Lender History:
Kawartha Credit Union has been serving members since 1952, originally founded as Cangeco Credit Union by employees of the Canadian General Electric Maintenance and Repair Department in Peterborough. In 1978, the organization rebranded as Kawartha Credit Union to reflect its expanded membership base, which now includes anyone living or working in Peterborough. Over the years, Kawartha has grown through multiple mergers and acquisitions, expanding its branch network across Ontario, from Parry Sound to Cornwall. Today, it operates 22 branches and serves over 50,000 members. With a focus on community involvement and a strong commitment to member service, Kawartha continues to prioritize growth, service excellence, and community support
Exciting Announcement!
Kawartha is merging with Libro Credit Union. In one of the biggest credit union moves in recent years, Kawartha and Libro are joining forces to serve more communities across Ontario as of January 1, 2026. While operations and branding will evolve over time, for now, Kawartha continues to lend under its own name - and we’re watching the changes closely.
Kawartha Credit Union. Built for Ontario. Backed by community.
Why our clients love Kawartha CU
Looking outside major cities? Kawartha understands non-urban lending.
Clean construction financing with local knowledge.
No premium on rental rates = better cash flow.
Friendly approvals. Real conversations.
Is Kawartha Credit Union the smartest move for your mortgage?
I’ll help you find out — no guesswork, just answers.
Thinking of Using Kawartha CU? Here's What You Really Need to Know
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Kawartha primarily lends across eastern and central Ontario, including Peterborough, Kingston, Lindsay, Belleville, Cobourg, and surrounding areas.
They focus on owner-occupied residential properties, but may consider other property types on a case-by-case basis - in addition to their strong commercial side. -
Unfortunately not - as it stands, their services are in English only.
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Kawartha is a member-owned credit union. That means:
You become a member, not just a customer
Profits go back into better service and local communities
Mortgage decisions are made by real people, not algorithms
They’re known for slower but more personal underwriting, and don’t play games with teaser rates or prepayment penalties.
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Kawartha CU is a credit union - not quite a bank, or a monoline.
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Yes, because Kawartha is a credit union, you’ll need to become a member and open a chequing or savings account to fund your mortgage.
This isn’t a bad thing, it’s part of the credit union experience. But if you prefer to keep all your banking elsewhere, we’ll guide you through the trade-offs. -
Kawartha has flexible programs including:
Purchase + Improvements
Cashback options (on insured files)
Rental property financing
Variable and fixed terms from 1 to 5 years
They also offer secured lines of credit (HELOC-style) and may allow extended amortizations on a case-by-case basis.
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Kawartha often offers competitive insured and insurable fixed-rate mortgages, especially for buyers with strong credit and a 5–20% down payment.
Their variable rates are less aggressive, and they don’t always compete with deep-discount online lenders. -
Kawartha’s mortgages are only available in Ontario, and they may not fund as quickly as national banks or monolines.
Online servicing is more limited, and you may need to visit a branch or complete documents by email instead of using a digital portal.
They’re great for relationship-based borrowers, but may not suit ultra-digital clients.
Kawartha Credit Union
Contact & Helpful Tools
Looking to learn more about Kawartha Credit Union or explore their mortgage options? Here’s the key info you need, no guesswork, no hassle.
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Head Office Location:
14 Hunter Street East P.O. Box 116 Peterborough, ON K9J 6Y5
Location finder is here to find your nearest location -
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Toll free: 1-855-670-0510
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Hours of Operation:
8:00am - 8:00pm Monday to Friday
8:00am - 4:00pm Saturday
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