Project Differentiation

CME FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

As a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, CME Federal Credit Union is committed to its members. We will uphold our fundamental responsibility to actively serve people within our field of membership, and as appropriate, the communities in which they live. 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 affordable products and services to the diverse economic and social makeup of our members and potential members. We will look for better ways to reach out to the underserved in our field of membership. And we will continually, in all facets of operations, demonstrate the value of membership in CME 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 CME 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.

Section 1: Service to Members

CME Federal Credit Union strives to offer a wide range of services designed to improve the economic and social well-being of our members.

Current or Existing Services:

Free Checking Accounts - Unlimited check writing with no monthly service charges, no minimum balance, and no per check charge. Earn a dividend with a balance of $500 or greater.
AUDI CHEK - Free automated service offering members the ability to transact CME business via their nearest telephone.
CME@Home - Free online account access service which offers members the ability to transact business from their nearest Internet-ready computer. Access to bill payment is available for a nominal monthly charge.
MEMBERS Financial Services - A financial management service with an on-site representative to assist members with their investment and insurance needs. Members may also tap into the MEMBERS Financial Network site through our website to obtain information on a variety of investment and insurance options.
Members Insurance Services - A protection program with an on-site representative who assists members with their insurance needs.
Alliance One Network - A national network of surcharge-free credit union ATMs.
Christmas Club - A dividend-bearing account that promotes saving for the holidays.
Check Card - Checkbook access with credit card convenience that enables members to pay for purchases or obtain cash. Members earn a rebate on all purchases made through the VISA Network.
Payment Shaver - Lease-like auto loan with more options and flexibility at end of the term than a traditional auto lease.
Excess Share Insurance - Offers members an additional $250,000 of private insurance coverage for their shares.
AnyTime Access - Enables members to apply for a loan 24 hours a day, 365 days a year via telephone or Internet.
Bump Rate Certificates - if rates go up during the term of these certificates, members may "bump" up to the higher rate once during the 18-month certificate or twice during the 30-month certificate.
Certificate Additions - Members may add to any of their CME certificates without extending the maturity. The minimum to add via payroll deduction or automatic allocation is $50. The minimum to add via cash or check is $250.
Money Market Account - This account enables members to invest while maintaining ready access. The account is tiered so that the more members save, the more they earn.
Risk Based Pricing - This pricing policy enables the credit union to make loans to a wider segment of the membership. It rewards members with good credit and helps those with questionable credit obtain affordable loans.
Share Secured Loans - This type of loan enables members to pledge their shares at the credit union as collateral on a loan. It is an affordable way for members to establish credit, repair damaged credit or simply borrow at a very low rate. Share secured VISA is also available.
Individual Retirement Accounts - A full range of IRA products (traditional, Roth and education) with two funding options: IRA Share Account and IRA Certificates. Members may payroll deduct to both options, making it easy to save for retirement.

New Services Planned for the upcoming year:

Youth Program - Tiered to target various age groups (0-12, 13-18, 19-25).
Prime Time Club - Offering special products and services to our senior members.
Platinum VISA - Targeted to members with higher income and high quality credit.
New Branch Location - An additional branch for our members' convenience.
New Checking Options - We want to offer our members a choice of checking accounts to fit their lifestyle.
New ATMs - Our goal is to deploy at least four new ATMs as an added convenience for members.
Consumer Credit Counselor - Used to counsel/educate members in various financial matters.
Student Loans - A product to help us build relationships with our younger members.
Open End Lending - This lending philosophy will help make borrowing more convenient and hassle-free.
Saleable Fixed-Rate Mortgages - This product will help us to appeal to a broader base of our membership with the hope of becoming the primary financial institution for more of our members.

Section II: Member Education

CME 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:

"In Your Best Interest" - Monthly newsletter which offers educational and informative articles for members.
MFS Seminars - Held quarterly, these meetings focus on various investment and retirement planning issues.
Website Links - Our website offers a variety of informational and educational links, from surcharge-free ATM locations to Consumer Auto Buying Service.
"Communicator" - Quarterly internal employee newsletter to educate staff.
Staff Training - Involved in on-going training for staff on sales, service and products, including CUNA Mutual's Business Development Sales training.
Employee Orientation - New employee training on the basics of credit union history, philosophy, structure and service.
Lobby Displays - Educational/informational brochures available for members.
Benefit Fairs - Participation in field of membership's annual benefit fairs.
Quarterly Staff Gathering - Regular quarterly meetings with staff to discuss various topics from employee benefits to new products.
Staff Library - Various educational materials available for staff.

