Irish Life and Metamo Credit Unions have joined together for a new partnership that will offer more financial services to their members.

The deal, which includes 12 Metamo Credit Unions, will see members offered an expanded range of financial services, both in-branch and online, from Irish Life Financial Services.

Metamo is a joint venture between Credit Unions and Fexco established in 2019 to help credit unions grow, through the provision of a wider range of services to members, improved risk management and the delivery of enhanced technology.

The deal will look to give members seamless access to financial advice that will enable them to have a better picture of their financial wellbeing and their likely requirements for the future.

Speaking about the new partnership Alan Kelly, Metamo Chief Executive said "Credit unions play an absolutely unique role in bringing financial services into the heart of local communities, and we are hugely excited to announce this partnership with Irish Life Financial Services to expand the range and quality of services our Credit Unions will offer to their members."

In Association with

Metamo currently has a total of 16 Credit Union members and the new partnership with Irish Life is now in operation across 12 of those.

It is planned to expand the scheme to other Metamo Credit Unions and it will also be available to Credit Unions that are not part of the Metamo Group. 

The 16 Credit Unions in Metamo represent more than 550,000 members from across the country and have combined assets of just below €4 billion, which is equivalent to 20% of the asset value of the Irish credit union sector as a whole.

Tim Coughlin, Director, Financial Planning in Irish Life Financial Services in Irish Life said "We have long felt an affinity with Credit Unions because of their commitment to communities and their dedication to offering their members control over their finances by making their savings work for them. 

"We look forward to working with Metamo, the Credit Unions, their staff and members to build better futures together."

The 12 Credit Unions, which have 430,000 members, that have already partnered with Irish Life Financial Services comprise Access Credit Union, Altura Credit Union, Cara Credit Union, First Choice Credit Union, Killarney Credit Union, Limerick & District Credit Union, People First Credit Union, St. Canice’s Credit Union, St. Francis Credit Union, St. Paul’s Garda Credit Union, Synergy Credit Union, and Thurles Credit Union.

Metamo, founded in 2019, is a 50:50 joint venture between 16 of Ireland’s largest Credit Unions and Fexco, one of Ireland’s largest financial services companies. The core aim of Metamo is to build a stronger, better future for Irish Credit Unions.

Images: Shane O'Neill, Coalesce