WINTER NEWS from your CEO Dear Members, As we approach the close of another remarkable year, I want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation to each and every one of you. Your continued support has been the cornerstone of Cara Credit Union’s success. I would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the local retailers, businesses, and media partners who support Cara Credit Union day in and day out. Your collaboration is deeply valued. Key milestones this year included the rollout of SEPA Instant Receive in January and SEPA Instant Send in October, allowing members to receive funds in their accounts within 10 seconds. We also introduced General Insurance through Allianz, offering car, home, and pet cover, and launched a 1-year Fixed Term Deposit to expand our savings options. Awards & Recognition For a record-breaking 10th consecutive year, credit unions topped the league table for best customer experience in Ireland, according to the 2024 CXi Report. Additionally, we secured first place in the Ireland Reputation Index 2025, which ranks organisations across trust, social responsibility, and environmental impact. Locally, our Corca Dhuibhne branch was once again honoured with a Q-Mark award for bilingual excellence. Cara Credit Union also received a bronze medal at the Gradaim Gnó na hÉireann awards, recognising our commitment to promoting the Irish language. In the Community Over the past year, we contributed more than €80,000 in general sponsorships and awarded €14,000 to four outstanding projects through the Lauri Healy Community Sponsorship Awards. We also distributed €10,500 in educational scholarships to help students pursue their academic goals. 2
Our dedication to youth development continues through school programmes like ‘CU Through Your Interview’, which equips students with essential life skills in CV writing, budgeting, and interview techniques. The programme concludes with a mock interview led by members of our management team, offering valuable real-world experience. Our biodiversity programme introduces primary school students to environmental stewardship, with interactive talks and hands-on planting of apple trees and fruit bushes - connecting children with nature and sustainability. We love meeting members where they are whether in workplaces, canteens, meetings, or community events. We’re grateful to all the organisations that welcomed us to share how Cara Credit Union can support their teams. These visits help us build stronger relationships and showcase the many ways we can assist - from financial wellbeing to community engagement. If you’d like a visit from your local Credit Union, please email info@caracreditunion.ie or call 066 712 2373. Looking Ahead As we look ahead to 2026, we do so with optimism and ambition. We have exciting projects underway, including the launch of a new fixed-term mortgage, a member-focused refurbishment of our Tralee branch, and continued investment in our digital services. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey. I wish you and your families a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2026. Here’s to another successful year together. Pa Laide CEO, Cara Credit Union
SCÉALA ár bPríomhfheidhmeannaigh A Bhaill Uaisle, Agus bliain iontach eile ag druidim chun deiridh, ba mhaith liom buíochas ó chroí a ghabháilt le gach aon duine agaibh. Tá bhur dtacaíocht leanúnach ríthábhachtach i gcónaí do rath Chomhar Creidmheasa Cara. Ba mhaith liom buíochas mór a ghabháilt chomh maith leis na miondíoltóirí, na gnólachtaí agus na meáin áitiúla a thacaíonn le Comhar Creidmheasa Cara na haon lá. Is mór againn bhur gcomhoibriú i gcónaí. I measc na ngarspriocanna tábhachtacha a baineadh amach i mbliana, bhí cur i bhfeidhm SEPA Instant Receive i mí Eanáir agus SEPA Instant Send i mí Dheireadh Fómhair, seirbhísí a ligeann do bhaill cistí a fháil chuig a gcuntais laistigh de 10 soicind. Thugamar isteach Árachas Ginearálta trí Allianz chomh maith, ag cur clúdach gluaisteán, tí agus peataí ar fáil, agus chuireamar lenár roghanna coigiltis trí Chuntais Taisce ar Théarma Seasta 1 bhliain a sheoladh. Gradaim & Aitheantas Don 10ú bliain as a chéile, rud nár tharla riamh roimhe seo, tá na comhair chreidmheasa ar bharr an tábla de réir Thuarascáil CXi 2024, as ucht an t-eispéireas custaiméara is fearr in Éirinn a chur ar fáil. Ina theannta san, bhaineamar an chéad áit amach i gClú-Innéacs na hÉireann 2025, ina rangaítear 100 de na heagraíochtaí is aitheanta sa tír ó thaobh muiníne, freagrachta sóisialta agus tionchar comhshaoil de. Go háitiúil, bronnadh an gradam Q-Mark arís in 2024 ar ár mbrainse i gCorca Dhuibhne as sármhaitheas dhátheangach a chur ar fáil. Bronnadh bonn cré-umha ar Chomhar Creidmheasa Cara ag Gradaim Ghnó na hÉireann chomh maith, mar chomhartha aitheantais ar ár dtiomantas an Ghaeilge. Sa Phobal Le bliain anuas, chuireamar nach mór €80,000 ar fáil mar urraíocht ghinearálta agus bhronnamar €14,000 ar cheithre thionscadal mar chuid de Dhámhachtainí Urraíochta Pobail Lauri Healy. Dháileamar €10,500 chomh maith i scoláireachtaí oideachais chun cabhrú le mic léinn a gcuid spriocanna acadúla a bhaint amach.
