Ballymena Credit Union mark 50 years

The celebrations started with an afternoon tea to which the existing Board of Directors had invited current and former

volunteers together with some of the founding members as a ‘thank you’ for the many hours of time they had invested over the years.

Current CEO Paul Patton welcomed the gathering, which included special guests, Mid & East Antrim Deputy Mayor Ald. William McNeilly and President of the Irish League of Credit Unions, Brian McCrory.

Paul spoke on the phenomenal growth experienced over 50 years by the current organisation which has member savings of over £19 million with over 11,500 adult and junior members and, in the last year alone, issued loans of over £7 million from their William Street offices.

A special presentation was made to Francis Scullion, the last surviving member of the original Board of Directors who set up Ballymena Credit Union, who is still an active Board member.

The event followed on from a coffee morning in the William Street office on February 6, the same date in 1967 of the first ever meeting of Ballymena Credit Union.

Ballymena Credit Union are planning a family orientated “Party in the Park” in the People’s Park in May and also a Young Person’s Awards Evening later in the year to recognise some of the tremendous achievements of young people in the Ballymena area. Staff are also planning fundraising activities during the year for their chosen charity, ‘Cash for Kids’.