Project Differentiation

CSRA Federal Credit Union

As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, CSRA Federal Credit Union is committed to our members. We will uphold our fundamental responsibility to actively serve people within our field of membership, and as appropriate, the communities they live in. We will treat all members with respect and dignity and we will offer honest, fair deals to all members at all times. We will deliver a range of low cost products and services to the diverse economic and social make-up of our members and potential members. We will look for better ways to reach out to the un- or underserved in our field of membership. And we will continually, in all facets of operations, demonstrate the value of membership in CSRA Federal Credit Union.

We will monitor and communicate our service to members in a meaningful way so that members, potential members, legislators, regulators, and the community at large will understand and appreciate the unique role that member-owned financial cooperatives play in their lives.

Throughout CSRA Federal Credit Union's strategic plan, we will put forth every effort to enable our members to become financially self- sufficient and successful. We will place high importance on consumer education and the teaching of financial thrift.

This Statement of Commitment to Members is consistent with our credit union principles of "Not For Profit, Not For Charity, But For Service" and our philosophy of "People Helping People". This statement represents good business practices that ensure the financial strength of our credit union on behalf of our members.

Service to Members

CSRA Federal Credit Union strives to offer services designed to improve the economic and social well being of all members from all socio- economic backgrounds, including our low- and moderate-income members, and return financial value to all those who participate in our member- owned financial cooperative.

Current Services that Help Improve the Economic and Social Well Being of Members:

People Helping People – To provide quality, diversified financial services while maintaining strength, stability and total commitment to our members.
Risk-Based Lending – With risk-based lending, CSRA Federal Credit Union can adequately serve our members by providing a wide variety of lending services to those who have an excellent credit history as well as to those who may have a less than excellent credit history.
No Fee Checking – CSRA’s checking account has no monthly service charge, no per check charge and earns dividends when the balance is $500 or more.
Elite Club Checking – A no fee checking account for members who are 50 or older with other benefits like: No fee VISA, No fee ATM, No fee cashiers checks, No fee travelers checks for one, Free notary service, Free safe deposit box rental for one year (a 20%#37; discount thereafter), No fee overdraft protection and Free Credit Union checks or discounted custom checks.
Savings Safari Club - The Savings Safari Club is a program designed for children ages newborn to 13, to help teach the merits of saving money and build lifelong money management habits.

www.csrafcu.org - A website that allows members to access current news, current rates on lending products, current dividend rates on deposit accounts and promotional information. Members can also apply for a loan or VISA account on the site and never have to come in to an office until it is time to sign their paperwork.

No Fee ATM –CSRA Federal Credit Union has an ATM located at our main office that allows our members to access their account at no charge.

Express Line – An automated phone service available to our members at no charge which will allow them access to their account, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is available in Spanish and English. Through this automated service, our member can: Request balance inquiries, history inquiries, make a withdrawal by check that will be mailed the next business day to the member’s residence, check the status of a loan, get up to date information on new products/services/promotions, make transfers from one sub-account to another and place a stop payment on a check.

VISA Credit Card – A VISA that has no annual fee, a low fixed annual percentage rate, 25 – day grace period and no transaction fee for cash advances.

Saturday Hours – Two full service branches open from 8:00 AM until 12:30 PM for added convenience to our members.

NCUA – All deposits are insured up to $100,000.00 by the National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency – offering peace of mind to our members.

New Services Planned for the Coming Year:

To offer a VISA Check Card to our membership.
To improve our automated Express Line service; making it more user friendly.
To improve our Elite Club account for members 50 years of age or older by adding benefits that are important to this segment of our membership.
Design and implement an account especially for teens, ages 13-18.
Design and implement a member survey to help improve our quality of service.
Implement special activities for Savings Safari Club members (i.e. Beach party, crafts, education, etc.).
Put together a focus group to inquire and implement On-Line Banking and Bill Payer.

Member Education

CSRA Federal Credit Union is committed to member and consumer financial education; in addition we are committed to educating members and consumers, alike, about credit union uniqueness, philosophy and values.

