Credit Union ONE Wins Credit Union Journal Best Practices Award

Stephen Dedene, Credit Union ONE Manager

of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs

Ferndale, Michigan – Ferndale, Michigan – Credit Union ONE was recently selected as a Credit Union Journal 2013 Best Practices Award winner in the area of Political Advocacy.

Credit Union Journal, published by SourceMedia is the nation’s leading credit union newsweekly and serves more than 8,000 readers.  Annually the Journal recognizes achievements across the entire credit union enterprise, with approximately 20 of the Best Practices being highlighted as providing new and innovative ideas for credit unions to capitalize on.

Credit Union ONE was selected based on the implementation of a Political Advocacy site on their internal intranet site.  The special site launched by Stephen Dedene, Manager of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs at Credit Union ONE, was designed to help employees at all levels of the credit union become educated about the issues that impact credit unions, and to equip them with the tools necessary to become advocates for their members and the community in general.

“Our employees have the opportunity to get involved by reaching out to lawmakers when there are issues that will impact credit unions,” said Dedene.  “This is just the first step in what we hope will someday become part of our culture.”

Dedene went on to say, “We are very happy to receive this recognition for the Advocacy Site and hope that other credit unions see the value that having a site such as this can bring to their organizations.”

Credit Union ONE, headquartered in Ferndale Michigan for seventy-five years, offers a wide array of financial services and access to over 30,000 ATM’s nationwide, serving 108,000 members, with seventeen offices in three major metropolitan areas, including Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. For more information go to cuone.org or "like us" on Facebook.

Contact Judi Desilets, Director of Public Relations for Credit Union ONE, 248-584-5224, Judi_Desilets@cuone.org

Long time Credit Union ONE board member retires

Ferndale, Michigan – Charlene P. Augustyn, Credit Union ONE board member announced her retirement on September 1, 2013 after serving on the credit union board for 24 years.

Augustyn’s long history with the credit union began in 1988 when Credit Union ONE merged with St. Matthew’s Credit Union in Grand Rapids where she was an employee of St. Matthew’s Credit Union.  As part of the Grand Rapids Advisory Committee of Credit Union ONE Charlene P. Augustyn volunteered her time, and while serving in this capacity she joined the Credit Union ONE board in 1989 and served on numerous committees over the years.

Not one to sit idle, Augustyn has always been active in the Grand Rapids community.  Raising her three sons, she still found time to work within the school system to establish educational programs, give back to her church, and even went back to school at 55 and became a Certified Paralegal.

“Being part of the credit union movement has been a rewarding experience; first as an employee, then on the G.R. Liaison Committee and then as a board member, for Credit Union ONE,” said Charlene P. Augustyn.  “Always working with the members’ best interest in mind, this awesome Board of Directors has always served with great pride, dedication and love of the credit union movement.  I am proud to have been part of the work that has been accomplished in the past 24 years I have served on the board and the exemplary leadership of the CEO.”

“Char’s keen sense of member value matched with a great understanding of the financials is a strength for any Board, said Gary Moody, Credit Union ONE President and CEO.  Her dedication to excellence and assuring things were done right were great examples for her peers and our entire staff.  She will be missed, but not forgotten.  She left her mark!”

As Augustyn leaves her position on the board, she is looking forward to spending more time with her 7 grandchildren, flower gardening, traveling and keeping active in her community.

Credit Union ONE, headquartered in Ferndale Michigan for seventy-five years, offers a wide array of financial services and access to over 30,000 ATM’s nationwide, serving 108,000 members, with seventeen offices in three major metropolitan areas, including Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. For more information go to cuone.org or "like us" on Facebook.

Contact Judi Desilets, Director of Public Relations for Credit Union ONE, 248-584-5224, Judi_Desilets@cuone.org

Credit Union ONE “Pays Your Way Sweepstakes”

Ferndale, Michigan – Fans of the Credit Union ONE Facebook page recently had the opportunity to win various gift cards in the “Pays Your Way Sweepstakes” held November 18^th-December 6^th.

