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Community programs

We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a financial future. Our community programs are designed to remove systemic obstacles to help people get started on their own terms.

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Asset building programs with Match Savings

There's more to overcoming poverty than simply having an income

In partnership with SEED Winnipeg and United Way of Winnipeg, we offer three Asset Building Programs can help you save for things like furniture, tuition, or a downpayment on your own home.

Our role is to provide funding and a special Matched Savings Account for participants to use.

ACU and its partners offer three types of Asset Building Programs.

Savings Circle

This six-month program is available to anyone living on a low income. It features 10 weeks of money management training, during which you’ll start to save money—and the partnership will match your savings 3:1. For every $1 you save, the program matches it with $3. If you save the maximum allowable ($250), you'll end up with $1,000 to purchase an asset that will better your life.

To find out more, including program requirements and start times, please contact one of the Savings Circle Partners listed below.

Saving Circle Partners

Organization  Phone Who they serve
The Link 204-477-1722 Youth aged 18 - 29 
Villa Rosa 204-786-5741 ext. 226 Villa Rosa residents
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre 204-925-0330 Indigenous peoples
Manitoba Possible 204-975-3103 People living with a disability
Urban Circle Training Centre 204-589-4433 Urban Circle students
204-938-590  
Pluri-Elles 204-233-1735 Francophone community 
SEED Winnipeg 204-927-9947  
Healthy Muslim Families 204.202.6491  

 

Individual Development Account (IDA)

This two-year program helps you save for tuition, disability support, or start or grow a business. You must be living in a low-income household and have completed the 10-week Savings Circle program. Once you have completed the IDA program, your savings are matched 2:1, which means for every $1 you save, the partnership provides $2. You can save a maximum of $1,000—giving you a total of $3,000 towards your savings goal.

If you'd like to learn more about the Individual Development Account, including its requirements and start times, please contact one of the IDA Partners listed below.

IDA Partners

Organization  Phone Who they serve
SEED Winnipeg 204-927-9947 Youth aged 18 - 29 
204-975-3103 People living with a disability
204-943-8765 Newcomers

 

Inner City Homebuyer Plan

This program helps those living on a low income save for a deposit on an inner-city house. It offers 1:1 savings matching. If you save the maximum of $7,000 you’ll have $14,000 that you can use for a downpayment.

To learn more about this program, please contact SEED Winnipeg at 204.927.9935

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Community Partner Referral Program

Our Community Referral Program helps clients of local service organizations access banking services at ACU.

With our partners, we provide practical knowledge about banking, including savings and how to open an account. We help all kinds of people in all sorts of circumstances, and we're happy to do it.

If you or someone you know could use a little help with their banking needs, please contact one of our Community Referral Partners.

 

Community Referral Partners

Organization  Phone
Aboriginal Health & Wellness Centre 204.925.3700
Acorn Family Place  204.560.3141
Behavioural Health Foundation Inc. 204.269.3430
Career Trek 204.944.1800
Citizens Bridge 204.691.9719
Canadian Mental Health Association (MB and WPG) 204.982.6100
Canadian Mental Health Association (Thompson) 204.667.6050
Centre de santé Saint-Boniface 204.940.3838
Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corp. 
 204.669.0750
Community Education Development Association (CEDA) 204.582.5800
Community Financial Counselling Services
 204.989.1900
EAGLE Urban Transition Centre 204.954.3050
Equal Opportunities West 204.888.5422
Elmwood Community Resource Centre 204.982.1720
First Nations Advocate Office 204.957.8450
Fort Whyte Farms 204.989.8355
Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba (IRCOM) 204.943.8765
John Howard Society of Manitoba 204.775.1514
Lavallee Community School 204.253.1388
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre (Ma Mawi) 204.925.0300
Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre 204.667.0950
Mount Carmel Clinic 204.582.2311
Native Clan Org. 204.943.7357
Ndinawe Resource Centre 204.589.5545
New Journey Housing 204.942.2238
North End Community Renewal Corporation 204.927.2333
North End Women's Centre 204.589.7347
Oshki-Giizhig Inc. 204.782.2462
Resource Assistance for Youth (RaY) 204.783.5617
R.B. Russell School 204.589.5301
SEED Winnipeg 204.927.9935
Spence Neighbourhood Association 
 204.783.5000 ext. 109
SSCOPE Inc. 204.987.6300
St. John’s High School 204.589.4374
The Link 204.477.1722
Urban Circle 204.589.4433
Villa Rosa 204.786.5741
Wayfinders 204.631.5849

 

 

New to Canada program

If you’ve been in Canada for less than five years—and have never had an account with us before—we can help you set up your Canadian banking.

Chequing account

  • No Canadian credit history needed
  • No monthly fees for a year
  • Free book of cheques

Car loan

  • No Canadian credit history needed
  • Borrow up to $30,000
  • Must have six months of employment history in Canada
  • Must have a 25% down payment

Newcomer mortgage

  • Purchase a home with a minimum down payment, starting at 5%
  • Different sources of payment history will be considered

Credit cards

Choose an ACU Collabria Visa* credit card

Safety deposit box

Free safety deposit box for one year

If you're a landed immigrant, international student, refugee or foreign worker, visit any ACU branch and bring your Permanent Resident Card or Temporary Permit as well as your other standard ID.

Other services for Newcomers

Re-establish your career Canadian banking Homeownership SEED Winnipeg

Help to re-establish your career in Manitoba

Recognition Counts, a partnership between ACU and SEED Winnipeg, gives low-cost loans to help you pay for any qualifications, exams or studies you need to take in order to work in your field.

Canadian banking system training

If you are a newcomer and have banking experience, you can attend a paid, four-week program that will introduce you to Canadian culture and the Canadian banking system. Then, you will be given a full-time, paid work assignment at a bank. If you do well during the program, you may be offered a permanent job!

This program is open to 8-10 newcomers at a time, and is offered by ACU along with Manitoba Start and the Province of Manitoba.

Homeownership for Muslims

We understand that traditional banking can be a barrier to owning a home for our Muslim members, so we partnered with the Manitoba Islamic Association to create an Islamic Mortgage.

SEED Winnipeg RESP Referral program

A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) gives you a practical plan to help you reach your child's education savings goal. SEED Winnipeg provides hands-on support for opening your RESP and applying for any special benefits your child may qualify for.

Is your son or daughter a graduate of the Community Schools Investigators (CSI) summer enrichment program? They may have earned a $400 bursary for every year they attended! Talk to SEED to find out if your child qualifies, and how much money they might have earned.

For more information, contact SEED at 204.927.9945 or email csi@seedwinnipeg.ca.

Banking that puts people and planet first

Ready to bank on values?

Our knowledgeable advisors are here to help you take the next step, whether you're opening a new account, planning for the future or simply exploring your banking options. At ACU, we offer financial guidance rooted in integrity and community and a commitment to people and the planet. Let’s talk about what’s right for you.

Become a member
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Have questions? We're here to help.

Whether you're looking for more information or need guidance on your next financial move, our team is ready to support you. Reach out and let us know how we can assist.

Contact us

*The Collabria Visa Card is issued by Collabria Financial Services Inc. pursuant to a license from Visa. Trademarks of Visa Int., used under license.