Wauna Credit Union has been serving members of the towns and cities surrounding the Columbia River for 52 years. Our January Anniversaries helped us start the year with a bang. We’re continuing to grow (if you want to join us check out our careers page).
Pam Weller – 15 years
What is your current position? My position is to oversee the growth and operations of the branches and WCU’s commercial loan department to ensure the needs of all of our members are being met. We understand that our area is special, and so are the needs and circumstances of the people who live here. On the branch side I oversee the employee growth for the Area Managers who have direct responsibility to the branch employees and the day to day operation of the branches, and with the commercial team I work to ensure the business lending needs of our members are being met, including directing commercial loan operations, underwriting and annual reviews.
What is something that working at WCU has taught you? Working at Wanua Credit Union has been a great opportunity to learn management and leadership skills over the last 15 years. Working with and training new employees has been a very rewarding part of my position with WCU. There have been many opportunities to learn about all areas of the financial industry.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? If I had a choice of a new hobby it would probably be to travel with a goal to visit every National Park in the United State.
Star Wars is an important part of life at Wauna Credit Union
Serena Schlosser – 4 years
What is your current position? I am the Manager of the Lending Admin department, based out of Astoria. I get to work with all aspects of consumer loans (auto loans, credit cards, and unsecured loans). My department audits, processes, and decisions these loans. We also assist our Member Consultants in providing these products to our owner-members to build their financial well-being.
What is something that working at WCU has taught you? Working at Wauna has taught me that the most obvious solution to a situation isn’t always the best one. Taking the time to dig deeper and really understand our members is very important in uncovering the best options that our credit union can offer to serve them.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? If I could choose a new hobby it would be to restore old buildings in order to give them new purpose. I really enjoy the sense of place a building with a bit of history imparts on a community.
REBATES For Every Individual 1%* cash back 60 days no payments When you move your vehicle, watercraft, off-road, or unsecured loans to us. Federally insured by the NCUA *Special Promotional Terms: Upon loan approval, current and new Wauna CU members who refinance a qualifying loan currently financed elsewhere to Wauna Credit Union become eligible to receive: 1. Immediate Cash Rebate equal to 1% of the approved loan value; 2. 60-Days No Payments (interest will continue to accrue during the 60-day period); and, 3. Wauna CU will pay the vehicle title transfer fee up to $100 (member is responsible to pay any additional amount). Qualifying Loans: Auto, Truck, SUV, Van, Motor home, trailer, boat, watercraft, motorcycles, side-by-sides, quads, and unsecured loans such as home furnishings, tuition, personal loans, etc. Minimum loan amount to qualify for special terms: $2,000; Maximum rebate allowed is $500 per qualifying loan. These special, promotional financing terms end at close of business April 30, 2020. Rates & financing are offered based on applicant’s credit worthiness and term of the loan. Note: the promotional cash rebate paid to a member may be forfeit if the loan balance is paid in full within 180-days of the loan funding date. Membership with Wauna CU required to be eligible for this special offer.
Transfer your balances to us and save 0% Intro APR^ for 6 Months Rewards APR After: 11.15% 18.00% Platinum APR After: 9.90% – 17.90% ^The special 0% Introductory Rate applies to qualifying balance transfers processed through March 31, 2020. The Introductory Rate will begin on the date the balance transaction is processed and remain in effect for 6 billing cycles, at which time the terms of the cardholder’s Credit Card Account Agreement will apply. Current rate for VISA Rewards is 2.99%-18.00% APR, and for VISA Platinum 9.90%-17.90% APR. A Balance Transfer Fee equal to 3% of the total balance or $20, whichever is greater, will be assessed at the time the balance transfer is processed. Balance transfers from other accounts issued by Wauna Credit Union do not qualify for the special terms, nor will any amount of debt which would cause the account holder’s credit card balance to exceed their credit limit. Failure to abide by the terms and conditions of the Wauna CU Credit Card Account Agreement may result in forfeit of the Introductory Rate. APR: Annual Percentage Rate. This special promotional offer ends at close of business March 31, 2020. Complete promotion details available at waunafcu.org. Membership with Wauna Credit Union is required.
