Project Differentiation
MID-MINNESOTA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
When traditional banks weren't meeting the needs of their customers, seven individuals began a financial cooperative whose primary purpose was service to its members. Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union was founded on the principles of 'People Helping People' and 'Not for Profit, Not for Charity, But for Service.'
Nearly a half-century later, your credit union's commitment to member service continues. Providing a full range of low- cost products and services is only the beginning. Our pledge encompasses commitments to safety and soundness, education, community, and to fundamental credit union values. Combined, these efforts make up a formal Statement of Commitment to the members of Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union.
To Members
As owners of Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union, our members can always expect to be treated honestly, with dignity and
respect. Members can also depend on being served in a timely manner, with the convenience of delivery anytime, anywhere.
We openly accept all member feedback, and will continually use this input to better meet the needs of all MMFCU
member/owners.
Our service pledge is communicated to our member/owners in our mission statement:
Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union is a member owned and operated full service financial cooperative serving our
communities by providing quality financial products and services to meet member needs.
Members also have a voice through our Board of Directors, Credit Review Committee, and Supervisory Committee. These groups will operate with the clear vision that any decision, large or small, is made for the good of the entire credit union membership.
Our Commitment to Service
Meeting the different needs of tens of thousands of members is a formidable task. We seek to address this challenge by
developing a service menu as diverse as our membership.
Consumer Loans
Mid-Minnesota offers dozens of loan programs for the purchase of new and used vehicles, recreational equipment, home improvements, computers, education, and personal needs, as well as for debt consolidation, investing, and much more.Home Loans
A full service provider of first and second mortgages, MMFCU lends millions of dollars each year to purchase, build, or refinance homes.Investments
Traditional money market and certificate accounts are complemented by individual retirement accounts, market-index investments, a discount brokerage service, life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds.Convenience Services
In an increasingly busy world, delivery of service is of paramount importance. Offering free checking is a foundation for many similar convenience products, including our VISA Check Card, Direct Deposit, Payroll Deduction, 24-Hour Phone Teller, PC Teller, Surcharge-Free ATMs, Extended Hour Drive-Through Service, Night Depositories, and more.Technology Services
Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union uses cutting edge technology for our members' convenience, safety, and security. Real time deposits and automated loan processing enable our staff to serve members quickly, accurately, and with minimal paperwork. Our fully interactive web site is a vast informational and educational tool, as well as a way to receive direct member feedback. Your credit union was among the first in the state to introduce technology-based member services such as Check Cards and PC Teller.Special Programs
The credit union difference is evident in our many programs that exist exclusively for our members' financial well-being, ongoing education, and entertainment.
- Financial Counseling is available to members through The Village Family Service Center, located in our Brainerd office.
- MMFCU Gold is a free club for all members age 55 and better - In addition to further service discounts, Gold members are treated to discount travel opportunities and free educational workshops.
- The Dimes to Dollars Youth Club teaches our younger members the value of saving in a unique and fun way. Young people are encouraged to take part in activities such as 'Free Movie Day' at local theatres.
- As our child members grow into young adults, the importance of education becomes our focus. Discounted products and services allow our teenage members to experience the world of personal finance firsthand. To protect these members, young adults only obtain these services with the involvement parent/guardian and not before completing personal finance tests.
Additional Services
Rounding out our full-service pledge, Mid-Minnesota provides members with a full service independent insurance agency, credit life and disability coverage, electronic tax filing services, travelers checks, money orders, notary services, and discounted e-shopping.
New product development is an extremely active area of your credit union. Members can expect our product and service menu to continue to grow as we continue to meet your changing needs.
Our Commitment to Safety and Soundness
One of the greatest services a financial institution can provide is also one of its least tangible: peace of mind. Understanding this great significance, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union has adopted the following:Supervisory Committee
This volunteer committee is made up of MMFCU members, appointed by our Board of Directors. Their sole purpose is to ensure credit union safety and soundness. They do this in a number of ways, but primarily through internal and external audits of your credit union's financial condition, policies, practices, and staff. The Supervisory Committee also has an ongoing dialogue with credit union membership, whose direct feedback is regularly reported to our Board of Directors.Deposit/Loan Insurance
All member deposits are insured to $100,000 by the National Credit Union Administration. This coverage is free of charge to members, and extends to an additional $100,000 for protection of IRA deposits.Credit Life and Disability Insurance is available to members on most of our consumer loan products. For pennies a day, members can ensure their credit union debt is covered in the event of tragedy.
Loan Policy
A commitment to maintaining the fiscal well being of the credit union is evident in our many responsible loan policies. Maintaining a diversified loan portfolio with low member delinquency keeps your credit union financially strong, loan expenses low, and allows us to ultimately pass these savings on to our membership.Member Privacy
Protecting personal information and using it in a manner consistent with your expectations is undoubtedly a high priority for everyone associated with MMFCU. Members can rely on their credit union to adhere to privacy regulation, and moreover to adopt and maintain privacy policy that best meets their specific and changing needs.Special Task Forces
Occasionally, events occur that threaten the safety and security of your funds, and command special attention. The misinformation that surrounded Y2K is perhaps the most recent example of an event that your credit union met head-on.
