Credential Direct celebrates 10 years of excellence

VANCOUVER, Oct 5 /CNW/ - October 2, 2010 marked the 10^th anniversary of Credential Direct, Canada's #1 Independent Online Broker. 

Founded by Credential Financial Inc., in partnership with Canadian credit unions, Credential Direct launched in October 2000 from a growing demand for an alternative to bank-owned online brokerages. For 10 years, it has been providing self-directed investors with a robust online trading platform that allows them to execute trades quickly and easily with the click of a button.  

Cited as the "little gem in the West" by Surviscor President, Glenn LaCoste, Credential Direct has been a force to be reckoned with, rising above the dot-com crisis and consistently outperforming the industry's notoriously stiff competition to take the title of Canada's #1 Online Broker six times since 2004.  

"Our success can be attributed to our partners and traders" said Lothar Fabian, Vice President, Credential Direct. "Without the ongoing support of partner credit unions, and the invaluable feedback we receive from clients, Credential Direct wouldn't have experienced the phenomenal growth that we have." 

Over the years, Credential Direct has continually raised the bar, offering value-added services like access to over 300 complimentary research reports from industry leader, Morningstar, and research on another 300 companies from more than 25 independent providers. Most recently, the site architecture was upgraded, dramatically improving site performance and reducing trade execution speed well below the industry benchmark.  

"Credential Direct is an important part of the overall Credential offering and provides an excellent alternative to the big banks," said Doce Tomic, President & CEO of Credential Financial. Mr. Tomic added that, "We are committed to investing in this business to ensure that the best possible experience is available to our traders, and that the next ten years are as successful as the last." 

Harnessing the power of its continued success, and the rapid pace of the digital world, Credential Direct has lofty plans for the future, such as: 

• Launching an eServices program, designed to reduce the company's carbon footprint in line with their philosophy for sustainable business practices.
• Refreshing the company's website with a slick new design and improved usability.
• Developing a mobile trading application, enabling clients to execute trades on the go.

Over the last ten years, Credential Direct has proven that an independent company with deep roots in Canada's cooperative system can not only compete, but thrive within a very competitive industry.  

ABOUT CREDENTIAL DIRECT - Established in October 2000, Credential Direct is a full service online brokerage delivering access to self-managed equity, mutual funds, bonds, and options trading to all Canadians. Credential Direct is a division of Credential Securities Inc., the credit union system's preferred full service brokerage. For more information, visit www.credentialdirect.com.

ABOUT CREDENTIAL FINANCIAL INC. - Credential Financial Inc. provides integrated wealth management solutions and services to the Canadian credit union system. By partnering with Credential, credit unions can offer their members access to a diverse range of investment and insurance products, as well as investment planning, advice and sound portfolio management.

For further information:

Carolyn Lefebvre, Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Credential Financial Inc.
604.714.3960
[email protected]