People Helping People: The Credit Union Difference
Credit unions have an undeniably strong presence in the hearts and minds of San Diego residents. Nearly 1,000,000 individuals are members of local credit unions. Many of them have long-time associations, while others are newly affiliated. In either case, their membership can be traced to typical credit union attributes — trust, service and financial stability. Specifically, members trust that more than any other type of financial institution, credit union services offer the best home for financial stability and personal attention.
Credit Unions throughout San Diego are especially confident of the credit union distinction and have formed an alliance to better spread this message. The Credit Union Alliance of San Diego is a voluntary organization comprised of 23 credit unions. Their mission is to ensure the continued strength, validity and vitality of credit unions through education, information and community outreach.
The Alliance's advocacy efforts emphasize the credit union difference as compared to other financial institutions:
MEMBER OWNERSHIP: Credit unions are owned by their members, not by a group of stockholders.
NOT-FOR-PROFIT PHILOSOPHY: Credit unions operate for the benefit of members, not for the profit of stockholders.
FIELDS OF MEMBERSHIP/COMMON BOND: Credit unions bring together groups of people linked by employment or geography and unite them under common financial goals and philosophies.
SAFETY: These Credit Unions are owned by members for the benefit of members. Most are insured by the National Credit Union Administration; however some have opted to be insured privately by ASI.
Benefits for Members Now and For Life Each day credit unions prove that high standards of excellence pave the way to bigger things, and proactively open doors to new opportunities. However, these high standards must be met with real financial solutions. And nowhere is this more evident than enhancing member access to technology and information. The challenge put to credit unions requires them to match the quickening pace of everyday life. San Diegans need their credit unions’ products and services to adapt to their lifestyles, which are increasingly reliant upon technology.
Credit Union Alliance participants continue to grow online services through multi-use Web sites. The goal, as always, is to provide extraordinary service to members through anywhere-anytime, online access. Traditional credit union products and services such as ATM networks, debit cards, personal lines of credit and exceptional loan rates are no longer enough to meet an increasingly sophisticated member audience.
The Credit Union Alliance will also address the changing credit union landscape including the expansion of membership criteria. The question of "am I eligible?" comes to mind when people think of credit unions. However, changing charters and expanding membership requirements allow for eligibility for almost everyone in San Diego. Eligibility is no longer entirely industry specific. In other words, credit union members come from professions other than education, military and law enforcement. In fact, 54 percent of San Diego County residents are already a part of Select Employee Groups (credit union members through their workplace). Credit Union Alliance will work to extol the benefits and ease of joining a credit union.
Credit Union Alliance: Strength in Numbers The numbers don't lie. The Credit Union Alliance has 23 diverse, credit unions to help you build financial future of San Diegans.
Credit unions have an undeniably strong presence in the hearts and minds of San Diego residents. Nearly 1,000,000 individuals are members of local credit unions. Many of them have long-time associations, while others are newly affiliated. In either case, their membership can be traced to typical credit union attributes — trust, service and financial stability. Specifically, members trust that more than any other type of financial institution, credit union services offer the best home for financial stability and personal attention. 