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There are tons of impartial financial resources available out there from government entities. The trick can be wading through the muck to find the information you’re looking for. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency put together a great list. Read below for information on everything from avoiding scams to games for kids to teach them about their finances.
Resource Corner
AchievABLE Corner The National Disability Institute and CalABLE offer just-in-time financial education resources and tools for potential and current CalABLE account holders.
Consumer.gov This Federal Trade Commission website provides resources about credit, debt, identity theft, and avoiding scams, as well as budgeting, opening a bank account, shopping for prepaid cards, and managing money in general. The website is available in Spanish at www.consumidor.gov.
FDIC Deposit Insurance Education Materials The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has made significant improvements to its deposit insurance education materials. The changes are designed to allow the public to quickly access basic information while still offering the traditional in-depth and comprehensive deposit insurance information.
Financial Scams Targeting Military Consumers This infographic from the American Bankers Association Foundation and the Association of Military Banks of America identifies the top three riskiest scams targeting military consumers and what consumers can do to protect their money.
Focus on Native Communities Guide This guide from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides organizations with information that meaningfully connects the Bureau’s Your Money, Your Goals guides to the financial lives of Native community members.
IdentityTheft.gov This Federal Trade Commission website helps people report and recover from identity theft. It is available in Spanish at Robodeidentidad.gov.
Misadventures in Money Management The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Servicemembers Affairs offers this gamified, cutting-edge learning experience that trains current and future servicemembers to navigate financial land mines in a fun and interactive way.
MoneySKILL The American Financial Services Association Education Foundation offers this online personal finance curriculum with 37 modules focused on a variety of topics, including income, expenses, saving and investing, credit, and insurance. The curriculum is available in Spanish.
MyMoney.gov This U.S. Department of the Treasury website provides financial education information and resources from across the federal government. The website highlights MyMoney Five (which provides links to resources and tools related to five principles for managing money), a research clearinghouse, games for youth focused on money, and a section on financial choices for major life events.
NGPF Arcade Next Gen Personal Finance offers seven online games that make personal finance come alive for middle and high school students.
OCC Financial Literacy Resource Directory The resource directory provides information on financial literacy resources, issues, and events of importance to bankers, organizations, and consumers of all ages. The resource directory includes descriptions of, and contact information for, government programs on financial literacy education and capability and a sampling of organizations whose missions are to support financial literacy through campaigns, fact sheets, newsletters, conference materials, publications, and websites.
Older Americans Benchmarking Report This report presents findings from the American Bankers Association Foundation’s 2019 Older Americans Benchmarking Survey which is designed to capture data on how banks educate older Americans, respond to fraudulent activity, and train their staffs to protect older customers.
Program for International Student Assessment: Financial Literacy Brief This Consumer Financial Protection Bureau research brief helps stakeholders understand how the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) financial literacy data about the United States may be used to identify effective approaches to financial education and better define metrics for success.
SEC Investor.govAlerts and Bulletins The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy provides numerous news alerts and bulletins for individual investors. Learning how to invest wisely and safely can assist investors in reaching their financial and retirement goals. These reports help inform investors about fraud and other information relevant to investing in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other securities.
Too Good to Be True Video The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and Retail Strategy Task Force created this video, which shows common scamming tactics.
U.S. Financial Health Pulse: 2019 Trends Report and Interactive Web Site This report from the Financial Health Network gives new insights into the financial health of Americans and offers financial services providers, innovators, policymakers, and researchers actional insights to improve financial health for all. The interactive website allows visitors to compare year-over-year trends and data.
Without a Trace The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy and Retail Strategy Task Force created this video, which urges skepticism when paying for investments with a credit card or wiring money abroad.
