Our Business Financial Centre (BFC) champions local business, serving small and medium enterprises, and public institutions such as schools and hospitals. Together with the Community Financial Centre (CFC), we offer Winnipeg's most diverse commercial lending centre.
BFC staff, along with their colleagues in the CFC, reach out into the local community to provide the kind of financial counseling and advice members need to succeed. Beyond our borders, BFC and CFC staff have been invited to make presentations to international groups and delegates interested in learning from our unique approach to doing business – and doing good.
See what local business leaders have to say about the benefits of doing business with BCFC.
Bob Sparrow, President of The Inn at the Forks
“We went out and talked to various lenders. We found a quick interest from ACU with the individuals like Brent Paterson who we have very good relationship with. They showed such great interest in us. They were already involved in the Forks and some development there. They already had knowledge of the potential of the area. They had a high level of confidence in the project. They were very positive to deal with.”
“They put together a very fair package as far as the loan agreement goes. I’m very impressed with the way they do business.”
“They are very easy going. It’s a very relaxed style, they don’t put any undue pressure on you.”
“They’re basically Winnipeggers. They know the city. They know the people involved in our city. You don’t have to explain to them what The Forks is. Whereas someone from Toronto or out of town doesn’t have that local understanding. They make the major decisions locally and that’s a real plus. You don’t have to wait for someone far way to approve your loan.”
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Mark Chipman, True North Sports and Entertainment Ltd.
“What appealed to Assiniboine Credit Union about us was that they saw the positive aspects of the project for the community and particularly for the downtown. Our project was consistent with a mandate they had already developed, and it turned out that they were right.”
“It was obvious to us that they were sincere and it made a great deal of sense to keep the financing local.”
“The relationship since has been phenomenal. They were wonderful to deal with in the development phase and continue to be in the operational phase.”
“I would tell other developers in town to consider them and to do so very seriously. They have every bit as much knowledge around commercial and construction lending as anyone else out there. They’ve got Bay Street sophistication in terms of their understanding and the definite benefit of a home town feel - that appealed to me.”
“They are very commitment to the growth of this community and small business.”
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Doug Stephen, President and CEO of WOW Hospitality Concepts
“ACU has been involved with us I think since 1998 and they have been our lender of choice over the years. It’s been quite phenomenal from every perspective. They make sure they do their due diligence, but they also make sure they are there for the small guy as well as the big corporations.”
“ACU has been our commercial lender over the past eight years in Manitoba. They’ve been involved financing the Old Spaghetti Factory, Muddy Waters, 529 Wellington and Finn McQues.”
“Our work at WOW! is about partnerships and the credit union has been all about that."
“They have an interest in what goes on at The Forks. They want to see that destination succeed, and the overall destination of downtown succeed. So they look closely at supporting the businesses in those areas to make sure that area succeeds.”
“ACU is more understanding of small business endeavors and therefore they look at a financial opportunities with a different set of eyes then a bank would. We’re more apt to see more successful small businesses in this community because of them.”
“I would tell other businesses that ACU is a very professional financial institution that has a "people side" that is unparalleled anywhere else - and that’s important. Most of what we do in our business, in a market such as Winnipeg, is about people and about relationships. We still have that prairie mentality that relationships are so very, very important. It’s not about balance sheets alone but the impact you have on the community. ACU understands that too.”
“When I’m out there at community announcements I see ACU faces at them pretty darn often. They’re out there doing their job as a community partner.”
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