CUs grow and do good in the community

Cornerstone League recognizes member credit unions’ news about their growth, expansion, and community endeavors to exemplify the truth that credit unions care. Please join us in congratulating these accomplished credit unions.

Texas Trust reaches milestone $2B in assets

Texas Trust Credit Union is now a $2 billion institution, putting it among the top 225 credit unions in the nation based on asset size. The credit union achieved the milestone in late 2022, more than doubling in size since 2016, when it reached the $1 billion mark. The credit union detailed its 2022 performance and accomplishments for its recent annual meeting. 

In 2022, Texas Trust: 

• Grew its assets to $2.05 billion, 14 percent over 2021 
• Added nearly 4,000 members for a total of 136,526, a 3 percent increase over 2021 
• Saw total loans climb to $1.55 billion, a 12 percent increase over 2021   
  

Since reaching the $1 billion mark in 2016, Texas Trust has grown steadily, adding branches and increasing its geographic service area through mergers and organic growth. The credit union’s total membership has increased by 61 percent since then, along with the doubling of its loans and total assets. 

“Like the rest of the country, we saw vast changes in the economy in 2022,” said Jim Minge, CEO of Texas Trust Credit Union. “What didn’t change, though, was our focus on finding new ways to help our members. All our people worked tirelessly to help our members meet their needs.” 

In 2022, Texas Trust through its Texas Trust Gives Foundation donated and pledged $800,000 back to the community in support of the Foundation’s mission of helping schools, teachers, students, and families. In addition, employees spent more than 1,200 volunteer hours serving in the community in various ways. 

Its current asset size makes Texas Trust the 18th largest credit union in Texas and the 222nd in the United States. 

Greater Texas funds ‘Little Lockers’ at elementary schools to encourage reading

Greater Texas Credit Union has partnered with the TEXAS YES Project to provide Little Lockers at elementary schools in the Manor Independent School District. Little Lockers are stocked with new books and activities that children can access anytime. The brightly colored blue waterproof cabinets were installed outside of Oak Meadows, Presidential Meadows, and Blake Manor elementary schools to make their contents accessible to children and the community year-round.

The TEXAS YES Project conceived the idea as a tool to help improve literacy and make books more accessible in communities without a local library. The group oversees the installation of the lockers and ensures each is stocked throughout the year with an array of books for school-aged children.

Manor elementary schools are the first in Central Texas to receive the lockers. Manor’s Little Lockers were presented to the three schools by Greater Texas Credit Union, which funded the initiative. 

KVUE, the ABC affiliate in Austin covered the unveiling of the Little Lockers, speaking with Rachel Bond, AVP of community engagement and public relations about the credit union’s involvement in the project.

As Bond said, “The idea of Little Lockers is to help encourage children to read and discover new things. These lockers are a great community resource that we hope will increase the children’s desire to read.”

TDECU creates TDECU Assists platform for student athletes

TDECU has announced the creation of TDECU Assists, a new platform that is part of its first name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreement with student athletes from the University of Houston. The NIL agreements are with Jamal Shead, Ja’Vier Francis, Emanuel Sharp, Terrance Areceneaux, and Ryan Elvin from the Men’s Cougars Basketball Team and Laila Blair, Brittney Onyeje, Tatyana Hill, and Taryn Johnson from the Lady Cougars Basketball Team.  

TDECU Assists is an initiative that involves student athletes performing random acts of kindness on campus for their fellow students. Additionally, these athletes' acts of kindness will be featured in social media campaigns throughout March as the team makes their run into the tournament. As a sponsor of the Men's Cougars Basketball Team, TDECU will host watch parties for both students and alumni. In support of the team, TDECU has converted all its billboards in the Houston area. TDECU is also a Host City Supporter for the 2023 Men's Final Four.  

“TDECU Assists was implemented to bridge the gap between the UH athletic program and the rest of the student body,” said Sheiludis Moyett, TDECU SVP – chief marketing officer. “We take pride in supporting these exceptional student athletes, and TDECU Assists serves as the foundation for our future endeavors in the NIL space.”  

The deal was brokered through LinkingCoogs, which facilitates NIL deals for University of Houston athletes. 

In August 2022 TDECU and UH announced a $20 million partnership extension through 2034. The multi-year agreement broadens the credit union’s commitment to the university, the students and alumni, and the surrounding community. In addition to continued naming rights for TDECU stadium, the extension agreement will also fund student engagement programs, literacy programs, and the student food pantry which addresses food insecurity of students and the surrounding community. 

Kstate Credit Union staff and members give to community organizations

Kstate Credit Union, based in Manhattan, Kan., has been busy raising funds to donate to community organizations in February and March.

T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter

On Feb. 8, kstate employees presented a check for over $5,800 to the T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter. Employees donated the funds throughout 2022 as part of the credit union’s jeans-day program, which permits staff to wear jeans for a day in exchange for a $5 donation. Shelter staff Brandon and Wanda came to visit and say thank you for the donation (pictured with kstate employees). 

Big Lakes Developmental Center

On March 8, kstate presented a check for $7,200 to the Big Lakes Developmental Center. The credit union said thanks go to the kstate members who took part in the Holiday Skip-a-Pay program. Each year the credit union invites members who have qualified loans to skip their loan payments in November or December in exchange for a donation. The credit union then presents a portion of the proceeds to a local organization. These donations benefit both members and the community.