Extending Credit Groups expanding reach and services
In 1935, the Butler Armco Employees Credit Union was opened right at the mill by a handful of steelworkers who wanted to walk over paychecks signed by hand, save and borrow money.
Today, the credit union's 26,000 members from 116 organizations don't have to leave their couch to make deposits. In addition to direct deposit of paychecks, members can zap other checks into their accounts on a smart phone.
But Tony Shakely, credit union marketing manager, said the more things grow and advance, the more they stay the same.
The credit union boasts 20,000 teller transactions a month.
“You have to have a personable and friendly staff to make the customers happy,” Shakely said
He describes the state of the credit union as “exciting.” In just the past year, the credit union has added a plethora of services, two new branch offices and assets have grown from $273 million in 2012 to $278 million in 2013.
A merger with Penn Drake Credit Union gave the credit union a new office at 112 Petrolia St., Karns City, and a 500-member boost.
Additionally, the credit union opened a branch at the Student Success Center at Butler County Community College. There the credit union employees work elbow-to-elbow with three student interns, who learn about finances, credit cards and loan debt.
During the same time frame, the credit union rolled out technology advances. In 2012, it unveiled its mobile banking program. And just moths ago, it upgraded to include remote deposit.
To use remote deposit, a member accesses his account over an Internet-capable cell phone. The member uses the phone to photograph the front and back of the check, and the ap deposits it into the account.
In December, 713 checks with a total value of more than $560,000 were deposited on the ap. A month earlier, 600 checks were deposited for a total value of $450,000.
The number of loans also has grown over the year to a 2013 tally of $174 million.
“Eighty (percent) to 85 percent of our loan applications get approved,” Shakely said.
The mill location is long gone. In 1989, the same year the credit union opened business up to organizations other than Armco, it built its current facility on Hollywood Drive in Butler Township. In 2002, an addition was made to the building.
In the future, Shakely said he sees a trend toward more smaller branch offices. And because of the growing regulations and responsibilities, he sees more mergers.
Over the past 10 years, the Butler Armco Credit Union has merged with a number of others, including the VA Credit Union, the West Penn Power Credit Union and the Postal Employees credit union.Shakely said the credit union branch offices will likely be throughout the county, and perhaps beyond, in the next decade. Right now, the credit union is looking for good matches in the Cranberry Township and Saxonburg areas.“We are not looking to take over other credit unions. But we are looking to partner up with them,” Shakely said.As far as future technology, Shakely said no one knows what will happen next. In the coming year, the credit union hopes to offer loans — application through closing — online“People have different needs. Some use the mobile banking, some like drive up. Others still want that face-to-face contact,” he said. “We offer different ways to serve different people.”Clearview Federal Credit UnionIn 2004, US Airways Federal Credit Union changed its name to Clearview Federal Credit Union because the board and members thought that name reflected the company's attitude.“A clear view of the future ... a clear view of the skies ahead,” said Christianne Gribbon, assistant vice president of marketing at the company which is, in fact, growing in services, sites and membership.The economy is rebounding, Gribbon said, and as it improves, consumers are more and more investigating what credit unions have to offer.Clearview Federal Credit Union, which serves a 10-county area in southwestern Pennsylvania, has about 83,000 members, a number that sometimes “grows hourly, I can't even say daily,” Gribbon said.The credit union, which opened in 1953 to serve the employees of Allegheny Airlines, now has assets of $840 million, 345 employees and 17 offices.One of those branches is at 600 Butler Crossing in Butler Township.Like the Butler Armco Credit Union, Clearview is growing by way of merger, with three planned for this year. None of those partners is in Butler County, but Gribbon said the credit union is always on the lookout in this county for mergers.“With new regulatory issues, it's hard for smaller credit unions, and even small businesses, to comply with the extra burdens,” Gribbon said.Gribbon also pointed out that technology upgrades are important.The credit union offers mobile banking, and in 2013 it added a service to deposit checks via cell phone.“Our members are embracing this service with minimal marketing. They are technology savvy and finding it on their own,” Gribbon said. “It's widely accepted and use is growing by leaps and bounds.”Gribbon said such services are making banking easier.“Our members like to be on the go,” Gribbon said. “Nobody wants banking to be a chore.”
<B>Address</B>: 101 Hollywood Drive, P.O. BOX 1589, Butler<B>Website: www.baecu.com<B>CEO: </B>Randy Cypher<B>Number of employees: </B>51<B>Mission statement or goal: </B>Members Helping Members
<b>Address:</b> 8805 University Blvd., Moon Township, with a branch at 600 Butler Crossing, Butler<b>Website:</b> www.clearviewfcu.org<b>President:</b> Mark Brennan<b>Number of employees: </b>345<b>Mission statement or goal: </b>The mission of Clearview Federal Credit Union is to provide our field of membership with a wide range of reasonably priced, high quality financial products that are service driven and promote member education while maintaining a high standard of integrity and stability.<b>The vision statement: </b>Always be responsive to our members and ensure all their experiences will be outrageously convenient, efficient and pleasing.
