Community Financial Credit Union expands charitable debit card artist collab with Nine Design+Home, donations to benefit Ruth Ellis Center
In honor of International Credit Union Day on Thursday, October 19, CFCU will increase donations from one cent to 10 cents with each charitable debit card purchase.
PLYMOUTH, MI (October 12, 2023) — Community Financial Credit Union (CFCU), a non-profit financial institution headquartered in Plymouth, Mich., has expanded its charitable debit card partnership with Nine Design+Homes, a design studio and retail store, located in the heart of Detroit and founded by the stars of HGTV’s Bargain Block, Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas. The Ruth Ellis Center, a social services agency that provides trauma-informed aid to LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults of color, was added to CFCU’s list of charities with the Nine Design expansion.
The debit card artist collaboration builds upon the credit union’s first partnership with internationally renowned artist, Tony Roko, which launched earlier this year. Each time a user makes a purchase with a CFCU charitable debit card, one cent goes to a charity of their choice: the Ruth Ellis Center, the Relentless Care Foundation or the Roko Art Foundation. To date, more than 8,000 CFCU members have chosen to give back to the community via a charitable debit card for a total of over $40,000 donated. To recognize International Credit Union Day on Thursday, October 19, CFCU will increase donations from one cent to 10 cents with each swipe.
“We’re thrilled about the opportunity to bring beauty to people’s wallets while allowing them to give from their hearts every time they pay,” said CFCU President and CEO Tansley Stearns. “Our partnership with Nine Design+Home teams, particularly Keith and Evan, reinforces the power of purpose-first partnerships. Keith and Evan share our values and we are dreaming boldly together about how we can collaborate to activate our commitment to community, especially in Detroit, where we’ve opened our first branch at Wayne State University. Offering programs and services that resonate with our members, helps them achieve their impossible dreams and drives impact where it matters.”
CFCU’s Nine Design debit cards feature photographs of Michigan taken by Keith and Evan that depict the state’s natural beauty. Earlier this year, CFCU became Nine Design’s official financing partner in helping Michiganders attain more affordable housing through its Path to Homeownership program.
“The heart of our company is rooted in affordable housing and community, and partnering with CFCU is a natural extension of that mission,” said Keith Bynum and Evan Thomas, owners of Nine Design+Homes.
The newly launched debit card design partnerships add to CFCU’s growing list of programs designed to foster a sense of financial belonging among its members. CFCU has a commitment to contribute at least one percent of its total assets each year to charitable works. To date, it has committed nearly $800,000 to support local communities.
About Community Financial Credit Union
The relationship with members is everything because Community Financial Credit Union is always looking out, standing beside members in every season of life. Community Financial is a full-service financial institution headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan since 1951 with 15 branches in Southeast and Northern Michigan and $1.6 billion in assets. Membership is open to any person or any business in the state of Michigan. Community Financial is deeply rooted in the communities it serves, offering programs and partnerships like student-run credit unions, an obstacle-free path to homeownership, and more. To learn more about Community Financial and why on earth there’s a bear on the logo, visit cfcu.org.
