2018 ELECTION UPDATEJanuary 24 to March 12 marks this year’s voting

period. This is your opportunity to vote for the four candidates who you feel will best fill important roles

on your credit union’s Board of Directors. Voting packages will be sent to Members in January.

Here are the different ways you can vote:

Visit www.FirstOntario.com for full details.

Winners will be announced at our Annual General Meeting. Please join us at Carmen’s Banquet Centre,

1520 Stone Church Road East in Hamilton on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 7 p.m.

Otto PennerChair, Board of Directors

WINTER 2018

Welcome to 2018. On behalf of your Board of Directors I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year.

2017 was a year of change for both FirstOntario and our Members due to the implementation of our new banking system. This technological transformation was absolutely necessary to allow us to prepare for future growth and expand our services. Our employees worked tirelessly (with many late nights) to make the transition to our new

banking system as smooth as possible.

As a co-operative, we are guided by the principle of people helping people and FirstOntario remains a committed community partner. We are extremely proud of our Blue Wave employee volunteers who are the embodiment of our commitment to helping our communities. It should come as no surprise that our student nutrition programs are also powered by Blue Wave volunteers. In 2017, FirstOntario invested another

$250,000 to bring our total to $1 million over the past four years in support of student nutrition. These programs have helped thousands of students in our regions have access to healthy food and snacks which they would otherwise go without.

During 2017, our 1Awards program flourished by offering financial support and professional services to the winners. These awards are FirstOntario’s way of helping promising small businesses in our communities.

In terms of growth for FirstOntario, we are excited to announce we are looking at some changes to a number of branches in 2018. Plans are being formulated to upgrade and expand the Cayuga and Norwich branches in the Western Region and the Niagara Street branch in St. Catharines. More information will be shared as our plans for these three locations progress.

Your Board of Directors is looking forward to an exciting year as we continue to grow to become a credit union with well over 115,000 Members and more than $5 billion in assets under management.

As always, I look forward to hearing from you. Please connect with me anytime through Chair@FirstOntario.com.

1-800-616-8878www. FirstOntario.com Contact@FirstOntario.com

Chat

It’s a safe bet that retirement is one of the most important transitions we will make. The thought of leaving the workforce permanently, the lack of routine and social connections plus managing everything you’ve worked for up until this point, comes with significant challenges. It’s not just about the money.

Although it may feel like it sometimes, you’re not alone. FirstOntario is happy to be a part of an exciting new digital media platform that’s geared towards everything you need to know about embracing and preparing for this milestone.

Together with Coastal Community and Interior Savings credit unions, FirstOntario launched www.EverythingRetirement.com, a one-stop-resource that offers insight, information and advice about planning and saving for retirement and managing life when you’re no longer working. The website was designed to provide retirees and pre-retirees with the practical tools necessary to embark on

a life of retirement with knowledge, insight and optimism. Visit www.EverythingRetirement.com to learn more about wellness, relationships, lifestyles, finances and work.

Get quick tips on living a healthier lifestyle and recreational activities. Investigate the pros and cons of retiring early and going back to work or familiarize yourself with volunteering opportunities in your community. Read about downsizing your home and ways to strategize so you pay less taxes in retirement.

Retirement is a balancing act. It’s about using your time wisely, managing your money responsibly, embracing new challenges and taking advantage of the exciting opportunities heading your way.

FirstOntario’s Wealth team is here to help you make this transition a success. Connect with us at 1-800-616-8878 to book an appointment with one of our trusted advisors.

EverythingRetirement.com−It’s not just about the money

Exclusive Blue Wave milestone group continues to grow

We have the distinct pleasure of welcoming guest speaker David Chilton to our Annual General Meeting. David is the acclaimed author of The Wealthy Barber and The Wealthy Barber Returns. You may also know him as being a former panelist on television’s “The Dragons’ Den”. All Members are welcome.

Let us help you

realize your dreams and

plan for your future.

www.FirstOntarioInvestments.com

Congratulations to Lori Elgin, Debbie Murdoch, Leslie Williams and Denise Weaver, our most recent Blue Wave volunteers to give more than 96 hours. Denise is the first employee to achieve this milestone for the third time! Well done everyone.These generous ladies decided to share their donations on behalf of FirstOntario Credit Union, with the Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue, Stoney Creek Community Foodbank, Victim Services of Haldimand Norfolk and Knot a Breast.

