Youghal Credit Union

What Youghal Credit Union does

Youghal Credit Union Ltd is a community-based, member-owned financial cooperative founded in 1967 and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (Reg No. 53CU). Headquartered on Grattan Street in Youghal, Co. Cork, with satellite branches in Killeagh and Ardmore, the institution serves individuals, students, farmers, and small businesses within a 20km radius across East Cork and West Waterford. It is part of the Irish credit union movement, which has been ranked Ireland's most reputable organisation in the Ireland Reputation Index for four consecutive years (score 81.7 in 2025) and led customer experience rankings for eight consecutive years through 2022.

The credit union offers a comprehensive retail banking product suite: diversified loans (new car at 6.75%, home improvement at 6.75%, GROW Agri at 6.55% via Cultivate, student at 6.75%, Thrive Business at 6.55%, personal at 9.48%, wedding, secured savings, green energy, Christmas, and mortgages introduced in 2022), savings accounts, junior savers (Save with Foxy), the MYCU Current Account with Mastercard debit card launched in 2022, business and student current accounts, foreign exchange, and SEPA payments. Insurance products (home, life, travel, car) were added in 2025 through a partnership with Peopl Insurance. Digital delivery is supported by the YCU Mobile App on iOS and Android, a web-based online banking platform, and a loan calculator, all operated under GDPR (with a named DPO, Rachel Power) and PSD2 compliance.

As a not-for-profit cooperative, Youghal Credit Union returns surpluses to members through annual savings dividends and loan interest rebates. Total assets reached approximately €100m by 2019, with €28m in outstanding member loans and €10.5m borrowed by members in that year, positioning the institution in the top tier of Irish credit unions. Revenue is generated primarily from loan interest income, current-account transaction fees, insurance referral commissions, and foreign exchange services. The institution is led by General Manager Patrick Heaphy (formerly CFO, who succeeded long-serving GM Barry Treacy in 2020) and Chairman Thomas Power. Member acquisition is driven by community sponsorships, school programmes, word-of-mouth referrals, social media, and the credit union's digital platforms.

Name

Youghal Credit Union

Legal name

Youghal Credit Union Ltd

Website

https://youghalcu.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Youghal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative serving residents within 20km of Youghal, Ireland. It offers loans, savings, current accounts (MYCU), insurance, and digital banking to individuals, students, farmers, and small businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking (Credit Union)

NAICS

Credit Unions (522130), Credit Unions (52213)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus) (FSABAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL), Payables & Disbursements (ACH/SEPA, wires, checks, virtual cards) (FSABAIAB)

Keywords

• Credit union loans
• Retail banking services
• Savings accounts
• Mortgage lending
• Community banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Youghal

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: The primary revenue stream comes from interest charged on loans to members, including car loans, mortgages, home improvement loans, student loans, agricultural loans, and personal loans at competitive rates.
2. Current Account Services: Revenue from current account services including debit Mastercard transactions and related banking services.
3. Insurance Partnership Revenue: Commission from partnership with Peopl Insurance for providing Home, Life, Travel, and Car Insurance to members.
4. Foreign Exchange Services: Revenue from foreign exchange services provided to members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Youghal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative that provides retail banking services to its members, including a broad range of loan products (car, mortgage, home improvement, agricultural, student, business, personal, wedding, secured savings, green energy, Christmas loans), savings accounts, current accounts with Mastercard debit cards, junior savings, insurance (via Peopl Insurance partnership), foreign exchange, and SEPA payments. Services are delivered through three branches in Youghal, Killeagh, and Ardmore, plus online banking and a mobile app, with all surpluses returned to members via dividends and loan interest rebates.

Product overview

Youghal Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative offering a comprehensive suite of financial products and services. The core offering includes diverse loan products (car loans, mortgages, home improvement, agricultural/GROW Agri, student, business/Thrive, personal, wedding, secured savings, green energy, and Christmas loans), savings products (standard savings, junior/Foxy savers, current accounts, business accounts, student accounts), insurance partnerships (home, life, travel, car through Peopl Insurance), foreign exchange, and SEPA payment services. Digital banking is delivered through a proprietary online banking platform and mobile app (YCU App), supported by tools like a loan calculator. All products are processed within the EU under GDPR compliance, with surpluses reinvested to benefit members and the local community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MYCU: Current account and debit Mastercard brand offering full-service banking features comparable to traditional banks.
• Save with Foxy
• Cultivate

