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Patriotism and People Power
There was a time in Saint Lucia’s past where the average, working class civil servant was not very welcome by the large multinational banks from the United Kingdom and Canada, on the island. Even as early as the 1960s, it was almost impossible for a Saint Lucian householder of modest means to get a loan to purchase land, buy farming equipment or a home, or start a business. Then some patriotic citizens rebelled against the system and led by Bernis Jn Baptiste, they founded the Credit Union, based in a small office on 79 Chaussee Road. The location of that first office became the Bernis Jn Baptiste Building and the beginning of a solid legacy of caring not only for the average, working class public servant in Saint Lucia but also the communities from where they come.
From Rebel to Caregiver
In 1992, decades after trailblazing an alternative route to savings and loans in the 1960s, the Saint Lucia Civil Service Co-operative Credit Union flexed its muscles and showed the country its forte and asset prowess as a financial institution by building its headquarters. Here was a financial entity that intended to grow from strength to strength and that is exactly what it did. Just seven (7) years later the Chaussee Road Headquarters were no longer sufficient to meet the growing demand among the public service on what was now a thriving, developing economy that was diversifying from green gold (bananas) into tourism. The Credit Union acquired prime real-estate on Jeremie Street and there set up modern, two-story offices. By 2000, the organization had outgrown that location and purchased a larger building at the intersection of Jeremie Street, and Chaussee and Trinity Church Roads, the home of Jannou Credit Union.
However, the impressive physical infrastructure was not the only sign of growing success as Credit Union. Asset and membership had increased significantly as did the range of services and products available to members. Most of all the Credit Union invested in its own team through training programmes and up-skilling staff at every opportunity. Communities in the North, South, East and West of the island were beneficiaries of many initiatives by the Credit Union ranging from education to social development to youth and sport.
The institution that started as a Rebel, was now a solid Caregiving Brand and even the professional financial associations had to sit up and pay attention. Credit Unions were thriving! Even in the midst of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, Credit Unions were thriving! Even as the economy slowly recovered and the market held reservations about the multinational banks, they trusted their Credit Unions and St. Lucia Civil Service Co-operative Credit Union was no exception. Membership continued to increase not just through of a new generation of teachers, nurses, police officers, customs officials and more to the country’s cadre of public professionals, but through family referrals and personal references. It was time to step it up even more to meet the modern needs of these new members.
From Caregiver to Caring Hero
The Vision of the Civil Service Credit Union has always been, to be “A strong financial institution driven by the commitment to provide services required by its members in an ever-changing economic environment”. In the mid to late 2010s it became more evident that the ever-changing economic environment required Innovation. The Civil Service Credit Union started the Innovation with its own brand by engaging in a full rebranding exercise in 2016.
The St. Lucia Civil Service Co-operative Credit Union became:
Jannou Credit Union
Jannou is the Kwéyòl expression for “Our dear and trusted friend” and pays tribute to the authentic and indigenous Saint Lucian origins of the Credit Union, for the people by the people, always a partner and a community member, working side by side for the success of its fellow citizens.
Jannou Credit Union ushers in a new age where technology will play an even bigger role in service delivery, starting with Debit Cards as well as Online Services. We have been doing internal testing of these systems and will be launching in due time. These innovations will deliver the same reliable service with a new level accessibility and convenience, thus fulfilling Jannou’s brand promise of “Technology To Make Your Life Easier”.
