Arbor Financial Credit Union held their 87th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. The credit union’s Board of Directors presented the 2022 James E. Fetterolf Distinguished Service Award to a generous individual for her outstanding credit union service. We are pleased to announce that this year’s award recipient is Carolyn Hande!
Carolyn’s leadership and devotion to the credit union allowed her to build strong relationships with our members and her teammates. In May 1986, Carolyn joined our organization, then known as School Employees Credit Union, as a Teller. Carolyn was promoted throughout her career at Arbor Financial and served in different roles, including as a Loan Officer and as a Branch Manager, where she worked at the Paw Paw, Lawrence, and Three Rivers branches.
Carolyn graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and majored in Finance. She also completed the Accounting Assistant Program from Davenport University (formerly Parsons Business School) and attended MCUL Leadership courses and Mortgage Lending School through CUNA Mortgage.
Growing up in southwest Michigan, Carolyn spent time in her youth living in Paw Paw, Mattawan, and Portage and graduated from Paw Paw High School. Carolyn says, “I feel privileged to have served the wonderful members in the community where I was raised and to have worked with a team who was like family to me. My career at Arbor Financial Credit Union was so rewarding to have assisted members and build such strong relationships. I am very thankful.”
Prior to her 35 years at Arbor Financial, Carolyn had experience at PNC Bank (formerly First of America) as a Teller and in their corporate accounting department. Since her retirement in 2021, Carolyn is enjoying many of her hobbies such as traveling, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Our Board of Directors, management, and staff highly regard Carolyn and greatly appreciate and admire her dedication and service to the credit union. We honor Carolyn because she fully exemplifies the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People.”
View the complete 2021 Annual Report on our wesbite for more accomplishments, statistics, and
reports.