Scott Credit Union Recognized for Making a Difference

Scott Credit Union has won first place awards in all four categories of the Illinois Credit Union League’s annual state-wide awards competition.

The credit union won the top prize in categories focused on youth and adult financial education, social responsibility and credit union philosophy in action.

Scott Credit Union won first place awards in the greater than $1 billion asset categories for its partnership with Gateway Region YMCA’s Community Services Branch, for its first-time home buyer seminar series, its volunteerism with Salvation Army bell ringing during the holidays and for its Youth Advisory Council.

“We partnered with the Gateway Region YMCA to provide financial education to more than 125 middle and high school students during three budgeting fairs and money management presentations in East St. Louis,” said SCU Community Relations Supervisor Jennifer Hess. “There is a real need for financial education and our budgeting fairs give kids real-life experience with handling a budget and making financial decisions.”

Scott Credit Union employees hosted the financial education programs at the Mary Brown Center and at East St. Louis High School, Hess noted.

“It is really part of our mission to provide financial education to students who need it,” Hess added. “Our partnership with the YMCA was a great fit to help us fulfill that need.”

Scott Credit Union also received a first place award for its first-time home buyer seminars that provided financial education to adults getting ready to purchase their first home.

“We hosted five seminars and had 115 people attend,” Hess said. “Our mortgage team presented information to help a first-time home buyer with purchasing their first home. We realize that people have many questions going into the home buying process. Our goal was to give them the information they need to be successful in reaching their goal of home ownership.”

Those who participated in the seminars received a certificate to have their origination fee waived on a mortgage with Scott Credit Union, Hess said.

“We held the seminars on Saturday mornings and actually had to add more dates because of the high demand,” Hess noted. “We also had realtors available to talk with attendees to give them information and tips for buying their first home. We are really happy to have provided people with the information they need.”

Scott Credit Union also won a first place award for 44 of its employees volunteering over 100 hours during the Salvation Army bell ringing campaign during the 2015 holiday season.

“We were recognized by the Salvation Army for collecting more money than any other single organization in the region during the season,” Hess noted. “We really believe in giving back to the people in our community and supporting the Salvation Army is another way for us to do just that.”

Scott Credit Union’s Youth Advisory Council also garnered a first place award in the state-wide competition.

“Our Youth Advisory Council is a group of high school and college students who are selected through an application and interview process,” Hess said. “They meet monthly to share ideas and work closely with our marketing staff to improve how we deliver financial services to young adults. The group has helped us to create programs like our first time car buying service and our student debit account. These are services designed for young adults who are borrowing money or using a checking account for the first time.”

Members of the SCU Youth Advisory Council also receive financial education and can volunteer with Scott Credit Union at community events, Hess added.

“Once they have served their team on the council, SCU donates $250 to a charity of the student’s choice in their name,” she said. “It is a great thank you to them and promotes the idea of giving back to community.”

Representatives from Scott Credit Union will be recognized at the keynote and awards program during the Credit Union League’s Annual Convention this spring in Schaumburg, Ill.

Scott Credit Union has made giving back to its communities a major priority. The local credit union contributed more than $370,000 and its employees volunteered more than 2,400 hours to a variety of local civic efforts throughout the region in 2015.

“We realize that without our members and the communities in which we serve, we would not exist as a financial alternative,” Hess said. “That is why it is so important for us to give back and support the communities in which we have locations.”

Scott Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative that is member owned. The credit union recently gave nearly $1.5 million back to members through a bonus dividend and loan interest rebate.

Scott Credit Union is open to anyone who lives or works in a 17 county area, including Madison, St. Clair, Monroe, Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Clinton, Marion, Bond, Macoupin, Montgomery, Fayette, Effingham, Williamson, and Jackson counties. Anyone who lives or works in St. Louis County, Missouri also can open accounts at SCU. Additionally, anyone active or retired military also can have accounts with Scott Credit Union.

Scott Credit Union currently has 15 area locations: Scott Air Force Base, East Belleville, Fairview Heights, Collinsville, O’Fallon, Edwardsville, Waterloo, Highland, Caseyville, West Belleville, Millstadt, Mascoutah, Troy, Wood River and its Home Office in Edwardsville.

For details on opening accounts at Scott Credit Union, visit www.scu.org, call 1-800-888-4728, or stop by any of the credit union’s branches.