Our People Our Strength: Darren Cullen
As we celebrate our 60th year at St. Canice’s Credit Union, it’s important to reflect on the incredible journey that has brought us to where we are today. Our success is built on the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers, who have tirelessly served our members and community over the decades. We believe it’s essential to give a voice to those who work behind the scenes, contributing to our growth and the positive impact we have on our members’ lives.
With that in mind, we’re pleased to share the thoughts of Darren Cullen, one of our Lending Officers, whose words offer a personal glimpse into the heart of our organisation:
Since joining St. Canice’s Credit Union in 2016, my journey has been nothing but positive. Starting as a teller I witnessed first hand how important St. Canice’s is to so many every day. I now have the privilege of working as a senior lender with a dynamic and hardworking loans team. Along the way, I’ve had the unique opportunity to cover and work in all of our branch offices, each experience reinforcing my love for what we do. I feel as though my colleagues are Family, and I know that we feel great pride collectively in serving our Members each and every day.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is the daily interaction with our members. Unlike many other workplaces, where such connections can be rare, here at St. Canice’s, it’s the heartbeat of what we do. Our members aren’t just customers; they’re our neighbors, friends, and community. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, speaking with, and assessing loans for thousands of members. It’s particularly special to serve some of the first 100 members of St. Canice’s Credit Union. Their loyalty is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come since our doors first opened in 1964.
The stories we hear from our members about the positive impact St. Canice’s has had on their lives are truly inspiring. Whether it’s helping a family buy their first home or supporting a small business during tough times, first car purchases to weddings, holidays to student loans and everything in-between; knowing that we can and do play a part in these milestones for our members is a key driver in my daily work. And I know my colleagues share this sentiment. We believe in the credit union movement, and more importantly, we believe in our members. That belief has been a cornerstone of St. Canice’s for the past 60 years, and I have no doubt that our founding members would be proud of the legacy they’ve built.
As we look to the future, I hope that in another 60 years, we will still be here, serving our community with the same dedication and passion. Long may it last.
