Credit unions love communities, and it’s mutual

The holidays are the season of giving, and people everywhere are taking the time to consider ways they can be of service to those around them. Whether collecting donations of clothing, Christmas presents or canned food, many organizations are stepping up and providing opportunities to give back. Credit unions are stepping up too, and it’s no wonder – they have a lot of practice from engaging with their community all year round.

I’ve noticed that whenever I hear yet another story about credit unions getting involved with their communities, the story always ends with how that involvement ended up helping the credit union, too. It follows the age-old adage – the more you give, the more you seem to get! If you’re out there in your community, not only will you feel the satisfaction of making a difference, but you’ll be getting to know current and future members better – and that can only help business.

I love hearing these stories and, luckily for me, I hear them all the time. Here are a few recent examples:

• Member One Federal Credit Union in Roanoke, Va., raised more than $1,500 and collected more than 145 pounds of food for Feeding America Southwest Virginia, which works to end hunger in that region. The credit union even put together a free recipe ebook (which includes pumpkin bread pudding – yum!).
• Service Credit Union, of Portsmouth, N.H., is working with the U.S. Marine Corps on a Toys for Tots drive and will be collecting toys in all of its New Hampshire branches. The toys will go to children all across the state.
• Alaska USA Federal Credit Union in Anchorage has given $66,200 to community food banks through the Cash for Cans food drive – that is up 37 percent increase from what they gave last year. The funds will support 17 food banks in Alaska, Washington and California.

These credit unions and more are not only giving back to their communities – they’re defining what a community is. By working with local partners to help support good causes in their localities and beyond, they’re showing what credit unions can do, and I know those communities are taking notice.

People in those communities already know the difference between credit unions and banks. In the most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index, credit unions got the second-highest industry score. Consumers weren’t very happy with their banks. Responding to “how quickly financial transactions are completed, how courteous and helpful their staff are with customers, and how easy it is to understand information and make changes to accounts,” consumers found banks wanting on all counts, according to The Washington Post.

Credit unions know these simple, little things – engaging with consumers and making sure they understand what’s going on – really aren’t little at all. They also know that being members of a community means working together to make a difference. Without members, credit unions are nothing. That’s why giving back to members and the community they live in is just a natural part of the credit union life.