The town of Draperstown might seem like a rural backwater to those who do not regularly visit there. To local people it is a vibrant commercial centre for the large rural hinterland. A short walk through the town will also highlight the dual identity of the town in that the locals will refer to it as Ballinascreen, the parish name for over 400 years. A look at the number of young people attending the local sporting and other events will also make you realise that Ballinascreen Credit Union is foremost at the heart of the community and is synonymous with the people and parish. Indeed at times it seems that every second child is wearing a top or item of clothing emblazoned with the credit union logo.

From humble beginnings in March 1968 and as a direct result of the commitment over the intervening years from the Officers and Staff, Ballinascreen Credit Union has seen a dramatic increase in membership to over 3,600 adult and 1,000 junior members today, with combined savings in excess of £9 million. This has been achieved through the provision of high quality, efficient and easy accessible services. Each week, the credit union offers members 46 opening hours over a 6 day period including late opening on a Thursday.

Ballinascreen Credit Union recently received approval to extend their common bond beyond the parish boundary thus enabling the credit union to offer their services to those residing or working within a six mile radius of the credit union office. The extension to the common bond came about as a result of mounting requests from the general public living just outside the parish and who regularly conducted their day to day business in Draperstown.

Services offered by the credit union include savings accounts including savings schemes in the local primary schools, loans at competitive interest rates, life savings, loan protection & death benefit insurances, foreign exchange, oil stamp savings scheme and the availability of various application forms i.e. passport, driving licence, vehicle test certificate, etc. In 2009 the credit union introduced a Christmas Savings Scheme which attracted over 800 savers and who in the process accumulated savings of £600,000. The total amount was returned to savers prior to Christmas with a high percentage of this sum being spent in the local community.

Ballinascreen Credit Union are always looking to expand their services and to this end the introduction of a Credit Union Prepaid Card is imminent – the first credit union in Derry and the second in the north of Ireland to introduce this service. The Credit Union Prepaid Card will allow members convenient access to money already loaded on their cards and can be used at any ATM or shop where the MasterCard Acceptance Mark is displayed including internet shopping.

The newly refurbished, centrally located offices uniquely boast a community window which is reserved for local voluntary organisations and clubs to enable them to showcase their group and celebrate memorable events and it has also been used to great effect for the promotion of charitable fundraising events.

It is a well known fact that there is a very high level of community spirit in Ballinascreen and the credit union one way or another plays a significant part in harnessing this. In addition to this, the range of services on offer provides members with the means to make Ballinascreen Credit Union their primary, non-mortgage, financial services provider.