The Member Story Project

The Member Story Project celebrates the powerful, personal moments between credit unions and the people they serve. Through heartfelt stories of real-life impact, this initiative highlights the moments when credit unions made a meaningful difference. Whether they offered support during a crisis, helped a dream come true, or simply showed up when it mattered most, these stories speak volumes.

They reflect the essence of the credit union movement: real people helping real people. We hope they inspire you as much as they inspire us.

Do you have a story to share? We’d love to hear it. Submit your story here and be featured on CreditUnions.com.

The Member Story Project is sponsored by Callahan & Associates

6 Months Of Support That Restored Hope

Wings Financial Credit Union

Some of the most meaningful moments happen quietly, through steady care over time. Dee Cordova, senior service center manager, supported a member facing overwhelming medical and financial hardship. He was living with Lewy Body Disease and early onset Parkinson’s, had fallen behind on bills, and was trapped in a predatory high-interest loan that was draining […]

Jesse — 2025 Nusenda Member Stories

Each year we capture stories from our more than 280,000 members and ask them about the impact Nusenda has had on their financial journeys. Learn more at Nusenda.org. Watch Jesse’s story.

One Call Protects A Member From Significant Loss

A member visited our Lafayette branch requesting to wire $29,500 to her niece. As the Senior Advocate asked routine questions, the member appeared confused and uneasy. A review of the account revealed another red flag — a $50,000 wire had been sent just days earlier. Concerned, the Advocate contacted the trusted contact listed on the […]

Protecting A Member From Triple-Digit Loan Terms

A member came to us after her daughter talked her into a loan to help with financial hardship. The member is deaf and had always trusted her daughter with her finances — but this time, that trust nearly cost her everything. She had taken out a loan over the weekend and already owed $4,900. The […]

The Importance Of Budgeting And Saving At All Stages Of Life

After months of building trust with a member, Chromwyll learned more about the challenges he was facing. At 72 years old, the member was still working two part-time jobs just to make ends meet. One day, he came in visibly stressed and shared everything piling up at once: his car registration was due, his phone […]

The Elmhorst Family — 2025 Nusenda Member Stories

Each year we capture stories from our more than 280,000 members and ask them about the impact Nusenda has had on their financial journeys. Learn more at Nusenda.org. Watch The Elmhorst Family’s story.

Strategic Partnerships

Suncoast Credit Union Partner with Informed to Accelerate Funding and Dealer Satisfaction

Informed.IQ and Suncoast Credit Union have partnered to implement the VerifyIQ AI platform, aimed at accelerating auto loan funding and ...
Making A Difference

Defend Against Fraud and ID Theft at Redwood Credit Union’s Free Shred-a-Thons

A crucial step in protecting against fraud and identity theft is to securely dispose of sensitive documents and electronic waste ...
Technology

CULA’s AI-driven Self Inspection Cuts Lease-End Turnaround Times by 50%

Over 11,000 lessees have completed self-inspections in just 10 minutes with a smartphone; new program drives lease-end efficiency, cost savings, ...
Personnel Promotions

Great Lakes Credit Union Featured In Callahan & Associates’ “Anatomy Of A Credit Union”

Washington, DC (April 2025) – Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) has been featured in the Spring 2025 edition of Callahan ...
Marketing

Appli CEO Tim Pranger to Showcase AI-Powered Loan Calculator at 2025 Auto Finance Summit East

Appli, the creator of the industry’s first AI-powered smart financial calculator, today announced that Founder and CEO Tim Pranger will ...
Operations & HR

LAFCU Strengthens Lending Team With Addition Of Two Mortgage Loan Officers

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU has welcomed Samip Patel and Michael Richards to its team, reinforcing the credit union’s commitment to ...
Industry Analysis & Trends

Baker Market Update – Week in Review: May 09, 2025

Released every Friday, BMU is a brief and informative newsletter that provides financial institutions a review of the week’s economic ...
Operations & HR

Corporate One Announces 2025 Board of Directors

Three members were re-elected to Corporate One Federal Credit Union’s Board of Directors at the annual meeting on April 24: ...
Operations & HR

Jeremiah Kossen Appointed to Corporate One Federal Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee

