Strong 2025 results shared at Annual General Meeting

StellerVista Credit Union held its 2026 Annual General Meeting virtually on Wednesday, April 29, where the Board of Directors reported to members on a strong set of year-end results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025.

The credit union reported net income of more than $3.4 million on total assets of $769 million, alongside meaningful growth in both lending and deposits across the Kootenay and Boundary regions.

Highlights from the 2025 fiscal year include members’ loans growing to $655.7 million – an increase of nearly 9% over the prior year – and members’ deposits climbing to $698.3 million. StellerVista delivered a strong return on assets of 0.68%, considerably outperforming the credit union system average and providing a solid foundation for continued investment in members, employees, and communities.

“2025 was a year that demonstrated the strength of our cooperative model in real, measurable ways,” said Lynnette Wray, who chaired the Board through the 2025 fiscal year.

“We set out three years ago, at the time of our merger, with clear commitments to our members and our communities – and I’m proud to say we have met and surpassed each of them, putting StellerVista in an exceptional position to move forward with confidence.”

The 2025 results mark the completion of the three-year integration period following the formation of StellerVista Credit Union, and reflect what leadership describes as one of the strongest years on record.

Throughout the year, the Board of Directors hosted 20 board meetings and 28 committee meetings – a level of engagement that speaks to the depth of commitment from those entrusted with guiding the credit union on behalf of members.

Following the AGM, the newly seated Board of Directors held its organizational meeting on Thursday, April 30, where executive positions were appointed for the coming year.

Denine Milner has been appointed Board Chair, with Darla Ashton stepping into the role of Vice Chair and George Freitag to service the Board as Secretary. The transition reflects the natural rhythm of governance renewal at a member-owned cooperative and positions StellerVista with fresh leadership for its next chapter.

“It is an honour to step into this role at such an exciting time for StellerVista,” said Milner.

“Our financial strength, our independence, and our deep roots in the Kootenay and Boundary regions give us a remarkable platform to build from. I want to thank Lynnette for her steady leadership through the merger and integration years, and I look forward to working with my fellow directors, our CEO Jody Burk, and the entire StellerVista team to keep delivering for our members.”

Looking ahead, StellerVista remains focused on its commitment to local, member-owned banking – delivering personalized service, competitive financial solutions, and meaningful community investment across the Kootenay and Boundary region. With a strong 2025 behind it and a renewed Board executive in place, the credit union is well positioned to continue building the best rural credit union in British Columbia.

Lead image: Denine Milner of Cranbrook has been appointed Board Chair of the StellerVista Credit Union Board of Directors. StellerVista Credit Union photo

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