On 16th February 1966, Mitchelstown Credit Union was formally admitted to the membership of the then ‘Credit Union League of Ireland’. It’s home was a small room in the Red Cross Hall in King Street. The weekly rent was 2/6d. The first President was local curate, Fr. Bobby Dineen – a Gaeilgeoir and former Cork hurler.

In 1969, at a cost of £6,000.00 – Mitchelstown Credit Union was the first credit union in Ireland to own its own premises. The new premises were located in James Street, with a membership of 70, Savings stood at £2,000 and the loan book was £1,500. As services and the common bond expanded and the growth in membership continued and the third move was already well documented.

In 1975 we moved to 38 Lower Cork Street. The price tag was £20,000.00. It was a building large enough to house the meagre credit union staff on its ground floor, while at the same time the upper deck was rented to a local publishing firm and a branch of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union. The membership figure now stood at 1000 and the surplus for the year after all expenses were paid amounted to £10,896. Savings stood at £153,541, Deposits at £14,262 and Loans £114,336.

A decade later, under the managership of Micheál Ó h-Aonghusa – it housed a staff of eleven; served a membership figure that exceeded 12,000 people with savings of £25M and loans of £14M.

Since then Mitchelstown Credit Union purchased No. 36 and 37 Lower Cork Street. and when added to No. 38 it was decided to build a purpose built Credit Union for its members. So Mitchelstown Credit Union was on the move again across the road to a licensed premise formerly known as ‘Spailps’. Having moved into ‘Spailps, the next priority was to get moving on the new premises and so on the October Bank Holiday weekend 2000, saw us pack our bags for the last time. We were moving to a purpose built premises, which is still our main office.

The official opening of the new premises, at 36-38 Lower Cork Street, was performed by former manager and Credit Union pioneer, Micheál Ó h-Aonghusa. He said ‘The new premises marks a major milestone in the history of your Credit Union. After years of planning, we now have an office building, which reflects the movements phenomenal growth. The challenge now is to keep the building on the firm foundations which were established decades ago.’

No matter what- Mitchelstown Credit Union is a symbol of strength and security to the financial needs of its members.