WINTER NEWS from your CEO
Dear Members,
As we approach the end of another remark able year, I want to take a moment to express my hear tfelt gratitude to each and ever y one of you. Your unwavering suppor t has been the cornerstone of our success at Cara Credit Union. This year has been a testament to the strength and resilience of our communit y, and it is your trust and loyalty that have made it all possible.
I would also like to extend our deepest thanks to the local retailers, businesses, and media who suppor t Cara Credit Union day in and day out. Your par tnership and collaboration are invaluable to us.
I am pleased to announce that we have made a surplus of €3 million this year. After several years without a dividend, the Board of Direc tors is delighted to propose a dividend of 0.25%. This decision reflects our commitment to sharing our success with you, our valued members.
This year has been par ticularly special as we have received several prestigious awards. For a recordbreak ing 10th consecutive year, credit unions have topped the league table for best customer experience in I reland, according to the 2024 Customer Experience I nsight (CXi) Repor t. Additionally, Cara Credit Union was honored with an All-I reland CU Award in the S ocial Dividend I nitiative (S ocial I mpac t) categor y. This award recognises our ‘Don’t be a Money Mule’ campaign, which was rolled out to post-primar y schools and third-level institutions across Kerr y to tack le money laundering and money mules. Cara Credit Union was also awarded 3 gold medals by Gradam Glór na nGeal and also the Q-Mharc Gnó le G aeilge which is awarded to businesses that excel in promoting the I rish language and demonstrare their commitment to using the Irish language effectively.
However, what we are most proud of is the suppor t we are for tunate to give to our communities. Cara Credit Union is deeply committed to suppor ting the communit y through various initiatives. This year, we provided almost €68,000 in general sponsorship and awarded €15,000 to five projec ts through the Lauri Healy Communit y Sponsorship Awards. Additionally, we awarded €10,500 in educational scholarships to help students achieve their academic goals.
We a r e a l s o m
c a r b o n footprint by adopting environmentally responsible practices in our investment decisions. Our commitment ex tends beyond the environment to social and economic aspec ts, ensuring that individuals have access to financial ser vices that drive their social and economic development.
This year, the Board agreed to invest €1 million in I reland ’s CU AHB, a credit union-approved housing body set up as a not-for-profit entity to relieve housing needs. The role of the Approved Housing Body is critical in addressing I reland ’s housing challenges and is central to the Government ’s “Housing for All” plan.
Look ing for ward to 2025, our commitment remains steadfast in delivering exceptional financial ser vices to our members and fostering the social and economic growth of our community.
Thank you once again for your continued suppor t.
Pa Laide CEO, Cara Credit Union
WINTER NEWS from your CEO
A Bhaill uaisle,
Agus bliain iontach eile ag druidim chun deiridh, ba mhaith liom buíochas ó chroí a ghabháilt do na haon duine agaibh. Is ríthábhachtach bhur dtacaíocht leanúnach do rathúlacht Chomhar Creidmheasa Cara i gcónaí. Ba léiriú é 2024 ar láidreacht agus athléimneacht ár bpobail, agus murach bhur gcuid muiníne agus dílseachta, ní fhéadfaí a leithéid chéanna a bhaint amach riamh.
Ba mhaith liom buíochas mór a ghabháilt chomh maith leis na miondíoltóirí, na gnólachtaí agus na meáin áitiúla a thacaíonn le Comhar Creidmheasa Cara gach uile lá. Tá bhur gcomhpháir tíocht agus bhur gcomhoibriú ar fad thar a bheith luachmhar dúinn.
Is cúis áthais dom a chur in iúl daoibh go bhfuil barrachas €3 mhilliún bainte amach againn i mbliana Tar éis roinnt blianta gan díbhinn ar bith, tá ríméad ar an mBord Stiúr thóirí díbhinn 0.25% a mholadh. Léiríonn an cinneadh seo ár ndíograis ár rathúlacht a roinnt libhse, ár mbaill dhílse a bhfuil ardmheas againn oraibh.
