80 Years Later: HRCU Thrives on Loyalty of Longtime and New Members

For generations of Belizeans, the Holy Redeemer Credit Union has been more than a place to save or borrow money, it’s been a trusted partner through life’s biggest moments. Today, that legacy takes center stage as HRCU celebrates more than eighty years of service, alongside the very people who built it, its member-owners. From first savings accounts to home loans and business ventures, the credit union continues to play a quiet but powerful role in shaping lives and communities. News Five’s Paul Lopez visited HRCU’s Belize City headquarters, where that story of shared success is still unfolding.

 

The story has been told countless times.

 

Clement Usher, Chief Financial Officer, HRCU

“Father Suti would come over from the Presbytery to organize the credit union, but it took him a while before these three women came forward, June Bolton, Carmen Canton and Hazel Anderson and that is how we started with seventy-five cents and three ladies. That was eighty-two years ago.”

 

Eight decades later the Holy Redeemer Credit Union grew from three to more than sixty-five thousand member-owners. And while some members are just beginning their journey with the credit union, others have been part of the family for decades, like Corine Robinson-Fuller, who joined back in 1980 and has been invested ever since.

 

Corine Robinson-Fuller, Member-Owner, HRCU

“I stayed because the service to me as a member is phenomenal. The benefits they provide as well.  I like the fact that I get a dividend every year. Getting a loan here was easy for me, when I built my mom’s house. I got a loan to build my mom’s house from the credit union and that was a very good experience.”

 

In celebrating more than eight decades of service, HRCU decorated its three branches across the country with balloons, gave out goodies and held grocery basket raffles, all meant to appreciate member owners. Staff members, Alejandra Velasquez and Nigel Alvarado, spent the morning greeting members owners as they exited the building.

 

Alejandra Velasquez, Finance Officer, HRCU

“I feel really good. I feel really honored because I know we have done a great job serving them. And like they say, the customer service is always on point, so I am happy to hear that.”

 

Nigel Alvarado, Compliance Officer, HRCU

“After all the member owners are our bosses and they are the ones that have us here. So, without them we would not have been here eighty-two years later.”

 

Human Resource Manager, Mark Menzies, acknowledged that this space within HRCU’s headquarters is more than just a line of member owners and a full complement of tellers. It’s an area where financial goals are realized and lives are transformed.

 

Mark Menzies, Human Resource Manager, HRCU

“We have a lot of stalwarts who love this credit union and so we at the helm have to do everything right and take care of our member owners. They are very important to us.”

 

Corine Robinson-Fuller

“At every AGM you will be reminded that you are an owner. And when you see the progress made you realize that you are a part of it.”

 

HRCU has scheduled it 2026 Annual General Meeting for May thirtieth. Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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