0% Intro APR* for 6 Months Rewards APR After: 2.99% – 18.00% Platinum APR After: 9.90% – 17.90% Wauna Credit Union 24/7 Lending waunafcu.org 800-773-3236 Federally insured by the NCUA *The special 0% Introductory Rate applies to qualifying balance transfers processed through March 31, 2020. The Introductory Rate will begin on the date the balance transaction is processed and remain in effect for 6 billing cycles, at which time the terms of the cardholder’s Credit Card Account Agreement will apply. Current rate for VISA Rewards is 2.99%-18.00% APR, and for VISA Platinum 9.90%-17.90% APR. A Balance Transfer Fee equal to 3% of the total balance or $20, whichever is greater, will be assessed at the time the balance transfer is processed. Balance transfers from other accounts issued by Wauna Credit Union do not qualify for the special terms, or will any amount of debt which would cause the account holder’s credit card balance to exceed their credit limit. Failure to abide by the terms and conditions of the Wauna CU Credit Card Account Agreement may result in forfeit of the Introductory Rate. APR: Annual Percentage Rate. This special promotional offer ends at close of business March 31, 2020. Complete promotion details available at waunafcu.org. Membership with Wauna Credit Union is required.
Rebates for Every Individual
1%^ Cash back 60 Days No Payments
When you move your vehicle, watercraft, off-road, or unsecured loans to us.
^Special Promotional Terms: Upon loan approval, current and new Wauna CU members who refinance a qualifying loan currently financed elsewhere to Wauna Credit Union become eligible to receive: 1. Immediate Cash Rebate equal to 1% of the approved loan value; 2. 60-Days No Payments (interest will continue to accrue during the 60-day period); and, 3. Wauna CU will pay the vehicle title transfer fee up to $100 (member is responsible to pay any additional amount). Qualifying Loans: Auto, Truck, SUV, Van, Motor home, trailer, boat, watercraft, motorcycles, side-by-sides, quads, and unsecured loans such as home furnishings, tuition, personal loans, etc. Minimum loan amount to qualify for special terms: $2,000; Maximum rebate allowed is $500 per qualifying loan. These special, promotional financing terms end at close of business April 30, 2020. Rates & financing are offered based on applicant’s credit worthiness and term of the loan. Note: the promotional cash rebate paid to a member may be forfeit if the loan balance is paid in full within 180-days of the loan funding date. Membership with Wauna CU required to be eligible for this special offer.
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53rd Annual Meeting
Erlene Darby Learning Center 49249 Hwy 30, Westport, OR
Tuesday, March 17th, 2020, 6:30pm
Doors open at 6pm/Light refreshments served
The Board of Directors has approved three nominees for three positions on the Board of Directors from applications submitted by members. Their names and biographical information are included below.
William “Bill” Delager, Incumbent, Birkenfeld
I am a lifelong resident of Oregon. I attended Clackamas High School, Oregon State University and I earned a PHO in Economics from Portland State University. I am married to Sheila, a high school classmate. We have two daughters and three granddaughters. I am retired from the Air Force and Air National Guard. Sheila is a retired CPA. We are enjoying retirement, tending our farm and active in volunteer activities. In the past I have served on the Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District Board, the Upper Nehalem Watershed Council Board and the Columbia Soil and Water Conservation District Board. I appreciate having had the opportunity to represent you on the Wauna Board these past eight years. I look forward to serving again. Thank you.