Leanaimid ar aghaidh lenár ndúthracht don fhorbairt óige trí chláir scoile ar nós ‘CU Through Your Interview’ a reáchtáil. Tugann an clár seo scileanna riachtanacha saoil do dhaltaí maidir le CV a chur le chéile, buiséadú a dhéanamh agus teicnící agallaimh a fhorbairt. Cuirtear clabhsúr leis an gclár le hagallamh bréige faoi stiúir bhall dár bhfoireann bainistíochta, rud a thugann taithí luachmhar do dhaltaí ar an saol mar atá. Tugann ár gclár bithéagsúlachta buneolas do dhaltaí bunscoile maidir le maoirseacht chomhshaoil trí chainteanna idirghníomhacha agus crainn úll is toir torthaí a chur. Cothaíonn an clár seo nasc idir leanaí agus an dúlra is cúrsaí inbhuanaitheachta. Is breá linn bualadh le baill ina dtimpeallacht féin - bíodh sé sin san ionad oibre, sa cheaintín, i gcruinnithe nó ag imeachtaí pobail. Táimid buíoch dos na heagraíochtaí go léir a chuir fáilte romhainn labhairt leo fé mar is féidir le Comhar Creidmheasa Cara tacú lena bhfoirne. Cabhraíonn na cuairteanna seo linn caidrimh níos láidre a chothú agus léiríonn siad na slite go léir is féidir linn cabhrú le daoine - ó fholláine airgeadais go rannpháirtíocht sa phobal. Más mian le heagraíocht ar bith cuairt a fháil óna Comhar Creidmheasa áitiúil, seol ríomhphost chuig info@caracreditunion.ie nó cuir glaoch ar 066 712 2373. Ag féachaint chun cinn Agus sinn ag féachaint romhainn ar 2026, táimid lán dóchais agus uaillmhéine. Tá tionscadail iontacha ar bun againn, an morgáiste nua ar théarma seasta atá le seoladh, athchóiriú atá dírithe ar bhaill inár mbrainse i dTrá Lí, agus infheistíocht leanúnach inár seirbhísí digiteacha ina measc. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir as a bheith i gcroílár ár n-aistear linn. Guím 2026 sláintiúil faoi shéan is faoi mhaise oraibh go léir agus ar bhur dteaghlaigh. Pa Laide POF, Comhar Creidmheasa Cara 3
APPLICATIONS OPEN JANUARY 2026
Cara Credit Union continues to champion local communities through the Lauri Healy Community Sponsorship Awards, established to honour one of its founding directors and his lifelong dedication to the credit union movement.
This fund is for community-based projects led by charities, clubs, groups, and societies across Tralee, Castleisland, Killorglin, Ballyduff, Causeway, and Corca Dhuibhne. With the awards extended into 2026, Cara Credit Union remains deeply rooted in its co-operative values, supporting initiatives that reflect Lauri Healy’s legacy of ‘People Helping People.’
TO APPLY: see www.caracreditunion.ie
IS YOUR NOMINATION UP TO DATE?
