The eight annual Analysis of Canada’s Largest Credit Unions based on 2010 Audited Financial Statements provides extensive financial comparisons between credit unions and chartered banks including asset growth and profitability, deposit and loan portfolio, operating results, capital ratios. The Analysis provides an overview of the Credit Unions’ participation in the mutual fund and on-line brokerage industries. The 2010 Analysis included 115 of the largest credit unions in Canada, outside of Quebec. The total assets of these credit unions grew by 5.7% from the previous year to $113.7 billion. This was the slowest growth in assets in the last five years. The slower growth in assets was primarily due to lower growth in deposits. Deposits grew by 4.5% compared to 12.7% in the previous year. More than 4.2 million Canadians were members of these 115 largest credit unions, which represents 81% of the total credit union movement’s membership of 5.2 million people. The largest Canadian Credit Unions returned about $167 million in dividends and patronage payments to their members or 24% of their net income before income taxes. The return on equity (ROE) was 9.9%, an increase from 8.6% in the previous year. The return on assets (ROA) was 0.63% in 2010, an increase from 0.55% in the previous year. The largest credit unions continue to have a higher operating cost structure the Canadian Chartered Banks.
