Stride

About company

Stride Credit Union is a cooperative financial institution that provides financial services for over 19,000 members in Manitoba. 

Stride CU was established in 2017 as the unity of Austin Credit Union and Portage Credit Union. The headquarters is in Portage La Prairie, MB. 

The credit union has branches in 8 communities: Austin, Gladstone, Glenella, MacGregor, Neepawa, Oakville, Plumas, and Portage la Prairie. Stride CU offers savings and chequing accounts, mortgages, loans, credit cards, investments, insurance, wealth management, etc., for personal, business, and farming use. 

Features

1. Stride Credit Union is one of the largest credit unions in Manitoba, with more than 19,000 members. It operates through 9 branches, online banking, a mobile app, and thousands of surcharge-free ATMs. 

2. Stride offers a great choice of products and services for business banking: agriculture, business, and community chequing and savings accounts for sole proprietors, partnerships, corporations, and organizations; Point-of-sale and virtual terminals; Mobile Pay Plus; in-branch and online currency exchange; etc. 

3. Investment products are provided through the subsidiary Journey Wealth: mutual funds (offered through Investia Financial Services Inc.), stocks, bonds, registered savings plans, and term deposits. To apply for or purchase a product, contact wealth experts. For self-managed investments, you may use an online brokerage platform — Stride partner Qtrade Direct Investing. 

Pros and cons 

Pros 

• A big reputable provincial credit union

• Full service financial tailored for Manitoba residents 

• Members are owners

• Wide range of chequing accounts for individuals, businesses, and organizations 

• Provide sponsorship and donations for communities 

• Excellent insurance services from the credit union and its subsidiary Debit card buyer protection

• Mastercard and Visa cards

• No-fee savings accounts 

• Investing options from registered accounts to online brokerage portal

• Competitive mortgage interest rates 

• Apply for a loan or mortgage online

• Online and mobile banking 

• Access to the ding accessible ATMs across the country 

Cons

• Branches only in Manitoba

• Should be a resident of Manitoba to apply

• Mortgage rates guaranteed only for 30 days from pre-approval

• No specific information about loan rates on the website 

• Can't open accounts online 

• Investments products aren't available online except for the Qtrade platform

• Wire transfers aren't available online

Products

1. Complete Chequing account with unlimited free transactions for a moderate fixed monthly fee. 

2. A regular Chequing account allows you to pay as much as you use with unlimited free transactions available with a $3,000 minimum monthly balance. 

3. The Youth Savings account is designed for anyone under 18, has 60 free transactions, and has no monthly fee.

4. Personal loans are available online without extra or early repayment penalties. 

5. Permanent life insurance from Journey Wealth covers final expenses, combining a death benefit with a savings component. 

6. Community Chequing accounts for informal non-profit organizations with free transfers, in-branch bill payments, and monthly fee rebates. 

Services 

1. Chequing accounts with no monthly fee, a different number, or unlimited transactions. Options for seniors, students, and youth, US Dollar, and pay-as-you-go accounts.

2. Savings accounts offer high-interest, youth, US Dollar, and tiered interest accounts, all without a monthly fee. 

3. Credit cards with cash back, travel rewards, US Dollar, and Visa or Mastercard benefits, including insurance, are provided in the partnership with Collabria. 

4. Lending: personal loans, lines of credit, student lines of credit without penalties for a lump sum or increased payments, and different types of mortgages that you can apply for through an online application. 

5. Investments: RESP, TFSA, RRSP, RRIF, term deposits, mutual funds, and online trading platforms for DIY investors. 

6. Insurance: travel, mortgage, loan, home, and life insurance by Journey Wealth, and pet insurance is underwritten by Northbridge General Insurance Corporation. 

7. Wealth management by Journey Wealth is available for everybody, not only Stride CU members: investment, retirement planning, income strategies, etc. 

8. Business services: chequing and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, lines of credit, loans, merchant services, currency exchange, cash management, and small business online banking. 

9. Debit card with a 120-day Buyer Protection and doubled extended warranty for purchase. 

10. Online and mobile banking lets you transfer funds, pay bills, check balances and transactions, deposit cheques, set up alerts, consolidate accounts, etc.