Mallow Credit Union is proud to share that credit unions have been officially recognised as Ireland’s
most sustainable organisations, taking the top position in Ireland as reported in the Sustainability
Reputation Index 2025.
The annual Index, now in its fourteenth year and carried out by The Reputations Agency, measures
the views of 5,500 members of the informed public on how 100 leading organisations in Ireland
perform across key sustainability pillars, including social impact, ethical practices, good governance,
and commitment to communities.
The study found that some Sustainability Factors are more important than others in driving the
public’s perception of an organisation’s reputation. The Social Performance factors Improves the lives
of others and their communities’ and ‘Positive influence on society were ranked as the two most
important factors by the public in this year’s Index, followed by three Conduct factors, ‘Fair in the
way it does business’, ‘Behaves ethically’, and ‘Open and transparent’.
Highest Score in the Country
Credit unions secured an overall score of 78.0, placing first among all organisations assessed. The
movement achieved first place in seven of the 16 key sustainability factors, earning Excellent ratings
for:
• Supporting good causes
• Being fair in the way it does business
• Improving the lives of people and their communities
• Having a positive influence on society
• This recognition reflects the long-standing commitment of credit unions to putting people
and communities at the centre of everything they do.
Rooted in Community
David Malone, the CEO of the Irish League of Credit Unions, said:
“Taking the top spot in the Ireland Sustainability Reputation Index highlights the vital contribution
that local credit unions make in communities across the country. From their inception, credit unions
have been rooted in a mission to strengthen communities and advance financial inclusion by offering
fair, ethical lending and a comprehensive range of financial services to their members. That purpose
remains at the heart of the movement today, with credit unions supporting 3.6 million members in
more than 400 communities nationwide.”
A Proud Moment for the Credit Union Movement
This recognition is a testament not just to credit unions as financial institutions, but as community
partners who reinvest in local people, support social initiatives and remain committed to ethical and
inclusive financial services.
