What is “Thanks A Latte”?

 

Support The Credit Union Movement!

Thanks-A-Latte
Thanks A Latte launches to support Credit Unions

July is CULAC month in the world of Credit Unions, but what does that mean?

CULAC stands for the Credit Union Legislative Action Council, they work to influence our leaders in Washington DC to protect the rights – and the very existence – of Credit Unions against the powerful lobbyists from banks.

This year, we are encouraging our members to donate via “Thanks A Latte”, which asks you to donate $3 or more to CULAC. To make donating easy, we have “Thanks A Latte” boxes and envelopes in every branch of WaunaCU for that purpose.

Wauna Credit Union strongly supports CULAC and their grassroots efforts to keep Credit Unions alive, thriving, and part of the fabric of America. Please support this organization if you can.

Thank You!

Want to know more about what CULAC does? Check out this video:

 

From the CUNA Website (http://www.cuna.org/Grassroots-And-Political-Action/CULAC/What-Is-CULAC):

CULAC’s purpose, as defined in its Articles of Association, is to “provide the opportunity for individuals interested in the future of the credit union movement to contribute to the support of worthy candidates for federal office who believe, and have demonstrated their belief, in the principles to which the industry is dedicated.”

CULAC accomplishes its mission by contributing to and supporting federal candidates and committees that support the Credit Union Movement. It is your continued involvement, support and dedication that provides us with the resources to elect credit union advocates to Congress.

 

PRESS: Wauna Credit Union Honored For New Website Design

From the Daily Astorian, May 20, 2016

press capture - spectrum awards

Wauna Credit Union was recently recognized by the Northwest Credit Union Association (NWCUA) for its website update, and received an honorable mention trophy for excellence in marketing and communications during an awards ceremony and dinner April 7 held at Hotel Monaco in Portland.

The full website rebuild, which took the financial cooperative much of 2015 to create, was called bold, fresh, and modern by the judges. It features easy navigation and a responsive design, and is much more streamlined than the one it replaced.

The development team consisted of COO Debi Smiley, Stephanie Sievers, Carli Lyon, Cameron Willets, Jacob Humphries, and was led by Wauna CU Marketing Coordinator Amy Stocky, with oversight from Marketing Vice President Mike Chapman. The group worked with the Portland web developer Avtec Media.

The award was presented by NWCUA CEO Troy Stang at the gala event that honored more than 30 Northwest credit unions for their outstanding marketing achievements in 2015.

“The positive member feedback that Wauna Credit Union has received about the website since its launch has been a prize in itself for the growing credit union,” Amy Stocky said, “and now they have a trophy to prove it.”

See the article on the Daily Astorian’s website here: http://www.dailyastorian.com/community/20160520/wauna-credit-union-honored-for-new-website-design 

With Interest Rates Rising, Never a Better Time to Join a Credit Union

From the NWCUA:

Tigard, OR. — Members of Oregon’s credit unions enjoy lower interest rates on their credit cards, car loans and mortgages. Because credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives, there are no stockholders to pay.  Instead, direct financial benefits are returned to members in the form of better interest rates on loans and savings products.

Financing a $25,000 new automobile for 60 months at an Oregon credit union would save you $150 per year. In fact, in the 12-months ending in June, 2015, Oregon credit union members collectively saved over $46 million on their auto loans, vs. rates paid by bank customers. Their credit card interest rates resulted in nearly $28 million in savings, while members with home equity loans saved $6 million by paying lower interest rates than bank customers. When checking, money market, certificate and retirement accounts were analyzed in the same period, advantage: Oregon credit union members. They earned nearly $16 million in higher interest than bank customers with similar products.*

In Oregon, 1.8 million consumers have discovered the credit union difference. This week’s news from the Federal Reserve of a modest interest rate increase is a reminder that the gift of membership in a local, not-for-profit, cooperative credit union makes sense.

*Source: Informa Research Services, National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and Credit Union National Association (CUNA). June, 2015.

 

The Northwest Credit Union Association is the not-for-profit trade association representing over 160 of Oregon and Washington’s credit unions. Northwest credit unions returned $352 million in direct financial benefits to their 5.2 million members last year. The NWCUA is the voice of the Northwest credit union movement, providing legislative, regulatory and public advocacy in addition to education, compliance, networking support and business solutions to credit unions. For information on how to join a credit union, please visit http://www.asmarterchoice.org.