2022 marks PARAMA’s 70th anniversary. Anniversaries are a time to reflect on the passage of time and our values as a financial institution. Being a financial resource for our Members as they work towards life goals keeps us firmly rooted in what matters most - helping our members. While much has changed since 1952, in the important ways we are still the same.

Let’s take a look at the events that led to the world’s largest Lithuanian credit union being located here in Toronto.

Credit Unions in Lithuania

Credit unions and other cooperative, consumer-based movements have a long history in Lithuania. The first consumer-based cooperative movement was started in Lithuania in 1869. By 1928 there were 624 credit unions, 884 consumer’s unions and 516 cooperative dairies in Lithuania. This familiarity with the cooperative structure was carried with Lithuanians as they left Europe to escape first the Nazis and then the Soviet occupying forces.

At the time government regulations were such that a credit union could only be established within the boundaries of organizations, workplaces or parishes. At the time, the only established organization to which Lithuanians belonged to, and which had its own charter, was the Lithuanian House.

At the end of the summer of 1952 three community members, having cooperative experience and a common goal, set out to establish a credit union based on the Lithuanian House organization’s charter and boundaries. On October 7, 1952 they called a founders’ meeting to take place at the Lithuanian House (on Ossington St. at the time). 21 founding members gathered that day and each purchased shares of $5 and paid a $00.25 registration fee. An application for a credit union charter under the name “Parama (Toronto) Credit Union” was subsequently submitted. (“Parama” means “support” in Lithuanian.)

The charter was granted by the Province of Ontario on December 19, 1952; an inaugural members’ meeting was held in the New Year on January 17, 1953. The first board meeting was held February 2, 1953. Banking operations began February 20, 1953 and was available one evening a week at the Lithuanian House.

In 1956 Parama was open for business five days a week.

PARAMA in the Toronto Star, April 1956

On September 15, 1973 Parama moved into a new location at 1573 Bloor St. West. In 1977 Parama marked its 25th anniversary; membership was 4,123 with assets of $19,055,242. At the end of 30 years membership was at 4,550 and assets had reached almost $33 million.

1980s

In 1982 the name was officially amended from “Parama (Toronto)” to “Parama Lithuanian Credit Union” and in 1996 the charter was amended to include not only Toronto Lithuanians but those living throughout the Province of Ontario.

As the Lithuanian community flourished a 2nd location became necessary and in April 1996, 2975 Bloor St. W. near Royal York was purchased and opened for business in January 1997.