Members are reminded that the RRSP contribution deadline is just a few short months away.

Contributions to your RRSP for the 2012 tax year must be made before Friday, March 1, 2013. The maximum RRSP contribution for 2012 is $22,970, but you can also carry forward unused portions of the limit from previous years, so it’s possible the total you are allowed to contribute for 2012 may be higher.

If you’d like to make an RRSP contribution before the March 1, 2013 deadline, or if you’d like more information on setting up an automatic pre-authorized contribution, please feel free to stop by your branch or contact North Winnipeg Credit Union at 204-954-7450 (Leila branch) or 204-954-7710 (Henderson branch). We’d be happy to help.

A credit report is one of the most important pieces of information about you. Essentially a snapshot lenders look at to assess you as a credit risk, your credit history has a major impact on whether you’re able to rent or buy a home, buy a car or secure loans and credit.

Yet despite the importance of a credit report, many of us have no idea what a credit rating is, much less what our own credit report is like. Under Canadian law, you’re entitled to see the information a credit agency has about you. Basic credit reports are always available free by mail or in person from both of Canada’s two major credit bureaus (Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada) and online credit reports are also available for a small fee.

If you haven’t checked your credit report in the past year, now may be a good time to do so, just to make sure that all of the entries are correct.

For the eighth straight year, Canadians have ranked credit unions number one in overall customer service excellence among all financial institutions, according to the 2012 Ipsos Best Banking Awards. Credit unions also topped all other financial institutions in terms of branch service excellence and valuing members’ business.

“For over a hundred years, Canadian credit unions have met the personal and business financial needs of their members by focusing on what they believe is most important — putting their members’ needs first, and treating them as individuals,” explained David Phillips, president and CEO, Credit Union Central of Canada (Canadian Central).

“While innovative ideas, products and services are an integral component of our co-operative system, Canadian credit unions and caisses populaires never lose sight of what is most important: our dedication to meeting the individual needs of our over five million members,” added Phillips.

Launched in 1987, the Ipsos (formerly Synovate) Customer Service Index (CSI) quarterly survey generates the winners of the annual Best Banking Awards. The Ipsos 2012 Best Banking Awards are based on quarterly Customer Service Index (CSI) survey results.