Lower Valley Credit Union accepts 2016 NEXT Seed Capital Award in Atlanta
YCUP joins in congratulating LVCU on the award to expand immigrant financial inclusion initiatives in Washington State
SEATTLE, WA (October 28, 2016) — Lower Valley Credit Union (LVCU) Executive Vice President and CFO Josh Beck accepted a Wells Fargo NEXT Seed Capital Award on behalf of the credit union Tuesday night in Atlanta at the Opportunity Finance Network’s annual conference.
The $100,000 award allows the credit union, based in Sunnyside, Washington near Yakima, an on-site presence at Broetje Orchards – one of the largest privately owned apple orchards in the country and home to 2,100 agricultural laborers during peak fall harvest season. The award brings ITIN mortgage and consumer loans, and LVCU’s nationally acclaimed Citizenship Program into the heart of the local immigrant community. Broetje Orchards is located some 40 miles from LVCU’s nearest branch.
“The NEXT Award received by Lower Valley Credit Union will assist in building out the Interactive Teller Machine (ITM) network to benefit the community members of the rural, eastern region of Washington,” Beck said. “With this innovative technology, LVCU will not only be able to provide essential financial services to our current members, but also have the means to open accounts and originate loans for those community members who would possibly otherwise have no access to an avenue of financial security and opportunity that a credit union provides.”
Scott Butterfield, principal of Your Credit Union Partner (YCUP) and presenter at the conference, joined in congratulating his clients and longtime friends at LVCU:
“LVCU’s mission seeks to significantly improve quality of life in the low-income, immigrant communities it serves,” Butterfield explained. “The region’s Lower Valley is dominated by predatory lenders, while many consumers are underserved or overlooked completely by mainstream financial institutions. LVCU is the only non-predatory financial institution that has the intent, culture, products, and services to meet the capital and banking needs of the local booming immigrant communities.”
In 2016, the NEXT Seed Capital Award offers $100,000 unrestricted grants to CDFIs with a promising idea for expanding coverage in consumer finance. OFN presents the NEXT Awards in partnership with Wells Fargo and Prudential and support from the John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Kresge Foundation. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the NEXT awards.
“The NEXT Award facilitated by OFN exemplifies innovative, forward-thinking ideas that promote and generate positive change within the communities the industry serves,” Beck concluded. “We and they believe this unique approach will achieve this mission.”
About Your Credit Union Partner
Scott Butterfield, CUDE, founded Your Credit Union Partner in 2011 to help credit unions grow, become more efficient, and increase profitability. Today, the consulting firm is the trusted advisor of more than 200 credit unions across the United States. For more information, visit http://www.yourcupartner.org.
About Lower Valley Credit Union
Lower Valley Credit Union is a $100-million, Low Income Designated, CDFI-certified credit union deeply rooted in Washington State’s Lower Yakima Valley. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Sunnyside, the credit union also operates branches in Prosser and Grandview. LVCU is dedicated to serving the needs of its community and growing membership of nearly 13,500 strong through following its vision of “Planting Seeds of Opportunity for a Better Tomorrow.”
