Championing Around Our Communities

Humanitarian Highlight 2.25.21

It’s the day of the week you’ve all been waiting for (Thursday, which means it’s almost Friday) but also, it’s time for our #HumanitarianHighlight! 😄 We gathered credit unions from all over championing around their communities to make them a better place!🏆🏡 

Press play to see their amazing work! 

If you know of a #creditunion who has positively impacted their community, tag us and let us know so we can ensure they get recognized!

American Eagle Financial Credit Union

Volunteers from AEFCU and Journey Home generously filled a truck with over 40 pieces of gently used furniture, including office furnishings from the CU’s former branch, which will be used to furnish Journey Home’s admin offices. Journey Home is a non-profit whose mission is to support local people transitioning out of homelessness.

First Heritage Federal Credit Union

First Heritage FCU wanted to honor one of its board members, Mary Ann Thomas, for her contributions to the credit union over the last 40 years. The CU made a $4,000 donation to a local charity of her choice, which she chose to divide between two organizations that are close to her heart: the Southeast Steuben County Library and the Corning Food Pantry.

Foothill Credit Union

Foothill CU generously donated over 2,000 notepads to Arcadia Unified School District. These notepads were donated in support of their upcoming Middle School Wellness Conference that they are holding for their students.

Mutual Security Credit Union

As part of Mutual Security’s commitment to better their local community, they made a donation of $1,000 to Alliance for Community Empowerment, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Alliance’s mission is to improve the quality of life for economically disadvantaged individuals in the Bridgeport area by providing the necessary resources to improve education, housing, health, and welfare programs.

University of Hawaii Federal Credit Union

Throughout this pandemic, UHFCU has partnered with Aloha United Way to offer support to thousands of local families in their community affected by the COVID crisis. UHFCU helped raise the donated funds by creating custom face masks with inspirational sayings on them and selling them to those interested. Over 3,500 masks were sold, and the proceeds from the masks as well as generous contributions from UHFCU members resulted in a total of $19,000, which helped over 1,200 individuals and families.

Desert Financial Credit Union

Desert Financial CU challenged its community and members to raise funds to benefit 1 Darn Cool School located within Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The credit union matched the first $20,000 in donations, and they raised $5,000 over their goal. With Desert CU’s match, they were able to gift the Children’s Hospital nearly $46,000 to help children undergoing treatment to continue their education.

Pelican State Credit Union

Pelican State CU chose The Family Village, as their charity of the year. The credit union has hosted several fundraising events for the cause, and with the help of the Beak Squad, Pelican’s volunteer fundraising committee, they were able to raise a total of $4,258.37. The donation will go toward items to help local children who have been separated from their homes by a traumatic event.

Thank you for reading this Humanitarian Highlight! Please check out last week’s, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about our products & services through our email or by phone (800) 537-9598.

Innovating Lending Forms

Innovating Lending Forms and Mobile Apps at Your Credit Union

As technology advances and becomes more affordable, nearly 81% of people own a smartphone. All the information one could need is at the touch of a screen. The days of dialing a phone number to find out what hours the credit union is open are long gone. Running a quick Google search or taking a peek at social media is the best way to find out when in-person banking can be done. Naturally, as technology advances, credit unions need to expand options for digital banking and lending.

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Mobile App

Business Insider reported in 2019 that more than half of the credit unions they surveyed saw an increase in mobile transactions and wallet adoption. In today’s digital age, a mobile app is crucial for credit union member retention and growth. Members want to have access to their finances at all times, and the most efficient and effective way to do that is with a secure app.

The Pros             

There are many services a mobile app can provide for credit union members. Card controls, real-time account balance, transaction history, money transfers, and mobile check deposits are just a few that members could utilize daily.

The Cons

There are two major hurdles for consumers in the credit union industry surrounding mobile banking. For people who are not apt to using smartphones, the small screens and lack of human interaction can be off-putting. Reading loan information on a small cell phone can also cause issues when it comes to viewing important documents or disclosures.

The second concern is security. Security should be the number-one priority for credit unions when developing mobile banking apps.

Investing in the development of an app can be costly for credit unions, but the benefits for members are unmeasurable. As the world is moving toward mobile now may be a good time to look at how an app can help your credit union.

Digital Lending

Citing the Expectations & Experiences consumer trends survey done by Fiserv, Inc. in 2019, businesswire.com reports that nearly two-thirds of people who applied for loans did so either partially or fully online.

