The OC Chapter in partnership with PuzzleBreak is hosting a virtual escape adventure on May 26.  The GRIMM Escape is a fun and interactive teambuilding adventure to raise funds for the Richard Myles Johnson Foundation for financial literacy. 

Frontwave CU announced the annual election results for its Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee. Incumbent Directors Gary Greving and Joseph Mitilieri were re-elected to the board, and are joined by newly elected Director Sally L. Arnett. Incumbents Kit J. Gardner and Robert C. Ross were re-elected to the Supervisory Committee, and are joined by newly elected Committee Member, Adam Grajewski.

Redwood CU is celebrating Credit Union Youth Month in April with giveaways and two contests that promote good savings habits for children and teenagers. Initiated by the Credit Union National Association, credit unions all over the United States are focused on the youngest members during the month of April with a massively fun dinosaur theme: Be a credit union saver and your savings will never go extinct.

Bay FCU has announced the winners of its annual financial education scholarships. Its Member Education Scholarship recipients are Daniela Arreola, Jakelin Escobar, and Michell Roldan. The “Mac McCormac” Employee Scholarship winners are Micaela DiPiero, Ana Gonzalez Torres, and Albert Vizcarra. 

San Diego County CU has been named a 2021 Best of the Best Elite Winner for San Diego’s Best and Brightest in Wellness^® by the National Association for Business Resources for the third year in a row. The Best and Brightest in Wellness celebrates companies that are making their businesses healthy, the lives of their employees better and the community a healthier place to live. The Best and Brightest program provides yearlong education, benchmarking, assessment tools and interaction among the best employers throughout the United States.

Katya Askar, Manager of Corp. Giving & Events at The Midnight Mission.

Los Angeles FCU raised $11,000 in donations for The Midnight Mission (TMM) in February. The funds were raised from online contributions and in-person branch donations. For every dollar raised, Los Angeles FCU also matched up to $5,000 for TMM through Los Angeles FCU's charity, the Los Angeles Charitable Association. One hundred percent of donations will go to support TMM’s fight against poverty, homelessness, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Redwood CU is celebrating Credit Union Youth Month in April with giveaways and two contests that promote good savings habits for children and teenagers. Initiated by the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), credit unions all over the United States are focused on the youngest members during the month of April with a massively fun dinosaur theme: Be a credit union saver and your savings will never go extinct.

San Mateo CU recently received a superior 5-Star rating from BauerFinancial, the highest rating a credit union can receive from the nation’s premiere bank-rating firm. Earning a 5-Star rating means San Mateo CU excels in areas of asset quality, profitability, community reinvestment and other criteria determined by the firm.

California Coast CU, its members, and the community raised $35,000 during a recent initiative that was created to support local minority-owned businesses and four local non-profits that have been impacted by the pandemic. During the campaign, members were encouraged to shop locally, and each time they used their Cal Coast MasterCard^® debit or credit card Cal Coast would donate proceeds to the Strategic Alliance – San Diego, which represents local minority-owned businesses.

CoastHills CU is opening its newest branch on Saturdays and remodeling another to meet members’ preferences for in-person banking, potential indicators that consumers feel safer as COVID-19 pandemic figures continue to improve.

SAFE CU financial educators will bring the credit union’s popular Bite of Reality fairs to Sacramento area high schools in April to celebrate Financial Literacy Month. For the first time, SAFE  CU will offer the programs in a virtual environment.

Southland CU announced that it is sponsoring the EVERFI Financial Literacy Bee, taking place April 1-15, 2021. The EVERFI Financial Literacy Bee is a nationwide financial literacy challenge for high school students.

San Diego County CU was recognized with a 2021 San Diego American Advertising Award—which recognizes and rewards the creative spirit of excellence in the art of advertising. San Diego County CU was recognized with a Bronze Award for its new mobile banking video in the Local Television Commercial category. 

Orange County’s CU has developed a COVID-19 Relief Program to assist members with loans, mortgages, and general banking needs. Through this program, the credit union provided members with more than 4,550 mortgage forbearances and/or loan deferments, 800 emergency loans, and has helped 125 businesses with payment protection programs over the last year. 

Bay FCU introduces its new First-Time Homebuyer Program to help members in the community make the move into homeownership. The program offers potential homebuyers options beginning with a 3-percent down payment and no closing costs, and is available for owner-occupied single-family residences. Maximum loan amounts are $822,375 in Santa Cruz County and San Benito County and $739,450 in Monterey County. 

San Diego County CU is a proud sponsor of the 2021 San Diego Padres season. San Diego County CU has supported our hometown team, the San Diego Padres, since Petco Park’s inaugural season.

San Diego County CU is hosting Biz Kid$ events online to help engage students in distance learning environments with fun and interactive ways to learn about money, finances and business. Topics include: Crash Course on Starting a Business, Entrepreneurship; How Do You Get Money?, Credit and Debit; and What’s Your Money Personality?, Financial Basics. 

California Coast CU (Cal Coast) and Wawanesa Insurance have announced a new partnership that offers additional savings to Cal Coast members who choose Wawanesa for their auto insurance.  All new and existing Cal Coast members may be eligible for a discount on an auto insurance policy with Wawanesa.

Frontwave CU's Chief Marketing Officer, Todd Kern, has been selected as one of 23 credit union leaders to join the latest cohort for Filene Research Institute’s i3 Program.

