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

How A Credit Union Cut Through Red Tape For A Grieving Family

Navy Federal Credit Union

Amber Sax plans to stay at Navy Federal Credit Union for life, an unwavering commitment shaped by compassion shown when she needed it most. A few years ago, Sax’s husband, Capt. John J. Sax, a U.S. Marine Corps aviator, was killed during a routine flight training mission near their home in Southern California. Four other […]

Turning High Interest Debt Into Hope

Marshland Credit Union

I helped a member who is in his 20’s and had accumulated quite a bit of debt over several credit cards, mostly from things outside his control. All of the credit cards were at least 28% interest, some up to 35%. He was worried that even though he made all the payments on time, and […]

A Strong Start At Nineteen

Desco Federal Credit Union

This is more of a steppingstone story. A 19-year-old member opened a checking account with us in June 2025, shortly after graduating high school. During senior year at Collins Career Center, he had started a paid internship that turned into full-time employment, giving him a strong start so early in life. Not long after opening […]

Financial Empowerment Can Start At Any Stage Of Life

Navy Federal Credit Union

Last fall, an older couple stopped by a financial wellness fair outside a Navy Federal Credit Union branch in Oceanside, CA. As the man stepped inside the branch, his wife lingered at the tables outside. She shared that her husband was a longtime member, but she had never had an account of her own. In […]

Stopping A Predatory Loan Before It Took Everything

A member came to the CDFI after being persuaded to take out a title loan to help her daughter. She is deaf and had long trusted her daughter with her finances, but the decision nearly cost her everything. Within days, she owed $4,900 under devastating terms: a 36-month loan at 203.39% interest, with monthly payments […]

A Refinance That Reduced The Strain

We Florida Financial Credit Union

A member applied to refinance a car loan to lower the monthly payment. The member had a monthly payment of $662 for 72 months at a rate of 11.50%. After refinancing with We Florida Financial, the member’s new payment was $472 per month at a rate of 7.94%. The member’s payment was reduced by $190 […]

Charity Events

LAFCU, Quality Dairy partner for third annual Paczki Palooza to benefit local charities

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU partnered with Quality Dairy for the third consecutive year as co-sponsor of Pączki Palooza, the popular ...
Making A Difference

EECU Celebrates Fresno Unified Excellence in Education Honorees

FRESNO, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2026) – Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU) proudly sponsored the Fresno Unified School District’s annual Excellence ...
Other

Coastal Credit Union Headquarters Renovation Earns Multiple Honors

Coastal Credit Union’s headquarters renovation has earned top recognition from both the Triangle Business Journal and the Carolinas AGC, underscoring ...
Strategic Partnerships

Woodford State Bank Selects Square 1 Credit Suite by Suntell

Woodford State Bank Selects Square 1 Credit Suite by Suntell February 23, 2026 — Suntell, a leading provider of loan ...
Marketing

Suntell Marks 30 Years Advancing Commercial and Agricultural Lending Technology for Community Financial Institutions

Suntell Marks 30 Years Advancing Commercial and Agricultural Lending Technology for Community Financial Institutions Suntell is celebrating its 30th anniversary, ...
Technology

Peninsula Community Credit Union Selects Alogent’s FASTdocs to Modernize Enterprise Content Management

Peninsula Community Credit Union has selected FASTdocs, Alogent’s enterprise content management (ECM) platform, to modernize its document management environment. Delivered ...
Other

National Association of Latino Credit Union Professionals Honors SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union President Jose Lara with Legacy Leader Award

Jose Lara, president of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, received the Legacy Leader Award from the National Association of Latino Credit ...
Making A Difference

Family Trust Federal Credit Union recognized for housing-focused financial education efforts

Family Trust Federal Credit Union (Family Trust) has been recognized by the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation with the Desjardins Adult ...
Other

Gulf Winds Welcomes Christopher Tenney as Vice President of Cybersecurity

Gulf Winds Credit Union is excited to announce that Christopher Tenney has joined the senior leadership team as Vice President ...
Personnel Promotions

Humanidei Welcomes Carolyn Reeves as Leadership & Organizational Development Consultant

Ontario, CA, February 17, 2026. Humanidei has announced the addition of Carolyn Reeves as its new Leadership & Organizational Development ...
Making A Difference

Coastal Credit Union and Foundation Earn Four Awards from Carolinas Credit Union Foundation

Coastal Credit Union and the Coastal Credit Union Foundation have earned four awards from the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation’s statewide ...
Other

Family Trust Federal Credit Union Hosts Coffee & Connections Event for Fort Mill Business Community

Family Trust Federal Credit Union (Family Trust) recently welcomed members of the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce to its ...
Making A Difference

$9 Million in Grants Awarded to 23 North Carolina Non-Profits by SECU Foundation

The State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Foundation Board of Directors has approved more than $9 million in funding for 23 ...
Lending