The bread and butter of credit unions are lending services. If members are unable to apply for an auto loan or home equity line of credit online or on the mobile app, members are likely to look elsewhere for their lending needs. Credit unions can get ahead of this by automating lending applications on their mobile app and integrating data processers to streamline the entire lending process.

Oak Tree integrates with leading industry data processors. With our data linking services for fillable forms, you can be certain your members’ forms will be filled out accurately and completely.

Turning Compassion Into Action

Humanitarian Highlight 2.18.21

We are so happy to have you here for this week’s Humanitarian Highlight! If you are new around here, we gather the good deeds #CreditUnions are doing all over, and showcase them in one place! 🤗🎈 Let’s look at how Credit Unions are turning compassion into action.

So let’s get started with this Thursday’s #HumanitarianHighlight, just press play!

If you know a credit union that has gone above and beyond in making a #CUdifference, use our hashtag #HumanitarianHighlight to let us know about it, so we can give them a shout-out! 🗣️

Patelco Credit Union

Patelco has always prioritized supporting those who face food insecurity, especially during the current global crisis. Food banks have had triple (or even more) requests for food. Particularly critical, is the need to feed children who normally get their meals at school. For every $1 donated, a food bank can secure up to $7 worth of food. Patelco has generously donated $130,000 to partner food banks in their local community.

SeaComm Federal Credit Union

SeaComm FCU recently committed to an amazing $150,000 worth of donations between 6 regional hospital foundations across northern NY and VT. The donated funds will help to purchase essential medical supplies and needed aid to frontline healthcare workers.

TruWest Credit Union

TruWest gifted $10,478 to Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, TX. They were able to reach this generous amount through a fundraising 50/50 raffle, which included over 195 participants who made donations, as well as TruWest’s annual “Casual for a Cause” staff donation initiatives which are held throughout the year.

Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union

For the seventh straight year, PSFCU, the nation’s largest ethnic credit union, donated more than $100,000 to organizations and foundations committed to assisting sick, terminally ill, and disadvantaged children. Since debuting its holiday donation drive in 2014, PSFCU has collected more than $834,000, all of which have benefited a total of 16 children’s hospices.

Connex Credit Union

Connex Credit Union partnered with Christian Community Action to collect money and basic household items for homeless families moving into recently renovated apartments at the Hillside Family Shelter in New Haven. Connex CU staff and members were able to contribute $1,500 and more than 240 household items and toys for these families in need.

Oklahoma Central Credit Union

With Oklahoma Central’s Refer-A-Friend program, they were able to donate $575 to Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS). DVIS provides comprehensive intervention and prevention services to men, women, and children affected by domestic and sexual violence.

“The DVIS mission is to rebuild lives affected by domestic violence and sexual assault through advocacy, shelter, counseling, and education.” Domestic Violence Intervention Services, Inc.

American 1 Credit Union

American 1 CU surprised two of their members by paying off the remaining balance on their auto loans. This generosity came as part of their Great Loan Payoff promotion. Members earn drawing entries, and American 1 CU pays their loans up to $15,000. Though the promotion stated there would only be one winner, the credit union paid the remaining balance for two of its members, wanting to increase their efforts of giving back to their long-standing members.

Thank you for reading this Humanitarian Highlight! Please check out last week’s, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about our products & services through our email or by phone (800) 537-9598.

Building Up Our Communities

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Humanitarian Highlight 2.11.21

It’s #Humanitarianhighlight day and Oak Tree is so excited to present these amazing #CreditUnions who have all gone above and beyond to make a #CUdifference in building up our communities.

Helping build up our local communities is what the #CUindustry is all about, and these highlighted #CUs are nothing short of amazing! If you know of a #creditunion who has positively impacted their community, tag us and let us know so we can ensure they get recognized!

Wolverine State Credit Union

Wolverine State CU partnered with AmericInn Lodge & Suites of Oscoda, and they generously put together hygiene packs to donate through a Grocery Giveaway. With their care packages, they were able to help over 200 families in their local community who were in need of these basic items.

Parkview Community Federal Credit Union

Parkview Community FCU, with the help of its members, staff, and community, was able to raise $2,092.89 to benefit The McKeesport Agape Center. Their donation goes toward getting packages of food delivered to individuals and families who are in need and without the necessary transportation or are homebound due to medical reasons.

Fergus Federal Credit Union

Wanting to give back to frontline workers, Fergus FCU donated $3,000 to the Hometown Heroes Organization. This donation will help support the delivery of lunches and much-needed coffee to the staff at hospitals and schools in Lewistown, Montana. This generosity was extended in an effort to boost the spirits of frontline workers who have been our backbone during this pandemic.

