HRCU Makes Capital City Debut After Years of Planning

The Holy Redeemer Credit Union is celebrating a major first, its long‑awaited expansion into the nation’s capital. HRCU has officially opened its very first branch in Belmopan, a move years in the making and now brought to life inside the brand‑new Fred Smith Building. It’s a fitting tribute to the late former president whose vision helped shape the credit union’s growth and continues to inspire its mission of financial empowerment across the Cayo District. On Saturday, community leaders, members, and HRCU executives gathered to honor both the milestone and the man behind the legacy. Paul Lopez was there and has the story.

 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Holy Redeemer Credit Union has officially planted its flag in the capital. Over the weekend, HRCU opened the doors to its first‑ever Belmopan branch, unveiling the new Fred Smith Building, a tribute to the late former president whose dream was to bring the credit union’s services to the Capital City. On Saturday, members and leaders gathered to honor that vision, and Acting Manager Clement Usher shared warm memories of the man who helped set this expansion in motion.

 

Clement Usher, Acting Manager, Holy Redeemer Credit Union

“Mr. Fred had always been very helpful, always willing to work. When he was a president he was always present at the office to make sure that everything runs smoothly and he was always the type of person that cared, wanting to make sure everything was going to the best of our ability that the credit union could do.”

 

Vice President Dr. Carol Babb, a familiar name in Belize’s financial literacy and credit union movement, says it was Fred Smith who first brought her into HRCU.

 

Dr. Carol Babb, Vice President, Holy Redeemer Credit Union

“And he kept saying to me Carol I want you to be a part of the Credit Union because I believe you can make a meaningful contribution, especially in education, since I am an educator by profession. So, I was very happy to have joined the credit union eight-years ago.”

 

With more than seven hundred and twenty million dollars in assets, the Holy Redeemer Credit Union continues to grow its footprint and its impact. HRCU President Wendy Castillo says the new Belmopan branch opens a whole new world of financial opportunities for families and businesses across western Belize.

 

Wendy Castillo, President, Holy Redeemer Credit Union

“When we sat down to envision this building, how it will serve our membership, first of all, looking at the statistics of the two thousand and eight hundred members, that Belmopan has on our record presently, we hope to grow that by ten percent every year. When we look at this building we also had to take into consideration the investment we are putting in and how that will impact the finance of our members, how will we pay back, what is the return. And that is how the rental aspect of the third floor came into being, our board approved it and said the building should not only serve as another branch, but it should also have an investment portfolio. On our first and second floor, it is for HRCU, you are greeted by our teller section. Warm staff, smiling staff, staff how are trained to answer questions, to provide all the benefits and to give information on how you become a member.”

 

HRCU members from villages across Cayo once had to travel all the way to Belize City to do their banking. And they weren’t small contributors, together they hold forty‑seven million dollars in savings and eight million in loans. Today, that long, exhausting trip is finally over.

 

Jermaine Hyde, Credit Committee Member, Holy Redeemer Credit Union

“They should be beyond excited because of what we are offering. We brought what we initially started in Belize City here to Belmopan. The service that we offer to our residents, the benefits. I believe earlier you would have heard Dr. Babb spoke about the benefits of saving and how it makes you financially stable. What we offer in Belize City to bring here now to Belmopan, I think it is a great step for the people and resident of Belmopan.”

 

Saturday’s launch drew political and community leaders from across the capital, all eager to welcome the HRCU family to Belmopan. That family is built on dedicated staff members like Chanel McCulloch, ready to serve in the new branch

 

Chanel McCulloch, Member Service, Holy Redeemer Credit Union

“The Belmopan branch this has been a request for many years. Eleven years there they have always been asking when are you guys going to open another branch, I am in Cayo and cant always come to Belize City. So, this is going to be a plus for HRCU, but not only HRCU, but also its member owners. If they cant make it to Belize City they will be able to come to Belmopan Branch and do their business here.”

 

From honoring Fred Smith’s legacy to expanding opportunities in western Belize, the Holy Redeemer Credit Union says this is only the beginning of a new chapter aimed at strengthening communities and building financial freedom for all its members. 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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