Find out what California and Nevada credit unions are accomplishing within their communities.
Member credit unions may submit their Members in the News items to membernews@ccul.org. When including a photograph, please give a detailed description for each photo sent, including the names and titles of individuals in the photograph. For more information about Members in the News, please contact Associate Editor Cindy Tullues Peterson at 909.212.6042.
The Orange County Chapter is hosting “An evening with Diana Dykstra” where credit union professionals can get to know the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ President and CEO, her history with credit unions, and updates from the Leagues. Register here to take part in her inspiring story and experiences on Sept. 22 in Tustin, CA.
In celebration of International Day of Friendship, Altura CU collaborated with Ireland-based Altura CU to discuss the importance of credit unions in the community. Watch the conversation here.
Frontwave CU continued its 70th Anniversary Acts of Kindness campaign and paid for all pet adoption fees at three San Diego Humane Society locations in North County San Diego. Frontwave CU donated a total of $4,000 to the San Diego Humane Society, supporting the adoption of 50 pets, including dogs, kittens, and a fowl, by local families.
San Diego County CU won a Gold 2022 dotCOMM Award for its Blog Overall submission in the Content Marketing category.
Southland CU has partnered with NYDIG, a leading bitcoin company. As the latest early adopter of cryptocurrency services, Southland CU will be the second credit union in the Southern California area to offer cryptocurrency buying and selling services. Through a fully integrated digital banking mobile app feature, Southland CU members can now buy, sell and hold bitcoin in a secure digital asset account.
Patelco CU recently teamed up with United Way’s SparkPoint to bring its ScoreUp™ Credit Builder Loan to the center’s clients. Patelco CU’s credit builder loan has helped more than a thousand people establish and improve their credit scores
Los Angeles FCU has annouced the Zelle® person-to-person (P2P) payment service is now available for members. Zelle is a fast, safe and easy way to send funds 24/7 like family and friends. There are no fees to use Zelle and money moves within minutes. The maximum transaction limit is $1,000 weekly. Funds can be sent from members’ checking, savings or money market accounts.
San Diego County CU partnered with the San Diego Blood Bank to host a blood drive at seven San Diego County CU locations, six in San Diego County and one in Riverside County collecting 86 pints of much-needed blood, which will help save the lives of over 258 people.
AltaOne FCU was certified as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), a designation held by less than 1,300 financial institutions nationwide and less than 150 in California. AltaOne FCU is the only CDFI headquartered in Kern County, California.
Patelco CU created a three-month campaign to inspire members to switch from paper to e-statements and give back to California areas affected by the recent catastrophic wildfires. For every switch, Patelco donated $5 to One Tree Planted to plant five trees. The campaign sparked thousands of members to switch to eStatments and Patelco donated $23,000 to One Tree Planted to plant 23,000 trees.
San Diego County CU was recognized with a Gold 2022 Stevie Award in the 20th Annual American Business Awards– which honors the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals. San Diego County CU was selected for its Stuff the Bus campaign in the Communications/PR Campaign of the Year – Corporate Responsibility category
SAFE CU has named Allison Yee-Garcia has been named Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications, joining the credit union's dynamic senior executive team. Yee-Garcia is a highly respected industry expert with an entrepreneurial mindset who is charged with leading SAFE CU's marketing and communications campaigns.
East Bay Chapter and leaders in the credit union industry will meet with local CEOs to network and learn in a small group discussion format in July 20 in Wedgewood San Ramon. Ask CEOs questions to learn about how leaders in our marketplace are facing the unique challenges of running a credit union in 2022 and beyond!
Los Angeles Police FCU welcomed Avo Mkhitaryan as Chief Operating Officer. In his new position, Mkhitaryan is responsible for overseeing branch service, sales, and operations, member services, loan services, marketing, and business development, while supporting the credit union’s strategic plan.
UNCLE CU has re-elected Board Chairman Chung Bothwell and elected Neda Gray as vice chair for the 2022-2023 term. Bothwell has overseen the financial institution at the helm of the board since 2009, and in a principal board role for more than two decades. A veteran board member, Gray chaired UNCLE CU's first Audit Committee, established in 2019 in lieu of the organization’s Supervisory Committee.
SAFE CU has awarded $10,000 in scholarships. The SAFE scholarship committee chose 10 graduating high school seniors from El Dorado, Sacramento and Sutter counties to each receive a $1,000 scholarship.
First Tech FCU announced has awarded more than $1M to 68 nonprofits and 12 First Tech FCU member students located in local Oregon, California, and Washington communities, promoting equitable access to STEM, early childhood literacy, and financial education.
Los Angeles FCU aised $11,000 for the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity (HfH) during April. The funds came from online contributions, in-person branch donations, and from a raffle of gift cards for LAFCU staff. For every dollar raised, Los Angeles FCU matched up to $5,000 for HfH through Los Angeles FCU's 501(c)3 non-profit charity, the Los Angeles Charitable Association. All donations will go towards HfH’s vision of helping families build and improve places to call home. They believe that affordable housing plays a critical role in strong and stable communities
Premier America CU has appointed Bill Hampel to the Board of Directors. Hampel will serve as a member of the Finance Committee and Credit Oversight Committee of the Board.
Meriwest CU is recognized as a 2022 ‘Best Place to Work’ by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal.
San Diego County CU was acknowledged with two 2022 Hermes Creative Awards! The credit union was awarded a Platinum Hermes Creative Award for the San Diego County CU Airport Video, a Gold Hermes Creative Award for the San Diego County CU Pay $0 Campaign, and received an Honorable Mention for its Sandy Social Reels.