Our Commitment to Education
Your credit union strives to maintain open lines of communication with member/owners, and to continually promote fiscal
responsibility. The two are combined regularly in our many periodicals, brochures, seminars, and on our extensive
web site.
Member Newsletters
On a regular basis, all MMFCU members are informed of credit union events, new products and services, consumer alerts, and the like in the publication In Touch. For our senior members, Eureka provides additional consumer and educational information, and for our younger members, News Bites offers a healthy balance of education and fun. On the web, regular newsletters at mmfcu.org exist to further educate and entertain.Other Educational Resources
The learning process is ongoing as your credit union provides free, no-obligation seminars on such diverse topics as home buying, long term care, travel safety, and health issues. Brochures and other publications offer consumer information on a host of issues related to personal finance. Finally, our ever-expanding web site is an enormous resource for members wishing to learn more about products and services, research investments, calculate financial scenarios, price and shop major purchases, and much more.Education in our Communities
MMFCU is a proud sponsor of a wide array of educational programs at the elementary, middle, high school, and collegiate level. In addition to participation in programs such as the National Honor Society and Junior Achievement, Mid-Minnesota proudly offers numerous scholarship programs to members wishing to continue their education.Staff Training and Education
With more knowledgeable directors and staff, we can better serve our membership. Therefore, your credit union has a deep commitment to volunteer and employee education and training. Industry schools, conferences, and educational programs complement our many internal training and departmental programs. External programs are typically endorsed by state or national credit union trade organizations, such as the Minnesota Credit Union Network (MCUN) or the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). They include: Management Enrichment and Training Program (MERIT), Business Development Staff Training (BDST), Staff Training and Recognition (STAR), Certified Credit Union Executive (CCUE), CUNA Management School, and others.
Our Commitment to Credit Union Philosophy
In 1956, the founders of Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union had a clear financial cooperative vision. Many of our founding
members are still very active in their credit union today, evidence that their vision will not soon be forgotten. We pledge
to uphold these fundamental credit union values.
Organizational Makeup
Members always have and always will command the highest level on Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union's organizational chart. Our Board of Directors consists of elected representatives of MMFCU's members, who in turn nominate member representatives to serve on our Credit Review and Supervisory Committees. Every year, we will notify members with information on how they can become involved with their credit union as volunteer members of their board of directors.Trade Organizations
Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union is committed to remaining active in the overall credit union movement, through participation at the regional, state, and national level. These affiliations allow MMFCU to do our part in keeping the cooperative spirit alive and well, while also providing us with the resources to better serve our members. Staff and volunteers are active members of the Central Minnesota Chapter of Credit Unions, The Minnesota Credit Union Network, The Credit Union National Association, The National Association of Community Credit Unions, The Credit Union Executives Society, and the National Credit Union Administration.Legislative Involvement
Credit unions are increasingly the focus of political attack. Threats from the banking industry have forced financial cooperatives to protect member rights in the legislative arena. Mid-Minnesota Federal has and will continue to support credit union causes at the state and federal level through numerous grassroots efforts.
Our Commitment to Community
The member/owners of Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union live and work in central Minnesota. Giving back to the communities
we serve is thus a natural fit to our service philosophy. For that reason, your credit union pledges to go above and beyond
a basic community reinvestment program. Instead, our commitment of funds, time, and hands-on involvement will focus on
programs that best serve our communities and our members.
Community Charter
As a community chartered credit union, Mid-Minnesota has made a special commitment to serve a highly diverse field of membership. Inherent in our mission is the notion that MMFCU will continually make every attempt to serve our entire community, and not just specific demographic, social, or economic groups. Any thing less would defeat the very nature of our community charter.Social Responsibility Committees
In most financial institutions, community involvement decisions are routinely made by senior management, or by the Board of Directors. Mid-Minnesota has challenged this traditional way of thinking with the inception of Social Responsibility Committees in every office. The committees consist of volunteer credit union staff members who are empowered to make the majority of MMFCU's contribution and social involvement decisions, in accordance with board policy. Just as the credit union seeks to improve marketing productivity through target marketing, so do our Social Responsibility Committees attempt to focus on efforts that will have the greatest impact on our communities, and will best meet the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People."Board Grant Committee
Large-scale community projects are the focus of a special sub-committee of our volunteer Board of Directors. Such requests are evaluated against pre-established guidelines to determine if they best meet the credit union's commitment to members and community.Employee/Volunteer Involvement in Civic/Charitable Organizations
Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union strongly encourages the participation of employees and volunteers in various civic and charitable organizations. To date dozens of MMFCU representatives have taken part in hundreds of regional, statewide and national programs that provide a wide assortment of benefits for the communities we serve.
Our Ongoing Commitment
Because our service pledge is continually evolving to meet the ever-changing needs of our membership, this formal Statement
of Commitment is never really complete. Without the ability to adapt, it is impossible to adequately serve the membership
of Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union. Therefore, our primary focus as we look to the future is to periodically review,
maintain, and revise this Statement. This ongoing commitment is our service pledge to you.
