First West Credit Union and Qtrade Financial Group extend partnership post-Desjardins transaction

VANCOUVER, April 8, 2013 /CNW/ - First West Credit Union and Qtrade Financial Group announced today that they have extended their strategic partnership agreement to at least 2019, following the recent announcement that Desjardins Group has completed a major investment in Qtrade Financial Group. Through a highly collaborative, integrated and innovative strategic partnership model, First West Credit Union and Qtrade Financial Group jointly deliver investment and financial planning advice and products to members in the credit union's Envision Financial and Valley First regions.

"Envision Financial and Valley First partnered with Qtrade early in its development, bringing members quality financial planning and investment services," commented Launi Skinner, CEO, First West Credit Union. "In 2011, First West deepened its partnership to provide more advice more often, to a greater number of members. Our members benefit by being able to access greater investment expertise and products, and the credit union benefits because we have enhanced our sales and service culture, which has resulted in increased wealth management business."

Skinner continues, "First West's success in increasing our wealth management business through our Qtrade partnership, coupled with Desjardins' investment in Qtrade, underpins our decision to extend our agreement to at least 2019. Plus, we believe that there is now a greater opportunity for Qtrade to help elevate the wealth management expertise, products and services being offered to credit union members nationally. Canadian credit unions collectively have more than 5.3 million members, and we want to see credit unions positioned well to expand their expertise and services in this area and ultimately grow their wealth management market share."

Scott Gibner, CEO of Qtrade commented, "We very much appreciate the confidence and trust that First West Credit Union has placed in Qtrade, even in the early days when we were not yet a proven solution. We are proud and excited that First West has extended its commitment to working with us and look forward to continuing our efforts to deliver high-quality financial planning, investment and insurance services to members in the Envision Financial and Valley First regions."

About First West Credit Union

First West Credit Union offers members the financial strength, comprehensive product selection and extended branch network of a large financial institution, while maintaining local brand identities and a unique grassroots approach to service. Led by Launi Skinner, First West is British Columbia's third-largest credit union with $7.1 billion in assets under administration, more than 171,000 members and close to 1,300 employees. It operates 40 branches throughout the province under the Envision Financial, Valley First and Enderby & District Financial brands. For more information on First West Credit Union, visit firstwestcu.ca. Follow First West Credit Union on Twitter: @firstwestcu

About Qtrade Financial Group

Qtrade Financial Group provides comprehensive brokerage and wealth management platforms, services and solutions to the retail public as well as the customers of hundreds of financial institutions across Canada. Since 1999, Qtrade has been dedicated to providing its financial institution partners with a single source for market-leading wealth management products and services including: online, full-service and institutional brokerage services, mutual fund dealer services, insurance dealer services, portfolio management, discretionary money management services and proprietary managed money solutions. For more information, visit www.qtrade.ca.

SOURCE: Qtrade Financial Group

Qtrade Financial Group
Ron Cann
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
T: 778.331.2056
E: [email protected]

First West Credit Union
Ron Dau
AVP, Corporate Communications
T: 604.539.7185
E: [email protected]