Rize Credit Union Adds CU Student Choice’s Student Loan and Refinance Solutions

CU Student Choice announced its student loan and refinance solutions will now be available to the members of Rize Credit ...
Industry Analysis & Trends

Baker Market Update – Week in Review: February 13, 2026

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

Vizo Financial’s 2026 Risk Management Conference to Feature Education on AI Risk, Cyber Threats & Payments Fraud

Vizo Financial Corporate Credit Union is holding its annual Risk Management Conference in Hershey, Pa., on April 22-24, 2026. Held ...
Making A Difference

Meriwest Community Foundation Celebrates Transformative Inaugural Year of Impact

The Meriwest Community Foundation is celebrating an incredible first year of impact. From expanding financial education to supporting underserved youth, ...
Technology

Energy One Federal Credit Union Implements AI-Powered Calculators from Appli

Appli, a provider of AI-powered financial calculators for credit unions and community banks, announced today that Energy One Federal Credit ...
Legal/Regulatory

NASCUS Supports NCUA Regulatory Modernization While Urging Clarity, Consistency, and Strong Supervisory Foundations

The National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) submitted three comment letters to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) ...
Lending

LendKey Surpasses $8 Billion in Loan Originations, Accelerating Growth for Credit Unions and Banks Nationwide

LendKey today announced it has surpassed $8 billion in loan originations, a milestone achieved through its network of more than ...
Strategic Partnerships

Capital Area Federal Credit Union Renews Core Processing Partnership with Synergent

Synergent® is proud to share that Capital Area Federal Credit Union has renewed a ten-year agreement for hosted Jack Henry™ ...
Making A Difference

SECU Foundation Strengthens Support for Students, Communities with $1.95 Million Commitment to Public Fellows Internship Program

Building on a decade of impact, SECU Foundation has renewed its Public Fellows Internship Program for 2026 and increased funding ...
Making A Difference

Maine Credit Unions Raise Nearly $1.5 Million to Address Food Insecurity

Credit union representatives from across Maine came together to announce the latest fundraising results of their collaborative Maine Credit Unions’ ...
Personnel Promotions

Cumberland County FCU President & CEO Announces Retirement After 36 Years of Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cumberland County FCU President & CEO Announces Retirement After 36 Years of Service Cumberland County FCU has ...
New Product Releases

NASCUS Partners with the Tennessee and Mississippi Credit Union Association to Launch New Introduction to Credit Union Examination Training

The National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS), in collaboration with the Tennessee and Mississippi Credit Union Association, is ...
Making A Difference

ALM First Caps 30th Anniversary Celebration with Impact Report

Dallas, TX – ALM First, a strategic partner to over 450 depositories nationwide, closed out its year-long 30th anniversary celebration with the ...
Other

CU Strategic Planning Applauds Intact CDFI Fund Budget Following Brief Government Shutdown

CU Strategic Planning, a leading provider for mission-focused credit unions, expressed gratitude to Congress for maintaining the $334 million appropriation ...
Other

Meriwest Credit Union Celebrates New Morgan Hill Branch, Strengthening Local Community Ties

We’re growing with you, Morgan Hill! Our new branch is now open, complete with full personal & business banking, lending ...
Industry Analysis & Trends

Baker Market Update – Week in Review: February 06, 2026

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

Freedom Bank Selects Square 1 Credit Suite by Suntell

Suntell, a leading provider of loan origination software for commercial and agricultural lending, is pleased to announce that Freedom Bank, ...
Charity Events

LAFCU, Quality Dairy partner for third annual Paczki Palooza to benefit local charities

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU partnered with Quality Dairy for the third consecutive year as co-sponsor of Pączki Palooza, the popular ...
Making A Difference

EECU Celebrates Fresno Unified Excellence in Education Honorees

FRESNO, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2026) – Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU) proudly sponsored the Fresno Unified School District’s annual Excellence ...
Other

Coastal Credit Union Headquarters Renovation Earns Multiple Honors

Coastal Credit Union’s headquarters renovation has earned top recognition from both the Triangle Business Journal and the Carolinas AGC, underscoring ...
Strategic Partnerships

Woodford State Bank Selects Square 1 Credit Suite by Suntell

Woodford State Bank Selects Square 1 Credit Suite by Suntell February 23, 2026 — Suntell, a leading provider of loan ...
Marketing

Suntell Marks 30 Years Advancing Commercial and Agricultural Lending Technology for Community Financial Institutions

Suntell Marks 30 Years Advancing Commercial and Agricultural Lending Technology for Community Financial Institutions Suntell is celebrating its 30th anniversary, ...
Technology

Peninsula Community Credit Union Selects Alogent’s FASTdocs to Modernize Enterprise Content Management

Peninsula Community Credit Union has selected FASTdocs, Alogent’s enterprise content management (ECM) platform, to modernize its document management environment. Delivered ...
Other

National Association of Latino Credit Union Professionals Honors SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union President Jose Lara with Legacy Leader Award

