MALBOROUGH, MA (September 23, 2016) — Better Values. Better Banking. teamed up with New Hampshire Credit Unions and a local food co-op today to tout the cooperative difference and share the many ways credit union values give consumers a better banking experience.
The effort, part of the Cooperative Credit Union Association’s popular “In Your Neighborhood” program, saw the Concord Food Co-op host local credit unions during its monthly lunchtime gathering for members and grocery shoppers at its downtown Concord location.
Those taking time to enjoy a discounted lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs, courtesy of New Hampshire Credit Unions, not only heard about the credit union difference but also received a gift card to pay the act of kindness forward to a friend or family member. More than 50 hungry patrons took advantage of the lunch offering, with many asking questions about credit union products and refinancing options.
Among those greeting patrons during the two-hour event were Jim Fredyma, New Hampshire Federal Credit Union Board Chairman, and Concord Food Co-op board member Jim McConaha.
According to Fredyma, credit unions and food cooperatives have a real powerful story to tell to their members and working together on events like “In Your Neighborhood” can make things better for everyone.
“The big banks want customers who will pay fees and help boost their profit line for shareholders,” Fredyma said. “Credit unions are providing services for their members to help them make a better life.”
Greg Lessard, Concord Food Co-op Director of Development, viewed today’s affair as the start of a great partnership. “What we will both offer to our memberships is capitalizing on the cooperative model, and I think it’s just going to be phenomenal,” he said.
The Concord Food Co-op, recently approved for membership at New Hampshire Federal Credit Union, will offer its members the benefits that come from banking at a credit union, as they and staff are now eligible to join the credit union. At the same time, the credit union will be promoting the value of membership in the food co-op.
“When scheduling our ‘In Your Neighborhood’ gatherings, we typically partner with a coffee or sandwich shop,” noted Walt Laskos, SVP of Strategic Communications at the association. “This is the first time that we’ve partnered with a food cooperative and I have to say it was like a family get-together. Maybe that’s because credit unions and the food co-op share the same cooperative business model; the same principles and same values.”
Plans are already underway to bring both co-ops together next summer for another “In Your Neighborhood” celebration in Concord.
The Cooperative Credit Union Association is a regional trade organization serving as the voice for nearly 180-member credit unions located throughout Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. CCUA member credit unions hold combined assets in excess of $73 billion and serve a collective membership base of more than 4.7 million consumers. For more information, visit www.CCUA.org.
Janelle Mullen
Director of Marketing
Phone: 508-229-5633
Office: 800-842-1242 x 380
Email: jmullen@ccua.org
