Project Differentiation

CHACO CREDIT UNION INC.

As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, Chaco 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 unserved or underserved in our field of membership. And we will continually, in all facets of operations, demonstrate the value of membership in Chaco 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 Chaco 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.

Chaco Credit Union's Statement of Commitment to Members shall consist of the following six (6) sections:

Section I: Service to Members
Section II: Member Education
Section III: Involvement/Governance
Section IV: Diversity
Section V: Commitment to the Credit Union Movement
Section VI: Public Service/Corporate Citizenship

Section 1: Service to Members

Chaco Credit Union strives to provide more than just service to its members-Chaco provides financial solutions. Those solutions are designed to meet the needs of all members, regardless of social or economic background.

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

  1. Financial Planning Center

  2. Managed Credit Program

  3. Consumer Loan Products with Small Minimum Loan Amounts
    1. Vehicle Loans

    2. Home Improvement Loans

    3. Bill Consolidation Loans

    4. Student Loans

    5. Personal/Signature Loans

    6. Share Secured Loans

    7. Certificate Secured Loans

    8. Personal Computer Loans

    9. Holiday Loans

    10. Overdraft Protection Loans

    11. Tuition Loans

    12. Credit Cards

  4. Credit Rebuilder Loans

  5. Loan Extensions to Qualified Members Experiencing Financial Difficulties

  6. Dyno-Mite Kids Club

  7. Chaco Plus Club

  8. Future Link Teen Program

  9. Class Act College Program

  10. Share Accounts with just a $5.00 Minimum Deposit Required

  11. Low Cost Checking Accounts

  12. Share Certificates with Low Minimum Deposits Required

  13. Retirement Accounts with Small Initial Deposits Required

  14. Remote Banking and Other Electronic Service Delivery Methods

  15. Member Education Center

New Services Planned for the Coming Year:

  1. First-Time Home Buyer Mortgage Loan Product

  2. Membership Focus Groups

  3. Insurance Products through CUSO

Section II: Member Education

Chaco 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. Financial Planning Seminars

  2. Newsletter Articles

  3. Member Education Center

  4. Internet Web Site

  5. Home Buying Informational Materials

  6. SEG Ambassador Luncheons

  7. Individual Credit Counseling Sessions

  8. Vehicle Purchasing Information/Assistance

  9. Full and Fair Disclosure of Credit Union Product Pricing

  10. Consumer Education Articles Provided to the Media

New Programs Planned for the Coming Year:

  1. Home Buying Seminars

  2. An Expanded Member Seminar Series

  3. Credit Union Awareness at Community Events

  4. Expanded Financial Education/Services through Internet Web Site

Section III: Involvement/Governance

Chaco Credit Union will endeavor to preserve credit union democratic principles by listening to the voice of its members and through volunteer participation.

Current Programs that Support Involvement/Governance:

  1. Board Elections

  2. Board Nominations

  3. Volunteer Education Programs

  4. Annual Meeting

  5. Membership Surveys

  6. Membership Focus Groups

  7. Planning Sessions

New Programs Planned for the Coming Year:

No new programs planned

Section IV: Diversity

Chaco 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. Equal Employment Opportunities

  2. Membership Penetration through MCIF

  3. Market Segmentation through MCIF

  4. Board and Volunteer Representation

New Programs Planned for the Coming Year:

  1. Expanding Field of Membership to Include Community Groups

Section V: Commitment to the Credit Union Movement

Chaco 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, Chaco Credit Union will participate in local, state and national credit union cooperative activities as appropriate, and will strive to build and strengthen relationships with other sectors of the national credit union movement.

Current Activities that Support the Credit Union Movement:

  1. Small Credit Union Partnerships

  2. Local Marketing Cooperative

  3. Participation in Ohio Credit Union Legislative Action Committees

  4. Contributions to the Ohio Credit Union Foundation

  5. Leadership Roles on the Boards of Ohio Credit Union League, Ohio Credit Union Foundation, and Butler County Chapter of Credit Unions

  6. Membership in National and State Credit Union Trade Associations

  7. Participation in Credit Union Movement and Image Campaigns at the National, State and Local Levels

  8. Participation in the Alliance One Selective Surcharging Network

New Programs Planned for the Coming Year:

No New Programs Planned

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, Chaco 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. Adopt-A-School (Emmanuel Lutheran)

  2. United Way (Employee Giving and Corporate Donation)

  3. Annual Charity Golf Tournament (American Cancer Society and Ohio Credit Union Foundation)

  4. Tree Of Giving (Butler County Family Services)

  5. Shared Harvest Food Bank

  6. Educational Scholarships

  7. Student of the Week (Newspaper Recognition Program)

  8. Toys for the Holidays (Salvation Army and Dove House)

  9. Active Participant in Chamber of Commerce Activities (Hamilton and Fairfield)

  10. Elisha Morgan House Fundraiser

  11. Credit Union Employee-Driven Community Involvement Committee

  12. Corporate Contributions to the Ohio Credit Union Foundation

  13. Annual Budget Established for Other Charitable Contributions

New Public Service Activities Planned for the Coming Year:

  1. School-to-Work Program at Local Junior High Schools

  2. Reality Check Program at Local High Schools

  3. Organize a Fundraising Walk for Habitat for Humanity

  4. Sponsor of City of Fairfield Silver Millennium Celebration
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