Jose Lara, president of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, received the Legacy Leader Award from the National Association of Latino Credit ...
Making A Difference

Family Trust Federal Credit Union recognized for housing-focused financial education efforts

Family Trust Federal Credit Union (Family Trust) has been recognized by the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation with the Desjardins Adult ...
Other

Gulf Winds Welcomes Christopher Tenney as Vice President of Cybersecurity

Gulf Winds Credit Union is excited to announce that Christopher Tenney has joined the senior leadership team as Vice President ...
Personnel Promotions

Humanidei Welcomes Carolyn Reeves as Leadership & Organizational Development Consultant

Ontario, CA, February 17, 2026. Humanidei has announced the addition of Carolyn Reeves as its new Leadership & Organizational Development ...
Making A Difference

Coastal Credit Union and Foundation Earn Four Awards from Carolinas Credit Union Foundation

Coastal Credit Union and the Coastal Credit Union Foundation have earned four awards from the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation’s statewide ...
Other

Family Trust Federal Credit Union Hosts Coffee & Connections Event for Fort Mill Business Community

Family Trust Federal Credit Union (Family Trust) recently welcomed members of the York County Regional Chamber of Commerce to its ...
Making A Difference

$9 Million in Grants Awarded to 23 North Carolina Non-Profits by SECU Foundation

The State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) Foundation Board of Directors has approved more than $9 million in funding for 23 ...
Lending

Rize Credit Union Adds CU Student Choice’s Student Loan and Refinance Solutions

CU Student Choice announced its student loan and refinance solutions will now be available to the members of Rize Credit ...
Industry Analysis & Trends

Baker Market Update – Week in Review: February 13, 2026

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

Vizo Financial’s 2026 Risk Management Conference to Feature Education on AI Risk, Cyber Threats & Payments Fraud

Vizo Financial Corporate Credit Union is holding its annual Risk Management Conference in Hershey, Pa., on April 22-24, 2026. Held ...
Making A Difference

Meriwest Community Foundation Celebrates Transformative Inaugural Year of Impact

The Meriwest Community Foundation is celebrating an incredible first year of impact. From expanding financial education to supporting underserved youth, ...
Technology

Energy One Federal Credit Union Implements AI-Powered Calculators from Appli

Appli, a provider of AI-powered financial calculators for credit unions and community banks, announced today that Energy One Federal Credit ...
Legal/Regulatory

NASCUS Supports NCUA Regulatory Modernization While Urging Clarity, Consistency, and Strong Supervisory Foundations

The National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS) submitted three comment letters to the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) ...
Lending

LendKey Surpasses $8 Billion in Loan Originations, Accelerating Growth for Credit Unions and Banks Nationwide

LendKey today announced it has surpassed $8 billion in loan originations, a milestone achieved through its network of more than ...
Strategic Partnerships

Capital Area Federal Credit Union Renews Core Processing Partnership with Synergent

Synergent® is proud to share that Capital Area Federal Credit Union has renewed a ten-year agreement for hosted Jack Henry™ ...
Making A Difference

SECU Foundation Strengthens Support for Students, Communities with $1.95 Million Commitment to Public Fellows Internship Program

Building on a decade of impact, SECU Foundation has renewed its Public Fellows Internship Program for 2026 and increased funding ...
Making A Difference

Maine Credit Unions Raise Nearly $1.5 Million to Address Food Insecurity

Credit union representatives from across Maine came together to announce the latest fundraising results of their collaborative Maine Credit Unions’ ...
Personnel Promotions

Cumberland County FCU President & CEO Announces Retirement After 36 Years of Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cumberland County FCU President & CEO Announces Retirement After 36 Years of Service Cumberland County FCU has ...
New Product Releases

NASCUS Partners with the Tennessee and Mississippi Credit Union Association to Launch New Introduction to Credit Union Examination Training

The National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors (NASCUS), in collaboration with the Tennessee and Mississippi Credit Union Association, is ...
Making A Difference

ALM First Caps 30th Anniversary Celebration with Impact Report

Dallas, TX – ALM First, a strategic partner to over 450 depositories nationwide, closed out its year-long 30th anniversary celebration with the ...
Other

CU Strategic Planning Applauds Intact CDFI Fund Budget Following Brief Government Shutdown

CU Strategic Planning, a leading provider for mission-focused credit unions, expressed gratitude to Congress for maintaining the $334 million appropriation ...
Other

Meriwest Credit Union Celebrates New Morgan Hill Branch, Strengthening Local Community Ties

We’re growing with you, Morgan Hill! Our new branch is now open, complete with full personal & business banking, lending ...
Industry Analysis & Trends

Baker Market Update – Week in Review: February 06, 2026

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

Freedom Bank Selects Square 1 Credit Suite by Suntell

Suntell, a leading provider of loan origination software for commercial and agricultural lending, is pleased to announce that Freedom Bank, ...

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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