Products and services

• New Car Loans Vehicle financing for members with competitive rates (6.75% APR), free loan protection insurance, flexible repayments, no mileage restrictions or balloon payments, and members own the car from day one.
• Mortgages Home mortgage loans offered to members with community-based decision-making and personalized local service.
• Home Improvement Loans Loans for home renovation and improvement projects at 6.75% APR with competitive rates and flexible terms.
• GROW Agri Loans (Cultivate) Agricultural loans for farmers within the common bond at 6.55% APR, offered in partnership with Cultivate Credit Union lending platform, with a dedicated Cultivate Agri Advisor on staff.
• Student Loans Education financing for third-level students at 6.75% APR to cover college costs.
• Personal Small Loans Small personal loans for members with flexible terms and competitive rates (9.48% APR for general personal loans).
• Thrive Business Loans Business financing for small business owners within the credit union's common bond at 6.55% APR.
• Personal Wedding Loans Special occasion loans for wedding expenses with flexible repayment options.
• Secured Savings Loans Loans secured against existing savings, allowing members to access funds while maintaining their savings balance (lowest rate loan).
• Green Energy Loans Loans at 6.75% APR for energy efficiency upgrades including solar panels, insulation, and other green home improvements.
• Christmas Loans Seasonal loans at 6.75% APR to help members manage festive season expenses.
• MYCU Current Account Full-service current account with Mastercard debit card, offering banking services comparable to traditional banks with local credit union benefits.
• Savings Accounts Standard member savings accounts with favorable dividend rates paid annually and easy access to funds.
• Save with Foxy (Junior Savers) Junior savings scheme for primary school children with a Foxy mascot and school-based collection services.
• Business Accounts Business current accounts designed for small business owners within the common bond.
• Student Current Account Current account with debit Mastercard available to students engaged in full-time third-level education, with no upper age limit.
• Peopl Insurance Partnership Home, life, travel, and car insurance products offered through partnership with Peopl Insurance, available to all YCU members.
• Foreign Exchange Services Full foreign exchange service available to members for international currency needs.
• SEPA Payments SEPA and SEPA Instant payment services enabling euro payments across European payment accounts.
• YCU Mobile Banking App Mobile banking application available on iOS and Android providing 24/7 access to account management, balance viewing, fund transfers, bill payments, and loan applications.
• Online Banking Platform Web-based banking platform for members to access accounts, transfer funds, pay bills, and manage finances remotely.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over €850,000 returned to local community in 2019 through dividends, rebates, insurance, and sponsorships
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Peopl InsurancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerYoughal Credit Union partnered with Peopl Insurance to offer Home, Life, Travel, and Car Insurance to members. This partnership, launched in May 2025, provides fair insurance products easily and quickly through the credit union.
• Cultivate Credit UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultivate is a collaborative credit union finance lending platform specifically for farmers. Youghal Credit Union offers Cultivate loans (GROW Agri Loans) to serve the agricultural community, with a dedicated Cultivate Agri Advisor on staff.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or IntegrationYoughal Credit Union MYCU Current Account includes a Debit Mastercard for members to use for transactions and ATM withdrawals worldwide.
• Google Play StorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for the YCU Mobile App on Android devices.
• Apple App StorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution partner for the YCU Mobile App on iOS devices.
• Cork Credit UnionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Cork City FC Academy sponsorship, of which Youghal Credit Union is part of the Cork Credit Unions group.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Synergy Credit Union: Mid-sized Irish credit union offering community lending, savings, and digital banking services to a defined geographic membership. Comparable cooperative structure, regulated by Central Bank of Ireland, with similar scale and product mix.
• First South Credit Union: Large Cork-based credit union serving a similar community catchment in the Cork region with comparable savings, loans, and current account offerings. Operates under the same Central Bank of Ireland regulatory framework with similar cooperative economics.
• St Raphael's Credit Union: Cork-based credit union serving a local community with savings, loans, and member services. Direct competitor in the same regional market with similar cooperative model and community focus.

Emerging players

• N26 Bank GmbH: European digital bank offering mobile-first current accounts, savings, and FX across Ireland. Represents the emerging fintech threat to traditional community financial institutions like Youghal Credit Union.
• Revolut Bank UAB: Digital challenger bank operating in Ireland with current accounts, savings, and FX services. Competes for younger members' primary banking relationships through superior mobile experience and lower fees.

Broad incumbents

• Bank of Ireland: One of Ireland's largest retail banks with branches across the country, offering the full suite of savings, lending, current accounts, and insurance that Youghal Credit Union competes against locally. Central Bank of Ireland regulated.
• Permanent TSB: Irish retail bank specializing in savings, mortgages, and current accounts, with a similar mid-tier positioning. Competes for the same deposit and mortgage customers as Youghal Credit Union in the Irish market.
• EBS (Original Mortgage Bank): Irish building society (now part of AIB Group) focused on savings and mortgages, historically serving a community-based customer base. Comparable product mix in mortgages and deposits, regulated by Central Bank of Ireland.
• Allied Irish Banks (AIB): Ireland's largest retail bank with extensive branch presence, competing directly with Youghal Credit Union for deposits, mortgages, and personal loans in the East Cork region. Regulated by Central Bank of Ireland.
• An Post (Financial Services): State-owned postal service providing basic financial services (savings, current accounts, FX) through Ireland's post office network. Similar community-based distribution model with broad geographic reach across Ireland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/youghalcu
• Facebookfacebook.com/youghalcu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youghal-credit-union
• Instagraminstagram.com/youghalcreditunion

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Youghal Credit Union