thackeray Street. Opened new branch in High Street, Dannevirke. Relocated Wairoa branch to stand alone location on Wairoa’s Marine Parade. |
| 2004 | Waipukurau branch relocated from further up Ruataniwha Street. |
| 2006 | The Contact Centre was established in Hastings branch in March. |
| 2007 |
Relocated the Hastings premises from 500 Karamu Road North to 303 Karamu Road North on 5 November. Opened a new branch in Gisborne in November. |
| 2008 |
A new branch opened in Masterton. Credit Union Midcentral merged with Credit Union Baywide. Harbour City Credit Union merged with Credit Union Baywide. Hutt Valley Co-Operative Credit Union merged with Credit Union Baywide. |
| 2010 | NZCU Taranaki merged with Credit Union Baywide. |
| 2011 | Wine Country Credit Union merged with Credit Union Baywide. |
| 2012 | Manchester Unity Credit Union merged with Credit Union Baywide. |
| 2014 | Credit Union Bay Health merged with Credit Union Baywide. |
| 2018 |
Launched new banking system. Closure of Hastings and Palmerston North hospital branches. |
| 2019 |
Head office and Hastings branch moved into new purpose built building on St Aubyn Street East. The merger in 2019 brought 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. Acquired Co-op Money NZ. |
| 2020 |
New Mobile banking app launched for members. |
| 2021 |
Rebranded from NZCU Baywide, NZCU South, NZCU Central and ACU to Unity Credit Union. |
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.