Our Story
During the 1970s, divisions of the Barbados Worker’s Union (BWU) called for the creation of a Credit Union for hardworking Barbadians. The inaugural meeting of the BWU Co-operative Credit Union Limited (BWUCCU) was held on Thursday, December 10, 1981, and was attended by sixty-eight (68) persons. A savings society was then launched on February 09, 1983. The Credit Union was opened to receive funds from Tuesday, June 21, 1983, at the Barbados Workers' Union headquarters, which was then located at the corner of Fairchild and Nelson Streets. The BWUCCU was formally registered as the 62nd Credit Union in Barbados on July 8, 1983. On April 2, 2024, following an extensive three-year process, the Credit Union finalised its rebranding and repositioning project and was renamed AffinityPlus Credit Union. This new, distinctive identity for the organisation, has been built on the great legacy that has been forged from 1983 to 2023 and will enhance the success of the Credit Union in the future.
Over the past 40 years, AffinityPlus Credit Union has grown to over 31,000 members strong and offers a wide range of attractive products and services designed to help members from birth to retirement, elevate their overall well-being and meet their financial goals.
The Credit Union also now offers a full suite of convenience services including our SMARTNet online banking platform also accessible via our SMARTNet app for Android and Apple devices; our SMARTPay Bill payment system and Group Health Insurance. Our members are also able to make deposit and loan payments at any branch of SurePay. Additionally the Credit Union is committed to supporting sustainable living with our focus on Green Energy Services to help make the lives of our members better.
As the Credit Union continues to grow and evolve, members can look forward to more enhanced services.
Fun Facts
We are currently one of the largest Credit Unions in Barbados, with over 31,000 members. At the end of March 1984, membership stood at 418.
AffinityPlus, formerly the BWU Co-operative Credit Union Ltd was officially registered as a Credit Union on July 8, 1983.
The first twenty-five members of the AffinityPlus Credit Union were members of the various committees of the Barbados Workers Union (BWU) and the administrative functions of the credit union were performed by the officers and staff of the Barbados Workers Union.
Credit Union Stalwart, the late Bro. Levere Richards, G.C.M., was the first registered member of the BWU Co-operative Credit Union Ltd, currently known as AffinityPlus Credit Union.
Sis. Novaline Brewster is the current President of AffinityPlus Credit Union and the second woman to hold this position in our history. The late Sister Icilma Johnson, a founding member of AffinityPlus Credit Union, was our first female President.
Our headquarters located on Fairchild Street once served as the home for the Barbados Workers Union before they moved to Solidarity House. The building is rich in history as it holds memories of prominent trade union leaders and National Heroes, such as the late Sir Grantley Adams, the late Sir Hugh Springer and the late Sir Frank Walcott. Lastly, the historical building is also an UNESCO World Heritage site.
In 1998 the staff complement of the then BWU Credit Union was nine (9) employees; AffinityPlus now has a staff complement of sixty-six (66) employees.
We have three branches that are located in Bridgetown, Speightstown, and Oistins. Our branch in Oistins is the only financial institution located in this town.
Credit Union Photo Gallery
