Access employees embrace giving back to the community

Angela Vincent had worked her way up from membership services representative to branch manager when the organization she worked for merged with Access Credit Union in 2021. “When we merged with Access, there were opportunities to move into a new role as I took on responsibility to manage multiple locations,” says Vincent, now a managing partner.

Managing two – and now three – locations came with a new set of challenges for Vincent. She reached out to her colleagues, who shared their strategies for keeping in touch with staff when moving between locations. “I have also had mentoring managers who have pushed me to grow,” she says. “As Access employees, we have the leeway to make decisions. We’re trusted to know our members and accountable to make the best decisions for them.”

Winnipeg-based Access is Manitoba’s largest credit union and the sixth largest in Canada, with more than 203,000 members and nearly 950 staff.

“We have a culture built on empowerment, accountability and trust,” says Leanna Beasant, chief financial and people officer. She believes Access’s robust communications channels, career development and community involvement are big reasons this culture exists.

Every month, the CEO holds a virtual coffee talk for all staff where he shares news on the strategy front, financial results and staff incentives, and he often invites a motivational speaker. About half of the 60-minute meeting is reserved for a staff Q&A.

“We aim to be transparent,” says Beasant. She meets with the vice-presidents in her area and they ensure information is passed along to their teams. An extensive intranet site includes up-to-the-minute financial news, community updates and interest rates, as well as policies and procedures.

Other opportunities to communicate include small, collaborative groups and committees. Vincent is a member of the Access health and wellness committee. It puts out an employee newsletter with healthy tips and information on wellness benefits. And it promotes healthy challenges for staff such as boosting the amount of water they drink or creating a budget.

Career development is also top of mind for employees. Access supports employees to take leadership training or to work toward a degree. Vincent is currently enrolled in a certificate program in management and administration at the University of Manitoba.

Employees can learn about other areas within the organization that speak to their interests. Access offers opportunities for mentorship, job shadowing or term positions.

Even with all of these opportunities, Vincent finds her employees’ favourite activities involve coming together for charity or community events. “We encourage people to volunteer, and our staff have embraced working on our sponsored events such as golf tournaments, parades or pancake breakfasts,” she says.

Employees also do their own volunteering by coaching teams in the community or getting together to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.

One popular volunteer opportunity is the financial literacy program. Employees take training on information of interest to people in the community, and then visit schools, elder centres and more to talk about issues such as budgeting, planning for the future and staying safe from scams.

“Access attracts people who are co-operative in spirit,” says Beasant. “Giving back to the community is one of our principles. If you enjoy being in a hockey or curling club, you’ll enjoy working with Access Credit Union.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing the winners of this year's Manitoba's Top Employers competition, published March 11, 2025 in the Winnipeg Free Press. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, who did not write or review the content.