First Credit Union

We're proudly kiwi owned and have been helping kiwis achieve their financial goals for 70 years! Being a cooperative makes us different from other financial services - and we like that! It means all profits we make go back to our members to benefit them by paying no to low fees and offering better interest rates on loans and savings accounts.

Our History 

First Credit Union began in 1955 as St Mary’s Credit Union in Hamilton, inspired by the global credit union movement. Built as a member-owned cooperative, aimed to provide fair financial services, including affordable loans, competitive savings rates, and equal voting rights for all members.

Over the past 70+ years, our member numbers have grown from 20 to the over 60,000 that we serve today. We remain a community-minded financial partner, staying true to our ‘people helping people’ philosophy. As one of New Zealand’s last remaining credit unions, proving that community-focused banking can stand the test of time.

What Makes Us Different 

We're not a bank – we're better. As a credit union, we answer to our members, not shareholders, and that makes all the difference. Our not-for-profit model means lower fees and better savings rates for our members. All decisions made by our Board and Management are made with the best interests of our members in mind. When you need help, you’ll get real service from real people who genuinely care.  

“We’re the original peer-to-peer lender, here to help you thrive, not profit from your struggles.” -  Simon Scott, CEO

Our Community

At First Credit Union, we actively support schools, sports teams, and local organisations through sponsorships and partnerships that reflect our values, and we offer community grants to support meaningful projects, from food banks to environmental initiatives. Our teams gets involved too, volunteering with food rescue programmes, and clean-up efforts that make a real difference.

Whether it's offering support during tough times or helping someone take their next big step, we’re here for our community. Our commitment goes beyond banking, when you join us, You come FIRST.