Published: 05 January 2021

AcceleRate Financial’s parent company, Crosstown Civic Credit Union, merged with Access Credit Union on January 1, 2021. With this merge, there will be some minor changes affecting your investments with AcceleRate Financial. No action is required by account holders at this time.

Notice to Registered Savings Plan Holders

There are two stages in investing for your retirement; the first stage is accumulating retirement savings, typically in an RRSP. The next stage is to provide retirement income. When it’s time to use
the money you’ve accumulated for your retirement years, a Registered Retirement Income Fund (RIF) provides a regular income stream, while continuing to shelter your investment principal from
income tax. Amounts paid out of a RRIF are taxable on receipt.

It is mandatory that you convert all your RRSPs by December 31 in the year you turn 71. The latest you are allowed to take your first payment is December 31 in the year you turn 72, however, the payment must be at least the full annual minimum* amount.

Tax law stipulates that a minimum payment must be withdrawn from your RRIF each year and reported as income. *This minimum annual payment is taken from a schedule that is based on your age or the age of your spouse selected at the time the RRIF was opened. TIP: You can also opt to use your spouse’s birthdate if they are older in order to increase the amount of the minimum
annual payment.

As this rate fluctuates annually, your RRIF payment may change from year to year and will be adjusted automatically.

Please do not hesitate to contact AcceleRate Financial toll free at 1-888-954-9543 if you have any questions about your RRIF, or any of our other services. For more information, including the factors used, please consult the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Notice to all Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) Holders:

As of January 1, 2021, your TFSA plan currently held under AcceleRate Financial’s TFSA specimen plan will be transferred to Access Credit Union’s specimen plan. Concentra Trust remains as the trustee, while all administration and processing continues to be conducted directly at AcceleRate Financial. Note, this amendment does not alter the investment(s) held in your TFSA plan in any fashion.

Please refer to this document or contact us to obtain a copy of the Declaration of Trust governing Access Credit Union’s TFSA specimen plan.

Attention RRSP, RRIF, TSFA plan holders:

CAUTION: Your designation of beneficiary by means of a designation form will not be revoked or changed automatically by any future marriage or divorce. Should you wish to change your
beneficiary in the event of a future marriage or divorce, you will have to do so by means of a new designation.

Published: 04 December 2020

Notice to all Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) Holders:

As of January 1, 2021, your TFSA plan currently held under AcceleRate Financial's TFSA specimen plan will be transferred to Access Credit Union's specimen plan. Concentra Trust remains as the trustee, while all administration and processing continues to be conducted directly at the credit union. Note, this amendment does not alter the investment(s) held in your TFSA plan in any fashion.

Please refer to this document or contact our Member Solutions Centre to obtain a copy of the Declaration of Trust governing Access Credit Union's TFSA specimen plan.

Published: 15 October 2020

Our service provider will be implementing an update to our banking system on Sunday, October 25, from 2:00 AM through to 2:00 PM. Online and telephone banking will be temporarily unavailable during that time and access will be limited for debit card and POS transactions. Full services should resume Sunday, October 25 after 2:00 PM CDT.

Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your local branch or our Member Solutions Centre at 1-888-954-9543 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Published: 07 October 2020

In choosing a name for the new organization formed by the merger of equals between Crosstown Civic Credit Union (AcceleRate Financial's parent company) and Access Credit Union, both boards identified the strength of the Access name and its applicability to the missions of both organizations.

The credit unions promised to develop a refreshed brand with the Access name that reflects both credit unions, demonstrating the beginning of a new organization while respecting the legacies of their pasts. Now from Manitoba,Access Credit Union and Crosstown Civic Credit Union celebrate their merger with an entirely new brand experience that promises to be “Where you need us to be.”

“’Where you need us to be’ is a nod to the expanded geographical range of the new credit union, as well as the new digital frontiers for banking and communicating,” says Ingrid Loewen, current board chair for Crosstown Civic and incoming board chair for the new Access. “We are committed to being available for our members—online, offline, at any milestone in their lives.”

To fulfill their new promise, the new Access Credit Union embraces innovation to deliver a diverse array of options and solutions so members can access their finances and service anytime, anywhere. This “member-centric” approach is expressed visually through their new logo and branding, which was developed by the collective teams of the two merging credit unions.

Keeping true to their promise of a fully transparent merger process, Access now invites the public for a sneak-preview of their new brand three months ahead of the official January 1, 2021 amalgamation.

In the new “Triple Cheque Mark” logo, Crosstown Civic is represented by the blue check mark, Access by green and together, both credit unions represent the teal capital “A”. The inspiration is all positive: arrows for forward, upward motion and change; a check mark for solutions and right choices; a knot to tie it together; and an “A” for accessibility.

“Our new brand celebrates the beginning of a new organization while respecting the legacies of our pasts,” noted Curt Letkeman, current board chair for Access and incoming vice chair for the new credit union. “Our brand will be reflected in exceptional service and convenience for members when they want, how they want. Our new brand is unique—just like each member we represent!”

The 26-branch network and community space signage will begin rebranding in January of 2021. Progress updates of the new Access Credit Union’s integration and brand journey are available at cusuccess.ca.

About the new Access Credit Union
Access Credit Union and Crosstown Civic Credit Union will amalgamate to become one entity on January 1st, 2021 with a combined total of 26 rural and urban branches, more than 400 employees, more than $5 billion in assets, and more than 80,000 members becoming the second largest credit union in Manitoba. For more information on the Access/Crosstown Civic merger, please visit cusuccess.ca.