Corporate One Federal Credit Union announced today that Jeremiah Kossen, President/CEO of Publix Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) in Lakeland, ...
Making A Difference

Indiana Members Credit Union Announces 2025 Cancer Awareness Card Beneficiary

Indiana Members Credit Union is pleased to announce Strides for Sarcoma as the new member-nominated beneficiary for its Cancer Awareness ...
Making A Difference

EECU Honored for Support of Hmong American Day Celebration

Fresno, CA – Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU) proudly sponsored the 2025 Hmong American Day celebration, a vibrant two-day cultural ...
Lending

Desert Financial Credit Union Launches Private Student Loan and Refinance Solutions with CU Student Choice

CU Student Choice, the leading provider of higher education financing solutions to America’s credit unions, announced its student lending solutions ...
Making A Difference

SECU Foundation Awards Grace Clinic of Yadkin Valley with $600,000 Grant for New Medical Facility

SECU Foundation has announced a $600,000 challenge grant for Grace Clinic of Yadkin Valley (GCYV) to assist with the construction ...
Operations & HR

Valley First Credit Union Announces Board Re-Elections and New Appointments at Annual Meeting

MODESTO, Calif. May 6, 2025 – Valley First Credit Union is pleased to announce the results of its recent Annual ...
Personnel Promotions

LAFCU’s Kelli Ellsworth Etchison Honored With Lansing Community College Distinguished Alumni Award

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU is proud to announce that Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, the credit union’s chief marketing officer and chief ...
Operations & HR

Redwood Credit Union Elects Board of Directors

Redwood Credit Union recently re-elected volunteer board members Judy Herrerias-James, Lisa Wittke Schaffner, and Rod Dole.
Other

TriUnity Foundation Announces Board Elections and Strategic Focus for 2025-2026

TriUnity Foundation, a nonprofit committed to relieving the financial burden of terminal illness through credit union collaboration, has announced its ...
Lending

Revolutionizing Payoffs- No More Paper Checks!

EPIC Lauches Payoff clearinghouse for Auto Lenders EPIC is transforming the way financial institutions receive loan and lease payoffs on ...
Operations & HR

Laura Blanding Joins LAFCU As Vice President Of Membership Growth And Development

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU has announced the appointment of Laura Blanding as vice president of membership growth and development.
Other

Stephanie Schmidt Earns Prestigious Accredited Faster Payments Professional (AFPP) Certification

Corporate Central is proud to announce that Stephanie Schmidt, Vice President Member Services, has officially earned the Accredited Faster Payments ...
Other

BECU to open new Neighborhood Financial Centers on Bainbridge Island and in Duvall, Washington

BECU, Washington’s largest credit union, will open new Neighborhood Financial Centers (NFCs) on Bainbridge Island and in Duvall, Washington. The ...
Personnel Promotions

Coastal Credit Union Hires Anita Marshall to Lead Rocky Mount Branch

Coastal Credit Union has hired Anita Marshall as Branch Manager of its location at 1080 N. Winstead Ave in Rocky ...
Making A Difference

LAFCU To Award $10K In Grants To Individuals Seeking Financial Relief

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU is offering an opportunity to help individuals take charge of their financial well-being through its Pathway ...
Making A Difference

Credit Unions Join Others in Massachusetts to Raise Awareness of Dangerous Disease

Credit unions take action to educate the public, medical community, and first responders about Moyamoya Disease on May 6 Awareness ...
Strategic Partnerships

New Associate Board Member and Audit Committee Members to Join Advia Credit Union’s Dedicated Volunteers

Advia Credit Union is proud of the strong network of dedicated volunteers that make up its Board of Directors and ...
Making A Difference

U1 Announces 2025 Scholarship Winners

Universal 1 Credit Union (U1) members, Eva Johnson-Woods of Trotwood-Madison High School, and Addilyn Slinker of Beavercreek High School, were ...
Industry Analysis & Trends

Baker Market Update – Week in Review: May 02, 2025

Released every Friday, BMU is a brief and informative newsletter that provides financial institutions a review of the week’s economic ...
Other

RCU celebrates small business growth—in May and every day

As Redwood Credit Union (RCU) marks 75 years of service, it’s celebrating not just its own history but the stories ...
Making A Difference