Current Programs that Support Member Education and Advocacy:

Speaker’s Bureau – A program designed to provide educational information and or seminars to our members and Select Employee Groups. Speaker’s Bureau topics include: Relationships and Money, Financing Your Child’s Education, Home Buying, Car Buying, Credit Cards, Checking and Savings Accounts, Insurance, Budgeting, Shopping and Teaching Your Children About Money. This service is offered free of charge.
Lobby Education – At each CSRA Federal Credit Union branch, we offer various brochures and pamphlets filled with educational information as well as bulletin boards and educational displays.
Currency Notes – A quarterly member newsletter sent to each member, which provides current credit union news and information as well as educational articles.
The Grapevine – A quarterly employee newsletter given to each employee prior to the issuance of Currency Notes. This newsletter educates and informs employees on any new services, educational material and upcoming events.
Employee Training – By thoroughly training credit union employees about philosophy, products, services and benefits, this allows us to recognize our members needs and educate them.
Annual Meeting – CSRA Federal Credit Union holds a meeting each year that is open to the entire membership. At this meeting, we allow our members to discuss the credit union and voice their expectations of us. We also give members the opportunity to join our Board of Directors, which will give them a chance to be a part of the credit union’s decision-making process.
The Tusky Times – A quarterly children’s club newsletter sent to each Savings Safari Club member on a quarterly basis. This newsletter provides educational activities and articles for children newborn to 13.
Town Meetings – Town meetings are held in conjunction with the Augusta Area Credit Union Chapter to discuss important topics, i.e. Y2K.

New Programs Planned for the Coming Year:

To add Googleplex and Home & Family Finance (by CUNA) to our website.

Involvement/Governance

CSRA Federal Credit Union will endeavor to preserve credit union democratic principles, including demographic representation and volunteer participation in credit union activities.

Current Programs that support Involvement/Governance:

CSRA Federal Credit Union representatives attend the Governmental Affairs Conference annually held in Washington, D.C.
While in Washington, credit union representatives also visit the Hill.
CSRA Federal Credit Union contacts and offers support for our local politicians.
CSRA Federal Credit Union supports our State politicians.
CSRA Federal Credit Union supports and displays information about Deduct-A-Buck to aid CUPAC/CULAC in credit union educating.
CSRA Federal Credit Union in conjunction with the Augusta Area Credit Union Chapter has fundraisers annually for CUPAC/CULAC.
Credit Union representatives serve on State Committees and the State Board of Directors.
Credit Union executives serve on the local Chapter Board of Directors – helping to make decisions that involve all of the credit unions in our area.
Credit Union representatives serve on the local Chapter Marketing Committee – helping to promote and involve credit unions in our area.

Diversity

CSRA Federal Credit Union recognizes the value of demographic diversity in staff as well as in volunteers, and will strive to bring people of diverse backgrounds and experiences into leadership and other roles at the credit union.

Current Programs that Promote Diversity:

Equal Opportunity Employer – CSRA Federal Credit Union is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively seeks out new employees and promotes existing employees by hiring/promoting qualified individuals without regard to race, creed, religion, or socio-economic status.
Equal Housing Lender – CSRA Federal Credit Union is an Equal Housing Lender. This law ensures that loan decisions are not based upon race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or familial status.
Mission Statement – Our mission statement has been written, approved and adopted by our Board of Directors and staff. It states, “ To provide quality, diversified financial services while maintaining strength, stability and total commitment to our members.”
Express Line – CSRA’s new and improved automated telephone service is bi-lingual, serving those in our community who speak English as well as Spanish.

Commitment to the Credit Union Movement and other Cooperative Activities

CSRA Federal Credit Union will work to build and strengthen our unique credit union movement by providing financial and in-kind resources to others within the credit union community, and by actively advocating the credit union difference at all levels of government and in other appropriate public forums. In addition, CSRA Federal Credit Union will participate in local, state and national cooperative activities as appropriate, and will strive to build and strengthen relationships with other sectors of the national cooperative movement.

Current Activities that Support the Credit Union Movement:

Political Action Campaign – CSRA Federal Credit Union has been very active in helping to support CUPAC /CULAC. CUPAC /CULAC are organizations designed to educate and promote credit union issues with our governing entities.
Deduct-A-Buck Program – CSRA Federal Credit Union offers the Deduct-A-Buck program to our employees and members in quarterly newsletters as well as lobby displays. The program allows individuals to have quarterly deductions taken from their account. The contributions are strictly voluntary and benefit CUPAC/CULAC.
“America’s Credit Union” Brand Campaign – CSRA Federal Credit Union in conjunction with the Augusta Area Credit Union Chapter is helping to promote credit union awareness by putting the “America’s Credit Union’s” brand out there for the people in our area or the people passing through our area to see. We have promoted this through a billboard campaign, selling t-shirts with the brand printed on the shirt and including the brand in our newsletter each quarter.
Governmental Affairs – Each year there is a governmental conference held in Washington, D.C. We have representatives from our credit union attend this conference to help promote and educate our lawmakers on the uniqueness of credit union philosophies.