Southland CU has opened a new branch on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. The credit union signed an agreement with the university to lease branch space in the University Student Union (USU). The branch location, previously occupied by Wells Fargo, is Southland CU’s eighth branch locatio.n
Members 1st CU hosted a Ribbon Cutting and Open House at their newest branch in Chico, CA. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by supporters including Chico Chamber members, neighboring business owners, credit union staff and League representatives, and local government delegates from the offices of Doug LaMalfa, Jim Nielsen, and James Gallagher.
Redwood CU has hired Demi Pike as branch experience manager of its Sonoma branch. In her new role, Pike is responsible for overseeing member service, staff development, and daily branch operations, as well as partnering with local businesses and community organizations.
Premier America CU has welcomed two new leaders to drive strategic growth: Tamara Scott, Vice President of Retail Delivery, and Paula Kim, Vice President of Digital Products and Services. Their arrival coincides with the recent announcement of the new strategic partnership with California State University, Northridge.
First Financial CU announced the re-election of three members to serve on the Board of Directors. Incumbents Kari McMullin, Ronald Trotter and Jim Weidner will each serve another three-year term.
Patelco CU team members recently packed more than 20,000 meals in collaboration with Kids Against Hunger Bay Area and other volunteers to support the non-profit’s Ukrainian refugee relief efforts.
Silver State Schools CU has awarded 10 scholarships as part of the 2022 People Over Profit (POP) Foundation Scholarship program. Each winner selected is a Southern Nevada High School Senior and will receive a $2,000 scholarship, renewable for up to four years, for a total of up to $8,000, to use towards higher education. The credit union has awarded more than $800,000 in scholarships to graduating Nevada High School Seniors since 1989. The scholarship program recognizes seniors who demonstrate excellence in academics, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.
Providence FCU has partnered with United Domestic Workers (UDW Labor Union) to serve health care professionals, home care workers, and childcare providers in California.
Coast Central CU has approved $100,000 in grants through its Community Investment Program’s spring round to 14 local organizations. A total of 54 non-profits had requested over $750,000. Coast Central CU also supports its communities through sponsorship, college scholarship, and employee volunteer programs.
Meriwest CU has been recognized as the ‘Best Credit Union’ in Silicon Valley in 2022 by the Mercury News’ 21st Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.
WestStar CU has announced that President and CEO Rick Schmidt will retire effective Jan. 2, 2023. The credit union is currently starting the search process for a new CEO by partnering with Humanidei + O’Rourke. Schmidt has served in his current role since April 2010. Prior to coming to WestStar, he had over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including 28 years with credit unions.
CommonWealth Central CU's Board of Directors has selected Viktoria Earle as their next President and CEO. In addition to her nine years of service at CommonWealth as the credit union’s Chief Financial Officer, Earle brings her extensive experience with multi-billion dollar financial institutions. Her responsibilities covered a broad spectrum of areas including executive leadership, strategic positioning, tactical planning, product development, business partner building, board relations and people engagement and development.
1st United CU was selected as the Alameda County Community Food Bank’s (ACCFB) official Food Drive host for 2022. Community members who collect up to 400 pounds of food (about a barrel full) can now deliver their donations to any 1st United CU branch.
Patelco CU was named a 2022 Diamond Award winner by the Credit Union National Association Marketing and Business Development Council (CUNA) for its 2021 social media campaign. Entitled “Patelco Member Quotes,” the campaign features its members’ authentic, organic opinions as well as others from the credit union’s social community.
San Diego County CU has once again been nominated in the San Diego’s BEST Union-Tribune Readers Poll and voting is now open. In 2021, San Diego County CU was named San Diego’s BEST Credit Union for the 22nd consecutive year by readers of The San Diego Union-Tribune. It was also voted San Diego’s BEST Financial Planner and BEST Mortgage Provider for the twelfth year in a row - and BEST Auto Loan Provider and BEST Place to Work for the eighth year.
Redwood CU recently received three Diamond Awards, including Complete Campaign for its Auto Loan Rate Sale; Digital Advertising for its “Free-Checking—No Joke” membership campaign; and Direct Mail for its Visa Balance Transfer
San Diego County CU is a proud sponsor of the 2022 San Diego Padres season. The credit union has supported its hometown team, the San Diego Padres, since Petco Park’s inaugural season.
SAFE CU received a Diamond Award from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) for its branding awareness campaign featuring five small Sacramento business owners and encouraging consumers to “shop local.”
Frontwave CU is pleased to announce announced new Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee. Incumbent Directors Kelley Mayer, Gerald Polyascko, and Richard Rothwell were re-elected to the Board, and are joined by newly elected Director Amanda Cook. On the Supervisory Committee, Incumbents Vicente Hinojosa and Cezary Goch were re-elected via acclamation. Mayer, Polyascko, Rothwell, and Cook will serve on the Board led by Chairman Brian Sutton, alongside Vice Chairman Joseph Mitilieri, Secretary Gary Greving, and Directors Sally L. Arnett, and Michael Brigagliano. Mayer will once again serve as Treasurer of the Board. The Frontwave CU Supervisory Committee is led by Chairman Robert Ross. In addition to Ross, Supervisory Committee Members include Kit Gardner, Vicente Hinojosa and Cezary Goch.
San Diego County CU is proud to support the local performing arts community as the title sponsor of Broadway San Diego’s 45th Season. The 45th Broadway San Diego Season Ticket Package includes Hamilton, Annie, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations, Disney’s Frozen, SIX, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical and Beetlejuice.
Meriwest CU and the Bay Area Panthers have signed a multi-year agreement, orchestrated by PIVOT Agency, establishing Meriwest CU as the presenting partner of the Panthers.