Indiana Members Credit Union Awards $154,000 in Funds to Local Nonprofits through FHLBank Indianapolis Grant Program

Indiana Members Credit Union, in collaboration with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, awarded three nonprofit organizations $154,000 in ...
Making A Difference

LAFCU Brings Financial Literacy To Life For Lansing Christian Students At Financial Reality Fair

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU hosted its fifth annual Financial Reality Fair at Lansing Christian School April 10, giving high school ...
Strategic Partnerships

Suncoast Credit Union Partner with Informed to Accelerate Funding and Dealer Satisfaction

Informed.IQ and Suncoast Credit Union have partnered to implement the VerifyIQ AI platform, aimed at accelerating auto loan funding and ...
Making A Difference

Defend Against Fraud and ID Theft at Redwood Credit Union’s Free Shred-a-Thons

A crucial step in protecting against fraud and identity theft is to securely dispose of sensitive documents and electronic waste ...
Technology

CULA’s AI-driven Self Inspection Cuts Lease-End Turnaround Times by 50%

Over 11,000 lessees have completed self-inspections in just 10 minutes with a smartphone; new program drives lease-end efficiency, cost savings, ...
Personnel Promotions

Great Lakes Credit Union Featured In Callahan & Associates’ “Anatomy Of A Credit Union”

Washington, DC (April 2025) – Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) has been featured in the Spring 2025 edition of Callahan ...
Marketing

Appli CEO Tim Pranger to Showcase AI-Powered Loan Calculator at 2025 Auto Finance Summit East

Appli, the creator of the industry’s first AI-powered smart financial calculator, today announced that Founder and CEO Tim Pranger will ...
Operations & HR

LAFCU Strengthens Lending Team With Addition Of Two Mortgage Loan Officers

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU has welcomed Samip Patel and Michael Richards to its team, reinforcing the credit union’s commitment to ...
Industry Analysis & Trends

Baker Market Update – Week in Review: May 09, 2025

Released every Friday, BMU is a brief and informative newsletter that provides financial institutions a review of the week’s economic ...
Operations & HR

Corporate One Announces 2025 Board of Directors

Three members were re-elected to Corporate One Federal Credit Union’s Board of Directors at the annual meeting on April 24: ...
Operations & HR

Jeremiah Kossen Appointed to Corporate One Federal Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee

Corporate One Federal Credit Union announced today that Jeremiah Kossen, President/CEO of Publix Employees Federal Credit Union (PEFCU) in Lakeland, ...
Making A Difference

Indiana Members Credit Union Announces 2025 Cancer Awareness Card Beneficiary

Indiana Members Credit Union is pleased to announce Strides for Sarcoma as the new member-nominated beneficiary for its Cancer Awareness ...
Making A Difference

EECU Honored for Support of Hmong American Day Celebration

Fresno, CA – Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU) proudly sponsored the 2025 Hmong American Day celebration, a vibrant two-day cultural ...
Lending

Desert Financial Credit Union Launches Private Student Loan and Refinance Solutions with CU Student Choice

CU Student Choice, the leading provider of higher education financing solutions to America’s credit unions, announced its student lending solutions ...
Making A Difference

SECU Foundation Awards Grace Clinic of Yadkin Valley with $600,000 Grant for New Medical Facility

SECU Foundation has announced a $600,000 challenge grant for Grace Clinic of Yadkin Valley (GCYV) to assist with the construction ...
Operations & HR

Valley First Credit Union Announces Board Re-Elections and New Appointments at Annual Meeting

MODESTO, Calif. May 6, 2025 – Valley First Credit Union is pleased to announce the results of its recent Annual ...
Personnel Promotions

LAFCU’s Kelli Ellsworth Etchison Honored With Lansing Community College Distinguished Alumni Award

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU is proud to announce that Kelli Ellsworth Etchison, the credit union’s chief marketing officer and chief ...
Operations & HR

Redwood Credit Union Elects Board of Directors

Redwood Credit Union recently re-elected volunteer board members Judy Herrerias-James, Lisa Wittke Schaffner, and Rod Dole.
Other

TriUnity Foundation Announces Board Elections and Strategic Focus for 2025-2026

TriUnity Foundation, a nonprofit committed to relieving the financial burden of terminal illness through credit union collaboration, has announced its ...
Lending

Revolutionizing Payoffs- No More Paper Checks!

