Press

NEW BRIGHTON, MN (December 2,  2014) — Three Credit Union Service Organizations (CUSO) competed in a month-long food drive challenge to benefit their respective local food shelves. From October 20 through November 21, the employees of Texas-based CU Alliance and Tennessee-based CU Community teamed up to compete against the employees of Minnesota-based CU Companies to donate the most goods. Though the joint efforts of CU Alliance and CU Community brought in the most, the three organizations together raised 27,188 items.

Brad Crandall, CEO of CU Companies, applauded the efforts of the participating CUSOs.

“It seems as if our crown has been passed on this year, but just to participate in this growing tradition is reward enough,” Crandall said. “This is a wonderful event and I hope that it continues to grow. Helping others in need is something more of us should get behind, and I’m proud of all those that made the effort this year to do so.”

“This year saw an increase of nearly 20,000 more donated items.”

The food drive collected significantly more items over last year’s numbers, which reached a total of 7,661 items. CU Companies donated its collected items to the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf. CU Community’s items went to The Love Kitchen, Knoxville Area Rescue Missions and Good Samaritan of Loudon County. The items collected by CU Alliance were donated to Cy Hope.

About the CUSOs
CU Alliance is the holding company for Credit Union Acceptance Company, LLC, Member Home Loan, CU Alliance Marketing, Member Auto Center and Member Auto Sales.  CU Alliance is located in Houston, TX, and was established in 1998. It is a comprehensive provider of indirect lending, mortgage lending, car sales and car buying programs. CU Alliance services 150 credit unions in eight states. www.cualliancecuso.com

CU Community is a wholly owned subsidiary of ORNL Federal Credit Union, a $1.5 billion credit union in Oak Ridge, TN. CU Community was formed in 2006 to help deliver secondary marketing experience to credit unions throughout Tennessee and currently serves over 20 credit unions in its footprint. Currently, CU Community and its parent, ORNL Credit Union, service over $1 billion in first mortgages. www.cucommunityonline.com

CU Companies was created in 1987 by three Minnesota credit unions looking to create economies of scale and offer a competitive mortgage product to their members. Their corporate office is located in New Brighton, MN.  CU Companies is now owned by 66 credit unions and services another 60 credit unions throughout the Midwest. Since 1987, its expanded business to five total units: Mortgage, Title, Realty, Investments and Commercial Lending. www.cucompanies.com