Erick Holsey, Incumbent, Clatskanie
I am interested in serving on Wauna Federal Credit Union Board of Directors as an opportunity to serve my community in the spirit of volunteering. I am a longtime resident of Clatskanie, a graduate of Clatskanie High School, US Army veteran and currently employed at Columbia River Fire & Rescue/Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District. My educational background is a Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Administration with a minor in chemistry from Western Oregon University and A.A.S degrees in Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Technology Paramedic, and Oregon Transfer Degree from Chemeketa Community College. I have been awarded approximately $900,000 dollars in federal grants to include a new fire engine for our community. Throughout my residence I have had the opportunity to serve on the Clatskanie School Board as a director and on the budget committee, a member of the Clatsop County Advisory Board for Fire suppression and EMS programs, the Columbia County Fire Investigation Team, and the Lower Columbia Regional Training Association. My local civic memberships include the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. I believe that my experience and education with public service provides myself a unique skill set that can have a benefit to credit union members and the community in which I live. As a frequent customer, I have always been greeted by friendly staff, helped with all types of financial transactions and have been provided sound advice. I would like to take this opportunity to provide some of my time into helping those employees continue to provide that service while encouraging other community members to share my same experience.
Robin Clarke, Rainier
As a long-time member of WFCU, individually and for business, it would be my great pleasure to have the opportunity to not only continue learning about the credit union industry, but to also help the credit union’s continued growth and success in our local communities. I have been on the Supervisory Committee for three years and have seen WFCU grow into a strong financial institution. It supports and encourages individuals and businesses in our area and this is such a vital benefit to all of us in the region. I have developed a strong background in business and administration over many years and I believe I can add value as a member of the Board by having a broad general understanding of business practices and principles. Confidentiality, and having to make informed and sometimes difficult decisions, are part of my job to serve the best interests of our family businesses. This comes naturally to me, along with the energy and commitment to help in any way that will be a benefit to the Board and WFCU. I wish to continue my service beyond my current role as a member of WFCU’s Supervisory Committee and also serve on the Board of Directors.
An election will not be conducted by ballot, and there will be no nominations from the floor at the annual meeting when the number of nominees equals the number of positions to be filled, which is currently the situation. Any member who desires to run for the Board may do so now only by a nomination by petition signed by 270 credit union members in good standing 18 years of age or older.
An application may be requested by calling 1-800-773-3236, Ext 3124. Completed applications may be mailed to ATTN: Governance Committee P.O. Box 67 Clatskanie, OR 97016 or delivered in person to any branch.
Completed applications must be received by end of business on February 6, 2020.
Due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus) weare making changes to our annual meeting procedures.
In order to prevent unnecessary cross-contamination we will not be serving food/beverages or distributing prizes
We will also place a suitable distance between all seats
The Annual Meeting will be live streamed on Facebook to ensure members do not need to risk their health.
Erlene Darby Learning Center 49249 Hwy 30, Westport, OR
Tuesday, March 17th, 2020, 6:30pm
Doors open at 6pm/Light refreshments served
The Board of Directors has approved
three nominees for three positions on the Board of Directors from applications
submitted by members. Their names and biographical information are included
below.
William “Bill” Delager, Incumbent, Birkenfeld
I am a lifelong resident of Oregon. I
attended Clackamas High School, Oregon State University and I earned a PHO in
Economics from Portland State University. I am married to Sheila, a high school
classmate. We have two daughters and three granddaughters. I am retired from
the Air Force and Air National Guard. Sheila is a retired CPA. We are enjoying
retirement, tending our farm and active in volunteer activities. In the past I
have served on the Mist-Birkenfeld Rural Fire Protection District Board, the
Upper Nehalem Watershed Council Board and the Columbia Soil and Water
Conservation District Board. I appreciate having had the opportunity
to represent you on the
Wauna Board these past eight
years. I look forward to serving again. Thank
you.
