Setting the Highest Workplace and Community Standards

Cornerstone League recognizes member credit unions and chapters for their growth and community endeavors to exemplify the “people helping people” philosophy.

United CU Donates School Building; Pays Off Student Lunch Balances

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As part of its commitment to the community, Mexico, Mo.-based United Credit Union made several donations to worthy causes in September.

On Sept. 20, the credit union participated in Tyronn Lue’s Community Day of Service. Lue is a professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. Lue has constantly shown appreciation and support to his hometown of Mexico, Mo., and in his honor, the Tyronn Lue Community Day of Service was created to further his support. 

This year, the $250 million credit union announced its donation of the Garfield School Building to C2C, Lue’s philanthropic organization. This donation will help C2C establish a community center in Mexico, Mo.

United Credit Union bought the Garfield School Building in 1979. The gymnasium portion was razed, but everything else remained. The building was then remodeled several times, beginning in the early 1990s, and used as a financial institution for several decades. Most recently, the United Credit Union used the facility for its back-office staff while constructing a new main branch.

The credit union also donated to Mexico Public Schools to pay off students’ lunch balances. Since it has enjoyed a continuing relationship with surrounding schools, several United Credit Union employees speak with many classes each year while participating in various school events. The lunch balance donation seemed like a natural fit and would greatly impact local students’ lives.

Century Credit Union Helps Local Students Living in Poverty

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During a recent month-long “Push for Pencils, Push for Change” drive at its Lemay and Arnold, Mo., branches, Century Credit Union collected 501 items and $214.40 for KidSmart, which supports students from low-income families in need of essential school supplies.

Most of the donated items were in high demand: No. 2 pencils, pocket folders, and notebooks. Additional items included glue sticks, crayons, markers, highlighters, reams of loose-leaf paper, and more.

Many credit union employees also volunteered at KidSmart’s warehouse in Maryland Heights, Mo. The first team spent three hours unloading hundreds of boxes of erasers from a trailer, bundling bags of books for classrooms, and sorting through pallets to organize other school supplies. Additional teams bagged books and distributed school supplies to teachers stopping by the warehouse to collect items for their classrooms. Free humidifiers, hand sanitizer, and other items were also distributed.

Envista FCU and Wakarusa Valley CU Forge New Partnership

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Lawrence, Kan.-based Envista Federal Credit Union announced a new business partnership with Wakarusa Valley Credit Union (WVCU), effective Tuesday, Oct. 1. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for both organizations and their members.

“We are excited to welcome Wakarusa Valley members to Envista,” said Ron Smeltzer, president/CEO of Envista. “This partnership is not just about expanding our reach, but about enhancing the banking experience for all our members, ensuring they receive access to the products, services, and delivery systems they deserve."

As part of this new chapter, Denise Bonner, the manager of WVCU, will join the Envista team. She will operate from the Wakarusa branch, playing a crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition for approximately 500 WVCU members.

“This partnership marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for all of us at Wakarusa Valley,” said Bonner. “By joining forces with Envista, our members will have access to better products and services, which will positively impact their banking experience. I’m excited for the opportunity to continue serving these members in a new capacity.”

To celebrate this partnership and welcome WVCU members, Envista hosted two open houses at both Lawrence locations. These events allowed new members to meet the dedicated Envista team, explore the diverse range of financial products and services available, and gain insights into how the credit union can support their financial journey.

Envista has approximately $600 million in assets and serves over 47,000 members.

San Antonio Express-News Names RBFCU No. 1 Top Workplace

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Live Oak, Texas-based Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union adds top ranking to its 13 consecutive years on the “Top Workplaces” listing, a program sponsored by the San Antonio Express-News.

The Top Workplaces program bases its awards on employee feedback collected by Energage, a third-party survey platform seeking honest feedback and engagement. The survey is founded on comprehensive research and industry benchmarks, leveraging data from millions of employees across thousands of organizations over the past 18 years.

“We have been in this program year over year, and being recognized as No. 1 is a testament to the culture and values our employees bring to the credit union daily,” said RBFCU President/CEO Mark Sekula. “We talk about our mission being to improve our members’ economic well-being and quality of life, and our employees are a key component to upholding that mission. They exemplify our ‘people helping people’ mentality.”

RBFCU’s commitment to its values and mission resonates with its members and the employees who serve them. The credit union offers several benefits for the 2,360-person staff, making it a top competitor in this program. For example, employees have a generous 401(k) match, paid time-off accruals, and medical, vision, and dental benefits from the first day of employment. This includes a notable health and wellness benefit: a yearly biometric screening.

“It’s important for employees to know that work-life balance and maintaining their health is important to us, and we have found that the biometric screening helps employees,” said Ashley Ward, RBFCU SVP of human resources. “Seeing this award lets me know that we’re always moving in the right direction. We take care of each other, and winning ‘Top Workplaces’ shows everyone that.”

Staff is paid for the time it takes to get the assessment and receive a discount on their medical premiums for full program participation. RBFCU also initiates several employee engagement events, like Family Fun Days in all operational markets, holiday gift boxes, and a holiday feast.

The credit union, with $17.7 billion in assets and serving a million members, is no stranger to having its work culture celebrated. In 2024, it received “Best Places to Work” awards from Business Journal publications in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio.

Shell FCU Giveaway Concludes, Awarding Over $44,000

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Shell Federal Credit Union, based in Deer Park, Texas, announced the conclusion of its highly successful "Dreams Do Come True" promotion, which ran from May through August. Designed to inspire financial wellness and reward everyday transactions, this promotion awarded $44,000 Shell FCU members.

With $1.8 billion in assets, the credit union reaffirmed its commitment to helping turn dreams into reality through this initiative. Participants engaged in various financial activities, including completing educational materials in the Financial Wellness Center, making debit card purchases, and securing consumer loans, all of which contributed to their chances of winning.

Opportunities to Win:

• The Financial $500: Each month, two fortunate individuals earned $500 simply by visiting the Financial Wellness Center between May 1 and Aug. 31 and completing the financial education material specified for the month.
  
  
• Dream Big, Win Bigger: One lucky winner took home a $10,000 cash prize each month by earning entries for every 20 debit card transactions at restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, or fast-food spots and by securing auto, personal, or debt consolidation loans over $2,000.

Impact Highlights:

• The Financial $500: Eight individuals were awarded $500 for participating in Shell's Financial Wellness Center. The promotion saw over 1,000 new sign-ups and strong engagement, with significant material completions each month.
  
  
• Dream Big, Win Bigger $10,000 Giveaway: Each month, one fortunate winner walked away with $10,000 by making qualifying debit card transactions or securing a consumer loan. The promotion recorded impressive member participation.
  

Celebrating the Winners:

Winners were announced on Shell FCU’s website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Their stories and enthusiasm embody the spirit of the Dreams Do Come True promotion.

“Our communities showed incredible enthusiasm throughout this promotion, and we’re proud to have played a part in making their dreams come true,” said Traci Gianukos, VP of marketing. “This promotion wasn't just about the cash; it was about reinforcing financial wellness and celebrating responsible habits."

For the list of winners, visit Shell FCU's YouTube Channel. Stay tuned for future promotions and opportunities to win big at Shell FCU.