Online through our website

Mobile through your smartphone

In your local branch

By mail

AGM GUEST SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT

We’re here to help. Visit your local branch, call 1-800-616-8878, or go to www.FirstOntario.com.

FirstOntario recognizes Credit Union Day with $1 million milestone celebration

FirstOntario recognized International Credit Union Day this year by celebrating a $1 million milestone in support of student nutrition programs across all of our regions. We invited Grade 4 and 5 students from St. Teresa and Harriet Tubman schools in St. Catharines to take part in a morning full of fun activities. The event highlighted the importance and the benefits of financial literacy, healthy eating, local ingredients and taking advantage of what you can find close to home.

Students started the day at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre where James Lefebvre, Senior Vice President, Member Experience and Business Services, presented REACH with a $250,000 cheque to make sure students get a healthy start in the

morning to fuel a full day of learning. FirstOntario’s investment, which now totals $1 million over four years, has helped to feed more than 93,000 students by providing access to healthy food and snacks.

A special thank you goes out to everyone who made the event a success; the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, the St. Catharines Market, the City of St. Catharines, Niagara Nutrition Partners, REACH, Nature School Niagara and staff from FirstOntario who all volunteered their time to ensure the students had a wonderful field trip. An extended thank you goes out to our Blue Wave volunteers, who continue to give their time and power to these community-driven student nutrition programs.

The new signage at the FirstOntario Concert Hall is up! Another proud moment for FirstOntario Credit Union.

Lime Ridge Mall location transformation completed ahead of schedule

Ring in the New Year with a new Visa card1Awards team gears up for 2018 awards season

After a successful transformation, our new-look Lime Ridge Mall location reopened ahead of schedule and just in time to welcome this year’s Christmas holiday season shoppers.

Thanks to everyone who visited us in our kiosk while the branch was closed. We were happy to see so many people taking advantage of our Personal Assisted Teller (PAT) machine during the renovations and we appreciate your patience.

We’re so happy to be able to offer full-branch services to everyone who visits us in the mall. We have added two new office spaces and our Member Service Representatives are now stationed at the front of the branch to welcome our Members and support them with all of their financial needs. For added convenience, our coin counter (free for Members) and the night deposit box are also available.

The new year signals the beginning of FirstOntario’s awards season. This year, we are celebrating the seventh year of the 1Awards in Hamilton and Halton while the businesses in the Niagara Region are back for a third go-round.

If you’ve been in business for at least two years, have less than 50 employees and have innovative and exciting new ideas on how to be even more successful in your community, we want to hear from you!

Judges will narrow the talent down to approximately 10 finalists who will pitch their ideas as they compete for thousands of dollars in cash and in-kind services.

Applications will open soon. Stay tuned to www.FirstOntario.com for more details.

Notice anything different in downtown Hamilton?

THANK YOU!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. Your ongoing feedback is an important part of our success. Please continue to tell us how we are doing because your voice matters.

Visit www.FirstOntario.com/MemberSurvey.

It only takes a few minutes to make a difference.

Coming this month to a branch near you. FirstOntario Credit Union is unveiling a brand new suite of credit cards. Members are invited to visit your nearest branch to discover which of our new Visa cards is right for you. We are now featuring eight personal Visa options and three business offers and all come with great benefits, including our new Cash Back and US Dollar cards. Visit www.FirstOntario.com for a preview.

M is for Money® and FirstOntario partner to promote financial literacyFirstOntario is partnering with Teresa Cascioli, former President and CEO of Lakeport Brewing, entrepreneur, philanthropist and author of M is for Money, a nine-book series, to lead a campaign to support children’s financial literacy in Ontario. Open up a new account for a child up to the age of 10 and you’ll recieve the first three books from the series. There will be more opportunities to collect the rest of the books when you transact on the account. Watch for more details in our branches and online at www.FirstOntario.com. The books are expected to arrive in late January. Visit www.MisForMoney.ca to learn more about Teresa and the series.