Erick Holsey, Incumbent,
Clatskanie
I am interested in serving on
Wauna Federal Credit Union
Board of Directors as an opportunity
to serve my community
in the spirit of volunteering. I am a longtime resident of
Clatskanie, a graduate
of Clatskanie High School,
US Army veteran and currently employed at Columbia
River Fire & Rescue/Scappoose Rural
Fire Protection District. My
educational background is a Bachelor of Science in Fire Service Administration with
a minor in
chemistry from Western
Oregon University and A.A.S degrees in Fire Suppression, Emergency
Medical Technology Paramedic, and Oregon Transfer Degree from Chemeketa Community College. I have been
awarded approximately $900,000
dollars in federal grants to
include a new fire engine for
our community. Throughout my residence
I have had
the opportunity to
serve on the
Clatskanie School Board as a director and on the budget committee, a
member of the Clatsop County
Advisory Board for
Fire suppression and EMS programs, the Columbia County Fire
Investigation Team, and the Lower Columbia Regional Training Association. My
local civic memberships include the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American
Legion. I believe that my experience and education with public
service provides myself a unique skill set that can have
a benefit to
credit union members and the
community in which
I live. As
a frequent customer,
I have always
been greeted by
friendly staff, helped with
all types of
financial transactions and
have been provided
sound advice. I
would like to take this opportunity to provide some of my time into
helping those employees continue
to provide that
service while encouraging
other community members to share my same experience.
Robin Clarke, Rainier
As a long-time member of WFCU,
individually and for business, it would be my great pleasure to have the
opportunity to not only continue learning about the credit union industry, but
to also help the credit union’s continued growth and
success in our local communities. I have been on the Supervisory
Committee for three years and have seen WFCU grow into a strong financial
institution. It supports
and encourages individuals and businesses in our area and this is such a vital benefit to all of us in the region. I
have developed a strong background in business and administration over many
years and I believe I can add value as a member of the Board by having a broad
general understanding of business practices and principles. Confidentiality,
and having to make informed and sometimes
difficult decisions, are part of my
job to serve the best interests of our family businesses. This comes
naturally to me, along with the energy and commitment to help in any way that
will be a benefit to the Board and WFCU. I wish to continue my service beyond
my current role as a member of WFCU’s Supervisory Committee and also serve on
the Board of Directors.
An election will not be conducted by
ballot, and there will be no nominations from the floor at the annual meeting
when the number of nominees equals the number of positions to be filled, which
is currently the situation. Any member who desires to run for the Board may do
so now only by a nomination by petition signed by 270 credit union members in
good standing 18 years of age or older.
An application may be
requested by calling 1-800-773-3236, Ext 3124. Completed applications may be
mailed to ATTN: Governance Committee P.O. Box 67 Clatskanie, OR 97016 or
delivered in person to any branch.
Completed
applications must be received by end of business on February 6, 2020.
Forest Grove, Ore., December
19, 2019 – Area financial cooperative,
Wauna Credit Union (WCU) is opening the doors to its newest branch this month,
nestled in the heart of Washington County in Forest Grove, Oregon at the corner
of Pacific Avenue and Highway 47.
The $260 million credit union is redefining their retail
strategy by building new and remodeling existing branches, which boast the
latest technology, open design concept, and more relaxed and inviting service
spaces. The branch embraces modern fixtures, hardwood flooring, bright and
colorful design, and digitial innovation.
“Change is important because the way
people do business now is significantly different than even a year ago,” said
WCU Chief Marketing Officer, Debi Smiley. “We realize that we have to make
decisions for the banking of tomorrow, so we are not building for now, we are
building for the future,” she said.
The brand new building captures the spirit of the community
Additionally, WCU continues to work with their partners by
implementing a relationship building training program, ensuring front-line
staff understands how to interact with members regarding the new strategy. WCU
has coined the training program, the “Wauna Way” and will be implementing a relationship
building service approach in all 9 branches throughout their footprint.
“Bringing
cooperative financial services to a new community, with new oppertunities to
change peoples’ lives, is what excites us most,” said WCU Forest Grove Member
Services Manager, Nick Hellmich.
The branch boasts the latest technology, open design concept, and more relaxed and inviting service spaces.
“The technology, our Wauna Way, and the awesome staff here will only serve to bring great things to Forest Grove and the surrounding areas,” added Hellmich.
