About Kindred

At Kindred, we believe you have a better choice for banking

We believe values and faith are central to life, and financial decisions are not values-neutral. In fact, we think financial decisions can impact the world in amazing ways—so our values are integrated into everything we do. We call this Banking with Purpose. You have a better choice for banking—a place where your money can be a force for good. Our “Welcome to Kindred” video explains more about how we offer Banking with Purpose.

Our Roots

Kindred has been in the making for over 50 years and it all began when a group of Mennonites had a radical vision to see mutual aid put into faithful practice—extending access to financial services across our community. On March 21, 1964, twenty-two Waterloo County Mennonites got together and deposited $22 in a cash box with the idea of creating a credit union to serve members of their faith community. This group of Mennonites was actively looking for ways to live out their faith in the modern world. Their desire was to apply their Anabaptist beliefs to the practical ways they carried out business in the broader society. And that is how Waterloo County Mennonite Credit Union was born, eventually becoming Mennonite Savings and Credit Union.

We recognized that our shared values were not limited to our faith communities, so in 2016 we became Kindred Credit Union. Today we welcome all Ontarians who seek values-based banking to share in our common purpose. We continue to live out our commitment to mutual aid through the products we offer, the services we provide, and our connections to partners who share our values and work to impact the world in amazing ways.

Leadership and Governance

Kindred’s leadership consists of three groups: the Board of Directors, a Senior Leadership Team, and the Council of Members. These teams work closely together to ensure the continuing success and sound governance of the credit union. The Board of Directors establishes Kindred’s strategic direction, monitors the overall strength and financial performance of the organization, as well as the satisfaction of members, and ensures that Kindred continues to be an engaging employer. Representing the best interests of the members, the Board works closely with the Senior Leaderships Team and holds the organization accountable for its success. Guided by Kindred’s purpose, the Board applies prudent financial practices and business standards to fulfill its responsibilities to members.

The Council of Members is a committee of sixteen member volunteers with representation from all eight Kindred branches. Each year the Council seeks volunteers for governance roles on the Board of Directors and ensures the Council of Members has a full complement. This approach to discerning qualified candidates has resulted in diverse and competent boards for Kindred, who have served the membership well and been excellent guardians of our values. Appointments to the Council of Members are presented to the Membership at the Annual General Meeting.