Bhí bliain ana-speisialta ar fad againn i bhfianaise na n-ardghradam go léir a bronnadh orainn. Don 10ú bliain as a chéile, rud nár tharla riamh roimhe seo, tá na comhair chreidmheasa ar bharr an tábla sraithe maidir le heispéireas an chustaiméara is fearr in Éirinn a chur ar fáil, de réir Thuarascáil Léargais ar Eispéireas an Chustaiméara (CXi) 2024. Chomh maith leis sin, bronnadh Gradam Uile -Éireann na gComhar Creidmheasa ar Chomhar Creidmheasa Cara sa chatagóir ‘ Tionscnamh na Díbhinne S óisialta ( Tionchar S óisialta)’ Tugann an gradam seo aitheantas ar ár bhfeachtas ‘Ná bí id Mhiúil Airgid’ a cuireadh i bhfeidhm ar bhonn céimneach in iarbhunscoileanna agus in institiúidí tríú leibhéal ar fud Chiarraí chun dul i ngleic le sciúradh airgid agus miúileanna airgid. Bhronn Glór na nGael 3 Ghradam ar Chomhar Creidmheasa Cara. Comhar tha is ea bonn an Ghradaim seo go bhfuil meas ag gnólacht ar an nGaelainn agus ar phobal na Gaelainne.
Ach ‘sé an rud is mó a chuireann bród orainn ná an tacaíocht a thugaimid i gcónaí dár bpobail. Tá Comhar Creidmheasa Cara meáite go hiomlán ar thacaíocht a thabhair t don phobal trí airgead a bhronnadh ar thionscnaimh éagsúla. I mbliana, chuireamar nach mór €68,000 ar fáil mar urraíocht ghinearálta agus bhronnamar €15,000 ar chúig thionscadal mar chuid de Dhámhachtainí Urraíochta Pobail Lauri Healy. I na theannta san, bhronnamar €10,500 i scoláireachtaí oideachais chun cabhrú le mic léinn a gcuid spriocanna acadúla a bhaint amach.
Tá ana- dhul chun cinn á dhéanamh againn chun ár lorg carbóin a laghdú trí thabhairt faoi chleachtais atá freagrach ó thaobh an chomhshaoil de inár dtograí infheistíochta go léir. Anuas ar chúrsaí comhshaoil, táimid tiomanta do ghnéithe sóisialta agus eacnamaíocha, ag cinntiú go bhfuil rochtain aige daoine ar sheirbhísí airgeadais a spreagann a bhforbair t shóisialta agus eacnamaíoch.
I mbliana, d’aontaigh an Bord €1 milliún a infheistiú i gComhlacht Ceadaithe Tithíochta na gComhar Creidmheasa in Éirinn, comhlacht tithíochta atá ceadaithe ag comhair chreidmheasa agus a bunaíodh mar aonán neamhbhrabúis chun riachtanais tithíochta a mhaolú. Tá ról an Chomhlachta Ceadaithe Tithíochta ríthábhachtach chun aghaidh a thabhair t ar dhúshláin tithíochta na hÉireann agus tá sé lárnach don phlean “ Tithíocht do Chách” de chuid an Rialtais.
Ag féachaint ar aghaidh ar 2025, seasfaimid i gcónaí lenár ngealltanas seirbhísí airgeadais den gcéad scoth a chur ar fáil dár mbaill agus fás sóisialta agus eacnamaíoch ár bpobail a chothú.
Go raibh míle maith agaibh aríst as bhur dtacaíocht leanúnach.
Pa Laide POF, Comhar Creidmheasa Cara
*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.
Scams
What to watch out for ...
H OW S C A M S WO R K
A scam is a dishonest scheme or plan designed to con you out of your money by getting your personal or financial information. It will target your bank/credit union account, debit/credit card details, PIN number and/or other sensitive information.
We do so much of our business online nowadays and scammers are using this technology to target and catch you off guard. They are becoming ver y clever in how they use tech or social media, and it can be hard to spot what ’s genuine.
