Project Differentiation

KAMIAH COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, Kamiah Community 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 Kamiah Community 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 Kamiah Community 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. We will participate fully in training the youth of our community to save and use money wisely and assist them in making good credit decisions that can impact their future.

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.

Section 1: Service to Members

Kamiah Community 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:

  1. Partnership with Friends of the Kooskia library. Assisted with loan to further fundraising efforts to build new library for the City of Kooskia.
  2. Financial counseling program for preventative situations.
  3. Financial planning courses that are being taught in the High Schools in tandem with licensed teachers to prepare our communities students for the "real world" of life.
  4. Small saver certificates
  5. Medical savings accounts
  6. Small business loans
  7. Small signature loans and overdraft lines of credit
  8. Experience based (risk-based) lending programs to allow approval of loans for all deserving members

Section II: Member Education

Kamiah Community 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:

  1. Budgeting programs. Teach the "Out of Hock" program to interested members.
  2. Educational Newsletters
  3. Work with local press and media to educate the public about the credit union difference. Advertise employee accomplishments in the STAR program.
  4. Full and fair disclosure on pricing.

Section III: Involvement/Governance

Kamiah Community 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:

  1. Alternate meeting site for annual meetings to make meetings more accessible to Kamiah & Kooskia branch members.
  2. Instruct the Nominating Committee to actively seek wider member representation on credit union board and committees.
  3. Provide training opportunities for members of the board of directors and other volunteer committees.

Section IV: Diversity

Kamiah Community 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:

  1. Seek out volunteers and staff that reflect the diversity of the membership.
  2. Develop a plan for internal training and promotion for community hiring that can lead to staff and volunteer diversity.
  3. Analyze household income data to ensure diverse market segments have programs and services that meet their diverse needs.

Section V: Commitment to the Credit Union Movement and other Cooperative Activities

Kamiah Community 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, Kamiah Community 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:

  1. Encourage staff and volunteers to take an active role in league, chapter, and other leadership networks.
  2. Participate in strategic alliances and partnerships with other credit unions and the credit union community through the CURT's (Credit Union Reciprocal Transactions) organization that provides group purchasing benefits for our credit union and reciprocal transactions at approved credit unions for members of small to medium sized credit unions in OR, WA & ID.
  3. Share resources and knowledge with other credit unions in need.
  4. Participate in local cooperative activities.
  5. Active members in the Kamiah and Kooskia Chambers of Commerce.
    ...And other Cooperative Activities:
  6. Participate and help fund the Credit Unions for Kids Network.
  7. Allow staff to take time off for volunteer activities

Section VI: Public Service / Corporate Citizenship

Through direct financial support or other in-kind contributions to worthwhile local organizations, and by participating in public service activities, Kamiah Community 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:

  1. School districts within our FOM (Sports programs, alcohol free parties, calendars.
  2. Special olympics
  3. Fire & Police departments in Idaho & Lewis Counties
  4. Lion's Club
  5. Kiwanis Club
  6. Shrine Food Caravan
  7. Lewis County Junior Miss Pageant
  8. Mat'alyma
  9. 4H Clubs in Lewis & Idaho Counties
  10. CVRA
  11. Idaho Credit Union League
Copyright © 2012 Credit Union National Association