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

Heat Restored Before Winter Set In.

Heritage Financial Credit Union

A member lost her husband last year, and without his additional income, her monthly budget became tighter than ever. While she was managing to get by, she was burdened with credit card debt from funeral expenses and prior purchases, along with high month‑to‑month interest. She was able to cover her bills each month, but there […]

Guidance That Turned Rent Into Ownership

Suncoast Credit Union

As immigrants from Haiti, members M and E were renting an apartment that was significantly overpriced. They both had jobs and wanted to own a home, so they came to Suncoast and applied for a mortgage. Unfortunately, they did not qualify due to income limitations and a lack of credit. Neither M nor E had […]

From Uncertainty To Joy On Four Wheels

Empower Federal Credit Union

I helped a member about four months ago who came in explaining that she needed a vehicle to get to and from work but had a zero credit score. As a first-time auto borrower, she had no idea what to do or what to look for, so she came to see us. Because she had […]

From Produce Aisle To Business Owner

FirstLight Federal Credit Union

The member was a long-time employee at a local produce market in Bonifay, Holmes County, Florida, where they worked for more than 20 years and built deep industry knowledge along with a long-held dream of owning their own market. When the member decided to pursue that goal, the primary barrier was access to startup capital […]

From Maxed Out To Moving Forward

A 49-year-old single parent was struggling to make ends meet after overtime hours at work were eliminated, significantly reducing household income. As a result, credit cards became maxed out, and only minimum payments could be made. One credit card ultimately charged off because the required payment was no longer affordable. When the member reached out […]

Finding Stability After Setbacks

Connections Credit Union

A non-member came into the branch after being referred by an existing member, looking for help with an unsecured loan to pay off collections and back taxes. They shared that they were struggling to keep up with multiple payments while still covering basic living expenses. The financial strain began after an unexpected major surgery that […]

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, ...
New Product Releases

TAPP Engine’s 9Squid Private Markets: First to Democratize Securitization for All Credit Unions*

TAPP Engine has launched 9Squid Private Markets*, an AI-powered securitization platform built to help credit unions of all sizes access ...
Other

Education Foundation for California Schools Awards $280,000 in Grants to California Educators

The Education Foundation for California Schools, a nonprofit created by SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and the Orange County Department of ...
Personnel Promotions

OCCU PRESIDENT & CEO NEUMANN RETIRING; SCHUMACHER TO TAKE REINS

OCCU President & CEO Ron Neumann has announced his retirement and the OCCU Board of Directors has unanimously selected current ...
Strategic Partnerships

First Independent Bank Selects Square 1 Credit Suite by Suntell

Suntell, a leading provider of loan origination software for commercial and agricultural lending, announced that First Independent Bank has selected ...
Making A Difference

PARK COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $97,960 IN GRANTS THROUGH PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY PROGRAM

Louisville, KY- Park Community Credit Union Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Pathways to Prosperity grants. ...
Making A Difference

Call for Entries: LAFCU’s 2026 Write to Educate Essay Contest

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU is once again turning student voices into opportunity, inviting Michigan high school seniors to share their ...
Making A Difference

LAFCU and Grassroots Giving Lansing to host entrepreneurship mixer focused on lending essentials

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU and Grassroots Giving Lansing will host the second session of their Entrepreneurship Mixer Series, The Lending Essentials, ...
Other

CUES and TruStage® Launch Leadership Pathways to Expand Access to Executive-Ready Talent Across the Credit Union System

CUES and TruStage® today announced Leadership Pathways, a yearlong, integrated leadership development experience designed to expand access to advanced leadership ...
New Product Releases

Coastal Credit Union Expands Mortgage Options with VA Loan Programs

Coastal Credit Union has announced the rollout of new mortgage programs designed to expand access to homeownership for more North ...
Lending

Appli Calculator Deployment Drives 23% Conversion Rate for First Source Federal Credit Union

Appli, a provider of AI-powered financial calculators for credit unions and community banks, today released year-one results from First Source ...
Industry Analysis & Trends

Baker Market Update – Week in Review: January 30, 2026

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

TAPP Engine’s 9Squid Private Markets: First to Democratize Securitization for All Credit Unions*

TAPP Engine has launched 9Squid Private Markets*, an AI-powered securitization platform built to help credit unions of all sizes access ...
Other

Education Foundation for California Schools Awards $280,000 in Grants to California Educators

The Education Foundation for California Schools, a nonprofit created by SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and the Orange County Department of ...
Personnel Promotions

OCCU PRESIDENT & CEO NEUMANN RETIRING; SCHUMACHER TO TAKE REINS

OCCU President & CEO Ron Neumann has announced his retirement and the OCCU Board of Directors has unanimously selected current ...
Strategic Partnerships

First Independent Bank Selects Square 1 Credit Suite by Suntell

Suntell, a leading provider of loan origination software for commercial and agricultural lending, announced that First Independent Bank has selected ...
Making A Difference

PARK COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $97,960 IN GRANTS THROUGH PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY PROGRAM

Louisville, KY- Park Community Credit Union Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Pathways to Prosperity grants. ...
Making A Difference

Call for Entries: LAFCU’s 2026 Write to Educate Essay Contest

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU is once again turning student voices into opportunity, inviting Michigan high school seniors to share their ...
Making A Difference

LAFCU and Grassroots Giving Lansing to host entrepreneurship mixer focused on lending essentials

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU and Grassroots Giving Lansing will host the second session of their Entrepreneurship Mixer Series, The Lending Essentials, ...
Other

CUES and TruStage® Launch Leadership Pathways to Expand Access to Executive-Ready Talent Across the Credit Union System

CUES and TruStage® today announced Leadership Pathways, a yearlong, integrated leadership development experience designed to expand access to advanced leadership ...
New Product Releases

Coastal Credit Union Expands Mortgage Options with VA Loan Programs

Coastal Credit Union has announced the rollout of new mortgage programs designed to expand access to homeownership for more North ...
Lending

Appli Calculator Deployment Drives 23% Conversion Rate for First Source Federal Credit Union

Appli, a provider of AI-powered financial calculators for credit unions and community banks, today released year-one results from First Source ...
Industry Analysis & Trends

Baker Market Update – Week in Review: January 30, 2026

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

Tower Federal Credit Union Wins Two Prestigious Diamond Awards Honoring Marketing Excellence

Tower Federal Credit Union (Tower) has been named a multiple award winner in the prestigious 2026 Diamond Awards, presented by America’s Credit Unions. The annual ...

Redwood Credit Union relocates Ukiah branch to modern new site

Redwood Credit Union (RCU) has moved its Ukiah branch from its current location at 195 S. Orchard Boulevard to a new, modern space at 414 ...

Fresno Compact Honors EECU for Longstanding Commitment to Education

FRESNO, Calif. (April 24, 2026) – Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU) has been recognized by the Fresno Compact with the 2026 Business-Education Partnership Award, honoring ...

LAFCU promotes BethAnn Bailey and Diane Myall to leadership roles

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU has promoted BethAnn Bailey to branch manager and Diane Myall to assistant quality assurance manager, recognizing their leadership, experience and commitment ...

LAFCU to award $2,500 in grants to Michigan teachers

LANSING, Mich. — LAFCU is once again accepting applications for its Teachers Grant Contest, providing financial support to educators across Michigan to help enhance their ...

Gulf Winds Credit Union Contributes $10,000 Gift to Rally Gulf Coast for Childhood Cancer Research

Pensacola, Florida (April 23, 2025) – Gulf Winds Credit Union is proud to contribute a $10,000 gift to Rally Gulf Coast to advance their mission ...
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