GCS Credit Union

GCS Credit Union kicked off their 2021 Growing Community Schools jeans program by donating $1,245 to the Triad National Honor Society. The Growing Community Schools program is funded by GCS CU employees who make monthly, monetary donations from their personal funds to a local school organization. Triad NHS was the selected organization for the month of January.

Traid NHS is a service organization that sponsors a number of events to support the school, community charities, and larger charity organizations.

Telcoe Federal Credit Union

Telcoe FCU was honored to provide lunch for staff members at Arkansas Children’s Hospital who continue to work around the clock administering COVID vaccinations at the hospital. Telcoe FCU is proud to contribute to those on the frontlines while they are doing what it takes to provide exceptional healthcare to children all across the state.

Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union

Jeanne D’Arc CU presented a gift of $1,500 to the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC), from Jeanne D’Arc’s, We Share a Common Thread Foundation’s quarterly Give-a-Click program put on by the CU.

“The GLFHC is focused on improving the health of people and their families in the Merrimack Valley area of Massachusetts, and the gifted funds will be used to help renovate and expand its Lawrence, Mass., clinic, which is it’s largest and will account for 33% of annual patient visits.”

Carolinas Telco Federal Credit Union

During the holiday season, Carolinas Telco FCU offered a loan program that benefited the borrower, while also supporting local humane societies. Carolinas Telco FCU donated $5 for every loan originated and they were able to gift $1,700 to benefit a total of five humane societies in North and South Carolina.

Thank you for reading this Humanitarian Highlight! Please check out last week’s, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about our products & services through our email or by phone (800) 537-9598. Continue to work on building up our communities!

Credit Unions Climbing Mountains

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Humanitarian Highlight: 2.4.21

Welcome to this week’s Humanitarian Highlight #CUfamily! We have complied a list of Credit Unions Climbing Mountains to help their communities. ⛰️🤝 Oak Tree is forever grateful to be part of making an impact on the #CUway. If you know a credit union that has gone above and beyond in making a #CUdifference, use our hashtag #HumanitarianHighlight to let us know about it, so we can give them a shout-out! 🗣️

Buckeye State Credit Union

Giving back to one of their community partners, the YWCA of Alliance, Buckeye State CU donated a check of $7,500. The donation will go toward supporting their food pantry, homeless initiative, women’s transitional housing, and providing gifts for children of families in need.

Frankenmuth Credit Union

While Frankenmuth CU was closed in honor of MLK day, staff members chose to give back and volunteered at local soup kitchens in the area. The volunteers helped to prepare and serve food, as well as taking care of whatever else needed to be done.

NET Credit Union

Due to the pandemic, NET Credit Union held their 7th Annual Netoberfest Golf Tournament virtually, and all funds raised were donated to the students and staff of The DePaul School. NET CU and Allied Services, which is a NET CU Preferred Partner Group, came up with an amazing $20,000 in donations.

The DePaul School’s mission is to teach students with dyslexia and other related learning disabilities how to learn. Their dedicated staff and specially trained faculty offer a well-structured system of programs aimed at maximizing abilities and compensating for disabilities.

Thrive Credit Union

At Thrive Credit Union, for every member who opened a new checking account in November and December, Thrive CU would donate $25 to the Boys and Girls Club of Muncie. Wanting to take it a step further, Thrive presented a check in the amount of $2,600 to the Boys and Girls Club of Muncie and showed their longstanding support for the organization.

Numerica Credit Union

After generously donating $100,000 to help families and individuals transfer from shelters into stable homes, Numerica CU also took it upon themselves to put together baskets full of essentials to help make the transition that much more comfortable. The items in the baskets ranged from kitchenware to laundry essentials.

Ascentra Credit Union

Given the current circumstances, food insecurity is at an all-time high. Ascentra CU and its members, through an auto loan promotion, were able to come up with $23,350 in donations to gift to River Bend Foodbank. This contribution will provide around 116,750 meals to families in the local communities that they serve.

“It’s especially important that during times like these that we focus on helping our communities. We have been a partner with the River Bend Foodbank in the past and are proud that this effort has generated such a large donation and are excited about the difference it’ll make for families experiencing food insecurity during this pandemic.” Linda Andry, Interim President and CEO of Ascentra Credit Union.

Thank you for reading this Humanitarian Highlight! Please check out last week’s, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions about our products & services through our email or by phone (800) 537-9598. Let’s hear it for all the Credit Unions Climbing Mountains!