There are cer tain things to watch out for that could signal a scam:
• someone you don’t k now contacts you out of the blue ask ing you to confirm or give your personal and financial details
• you’re being pressurised to act quick ly before it ’s too late
• a tempting oppor tunity is offered to claim a reward or make money
• you get an email, or text message asking you to click on a link or attachment
• you’re asked to transfer money in a specific way or open a new account
TO P T I P
Scammers pretend to be from organisations or companies you trust. Trusted organisations do not normally contac t you ask ing for your personal or financial details. If this happens you should hang up and call the organisation back on a number you k now to be genuine.
G O L D E N R U L E S
...
S TO P
Do not give out your personal information or details if you’re unsure who you’re talk ing to.
Scammers will pretend to be from organisations or companies you k now and trust. For example, banks, revenue, the HSE or energy providers. Whenever you see a message calling for immediate action, pause and look carefully at the message.
T H I N K
Ask yourself, could this contact be fake? Has your bank or energy provider contacted you like this before? If something sounds too good to be true it usually is. Don’t ever click on any online link or attachment you’re uneasy about.
C H E C K
I f you’ve received a verbal or written communication you’re uneasy about, contact us or wherever the person contacting you claims to be from. Only use an official phone number or email address you trust and have verified independently. For example, you can call Cara Credit Union on 066 712 2373 or our current account card ser vices team on 01 693 3333.
I F YO U G E T C AU G H T O U T BY A S C A M
I f you believe that you’ve been scammed, contac t your credit union or card issuer immediately. Ask them if you can get the payment reversed through chargeback. They can advise you and place your account on hold. Your card may need to be cancelled until it is checked out. You should also report it locally to the Gardaí.
ART COMPETITION WINNERS
Congratulations to the winners of our annual Ar t Competition. This year ’s theme was ’ The Joys of Life’. A special thanks to all the amazing ar tists who entered the competition. Best of luck to our 1st prize winners at the next level of the competition, where they will represent Cara Credit Union at Chapter 23 Regional Level.
7 & under/Additional Needs: Meerab Ahazad
7 & under: Ria Har ty
Daughton Galloway
Sheehan
Lowe
8-10 Years: Aisling O' Driscoll
8-10 Years/Additional Needs: Emma Costello
8-10 Years Group/Additional Needs: Cromane NS
11-13 Years/Additional Needs: Sean Mannion
11-13 Years: Nicole Iadjuscenkova
14-17 Years: Katie Hegar ty
14-17 Years/Additional Needs: Sorrell Bailey
Adult Additioal Needs: Chris Cour tney
Adult: Eileen O’Callaghan
KEEP UP TO DATE
IS YOUR NOMINATION UP TO DATE?
Members over 16 years are encouraged to nominate a person(s) to receive their credit union proper ty in the event of their death. This means that on your death, your savings will not form par t 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.
SEPA
From Januar y 2025, Cara Credit Union members will be able to receive SEPA instant payments into their accounts. These payments will be received within 10 seconds and will be available 24/7, 365 days a year. From October 2025, members will also be able to send SEPA instant payments. This update will necessitate changes to the terms and conditions, and fur ther details will be provided before the ser vice goes live.
OUR C HRISTMAS OPENIN G TIMES
TRALEE CORCA KILLORGLIN & BALLYDUFF CAUSEWAY & PHONE LINES DHUIBHNE CASTLEISLAND
CLOSED : Wednesday 25th, Thursday 26th & Friday 27th December
Saturday Kiosk Lobby Open CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED 28th December from 10am-4pm
Sunday CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED 29th December
Monday 9 30am-4 30pm 9 30am-4 30pm 10am-4pm 9 30am-1pm CLOSED 30th December 2pm-4.30pm
Tuesday 9.30am-3.30pm 9.30am-3.30pm 10am-3.30pm 9.30am-1pm CLOSED 31st December 2pm-3 30pm
ALL BRANCHES CLOSED WEDNESDAY Monday 1st January 2025
Normal business hours resume Thursday 2nd January 2025
We wish all our members a ver y Happy Christmas & peaceful New Year
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
NAME: CONTACT NO:
(15/11/2024)