Assiniboine Credit Union recognized as a “Best For The World™” B Corp

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada -- Assiniboine Credit Union, is a financial co-operative with over $6 billion in assets, employing over 490 employees and owned collectively by over 139,000 Manitobans who use our products and services -- has been named a 2022 Best for the World™ B Corp™ in recognition of its exceptional positive impact on its community, customers, and governance. Best for the World is a distinction granted by B Lab to Certified B Corporations (B Corps) whose verified B Impact Scores in the five impact areas evaluated in the B Impact Assessment — community, customers, environment, governance, and workers — rank in the top 5% of all B Corps in their corresponding size group.

Assiniboine Credit Union earned this honor because of initiatives such as:

• integrating and embedding values-driven purpose into all aspects of governance including credit union bylaws, governing policies, strategic plans, key performance indicators, and balanced scorecard metrics. This includes a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as a credit union and in the community.
• engaging members with a purpose-driven and values-based approach and working hard to provide financial access for all, and for generations to come. This includes developing products and services like the Manitoba Islamic Mortgage, New to Canada Program, and opening community economic development branches in low-income and systemically excluded neighborhoods.
• building commerce through the power of community through our Community Financial Centre that helps to create a stronger community of small businesses, start-ups, non-profits, co-ops, and social enterprises. ACU is also working with community partners to develop and deliver affordable housing initiatives and financial empowerment programs in low-income and systemically excluded neighborhoods. Community investment includes, sponsoring local organizations and providing community grants to organizations, and integrating our values in our purchasing choices to create impact.

Every year, Best for the World recognizes the top-performing B Corps creating the greatest positive impact through their businesses. More than a badge of honor, Best for the World provides an opportunity for recognized companies to share knowledge, learnings, and best practices with the B Corp community and businesses outside of the community to encourage innovation and transformation across the business sector. The full lists are available at bcorporation.net.

The Best for the World recognition is administered by B Lab, the global nonprofit network that certifies and mobilizes B Corps, which are businesses that meet high standards of positive social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Today, there are more than 5,000 B Corps across 80 countries and 155 industries, unified by one common goal: building an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic system.

B Corp Certification doesn’t just evaluate a product or service, it assesses the overall social and environmental impact of the company that stands behind it. To achieve B Corp Certification, a company must meet a score of at least 80 points on the B Impact Assessment, an evaluation of a company’s positive impact, and pass a risk review, an evaluation of a company’s negative impact; change their corporate governance structure to be accountable to all stakeholders, not just shareholders; and exhibit transparency by allowing information about their B Corp Certification performance to be publicly available on their B Corp profile on B Lab’s website.

ACU is a financial co-operative with over $6.2 billion in assets. We offer a full suite of personal and commercial banking products and services, and a dedicated team of financial and wealth advisors to help our members succeed. We have seventeen branch locations in Winnipeg, two northern branches in Thompson and Gillam, and we’re owned collectively by over 139,000 Manitobans who use our services today. ACU employs 500 Manitobans who are also member-owners. For more than 75 years, we have helped our member-owners achieve their dreams.

ACU is the only financial institution in Manitoba to be a Certified B Corporation®. We join 5,000 businesses worldwide across 80 nations that are leading a global movement of using business as force for good. ACU earned a score of over 166.4 — currently ranking the highest score in all of Canada and 6th in the world!

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Dean Beleyowski
Director, Marketing
Assiniboine Credit Union
204.258.3506
dbeleyowski@acu.ca

About B Lab: B Lab is transforming the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, tools, and programs for business, and we certify companies — known as B Corps — who are leading the way. To date, our community includes 400,000 workers in over 5,000 B Corps across 80 countries and 155 industries, and more than 200,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager. B Lab has created and led efforts to pass over 50 corporate statutes globally that enable stakeholder governance, with over 10,000 companies using the legal framework. To learn more and join the movement, visit www.bcorporation.net.

B Lab Contact: press@bcorporation.net