Elcom Credit Union

Elcom Credit Union was a community-based credit union in Australia that was formed in 1966 at Newvale Colleries Doyalson as "Newstan Colliery Employees Credit Union". The name was changed to Elcom Credit Union following the acquisition on Newvale Colleries by Elcom Colleries during the 1970s. It officially ceased trading as a deposit-taking institution on October 31, 2006 when it merged with Community First Credit Union. At the time of merging Elcom had seven branches, 50 staff, 22,000 members and assets of $143,000,000.

History

Elcom Credit Union operated from its head office at Elcom Colleries at Doyalson. Until 1983 the only way for members to access their funds was by cheque delivered by a courier. At this stage Elcom had 3125 members nearly $6,000,000 in assets. In 1983 a Special General Meeting was held where it was decided that membership would be open to the community at large thus becoming a community based credit union rather than an industrial credit union. This was held in response to significant demand for savings and loan products that saw a waiting period of up to three months for loans to be approved. Subsequently, five branches were opened at Toukley, Toronto, Morisset, Swansea and Wyong. The clause allowing this in the Credit Union's constitution was:

In May 1987, Elcom held a Special General Meeting where it was decided that the credit union be merged with The Lakes Power Station Employees Credit Union. Prior to the merge, Elcom had 6,492 members and more than $15,000,000 in assets. The merge with The Lakes Employees Credit Union gave the Credit Union a larger presence throughout the Central Coast and Lake Macquarie with new branches at Eraring Power Station, Vales Point Power Station, Gorokan and The Entrance as well as agencies at Liddell State Mine and Belmont Sportsmans Club and a larger branch presence at Munmorah Power Station. Earlier in the year Elcom had moved its head office from Doyalson to Morisset following changes at Munmorah Power Station. Following the merger, it was relocated to the The Lakes' head office at Gorokan. The branch there was closed in 1998, but continued operating as Head Office until October 2006.

The following years saw significant change in operations at Elcom. New branches were opened at Erina (1991), Woy Woy (1993), Lake Haven (1994) and Glendale (1996). The agencies were closed (1988), as were the branches at The Entrance (1989) and the power stations (1992). Wyong branch was moved to Tuggerah in 1994 to coincide with the opening of Westfield Shoppingtown. As well as this Elcom broadened its product range to include products such as insurance, cheque books, ATM access and travellers cheques.

Elcom Credit Union grew further in 1997 when it merged with Care Credit Union. Care was based on the Central Coast and was an industry credit union for Central Coast health employees. This gave Elcom a stronger membership base as well as a larger branch network. Care had branches located at Gosford in the Hospital and Kanwal in Wyong Hospital. The Wyong Hospital branch was closed following the merger as there were several other branches nearby. Gosford was retained for several years also, but closed in 2001.

First Choice Travel was a venture by Elcom Credit Union with Holiday Coast Credit Union that began in December 1999 with the opening of Garden City (now Westfield Kotara) branch and has since been incorporated into several branches as well as at Port Macquarie. Elcom Credit Union's two-third share of First Choice Travel was sold in December 2005 to Hunter Travel Group but continues to be associated with the Credit Union.

During March 2005 Elcom Credit Union adopted a new logo and uniform with new branchsignage also being put into place in order reinforce its presence in the market place and to make the organisation more visible to existing and prospective members.

Elcom Credit Union Today

Paul Johnson has been Chief Executive Officer since 2003 and has been employed by Elcom Credit Union since 1980. It employs in excess of 50 staff including two trainees. As well, Elcom Credit Union also has a Board of seven directors elected by the members. They are Kelvin Oakes (Chairman), Alan Lehrle (Deputy Chairman), Jennifer Falconer, Anne Norman, Ronald May and Paul Johnson. As a result of the resignation of Stuart Glen from the board there is currently a vacancy.

Elcom Credit Union offers a range of products from everyday access and savings accounts, fixed term deposits and a range of loan products capable of lending in excess of $1 million. It has several agreements with organisations that offer benefits to its members such as those with Allianz, Swann Insurance, Auto Advantage, Bridges Finance, Travelex, Citibank and the National Australia Bank as well as other benefits to those with a 'Masters Account' that is available to those over 55.

Elcom Credit Union currently has branches at Woy Woy, Erina Fair, Swansea, Westfield Tuggerah, Lake Haven Shopping Centre and Stockland Glendale as well as a lending centre at Westfield Kotara. Its Head Office is located at Gorokan which also is equipped as a lending centre.

Future

On 12 May 2006, the Chief Executive Officer, Paul Johnson, together with John Tancevski, the Chief Executive Officer of Community First Credit Union announced the intention for the two organisations to merge. Community First Credit Union is New South Wales' ninth largest Credit Union with a member base of 51,000. It was formed in 1959 as a Credit Union serving the Sydney Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board. It has seven financial stores located at Centro Bankstown, Casula Mall, Eagle Vale Market Place, Nepean Square Penrith, The Village Centre St Marys, Sydney and Yennora. Its head office is located at Auburn. The merger, subject to APRA (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) approvals will be voted on at the Annual General Meetings of both Credit Unions in October, with the merge to take effect on 1 November 2006. The merged entity would be called Community First Credit Union having its head office at Auburn and a regional office at Gorokan.

References

External links

* [http://www.elcomcu.com.au Elcom Credit Union]