Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union ($798 million assets; 46,027 members; Kailua Kona, HI) and Pearl Hawaii Federal Credit Union ($464 million assets; 31,022 members; Waipahu, HI), having spent multiple decades on different cores, came to the conclusion that a change was necessary and overdue. Both credit unions arrived at the decision to switch to the KeyStone core. “We prioritize our employees’ experience as well as our members’ experience. It is so important to have a great relationship with our core provider and Corelation provides that,” shared Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union President and CEO Tricia Buskirk. “Our staff was key in participating in the in-depth demos and hands-on demos and they felt that KeyStone was the right core to deliver the service excellence that we were looking for.” Pearl Hawaii Federal Credit Union had a similar approach in selecting KeyStone. “As we did our product demos, our staff overwhelmingly chose Corelation. In talking to Corelation customers in Hawaii and across the country, the feedback has been that KeyStone is more than just a good product, they’re good people; Corelation is here to support us,” said President and CEO of Pearl Hawaii Federal Credit Union Dan Terada. While the relationship and people played a significant role in the core selection process for these two credit unions, the decision was strengthened by the person-centric system and the open API, KeyBridge, which allows for seamless integration with both new and existing vendors. “Being an IT professional for over 30 years, technology and innovation is near and dear to me. With so many new and emerging technologies in our industry, one of the real challenges I’ve experienced is limitations to integrating and adding functionality to the core; with Corelation’s open API, we can confidently move forward with third parties and in-house solutions,” added Terada. Ease-of-use was also key to the staff members at both credit unions. “It is easy to teach KeyStone to our team, the user-friendly interface will provide a positive experience for our employees and reduce training time. Eliminating multiple manual steps for everyday tasks and processes; something as simple as an address change will be so much easier on KeyStone,” shared Ashlyn Uina, Organizational & Development Training Officer at Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union. Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is scheduled to convert in April 2024 and Pearl Hawaii Federal Credit Union is scheduled to convert in June 2024. “We take pride in Corelation's commitment to delivering top-notch software, supported by successful partnerships built on trust and providing unmatched client service,” shared Corelation President Rob Landis. “We are excited to welcome both Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union and Pearl Hawaii Federal Credit Union to the Corelation family and are eager to provide them with our full support!”
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Andrea Coggins, Sales Manager at Financial Plus Credit Union, was selected for the 2023 CUES Emerge program, joining a cohort of 36 credit union professionals nationwide. This group will receive coaching, training and resources to build their leadership acumen and strategic thinking skill set. They will also benefit from the exclusive opportunity to collaborate with their peers during mastermind groups, where they will work to transform their ideas into a business case and compete to become the 2023 CUES Emerging Leader. “I look forward to going on this journey alongside the other amazing leaders in my cohort. I’m thrilled that CUES, in partnership with Currency, selected me for this great learning and growth opportunity,” remarked Andrea Coggins. “Nearly 100 credit union employees have been part of the program and have taken the lessons they’ve learned back to their credit unions. Many of them have accepted new roles, or worked on new projects, and they credit the CUES Emerge program as being instrumental in their growth and abilities,” said Jerry Saalsaa, CUES Interim CEO & SVP /CAO. Participants learn cutting-edge innovation competencies through this cohort-based program grounded in three core categories. By engaging the diverse perspectives of members, staff, stakeholders, and subject-matter experts to co-create new solutions, participants learn skills essential for facilitating innovation. Through exploring and iterating new ideas to gain insight, reduce risk, and validate solutions, participants become experienced in accelerating learning. Finally, mobilizing people and resources to inspire action is practiced for leading change. MSU Federal Credit Union has launched Collegiate Credit Union, a first-of-its-kind financial solution that serves individuals starting their secondary education journey through partner institutions. Collegiate offers digital banking, financial tools, and educational resources made for Gen Z members. “Through an integrated experience, Collegiate provides students the financial tools and knowledge needed to create a foundation for financial success,” said MSUFCU President and CEO April Clobes. Olivet College is Collegiate’s first partner institution, extending Collegiate digital banking and resources to students, faculty, and staff, including:
Collegiate partners with academic institutions like Olivet College to empower students to confidently create and nurture their personal goals with digital checking and savings options customized for their unique stage of life and what lies ahead. Collegiate can be found on Google Play for Android devices and on the App Store for iOS devices. The Annual Credit Union SACTOWN Run — which took place Sunday (April 2) in Sacramento — raised more than $210,800 for the 11 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN) to help local kids across California and Nevada. Click here to view photos! More than 1,800 runners participated in this year’s Credit Union SACTOWN Run, including nearly 1,200 credit union employees and members from across California and Nevada. The event, which started and ended on the Capitol Mall in front of the California State Capitol, featured a 10-mile race, 5K run, and “Miracle Mile Fun Run and Fitness Walk.” The run was hosted by the Sacramento Running Association (SRA) and also served as the USA Track and Field (USATF) Masters 10-Mile National Championship. “Once again, we were honored to work with the Sacramento Running Association to host such a great event to raise much needed funds for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals throughout California and Nevada,” said Diana Dykstra, president and CEO of the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues (Ontario, CA). “These donations will help kids receive the care and treatment they need, thanks to a number of credit unions and businesses in both states.” John Pamer, chair of the Credit Union SACTOWN Run and CEO of Diablo Valley Federal Credit Union (Concord, CA), said the annual race has become a cherished rite of Spring for credit unions and business partners. “Each year since 2012, we run, jog or walk our course on the first Sunday in April,” Pamer said. “But the real benefit is that the $210,800 we raised this year — and the $2.5 million we’ve raised since day-one — brings healing and hope to patients and their families every day of the year. Credit unions and our business partners are committed to helping people in our local communities, and the Credit Union SACTOWN Run is a strong demonstration of this commitment.” Larry Palochik, executive vice president of the Leagues (Ontario, CA), said that every child deserves the chance to live a happy and healthy life. “Supporting Children's Miracle Network hospitals in our two states is our opportunity to help make that a reality,” Palochik said. “Together, with our credit unions and sponsors, we are helping provide hope and healing to children and families in need.” Joe Franklin, vice president of brand and experiential marketing for Co-op Solutions (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), thanked all of the runners who participated in this year’s Credit Union SACTOWN Run. “The partnership between CMN Hospitals and credit unions is a truly synergistic one,” Franklin said. “The two things that determine physical and mental health are access to health care and solid financial wellness. When members of society and their children are physically healthy or have access to quality care, and they feel financially secure, it builds a stronger community.” Kevin Miller, president and CEO of Travis Credit Union (Vacaville, CA), said his credit union believes in “people helping people” — and the annual race is just one more example of this unique industry philosophy. “I’m proud of our staff and their families who are running and volunteering with that spirit to benefit the Credit Union SACTOWN Run,” Miller said. Bill Cheney, chief executive officer of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union (Tustin, CA), said his credit union’s team looks forward to participating in the race each year. “They’re eager for the physical challenge of the race while supporting a cause that aligns with our credit union values,” Cheney said. “We are proud to participate and support children and their families in local hospitals, including UC Davis Children’s Hospital. Thank you to our team and all runners and volunteers — you make a difference in the lives of others.” Amanda Merz, community impact manager for SAFE Credit Union (Sacramento, CA), said her leadership and team are pleased to be a part of the Credit Union SACTOWN Run. “Seeing all of our fellow credit union employees and leaders come together to help raise money for children’s health is so inspiring,” Merz said. “Credit unions are all about ‘people helping people,’ and it is so rewarding to see all of us working together for a greater cause while also having some fun.” Race Champions and Times The following champions placed in the best times during the race:
Local Participants and Sponsors Credit unions played a big part in fundraising, as 69 credit unions participated with runners, walkers, and independent fundraisers to raise money to donate to local CMN hospitals. Some of the many credit unions having large teams or several individual employees participate included SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union (106 participants); Patelco Credit Union (76 participants); SAFE Credit Union (60 participants); Golden 1 Credit Union (55 participants); Redwood Credit Union (20 participants); Heritage Community Credit Union (19 participants); Travis Credit Union (16 participants); OE Federal Credit Union (14 participants); Sierra Central Credit Union (13 participants); First Tech Federal Credit Union (13 participants); Pacific Service Credit Union (9 participants); and San Mateo Credit Union (9 participants). All other credit unions participating had five or fewer employees involved. Superhero sponsors of the event included CO-OP Solutions, CO-OP Miracle Match, and the California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues. Additionally, seven credit union Hero sponsors included First Tech Federal Credit Union, Golden 1 Credit Union, Patelco Credit Union, SAFE Credit Union, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Travis Credit Union, and Wescom Credit Union. Eight Champion sponsors included California Credit Union, CUNA Mutual Group, Farmers Insurance Federal Credit Union, OE Federal Credit Union, Origence, Pacific Service Credit Union, Redwood Credit Union, and San Mateo Credit Union. An additional 46 credit unions and business partners sponsored the race within these sponsorship categories:
Each year, CMN Hospitals across the United States identify a “champion” in their local community to represent kids treated at the local children's hospital. This year, Wheatland, CA resident Braylin McMullen was named the 2023 CMN champion for UC Davis Children’s Hospital. Her health journey began after contracting E. coli when she was three years old. After much treatment and surgery, she is now living her best life and representing CMN at UC Davis. The Annual Credit Union SACTOWN Run is for kids like Braylin — and so many others across California and Nevada! THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this year’s event! News Coverage We’d like to thank the following news media outlets for spotlighting the Credit Union SACTOWN Run leading into Sunday’s event:
Credit Union SACTOWN Run organizers proudly display this year’s check for $210,800 at the race’s starting line on Sunday April 2nd near the California State Capitol in Sacramento, CA — with donations going to help kids across 11 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN) in California and Nevada. The Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF) released a new report titled “The Economic Realities of Communities of Color in Iowa” to leverage data and identify barriers to financial well-being within communities across the state. ICUF will use this report to support financial institutions and community organizations with actionable data and policy initiatives to break down barriers and increase financial inclusion for all Iowans. “This new report confirms we are targeting our efforts where help is needed most,” said Ena Babic Barnes, Executive Director of ICUF. “While we have been focused on support to overcome these barriers to financial inclusion through our programming, we still have more work to do. Our credit union industry continues to step up and lead, but we can’t do it alone. I look forward to sharing this data with other community organizations across the state as we work together to help Iowans have more access to upward mobility and economic opportunity.” According to U.S. Census Bureau data, more than 90% of Iowa’s current population is White. However, by 2045, it is estimated that more than 20% of population in Iowa will be from minority and mixed-race communities, underscoring the need to invest in fast-growing minority communities who will be future economic drivers in Iowa. The Report, conducted by Coopera Consulting, uses both quantitative and qualitative research. Quantitative data is presented through recent and available research on six indicators commonly used by non-partisan researchers to measure economic well-being and financial inclusion: Employment, Housing, Business Ownership, Education, Health, and Childcare. Key findings from the report include:
The full report can be downloaded from www.iowacreditunionfoundation.org/iowa-economic-realities-report. Founded in 1995 as the philanthropic arm of the Iowa Credit Union League, ICUF’s primary focus is the championing the financial well-being of Iowans through credit unions. Guided by the credit union philosophy of people helping people, ICUF champions financial well-being for all through its various programs, grants and scholarships. For more information, visit www.IowaCreditUnionFoundation.org. Credit Union Student Choice, the leading provider of higher education financing solutions to America’s credit unions, announced that it has partnered with River Region Credit Union ($454mm in assets; 28,780 members; based in Jefferson City, MO) to offer student lending solutions to its members. River Region will offer Student Choice’s flagship private education line of credit for undergraduate students, as well as a student loan refinance option. “River Region Credit Union has been helping members navigate important financial decisions since 1954. Offering members a way to finance their higher education meets an important need in our community,” said Chad Kuester, Vice President of Specialized Lending for River Region. “We look forward to providing not only a private student loan solution, but also Student Choice’s educational resources that help families make responsible choices about paying for college.” For college graduates, River Region’s student loan refinance product will empower its members to take control of their existing student loan debt. “One of our driving principles is to help members get to their next best moment,” Kuester added. “Attending college is an important milestone, but managing student loan repayment can be challenging for young adults. We want to position them for success as they move toward other major life events like buying a car or owning a home.” “We are very excited to add River Region Credit Union as a partner,” said Scott Patterson, President and CEO of Student Choice. “With more than 50 four-year, not-for-profit colleges in Missouri, and thousands across America, we look forward to helping River Region deliver fair-value college funding and repayment options to their members and communities.” Student Choice enables