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B.H.K. Credit Union is part of the world wide Credit Union movement. In particular we are, like most other Credit Unions in Ireland, affiliated to the Irish League of Credit Unions. This means that we are governed by the Standard Rules for Credit Unions. These rules determine how a Credit Union must carry out its business and they are in effect, a guarantee of security for Credit Union members. Within the terms of the Standard Rules each Credit Union may decide its own policy in matters such as services offered, lending policy, returns offered on savings etc.
A Financial Co-operative
A Credit Union is a financial co-operative owned and controlled by its own members. The members of a Credit Union have what is called a "Common Bond". In the case of B.H.K. members our Common Bond is the fact that we all live or work in the parishes of Blackrock/Haggardstown, Knockbridge or Kilkerley.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is elected by the Credit Union members to run the Credit Union on their behalf and to formulate and promote a Credit Union policy which will benefit all its members. The Board of Directors is answerable to the members at the Annual General Meeting which, in the case of B.H.K., usually takes place in late November each year.
Members also elect a Supervisory Committee whose job is to monitor the work of the Board of Directors. In this way our Credit Union is truly democratic. All members are most welcome to our A.G.M. to take part in the democratic process.
B.H.K. Officers 2002 - 2003
| Chairman | Michael Corrigan | |
| Treasurer | Patrick Markey | |
| Secretary | Michael Matthews | |
| Directors | Rita Kelly, Betty Maguire, Aileen Smyth, Mamie Prendergast, Joe Flanagan, Niall McElroy, Colm Breathnach, Denis Hogan. | |
| Credit Committee | Colm Breathnach, Aileen Smyth, Rita Kelly | |
| Supervisors | Seamus Corrigan, Joyce Burbage, Francis Brady |
Members of the Board of Directors and of the various other Credit Union Committees perform their functions in a strictly voluntary capacity.
Back to the Beginning
Credit for the foundation of B.H.K. Credit Union must go to the late Harry Montgomery (1909 - 1992). In 1966 Harry set up a study group to examine the philosophy and workings of the Credit Union movement. The first meeting of what was then known as "Kilkerley Parish Credit Union Ltd." was held in 1967 in Blackrock National School. Shares were offered to members at £1 each and John McGee, late of Kilkerley, and his wife Bridie were the very first members. The Ecclesiastical Parish of Kilkerley at that time included Blackrock, Haggardstown and Kilkerley.
The first Board of Directors were;
| President | Gerry Douglas | |
| Vice President | Dr. Patrick Kiernan | |
| Treasurer | Harry Montgomery | |
| Secretay | Seamus Boylan | |
| Directors | Thomas Sharky, Kieran Moore, Edward Murray, John McGee, James McGuinness |
Taken in 1988 on the occasion of the 21st Anniversary of B.H.K. Credit Union, this photograph shows founding members John McGee, Aileen Smyth and Harry Montgomery.
Kilkerley Parish Credit Union Ltd. operated at first from Blackrock National School and later from the Legion of Mary Hall. Its first "home of its own" was a premises in Rose Ann Murphy's Lane purchased in 1969 for £500.
At the A.G.M. of 1978 members were invited to change the name to "B.H.K. Credit Union Ltd.". This was in recognition of the fact that Kilkerley had become an autonomous parish.
In 1982 Eugene O'Brien, then President of the Irish League of Credit Unions officially opened the present Credit Union building on Main St. Blackrock. These premises were constructed at a cost of £90,000. Knockbridge joined the Common Bond of B.H.K. Credit Union in 1987.
In 1997 B.H.K. purchased No. 7 Main St. to provide for potential expansion in the future.
To commemorate the vision and trojan work carried out by the late Harry Montgomery in establishing B.H.K. on a thriving footing a memorial stone seat has been erected opposite the B.H.K. office.
The Balance Sheet
The growth of B.H.K. Credit Union can be gauged by comparing the Balance Sheet of the 31st December 1967 with that of 30th September 2002.
| Dec. 1967 | Sep. 2002 | ||
| Members Shares | £1978 - 19s - 1d | €9,860,823 | |
| Loans | £1782 - 6s - 3d | €5,418,602 |
Total income in 1967 was £100 - 0s - 11d while in 2000 it amounted to £488,708.
Staff
While the voluntary service of various Credit Union committees is vital to the successful operation of the Credit Union, the success and development of B.H.K. is due in no small way to the efficiency and courtesy of the office staff under the experienced and able management of Mary Keenan. As the services and facilities of the Credit Union continue to grow and become more complex the demands of new developments are ably dealt with by Melanie O'Neill, Deirdre Kilkenny, Mairead Rogers and Susan Savage.
A typical example of a development requiring Credit Union innovation is the introduction of the Special Savings Incentive Accounts which B.H.K. is pleased to offer to its members.
Special credit for the current healthy state of B.H.K. Credit Union must go to Treasurer Pat Markey who, along with Mary Keenan ensures that all financial transactions are meticulously dealt with and recorded.