April 29, 2020 ~ VANCOUVER/VICTORIA
By Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
The Vancity credit union on April 20 launched their Unity Pivot Business Loan offering for small businesses that have changed track to support the COVID-19 response specifically, or have had to adapt to the changed environment.
Loans of up to $150,000 are available to support businesses pivoting direction to support the fight against the pandemic. The loans are interest-free for the first six months, and with no payment required during the first six months.
From garment manufacturers shifting to produce masks to local perfumeries retooling to make hand sanitizer, local business leaders are lending a hand to those on the frontlines of the pandemic.
Others have had to adjust their business to new circumstances – moving their business online, for example. The Unity Pivot Business Loan is available to all businesses that have been in existence for two years or more, who were profitable before COVID-19, and which need financing to support a shift in direction in response to the pandemic.
The Unity Pivot Business Loan is one of two loan programs funded by Vancity members’ deposits under the Unity Term Deposit which allows its members to make a secure return, while having a direct hand in supporting and rebuilding the local economy.
The Unity Bridge Loan, also announced on April 20, is aimed at supporting self-employed people impacted by COVID-19. This term loan will be offered to those who’ve been self-employed for more than two years and who have an existing business with payroll under $20,000. This type of loan is a helpful gap-filler for businesses that don’t qualify for the federal CEBA program which requires a $20,000 minimum payroll.
Also addressing a sector of self-employed business operators, VanCity offers loans to eligible individuals with no payroll for up to $10,000, available interest-free for the first six months with no payment required during the first six months either.
Program caps and goals:
The Unity Pivot Business and Unity Bridge programs are capped at $50 million.
Since launching on March 23, 2020, the Unity Term Deposit has reached its goal of $200 million and has expanded nationally to Vancity’s federally chartered banking subsidiary, Vancity Community Investment Bank (VCIB), for institutional investors.
The Unity Loans are part of a suite of measures Vancity is taking to assist members and communities in uncertain times. Vancity recently announced it has reduced interest rates on credit cards to 0% for those impacted by COVID-19 and has a six-month loan deferral program in place. This deferral program includes mortgages and other loans, and will support members facing financial uncertainty and vulnerability from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In partnership with the Government of Canada, Vancity is also supporting small businesses through a number of loan programs, including the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) and Business Credit Availability Program.
Since making the CEBA available to its members, Vancity had (as of April 20) approved $84,260,000 in total loans to 2,108 businesses.
Vancity philosophy:
“It is inspiring to see the business community change direction and move to action in response to COVID-19 to support those on the frontlines, as well as wider society. It takes courage and innovation to do so, and Vancity is here to help businesses with that spirit.
“Vancity’s relief programs for small businesses build on the supports already in place from the provincial and federal governments,” says Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO, Vancity.
Vancity has temporarily waived some fees to help people access services remotely, including for INTERAC e-Transfer® and ATMs in Canada until September 30, 2020.
Since April 9, the credit union had approved 97% of the many loan deferral requests that they had received. Interest is payable but there is no penalty.
The interest rate on Vancity credit cards was been dropped to zero for existing members, as announced April 8.
About Vancity:
Vancity calls itself a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of more than 543,000 member-owners and their communities. They have offices and 60 branches located in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay, within the unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw people.
With $28.2 billion in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is Canada’s largest community credit union. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.