credit unions of all sizes to make private education loans that are held on their own balance sheet. Since launching in 2008, the CUSO has helped nearly 300 partner credit unions originate more than $4 billion in private education loans, assisting 120,000 families in the process The 2023 CU Intersect Conference, a dedicated information security conference for credit unions, will take place from October 30th to November 1st at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach in California. The conference tagline, "Innovate at the Intersection of Resiliency, Security and Technology," highlights the event's focus on the latest developments in credit union security and technology. Credit unions face unique security challenges, which is why CU Intersect is designed specifically to address and discuss those challenges. Attendees will learn from industry experts and their peers about the latest trends, threats, and solutions in credit union security, regulatory compliance, risk, fraud and more! The conference will also provide opportunities for attendees to network with fellow credit union professionals and vendors. "We're thrilled to bring the CU Intersect Conference back for its second year," said Brian Hinze, NCU-ISAO's VP, Member Services & Operations. "This event is a great opportunity for credit union professionals to stay up to date on the latest developments in information security and technology, and to connect with others in the industry." Stemming from a collaboration between the National Credit Union Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (NCU-ISAO), and nationally recognized Pure IT Credit Union Services (CUSO), the CU Intersect Conference was formerly known as the NCU-ISAO Annual Conference before rebranding to better serve our mission. The NCU-ISAO is a non-profit member organization for the credit union industry, founded in 2016, and driven to advance credit union cyber and fraud resilience. Registration for the 2023 CU Intersect Conference opens May 1st at https://cuintersect.com. Early-bird registration ends on August 15th, and space is limited, so attendees are encouraged to register soon to reserve their spot and take advantage of the discounted rate. For more information about the CU Intersect Conference 2023, including sponsorship and speaking opportunities, please visit https://cuintersect.com. Additional Inquiries: Please reach out to our Planning Team Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Senior Economist Dawit Kebede, PhD, issued the following statement in response to the Labor Department’s March Employment Situation: "Employers added 236,000 jobs in March, which is a slower hiring rate compared to the past two months. Labor force participation increased by one-tenth of a percentage point with 480,000 people joining the job market. Additionally, the hourly wage growth continued to moderate. Despite the slowdown in hiring, the labor market remains robust, with a low unemployment rate of 3.5%. "The latest labor department report, along with other indicators released this week, suggests that the labor market is gradually moving away from a state of high demand-supply imbalance. According to the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), vacancies declined by 632,000 in February, leading to a decrease in the number of job openings available per unemployed person from 1.9 to 1.7. The rise in participation and fall in vacancies indicate less tight conditions compared to the previous months. "The slower hiring rate, moderate wage growth, reduced vacancies, and increased participation are steps in the right direction for the Federal Reserve's objective of bringing inflation down to target." Baylor Health Care System Credit Union (BHCSCU), Baylor Scott & White Health (BSW Health), and CONNETICS USA an AMN Healthcare company, have formed a strategic partnership to support the onboarding and financial wellness of over 500 internationally educated nurses. BHCSCU will provide financial literacy workshops and individual counseling, as well as assist with the setup of new accounts for the incoming nurses. "We are honored to partner with BSW Health and CONNETICS USA to support the financial needs of these nurses as they begin their new lives in a new country," said Delana Huling, president and CEO of BHCSCU. "At BHCSCU, we believe in empowering individuals and families to achieve financial success, and we look forward to playing an instrumental role in helping these nurses reach their financial goals." This partnership is an extension of the mission and values for both BHCSCU and BSW Health. It also provides an opportunity for BHCSCU to showcase its commitment to serving its members and the wider community, and to tell its story as a trusted financial partner. "The March jobs report confirms that while progress continues on the inflation front, there is more work to be done. Job growth decelerated and labor force participation ticked up, both of which point to easing labor market tensions. However, hiring continues at a solid pace and there is no sign of the labor market slack that the Federal Reserve believes is needed to dent inflation. While more rate hikes may be in store, the good news is that there are no signs in the labor market yet that a recession is imminent." - NAFCU Chief Economist and President of Research Curt Long |
Author: Mike LawsonMarried to a most gorgeous and wonderful wife, raising 5 kiddos (including twins!), enjoy helping others tell their stories, and love surfing SoCal waves. Keep it simple. Archives
May 2024
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