KEEP UP TO DATE
Members over 16 years are encouraged to nominate a person(s) to receive their credit union property in the event of their death. This means that on your death, your savings will not form part of your estate and can be distributed without delay to the person(s) you have named on your Nomination Form (terms and conditions apply). As a Nomination overrides a will, we encourage members to complete a Nomination and keep it up to date. You can update your Nomination any time by calling into one of our branches with up to date ID.
TRALEE • CASTLEISLAND • KILLORGLIN • CAUSEWAY • BALLYDUFF • CORCA DHUIBHNE 4
ART COMPETITION WINNERS
8-10 Years Category
11-13 Years Category
14-17 Years Category
Adult Category
Category A Winners
Group Winners:
7 & Under: Bill Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Scoil Mhuire Killorglin 8-10 Years: Jayden Molyneaux, Kilflynn National School 11-13 Years: Dylan O’Carroll, Sliabh a’ Mhadra 14-17 Years: Ógie O’Keeffe, Causeway Comprehensive Adult: Mary Reidy, Causeway Comprehensive
Fionn O’Regan, Jack Barry, Jackson Valentine, Luke Walsh, Alex Horan, Killahan National School
Category B Winners 7 & Under: Dylan Delaney, Sliabh a’ Mhadra 8-10 Years: Liam O’Driscoll, Killury NS 11-13 Years: Emma Costello, Sliabh a’ Mhadra 14-17 Years: Ethan Kelly, Causeway Comprehensive Adult: Simon Clarke, National Learning Network
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Cara Credit Union members save even more on car, home and pet insurance with Allianz → allianz.ie/cara-credit-union
Allianz p.l.c. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Standard acceptance criteria, terms & conditions apply.
TRALEE • CASTLEISLAND • KILLORGLIN • CAUSEWAY • BALLYDUFF • CORCA DHUIBHNE
InStAnt PAYmEntS & VERIFICAtIOn OF PAYEE (VOP) In October 2025, credit unions, banks and payment service providers in Ireland and across the eurozone rolled out SEPA Instant payments which allows Members to make a euro payment to a payee within 10 seconds, 24 hours a day, any day of the year. Alongside this, a Verification of Payee service, known as VOP, was also rolled out for all SEPA payments. VOP works by checking the payee name entered for a payment against the name associated with recipient’s account. This will help Members ensure that their payments are going to the right recipient. These additional services were introduced as part of the EU’s Instant Payments Regulation. Since January 2025, credit unions, banks and payment service providers across the eurozone were required to receive SEPA Instant payments and from 9th October 2025 were required to offer Members and customers the ability to send SEPA Instant payments. For more see www.payrightnow.ie or www.caracreditunion.ie 6
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Upgrade Your Homes BER Rating With Loans from 4.7% (4.89% APR) *4.7% (4.89% APR) lending criteria, terms and conditions apply. Loans are subject to approval. If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating which may limit your ability to access credit in the future. Loan rate dependant on letter of assessment of what BER rating will be after competition of work. Information correct as of 15/7/25
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OUR CHRISTMAS OPENING TIMES Wednesday 24th December
TRALEE, BALLYDUFF CORCA DHUIBHNE
CASTLEISLAND & KILLORGLIN
CAUSEWAY
MSC (Phone Line)
9.30am-1pm
10am-1pm
CLOSED
9.30am-1pm
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
Christmas Eve
Thursday 25th December Christmas Day
Friday 26th December Stephens Day
Saturday 27th December
*Tralee Kiosk ONLY open 10am-4pm
Monday 29th December
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
Tuesday 30th December
9.30am-4.30pm
10am-4.30pm
CLOSED
9.30am-4.30pm
Wednesday 31st December 9.30am-3.30pm
10am-3.30pm
CLOSED
9.30am-3.30pm
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
Thursday 1st January
CLOSED
Normal business hours resume Friday 2nd January 2026
We wish all our members a very Happy Christmas & peaceful New Year Guímid Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain fé Shíocháin ar ár mbaill go léir
OPT-OUT:If you do not wish to receive this form of newsletter in the future, please email: communications@caracreditunion.ie or call 066 712 2373
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CONTACT NO: Information is correct at the time of print and maybe subject to change (15/11/2025)