New Programs Planned for the Coming Year:

Staff Education - Implementing the STAR and MERIT programs to keep all staff well-informed of the credit union movement and difference.
Consumer Credit Counseling
Tech Center in Lobby - This will offer a menu of self-serve options from Internet banking to car buying information to money management assistance.
Scholarship program for members - To encourage CME members to seek higher education - particularly in the area of financial services industry.
Service Shopper - method of obtaining member feedback on service quality.

Section III: Involvement/Governance

CME 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

Annual Meeting - Meeting for entire membership where board, management and staff update members on the financial well being of the credit union, plans for the future and the election results for the board of directors positions.
Board Elections - Conducted by mail ballot, this process enables all members to participate in selecting representatives to the board.
Member Survey - To gain demographic and psychographic information, to assist with effective marketing, to encourage member feedback, and to gauge member satisfaction.
Board Education/Training - Board members are encouraged to attend conferences and seminars at the local, state and national levels.
Employee Training - CME has implemented an ongoing employee training program focusing on the uniqueness of the credit union environment and member service. In addition, significant funds are earmarked for employee attendance at conferences and seminars at the local, state and national level.
Political Activism - CME participates in fund raising efforts for OCULAC and OCULPAC, provides comment on regulatory issues when requested by NCUA, NAFCU and CUNA, attends the state governmental affairs conference, and participates in lobbying efforts at the request of the state league.
Board and Staff Committee Involvement - Volunteers and staff are encouraged to participate in numerous committees. Volunteer committees include: executive committee, facilities committee, supervisory committee, ALCO, nominating committee, and other ad hoc committees. Staff committees include: service quality and incentive team, staff event committee, etc.
Educational Assistance - CME provides financial support for employees seeking to further their job-related education.
Chapter Involvement - CME has representation on the chapter board and on chapter committees.

New Programs Planned for the Coming Year

No new programs planned at this time

Section IV: Diversity

CME 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 Employment Opportunity - CME actively seeks to fill vacant positions by hiring qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or veteran status.
Board Representation - Openly advertise available volunteer positions and "call for nominations."
Internal Hiring - CME promotes from within and encourages current staff to apply for vacant credit union positions.
Marketing MCIF - To help determine the demographic makeup of our membership so that products and services may be targeted to specifically meet members' needs.

New Programs Planned for 2001:

Diversity Training - In partnership with our health insurance provider, CME will provide training to assist staff and management in understanding and appreciating the diverse backgrounds of our staff and membership.
Stress Management - In partnership with our health insurance provider, CME will offer training to help staff manage the stress related to dealing with the public.

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

CME 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.

Current Activities that Support the Credit Union Movement

Participate in Various Credit Union Trade Associations - CME is a member of the Ohio Credit Union League, the Credit Union National Association, the Credit Union Executives Society, the Filene Institute and the National Association of Federal Credit Unions.
Cooperative Advertising - CME routinely contributes its financial fair share to the local chapter's cooperative advertising campaign. In addition, CME is involved in the steering committee that plans advertising campaigns for the chapter.
Participate in Strategic Alliances - CME participates in the Alliance One Network and the Columbus Chapter's partnership with Consumer Credit Counseling Service.
Leadership Roles - Members of CME's management team serve on various committees for credit union organizations.
Networking Opportunities - CME employees participate in Chapter events, the Ohio Marketing Network, the Ohio HR Network, the Ohio Trainers Network, the Ohio Lender's Network and other programs that involve sharing ideas with other credit unions.
Attend State Government Affairs Meetings - CME managers regularly attend Ohio's governmental affairs conference and participate in the lobbying during that conference.
Participate in fund raising efforts - participate in the sale of amusement park tickets as a chapter fundraiser. Will be participating in candy sales for OCULPAC.

New programs planned for the coming year

Work with other credit unions to deploy more ATMs in Columbus.

Section VI: Public Service/Corporate Citizenship

CME will continue to strive to be an active partner in our community and realize that practicing good Corporate Citizenship supports the Credit Union Philosophy of "People Helping People." Each year CME supports various organizations in our community including but not limited to:

Current Activities that Support Public Service/Corporate Citizenship

Charity Newsies - 100% of funds raised goes to purchase clothes for underprivileged children.
Firefighters 4 Kids - Support of our main sponsor's effort to collect toys which are
Fraternal Order of Police - Give donation to support Annual Basketball game sponsored by FOP.
Better Business Bureau - member
Columbus Chamber of Commerce - member
Columbus Symphony - financial patron.

New Programs Planned for the Coming Year:

United Way
Children's Miracle Network
Thanksgiving Food Drive