When Christine Harley walked into CUA’s Wyse Road Branch in November, staff greeted her by first name enthusiastically and with smiling faces. Christine was the winner of our 2025 Member Appreciation Day grand prize of $1,000, and we were meeting to award her prize and hear her CUA story. She shared how grateful she’s been for the service from staff and how they helped her secure her mortgage and Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) while navigating a new phase of life.

When she moved to Halifax in 2003, Christine knew she wanted to do banking with a financial institution that had a community focus. Her friend recommended CUA after having their own amazing experience. “I knew I wanted to bank at CUA because you’re a member with a voice,” said Christine. “They are involved in their community and work with members independently, case-by-case, on a personal level.”

Sometimes, life just happens.

In 2025, Christine found herself unexpectedly managing both a divorce and the process of securing a new mortgage following her recent retirement. “I was navigating a new stage of life and retiring from being an RCMP officer. CUA supported me and answered my questions that helped me get back to civilian life,” Christine explained.

“I had so many questions – what does a mortgage approval look like while on a pension, do I even still qualify?” she described. “I knew a mortgage was not going to be enough and wanted to ensure peace of mind in case any surprises came up. So, I was applying for a new mortgage and a HELOC in case of any emergencies.”

There are never too many questions.

When life shifts, confusion is a normal part of the process, and it’s understandable that uncertainty often leads to more questions. Christine appreciated the personal touch and compassion staff had when she asked those questions. “Ask all of the questions you have, they will listen and help wherever they can,” recommended Christine. “Having someone explain the process and provide updates as the process went along was the personal touch I needed to help keep my peace of mind and things moving smoothly.”

Even when things felt a bit complicated, the Branch Manager followed up with a phone call. “Without getting into too many details, Collin ensured everything was in the account that needed to be there with all documents and details ready,” said Christine.

Where individuals matter.

Christine has established a real connection with the current Wyse Road branch staff. “You can feel the positive and welcoming energy from the CUA Team,” she says. “When staff are genuinely happy, it is a great measure of a company’s priority in supporting their employees.”

She shared that when navigating a new part of life, she had more questions than usual and needed additional guidance. “When we are going through something new, it is so nice to have personal connection with people to help guide and uplift you during those times.”

Confidence for the road ahead.

While Christine was excited to start a new chapter of her life in a new home, she was even more grateful for the security and peace of mind she had put in place with CUA’s support.

The HELOC proved to be a great decision, as Christine had to repair her HVAC unit in the home shortly after moving in. “The peace of mind you get from that loan security,” described Christine, “I cannot recommend it highly enough.”

Remembering how CUA guided her through the home-buying process and made sure she was supported up until she unlocked her new home’s front door, “You don’t get that kind of service from other financial institutions,” said Christine.