Solano First FCU and Valley Strong CU have agreed to a merger, subject to regulatory approvals and membership vote. Combined, the organization would serve more than 160,000 members, with assets of $2.4 billion and 21 branches.

Cal Coast CU will make a $30,000 donation to the Strategic Alliance San Diego consisting of the Asian Business Association, Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce and San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Greater Nevada CU announced its updated board of directors during its 72nd Annual Meeting. Secretary Jon Steele and Treasurer Travis Lee were re-elected to serve in their respective positions. The rest of the board are: Chairman Bill Arensdorf; Vice Chair Rob Joiner; Director Marsha Burgess; Director Barbara Byington; and Director Paul Richey.

Redwood CU has appointed AJ Paniagua as a mortgage loan officer. In his new role, Paniagua will work with existing and aspiring home owners to navigate options that help keep monthly expenses low.

SAFE CU transformed its Community Banking Department into a new Community Relations Department. The change reflects a new direction for the former sales team into one that is committed to building relationships in the community with members, nonprofits, and the community at large to improve financial wellness.

Bay FCU welcomes back to the organization Brooke Morley, who is re-joining the credit union as the new vice president of asset management. In her new role, Morley will work closely with the consumer and mortgage lending teams to support the credit union’s lending programs and also provide guidance and strategy for its automation and efficiency objectives.

Southland CU donated more than $100,000 in computer workstations, including equipment and software, to the City of Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM), which will support the City’s after school, teen and senior programs and the Community Learning Hub Program.

Silver State Schools CU has announced its 2021 Scholarship Program. The award-winning credit union has awarded more than $700,000 in scholarships to graduating Nevada High School Seniors since 1989, with its goal to build a better future for Southern Nevada students by educating, empowering, and enhancing the community.

L-R: Purche Avenue Elementary School Principal, Gina Barnett and First Financial Community CU Relations Director, Therese El Khoury.

First Financial CU donated more than $12,000 to local schools as a result of contributions made to the credit union’s Matching Dollars 4 Schools donation program. First Financial CU members and staff collectively donated $6,000 and each donation was matched dollar for dollar by the credit union.

San Diego County CU is a sponsor of the 12^th Annual San Diego Women’s Week taking place on March 15-19 online to ensure a safe and fun experience for all. The leadership events organized by the North San Diego Business Chamber, are designed to inspire, empower and connect individuals of all ages and professions.

Bay FCU will relocate its Salinas branch location to the Harden Ranch Plaza this fall. This new location allows for easy access from the freeway and plenty of parking for members. The branch will also undergo an extensive new redesign to create a modern banking experience and environmentally friendly atmosphere.

CU of Southern California (CU SoCal) recently opened a full-service branch in Fontana, CA. This branch is different than most, however, because it is shared with two other credit unions. Touted as the Credit Union Center, this location serves members of the Anaheim Hills, CA-based CU SoCal Gardena, CA-based Pacific Transportation FCU (PacTrans), and Riverside, CA-based Printing Industries CU.

San Diego County CU has been named a 2021 winner for San Diego’s Best and Brightest in Wellness^® by the National Association for Business Resources . The Best and Brightest in Wellness celebrates companies that are making their businesses healthy, the lives of their employees better and the community a healthier to place to live. 

Safe 1 CU has announced the retirement of President/CEO, Doug Kileen. Kileen has served as head of the credit union for more than 34 years, leading the organization from a small operation with $21 million in assets to one now offering nine locations, the latest in digital technology, and total assets near $800 million.

Firefighters First CU launched contactless debit and credit cards, completing a year-long update of their Visa® platform that included enhanced security and card management tools. “Tap to Pay” cards allow for touch-free purchases at checkout terminals that display the contactless symbol.

Vocality Community CU recently opened a new branch in Ukiah, CA. The branch is the second brick-and-mortar one for the credit union who also has mobile branch in Willits, CA.

Bay FCU's most prestigious award for employees, the Service Excellence Award, was awarded to Assistant Vice President of Consumer Lending Allyson Stengl. She was nominated by her peers and was selected by a group of past winners. The credit union also announced a record 33 employee honors for 2020.

San Diego County CU has hired Carlos Zuniga as executive vice president of consumer lending. In this role, Zuniga is responsible for all consumer lending, including collections and business lending activities, as well as the strategic planning related to consumer lending portfolios, both direct and indirect channels.

California Coast CU is teaming up with the San Diego Gulls Foundation to raise funds for the San Diego Gulls Book and School Supply Drive benefitting Words Alive, a local nonprofit organization focused on reading for children, teens and families.

SAFE CU's Community Banking team supported the inaugural Folsom Fitness Day at Mercy Hospital of Folsom by donating sports drinks and healthy breakfasts for 50 of the hospital’s employees and family members.

Travis CU Foundation has awarded two local each a $500 Youth Financial Wellness Scholarship to support their post-secondary education. The scholarships were announced during the annual ‘Life after High School’ event, hosted in partnership by Travis CU and the Solano County Office of Education.

Christian Christian Community CU gave $25,400 to missions and ministry projects, made possible by the generosity of its members, who donated their credit card reward points. Through the “Points for Missions” program, members can turn 10,000 reward points into a $100 donation. Since 2009, the “Points for Missions” program has given $234,740 to various missions organizations.

Orange County's CU has promoted Rebecca Bower to Chief Associate Experience Officer. Bower has played a key role in enhancing associate communication and the continued focus on physical and mental well-being of associates and members alike.