Credit Union Erases Frustration to Get Home Deal Done

Is quality service and commitment to the consumer becoming so rare that it's considered "old-fashioned?"

The headline of a recent New York Daily News story proclaimed, "Old-fashioned credit unions are gaining popularity with homebuyers." It tells about how more New Yorkers are turning to credit unions for quality home loans and service.

In this story, Municipal Credit Union in lower Manhattan helped Onika Shepherd and her family move into a home of their own. Onika obviously was thrilled about the credit union and her loan officer:

"When I was frustrated, he was the person who showed me how to get a deal done. That's how it's supposed to be in a credit union."

My credit union continuously evolves to provide the financial products and services I require for my speedy, modern and hectic lifestyle. But the outstanding service never changes. So in a way, I guess I'm old-fashioned, too.

Click here and read the complete story.

Research: Credit Unions in Top 10 for Customer Experience

Credit unions were the only non-retailer brand in the top 10 spots in a new Forrester Research's 2007 Customer Experience Survey.

"A credit union" clocked in as the No. 5 brand, sharing the limelight with Costco, Borders and Barnes & Noble. According to Forrester:

Credit unions and Borders come in first for ease of use. Led by credit unions and Borders, 33 firms received a rating of “excellent” for their ease of use.

The Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester asked nearly 5,000 consumers about their interactions with 112 firms in nine industries. Consumers weighed in on the usefulness, usability and enjoyability of those experiences, said Forrester.

Retailers dominated the survey's top 10 spots, while the bottom 10 included communications companies, healthcare providers--and banks.

Click here for Forrester's recap, published Nov. 28.

Credit Unions Offer Helping Hand on Capitol Hill

Opening House office building doors, shielding pedestrians from the rain, and distributing mints to Capitol Hill staffers and members of Congress were all activities undertaken during the Credit Union National Association's "Credit Union Helper Day on Capitol Hill" Oct. 24.

The tasks performed by CUNA staff members and others were aimed at illustrating to those on Capitol Hill how credit unions help people--especially their members, reports the trade association's News Now.

According to CUNA spokesman Patrick Keefe:

Generally, people appreciated our efforts, and a good number asked us for more information about why and what we were doing. When we explained our connection to credit unions, we heard more than once 'I love my credit union.'

However, the CUNA representative said, not everyone was cheered by the credit union efforts. He noted:

An apparent group of bankers, entering through a door held by a credit union helper, shouted 'credit unions are evil – they should be taxed.'

Keefe said the credit union representative just smiled and told them to have a good day.