EPIC Lauches Payoff clearinghouse for Auto Lenders EPIC is transforming the way financial institutions receive loan and lease payoffs on ...
Operations & HR

Laura Blanding Joins LAFCU As Vice President Of Membership Growth And Development

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU has announced the appointment of Laura Blanding as vice president of membership growth and development.
Other

Stephanie Schmidt Earns Prestigious Accredited Faster Payments Professional (AFPP) Certification

Corporate Central is proud to announce that Stephanie Schmidt, Vice President Member Services, has officially earned the Accredited Faster Payments ...
Other

BECU to open new Neighborhood Financial Centers on Bainbridge Island and in Duvall, Washington

BECU, Washington’s largest credit union, will open new Neighborhood Financial Centers (NFCs) on Bainbridge Island and in Duvall, Washington. The ...
Personnel Promotions

Coastal Credit Union Hires Anita Marshall to Lead Rocky Mount Branch

Coastal Credit Union has hired Anita Marshall as Branch Manager of its location at 1080 N. Winstead Ave in Rocky ...
Making A Difference

LAFCU To Award $10K In Grants To Individuals Seeking Financial Relief

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU is offering an opportunity to help individuals take charge of their financial well-being through its Pathway ...
Making A Difference

Credit Unions Join Others in Massachusetts to Raise Awareness of Dangerous Disease

Credit unions take action to educate the public, medical community, and first responders about Moyamoya Disease on May 6 Awareness ...
Strategic Partnerships

New Associate Board Member and Audit Committee Members to Join Advia Credit Union’s Dedicated Volunteers

Advia Credit Union is proud of the strong network of dedicated volunteers that make up its Board of Directors and ...
Making A Difference

U1 Announces 2025 Scholarship Winners

Universal 1 Credit Union (U1) members, Eva Johnson-Woods of Trotwood-Madison High School, and Addilyn Slinker of Beavercreek High School, were ...
Industry Analysis & Trends

Baker Market Update – Week in Review: May 02, 2025

Released every Friday, BMU is a brief and informative newsletter that provides financial institutions a review of the week’s economic ...
Other

RCU celebrates small business growth—in May and every day

As Redwood Credit Union (RCU) marks 75 years of service, it’s celebrating not just its own history but the stories ...
Making A Difference

Indiana Members Credit Union Awards $154,000 in Funds to Local Nonprofits through FHLBank Indianapolis Grant Program

Indiana Members Credit Union, in collaboration with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis, awarded three nonprofit organizations $154,000 in ...
Making A Difference

LAFCU Brings Financial Literacy To Life For Lansing Christian Students At Financial Reality Fair

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU hosted its fifth annual Financial Reality Fair at Lansing Christian School April 10, giving high school ...

Appli CEO Tim Pranger to Demo AI-Powered Lending Tools at Financial Brand Forum

Appli, the creator of the industry’s first AI-powered smart financial calculator, today announced that Founder and CEO Tim Pranger will be on-site at The Financial ...

Redwood Credit Union receives two Diamond Awards for marketing excellence at America’s Credit Unions competition

Redwood Credit Union has won two Diamond Awards in America’s Credit Unions Marketing, PR & Development Council’s annual nationwide competition recognizing excellence in credit union ...

Chartway Credit Union Wins Sixth Straight USA Today Top Workplaces Award

Chartway Credit Union is proud to announce that it has earned the prestigious 2026 USA Today Top Workplaces Award for the sixth consecutive year. Issued ...

LAFCU honors longtime board members whose guidance shaped decades of growth

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU employees gave a standing ovation to retiring members of its board of directors during the credit union’s recent All Staff Day, ...

Registration Now Open for 2026 ALM First Financial Forum

Dallas, Texas – Financial institution executives and board members are encouraged to register now for ALM First’s 2026 Financial Forum, the firm’s flagship conference which ...

Sound Credit Union and Junior Achievement Expand Partnership

TACOMA, Wash. – Sound Credit Union (Sound) celebrated its partnership with Junior Achievement of Washington (JA) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony recognizing the grand opening of ...
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