CREDIT UNION TURNS 50 YEARS OLD  

     The Credit Union is celebrating our 50th Anniversary.  In December of 1959 the credit union was created and chartered as the “Continental Can Company Employees Credit Union. 

     We still have some of the original members of the credit union with us, but many have passed away in the last few years.  Surviving family members are always welcome to continue the accounts. 

     The one and only name change the credit union has experienced came in 1976 when the CCC Employees Credit Union changed to a community charter and became the St  Joseph  Valley Community Federal Credit Union.  I was hired by the credit union in 1979.  I just celebrated 30 years with the credit union.  We have come a long way.  When I started, I did not have one machine that was electrical.  My typewriter and adding machine ( it was not a calculator) were huge, heavy things, from WWII. All of the accounts and paper work was done by hand on ledger cards. Everything was manual computations and ciphering.  

     Now-a-days we have just about all the “whistles and bells” that are possible.  I am proud of what we have accomplished.  The Board of Directors are great and my small staff is very hard working.  We have tightened our belts and cut costs everywhere we could.  This last year was very difficult.  No thanks to the government regulations and our mandated share of the Bank bailout we  were forced to contribute our money into, for others failures and poor management.  It was not fair at all.  Our share of the bill was very large for us to handle.  I don’t want to look back at the books for 2009.  We can only look ahead for 2010.  We will do the best we can. We need to get our people back to work and borrowing money again.  Check out our loan rates and see what we have to offer.   Thank you all for being members and keeping your credit union strong.    Sincerely,  Kris Taft.

 Invest in America

     The credit union  is proud to participate in Invest in America, a unique program offering our members’ discounts on products and services from U.S. based companies. It not only gives our members valuable discounts, but it also increases sales for the participating companies and, on a larger scale, helps stimulate the U.S. economy. Basically, Invest in America is a win]win for everyone.

Simply visit www.LoveMyCreditUnion.org to learn how, as a member of our credit union, you can receive money]saving discounts from:  General Motors, Sprint, Allied Van Lines, FTD, CU Benefits Express, CompleteTax, DIRECTV and through ShopAmerica, a new online mall specifically for credit union members.

We are here to help our members save with respected U.S. companies at a time when everyone needs it most. To learn more about Invest in America and details on all the current discounts visit LoveMyCreditUnion.org.

  CO-OP NETWORK FINANCIAL SERVICES 

     On October 1, 2009, the credit union became a member of the Co-op Network (the nation’s largest credit union ATM network.) Look for the Co-op Network symbol on the ATM machines that you use.  This will cut the cost of using an ATM machine in half for you.  You will only pay $2 instead of $4.  When you are traveling and out of town, most credit unions will belong to this network and will have this symbol on their machines.  In some areas you will find these machines in grocery stores and gas stations also.  You can go online to access a download for finding an ATM machine ,  www.co-opnetwork.org.  Text your location to 692667 (MYCOOP).