As a 10-year-old credit union member, Sylvia Bishop never gave much thought to the difference between credit unions and banks. Ditto for her high school and university days.

But over the years, Sylvia has become increasingly passionate about the subject. Today, she’s probably one of Envision Credit Union’s biggest fans. Why? Because Envision believed in her when no one else would.

“Back in the 1980s, chartered banks didn’t look kindly upon single women with children,” she explains. “When I became a single parent, I found I couldn’t get a mortgage unless I had a male co-signer. When I approached Envision (then Delta Credit Union), I expected to get the same treatment. Instead, I found they were willing to work with me, in spite of my circumstances.”

It was a defining moment in the young elementary school teacher’s life. And one she’s never forgotten.

“The credit union saw me as an individual with potential,” she continues. “They saw me the same way I saw myself: honest, trustworthy and hard-working. Yes, I was carrying a lot of debt and struggling to make ends meet, but the staff saw what I could become and were willing to help me get there.”

From a business perspective, the risk paid off. Today, after much hard work, Sylvia’s heavy debt load is gone and she and her second husband, Rob Brown, have established a strong investment portfolio together.

“My husband and I recently reassessed where we were at financially, and we were pleasantly surprised to see how far we’ve come,” she says. “Some of our success can be chalked up to luck, but a lot of it has to do with the expert knowledge and advice we’ve received at the credit union over the last few years.

“Through thick and thin, Envision has been there for me,” she continues. “They’ve provided the kind of personalized service I needed to get through the ups and downs of life. To me, it’s all about building a long-lasting relationship. I know they’ll stand by me come what may.”