St Dominic credit Union, Mullinavat

The idea for St Dominic’s Credit Union was first mooted by the lay apostolate committee of the Dominican Church, Bridge Street and was the brainchild of the then Prior Fr. Harty. A meeting was called which was presided over by Dr. Davidson and was attended by about 200 people. A committee of eleven was elected to set the wheels in motion, and the first meeting was held in September 1967, at which every member of the committee opened an account with £5.00 in shares. The committee held many meetings with the intending members of the common bond area, which was then the western side of the city of Waterford and the parish of Ferrybank. 200 members were enrolled on the opening night and the takings were £350.00, then in November 1967 we affiliated to the Irish League of Credit Unions. Business was transacted in the Confraternity Hall of the Dominican Church. In 1972 the first office opened in Mary Street where the membership increased to 2, 500. In 1980/81 the common bond area was extended to include the parish of Mullinavat, as far as Lukeswell and the parishes of Mooncoin, Kilmacow and Slieverue. The Credit Union moved to its present premises in Summerhill on the 5th November 1987. The cost of this attractive and spacious building was in the region of £250, 000. The move resulted in considerable growth for the Credit Union and by 1998 the building had to be renovated and a large extension added to see us into the 21st Century. During the late seventies and eighties the first part time staff were employed. In 1987 the first full time professional manager was appointed. Today there is fulltime staff of over twenty together with a large pool of part time employees. St Dominic Credit Union now has a sub office in Main St, Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny. Business is transacted on a six day (Monday to Saturday) week basis at the office in Summerhill. The sub office in Mooncoin is open Thursday to Saturday.