One of the tech features includes a core-integrated, self-service kiosk station, which WCU has named
“The Discovery Bar.” The Discovery Bar hosts three, touch screen digital
displays, combining self-service, assisted-service, and full-service
capabilities all into one solution. The technology further assists frontline by
focusing on consultative conversations rather than strictly transactional. The
branch also incorporates two Video Teller Units on premise, instead of the
conventional teller window drive-up.
WCU will host a grand opening extravaganza on January 30th, 2020.
The event will showcase the many features of the new branch, as well as a
myriad of activities and treats for the Forest Grove community.
Michael recently talked about the Power of Giving. It’s our third year giving each employee $50 to give back as they see fit. Some of our employees donated to local charities, others donated to families in need, and others still simply chose to buy groceries for a stranger at the grocery store, or give an extra tip to their favorite server.
Amy Grubb, Member Services Manager of the Scappoose Branch, saw an opportunity. Every year, the Columbia County Department of Human Services organized a giving tree for local children in need. “We always had the donation tags in our branch, and members and employees had always looked forward to helping those in need. This year I realized the tags never came.”
Amy learned that the department was severely understaffed. The caseload usually managed by five people was instead being done by just two people. The team simply hadn’t had the ability to manage the giving program.
There were other groups within DHS that had their own giving trees, but Amy knew there were families that counted on the donations from WCU.
“Even though we didn’t know their names, their are families that counted on Wauna Credit Union,” said Amy. “I had to do something.”
Amy reached out to the rest of the credit union with a plea. She asked that those who had not yet earmarked their donation for another cause pool their money to buy gifts for the families.
“It was so great to see the credit union come together. Especially in Columbia County, we saw so many donations. Because we got so much in donations, we were able to buy gifts for kids aged 6-months to 17-years-old.”
Amy and St. Helens MSM Melissa get ready for a big night of wrapping
Amy’s perseverance showed what can happen when credit unions live up to the mantra of people helping people.
We have had at least three instances in the last 24-hours of fraudsters reaching out to WCU members from a phone number that appears to be our legitimate 800 number and trying to trick them into providing information to compromise their account. Below is a summary of the scam, and what to do to protect yourself.
Once connected, the fraudsters claim to be our fraud department and attempt to collect additional information about the accounts by making up a fake “fraudulent” transaction. They then ask the member to confirm full card number, expiration date, the three digits on the back of the card, and social security number.
The fraudsters then say they will block the card to set the member at ease, and then using the information they have stolen to create a fake card, reset the PIN, and then going on a shopping spree.
The best way to fight against this is by not giving any personal information to somebody who calls. Simply hang up and call us back at 800-773-3236 Even if it’s after hours you will be connected to a trustworthy source. Remember even if it is a legitimate call from our Fraud Department they will understand when you say you want to call us back/
Here are some key things to remember:
We will never ask for personal info to confirm your identity if we are the ones calling
We do not have your CVV (three numbers on the back of your card) on file, and will never use it to confirm your identity
We will never call more than three times to try to confirm fraud
We do not currently send out text messages, and if we start they would come from a short code (being a simple five digit number) and not a full phone number
Our fraud number is not our regular 800 number – but you can call that and follow the prompts to get the fraud department –department would NOT be calling from our 800 number as shown below.
Here is an example of one of our members activities from last night. This fraudster called 22 times, and sent a text from a full phone number. Luckily the WCU member was aware of the fraud signs and what to look for, and waited to come talk to us this morning rather than responding to the calls or message.
Wauna Credit Union has been serving members of the towns and cities surrounding the Columbia River for 52 years. Our December Anniversaries were a special present for the credit union. We’re continuing to grow (if you want to join us check out our careers page).
Amy Grubb – 7 years
What is your current position? I have been the Member Service Manager at the Scappoose branch for 4 years now, after three years working as a Member Consultant in the St. Helens branch! I have enjoyed getting to know all our wonderful members. I get to go to work every day and work with an amazing team and get to help my wonderful members. Being in the position I am in has been a true blessing for me. The decisions I make can truly change someones life for the better. I love helping my team to grow and learn to become the best they can be. I get to be out in the community helping to tell people about Wauna. I became a part of our local Rotary club and will be the incoming president for 2020.
