Irish credit unions, including St Anthony’s & Claddagh Credit Union, operating under the currentaccount.ie brand, have seen off stiff international competition to land a coveted new award.
The unions won the Credit Union Services Organisation of the Year award for 2021 at the NACUSO 2021 Network Conference held in Las Vegas.
Owned by 50 forward-thinking credit unions, currentaccount.ie has gone from strength to strength since it launched, and St Anthony’s & Claddagh Credit Union introduced the new service to its members in March this year.
Its availability in 150 credit union branches across the country, market leading service offering, and superior customer service, were enough to see it win against its much larger American counterparts.
It is the first a CUSO outside of the USA has been recognised with this award - a testament to the collaborative efforts of the credit unions involved.
The new current account offers members a competitive alternative to main stream banking, particularly with so many leaving the Irish market with others reducing the number of branches.
"The current account has everything you would expect from a globally accepted Mastercard debit card, mobile app, e-statements, overdraft and more," says St Anthony’s & Claddagh Credit Union, and it is available to all its members, and can be opened online or in branch. The current account can be used in any shop or online store, not only in Ireland, but globally.
Speaking at the awards, Jack M Antonini, president and CEO of NACUSO, says its core purpose is to be the catalyst for instituting collaboration, innovation, and the reinvention of the credit union industry.
"We had a very compelling group of nominees this year, but currentaccount.ie’s pioneering work on the collaborative model in Ireland, helping credit union partners to offer expanded services, consistent value to credit union partners and growing impact, separated it from the others."
Seamus Newcombe, CEO of currentaccount.ie said credit inions in Ireland had recognised that collaboration was the only way the credit union movement will thrive in the new digital age.
"We are very proud to be awarded the title of New CUSO of the Year, and we appreciate NACUSO’s continued efforts to help transform the credit union industry. With the current upheaval in the Irish banking landscape, this award will come as a timely reminder to account holders looking to switch that, through the currentaccount.ie brand, credit unions now offer a market leading current account service."
The staff in St Anthony’s & Claddagh Credit Union can answer any questions on opening a new current account in branch or online.
For more information www.sacu.ie/current-account or call into any of the three branches – Mainguard Street, Westside Shopping Centre, and Oughterard.
