Innovation Partners with Île-à-la-Crosse Cooperative Association to Better Meet Needs of Community

Innovation is partnering with Île-à-la-Crosse Cooperative Association to help establish financial services in the community. The two co-operatives see this as an incredible opportunity to deliver banking services where currently there are none. The signing of this agreement will take place at the Île-à-la-Crosse Cooperative Association Co-op Grocery store on August 29, 2023, at 3:00 p.m.

“Our purpose is to simplify banking for Canadians,” says Innovation Chief Disruption Officer, Dean Gagne. “Our northern communities don’t have the option to bank in-person so finding a tremendous partner in Île-à-la-Crosse Cooperative Association, we’re now able to work together to deliver financial services to this deserving community. It’s part of our shared co-operative values and Innovation’s Responsible Banking™ philosophy. It’s simply the right thing to do.”

Innovation and Île-à-la-Crosse Cooperative Association will work together to develop a Micro Advice Centre, which is essentially a full-service advice centre (branch) in a 150 square foot space. The advice centre will have member service staff, a video-capable ATM, and an office structure complete with video conferencing technology allowing members to access Innovation’s experts without having to travel to a larger centre.

Kevin Raymond, President of Île-à-la-Crosse Cooperative Association says this partnership will benefit the community of Île-à-la-Crosse, the co-operative, and Innovation Federal Credit Union by bringing necessary financial services to the surrounding area.

Innovation will offer the use of its Mobile Advice Centre (MAC) beginning in late August as a temporary location while the Micro Advice Centre inside Île-à-la-Crosse Cooperative Association is being set up.