Amy loves to get out an about in Scappoose
What is something that working at WCU has taught you? Working at Wauna has taught me that regardless of who you are, you matter! Wauna is truly a place that’s wants to help our members and our employees. I couldn’t ask for a better place to work.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? I already have a few fun hobbies like riding quads and camping, but if I could start a new hobby I would love to flip houses! My dad was a contractor my whole life and I just love taking something from being unloved and breathing new life into it!
Ashley Erickson – 4 years
What is your current position? I am an Accountant at Wauna Credit Union. I was originally hired as an Accounting Clerk to pay the bills and balance daily transaction our members do in the branches. Now, as I have learned more within the department, I am also responsible for several higher end tasks like our Fixed Assets, producing our branch income statements, and reviewing how we are performing in regards to the budget.
What is something that working at WCU has taught you? I have learned numerous things at WCU, one of them being the importance of giving back to our community. I am proud to work for a company that allows us to volunteer in our community and donate both time and money to local organizations and events. It is always fun getting out in the area and giving back to our members.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? I would love to have my own alpaca farm! Alpacas are my favorite animal because they are so cute but also a little feisty. My coworkers surprised me with a trip to see alpacas for my birthday this year, which was so much fun – even when one of them spit at me.
Ashley’s coworkers gave her a special birthday gift
Josh Rein – 3 years
What is your current position? I’m the Digital Media Specialist at the credit union. If you’re looking at something on a screen, either in the branch, or on your computer or mobile device, there’s a good chance I had something to do with it. (Like this blog for example). We pride ourselves on service, which means in the branch, but also means we need to ensure our online service is just as people oriented.
What is something that working at WCU has taught you? Working at Wauna has taught me to make the most out of every opportunity.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? I’d like to take up photography. I take pictures sometime as part of my job, and would love to explore more, especially where nature and development intersect.
Ben Towers – 1 year
What is your current position? I am a Member Consultant for the Astoria branch. I help our member owners maintain and build their financial well-being. I always to give members my total attention, so I can best recommend the products that fit their specific needs and wants.
Ben loves spending time with his family
What is something that working at WCU has taught you? Credit! Wauna has taught me that credit is so important, especially when you start to look at making those big life changing purchases like a house or car. Also to use all the products that financial institutions offer. At the credit union there are a lot of products that pay dividends on your funds so you can grow your savings without having to do a thing!
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? I really want to start getting into photography. I’ve found a new appreciation for great photos and photographers who can see the world around them and make something really pop with a simple photo.
Wauna Credit Union has been serving members of the towns and cities surrounding the Columbia River for 52 years. As we start December, we look back at the employees we are so thankful joined us in November. We’re continuing to grow (if you want to join us check out our careers page).
Mark Crandall – 4 years
What is your current position? My current position is Mortgage Loan Specialist. My job is great, I get to help our members obtain their home ownership goals. Sometimes that’s getting a loan to buy a prebuilt home or building their dream house, tapping into their home’s equity to make improvements, help with major life expenses, or even starting people on their road to financial independence through investment properties.
What is something that working at WCU has taught you? Working at Wauna has taught me that you can be flexible at a financial institution. At times, you need to get the FULL story and then make a decision if it is right for the membership. I worked at a bank before this, and it was very cut and dry. Now I can help people who have a shop or farm on their property, or take another look at somebody who hasn’t been able to get financing in the past.
If you could choose one new hobby what would it be? I’ve got a lot of hobbies already. After a 35-year break, I just started riding off-road motorcycles. I also keep active by playing golf and tennis. If I were to take up a new hobby it would be. I would like to make some of my own furniture that could be passed on to future generations.
Is Mark Crandall the coolest person to work at the credit union? Probably.
