About company

Synergy Credit Union is a cooperative full-service financial institution established in 1943 as Lloydminster Savings and Credit Union Ltd. It has been known as Synergy CU since 2007. It is the fifth-largest credit union in Saskatchewan, Canada. 

The credit union serves over 28,000 members in west-central Saskatchewan, with over $2.1 billion in assets under administration. Synergy provides financial products and services for personal and business use. 

Features

1. The Synergy  Shares Program is made to invest in local communities and support projects that improve different spheres of communities. 

2. Synergy Credit Union provides services through 12 branches in Saskatchewan, also offering banking services via 1,900 charge-free ATMs, online, mobile banking, and the Member Contact Centre.

3. Members get funded through the credit union profit. In addition, up to 20% of Synergy’s pre-tax profits are allocated to the members’ ProfitShares accounts. 

Pros and cons 

Pros 

• A large reputable credit union in Saskatchewan 

• Special program to support communities

• Great choice of personal and business accounts 

• No monthly fee US dollar chequing account

• Adjustable personal and business accounts with unlimited free e-Transfers 

• Included insurance for purchases with eligible chequing accounts 

• High-interest savings accounts with relatively competitive rates 

• Wide range of borrowing solutions 

• 120-days guaranteed mortgage rate

• Full-service mobile app

• Online, mobile, and telephone banking 

• Pay using Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay

• Access to «ding-free» ATMs

Cons

• Branches only in Saskatchewan 

• 24/7 support only for online banking-related issues 

• You can't apply for a loan online

• Only savings and chequing accounts could be opened via online banking

• You can't make or receive a wire transfer online

• You can't make CRA payments online

• You should be a credit union member to apply

Products

1. SmartPack Account is a three-level system to get the lowest fee or no fee with unlimited free INTERAC e-Transfers for all levels. 

2. PowerPack Account offers unlimited transactions, bonuses, and discounts for a fixed monthly fee. 

3. SaveDailyPack Account combined with a Synergy personal account or maintaining a $1,000 balance goes with no monthly fee. 

4. iSave High-Interest Account without monthly fees for both registered and non-registered accounts, great rates increasing with a daily balance. 

5. Education loans up to $10,000 per year with interest-only payments until the graduation

6. Synergy Super Mortgage lets you access additional funds on mortgage rates and split your credit limit into sub-loans to manage money.

7. Wealth Accumulator Account allows members to start with $25 and set up a savings goal and investment schedule. 

8. SmartPack Biz Account is an adjustable account with various monthly costs (no fee with minimum balance), unlimited INTERAC e-Transfers, and cash deposits. 

Services 

1. Chequing accounts with different monthly fees for unlimited or various transactions, USD, and adjustable accounts.

2. The insurance Benefits Package is 120-day purchase protection, up to 2-year extended warranty and 60-day price protection added to your PowerPack or SmartPack accounts. 

3. Savings accounts offer no monthly fee with or without a minimum balance required, unlimited deposits, and competitive rates on regular or high-interest accounts.

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

5. Lending: no prepayment penalty for personal, education, vehicle loans, lines of credit, mortgages with a 120-day rate guarantee, multiple repayments, payment protection, and 5% down payment options. 

6. Mortgage cashback up to $2,500 with eligible mortgage deals. 

7. Investments: RRSP, RRIF, RESP, RDSP, TFSA, and a wide range of term deposit options on registered or non-registered accounts, Wealth Management, and Qtrade Guided Portfolios professionally managed by Aviso Wealth experts. 

8. Qtrade Direct Investing is an online trading platform for self-managed investments. 

9. Business and agriculture banking services: great choice of chequing and savings accounts, credit cards, loans, lines of credit, equipment financing, and Customer Automated Funds Transfer (CAFT). 

10. Digital and mobile banking allow members to transfer funds and make payments, set up favorite transactions, open new accounts, access e-statements, consolidate accounts, etc.