Public Service / Corporate Citizenship

Through direct financial support or other in-kind contributions to worthwhile local organizations, and by participating in public service activities, CSRA Federal Credit Union strives to be an active partner in our community. We recognize that practicing good Corporate Citizenship supports the Credit Union Philosophy of People Helping People; furthermore, it will help raise the overall level of social and economic well being of those in our community, help to strengthen ties within the community, and better position us to reach out and serve – as only credit unions can – those people in greatest need of affordable financial services.

Community/FOM Groups Currently Receiving Financial or Other In-Kind Support (including the support given) and Current Public Service Activities:

The Shelter & Advocacy Center For Abused Children – This organization is a non-profit organization that relies heavily on contributions from businesses, agencies, and the community to help enable them to take care of and assist abused children in our area. CSRA Federal Credit Union helps the shelter in many ways by volunteering our time, collecting necessities and assisting with various events to benefit the shelter, such as: The Art of Chocolate– local artists auction their work and donate the funds to the shelter. Area restaurants and chefs donate their time and various samplings of chocolate deserts, candies, etc. for all who attend this event to enjoy. Cookin’ For Kids – A wild game and fish cook-off held locally. Individuals enter dishes into a contest for all who attend to sample. The proceeds benefit the shelter and recognition is given to those who have winning recipes. “Thank You” Telethon – CSRA Federal Credit Union representatives along with Shelter employees and volunteers give their time to call those who have made past monetary donations to simply say, Thank You. CSRA’s President/CEO also serves on the Board of Directors for The Shelter & Advocacy Center For Abused Children, helping to make important decisions that affect the lives of children who live in this facility.
The Children’s Miracle Network – This is a charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for 170 children’s hospitals. In our area, all proceeds benefit the MCG Children’s Medical Center. To help assist this organization, every year, CSRA sells CMN t-shirts and miracle balloons. The campaign lasts for approximately two months and is also a chapter wide event.
United Way – Credit Union executives volunteer their time each year to serve on the local United Way Budget and Allocation Panel. These panels administer an allocation process that is accountable to donors, as well as responsive to the communities needs. They gather and analyze information to recommend dollar amounts depending on United Way agencies and their needs, types of support, and the nature of their service to our community.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Augusta – CSRA Federal Credit supports and participates in the annual “Steak & Burger” fundraiser. This allows representatives in our area and from our credit union to sit down and eat with the children that are involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Augusta.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – This year, CSRA Federal Credit Union held it’s first Dress Down Day to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. To be involved, each employee donates $3. Employees who participate are allowed to work in “relaxed attire” and all proceeds from the fundraiser benefit a very worthy cause. CSRA is planning to make this an annual event.
The Southeastern Firefighter’s Burn Foundation – Several times throughout the year, CSRA Federal Credit Union along with, The Shirley Badke Burn Retreat (local retreat), provides and assists area firefighters with delivering stuffed animals to children at the Doctor’s Hospital who have fallen victim to fire.
The Boy Scouts of America – Each year, CSRA’s Senior VP of Lending serves as the Finance Chair for the Executive Council for our local Boy Scout Association. As Finance Chair, our Senior VP reviews and evaluates their current financial position, growth indicators and assists in evaluating the needs of each district within the Georgia/Carolina Council.
Friendship Community – The Friendship Community is a group of individuals who offer goods as well as volunteer their time. CSRA supports this group by allowing them to set up a table at our branches to sell ceramic items. All proceeds from the sale of these items are donated to various groups in our area that support the elderly and handicapped.
Dora Maxwell – CSRA Federal Credit Union has placed 1st and 2nd for the past seven years in our State’s Dora Maxwell Awards. These awards are a testament to our commitment to and support of the credit union movement and the social responsibility we have to our community.