A farewell message from our CEO, Mr Paul Patton

A farewell message from our CEO, Mr Paul Patton

With just a couple of months short of 15 years as CEO of BCCU, I feel now is the right time to move to another chapter of my life and today, Saturday 25^th February 2023 is my last day in the role.  I am extremely proud of what we’ve achieved since 2008 and what BCCU continues to represent to our members.

Some elements of growth are evident – we now serve over 17,000 members and employ 27 excellent staff - an increase from just 6 staff in 2008.  Our balance sheet stands at £44million, an over fourfold increase from 2008.  Our loan book now exceeds over £22.5 million up from just over £4 million in 2008.  We now offer a full range of online services, with prospective members able to join via our App, and existing members being able to make online transfers and apply for a loan online.  We have invested considerably in both our building and our IT infrastructure which I believe will stand the test of time in delivering services at an appropriate level for our present and future members.

However, the desire from the first day was just not to be a bigger Credit Union – that is a relatively straightforward objective.  I am most proud of the belief that we have retained the identity of BCCU and the trust of our members.  Credit Unions were established to offer co-operative access to finance with every member being treated equally with access to credit at a fair and reasonable rate.  Since 2008 we have lent our members over £120,000,000.00, and these loans have hugely benefitted families and our community is so many ways.  We have as much pleasure is seeing a loan of £500 being issued as one of £50,000.

I can’t praise our Staff enough for their kindness and the manner in which they continue to serve our members in whatever way they choose to engage with us – in person, on the phone or electronically.  We couldn’t have achieved what we have, without our Management Team’s leadership and direction. I’m so grateful for the countless hours they have contributed to delivering the standards that our members enjoy.  I would also like to thank the many volunteers that I have had the pleasure to work with, and in particular our current Directors that have trusted me and treated me with respect in managing and leading BCCU in this time.

Thank you to you the Members who I have engaged with for many years.  It’s been a pleasure to have been a small part of what is necessary to navigate family finances through good and bad times.  I wish BCCU every success in the future.

Mr Paul Patton

CEO Ballymena Causeway Credit Union