Credit Unions top reputation ranking for fourth year

We are proud to share some brilliant news. For the fourth consecutive year, credit unions have been named Ireland’s most reputable organisations, topping the Ireland Reputation Index 2026. At Member First Credit Union, we see this as a recognition that belongs to every one of our members across North Dublin, because your trust is what makes it possible.

What is the Ireland Reputation Index?

The Ireland Reputation Index is published each year by the Reputations Agency. It surveys over 5,000 members of the public across Ireland and asks them to rate 100 of the country’s largest, most familiar and most impactful organisations. The index measures something more meaningful than name recognition. It measures the emotional bond between an organisation and the people it serves, specifically the levels of trust, respect, admiration and esteem the public holds for each one.

That makes it one of the most credible and honest measures of public trust available in Ireland today.

Credit Unions Scored the Highest in Ireland

This year, credit unions achieved a reputation score of 81.7. Only two organisations in the entire study reached the “Excellent” tier, which tells you just how rare and significant this result is.

The IRFU, fresh from a Triple Crown win in this year’s Six Nations, came in second place with a score of 80.0. An Post finished third with 79.8. Both are hugely respected institutions in Ireland, which makes topping them all the more meaningful.

Credit unions also ranked well ahead of the major banks. The Reputations Agency singled out credit unions as ranking first in the public’s perception of conduct, which it identified as the single most important driver of reputation in Ireland.

Why Does Credit Union Reputation Score So Highly?

Alan Tyrrell, CEO of the Reputations Agency, said in an RTE article, what separates the highest-ranking organisations from the rest. Products and services clearly matter. But conduct is actually a stronger driver of reputation than anything else, he noted. Conduct covers the things that people feel day to day when they interact with an organisation. Are they open? Are they transparent? Do they treat people fairly?

These are not qualities credit unions learned recently. They are built into how credit unions were set up, and how they have operated for decades. Credit unions are member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperatives. Every decision we make puts our members first, not shareholders. There are no dividends to pay out, no external investors to satisfy. That difference in purpose shapes everything, from the products we offer to the conversations we have in branch.

What the ILCU CEO Said About the Result

David Malone, CEO of the Irish League of Credit Unions, spoke at the announcement and summed it up well.

“We are delighted that credit unions have been recognised as Ireland’s most reputable organisation for the fourth consecutive year. This recognition reflects the enduring trust that people across Ireland continue to place in their local credit union, alongside the positive response from members to the continued evolution and expansion of our services.”

He also spoke about what makes this particular ranking so meaningful. “This ranking is particularly meaningful because it is grounded in the everyday work being carried out by credit unions at the heart of local communities. It speaks to our commitment to remain deeply connected to the communities we serve, while continuing to invest in innovation, digital capability and the future development of our wider services.”

That says it clearly. This is not a marketing award. It is a reflection of what happens on the ground, every day, in every credit union across Ireland.

What This Means for Member First Credit Union and Our Members

Here in North Dublin, we have been serving our community of more than 107,000 members across five branches for years. and we make most loan decisions within 24 hours. We do not operate like a bank, because we are not one. We are owned by our members and answerable to them.

When the public across Ireland names credit unions as the most reputable organisations in the country, for the fourth year in a row, it validates the model that has always set us apart. Fair dealing. Local knowledge. Real decisions made by real people who live and work in the same communities as you.

That is what credit union reputation is built on. And it is something we will continue to earn, one member at a time.

Proud to be your local credit union. If you are not yet a member, we would love to welcome you. Find out how to join Member First Credit Union or visit your nearest branch to speak with someone today.