To give back to their members and show appreciation of their Facebook fans, Credit Union ONE ran the sweepstakes for the second year in a row, due to it being such a fan favorite last year. 

During the Sweepstakes period fans who “liked” Credit Union ONE’s Facebook page received an entry form that once completed would enter them into the sweepstakes.  Existing fans also had the opportunity to complete an entry form and enter to win, with all entrants being given one chance to win daily. 

Three drawings were held with a total of nineteen winners selected receiving gift cards to Starbucks, Kroger, and Meijer stores ranging in value from $10-$40, simply just for being a fan and entering the drawing!!

Supporting analytics showed the promotion brought in 177 new fans to the page, with over 1,207 fans entering into the Sweepstakes; approximately a 17.4% entry rate of our total fan base. 

According to Andrea Pertile, Credit Union ONE Social Media Manager, “Credit Union ONE’s goal is to engage our members by giving back; whether it’s joining a discussion on an interesting topic, making our fans laugh with a joke, or brightening a fans’ day with a cup of coffee.  Adding value to our members’ lives is what drives us.”

Credit Union ONE, headquartered in Ferndale Michigan for seventy-five years, offers a wide array of financial services and access to over 30,000 ATM’s nationwide, serving 108,000 members, with seventeen offices in three major metropolitan areas, including Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. For more information go to cuone.org or "like us" on Facebook.

Contact Judi Desilets, Director of Public Relations for Credit Union ONE, 248-584-5224, Judi_Desilets@cuone.org

Credit Union ONE members win with “Banking on Paradise” Sweepstakes

Winner of two Kindle Fires member Susan B. (r) with St.Clair Shores Asst. Branch  Manager  Krystine Newberry 

Macomb Asst. Branch Manager Candy Orvelo with Michael R., winner of a Kindle Fire

Winner of iPod Nano Laura B. with Matt Lahr, Branch Manager of Credit Union ONE Beaumont Troy

(l) Traverse City Branch Manager Tamara DePonio with winner of Kindle Fire Birdie S.

Happy member John G. with his new Kindle Fire

Kathleen D. receives her new Kindle Fire

(l) Kris Brosnihan, Digital Services Analyst

for Credit Union ONE presents Mike

Kitchen with a Kindle Fire

Ferndale, Michigan – Who wouldn’t want to win a trip to paradise just by paying their bills online?

By participating in the national bill pay sweepstakes sponsored by Fidelity Information Services, Credit Union ONE enabled their members to win Kindle Fire tablets, Apple iPod Nano MP3 players, a cash prize of $2500 or the Grand Prize of a one week trip for four to Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas!

Simply by using the online bill payment system members were automatically entered into the sweepstakes; with more usage of the bill pay system giving them more chances to win.

“Bill Pay is a great way for members to pay their bills online,” said Kris Brosnihan, Credit Union ONE Digital Services Analyst.  Our members can pay anyone and make many of these payments next business day. These members have higher participation at the credit union and the opportunity to reward them for paying their bills online with great prizes is a bonus.”

So far, with four weeks of reporting the results of winners, Credit Union ONE members have won 15 Kindle Fire tablets, and 5 Apple iPod Nano MP3 players!  There will be one more week of winners before the Cash Prize Winner and the Grand Prize Winner are chosen, and Credit Union ONE is hoping that a Trip to Paradise is in the future for a lucky Credit Union ONE member!

Credit Union ONE, headquartered in Ferndale Michigan for seventy-five years, offers a wide array of financial services and access to over 30,000 ATM’s nationwide, serving 108,000 members, with seventeen offices in three major metropolitan areas, including Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. For more information go to cuone.org or "like us" on Facebook.

Contact Judi Desilets, Director of Public Relations for Credit Union ONE, 248-584-5224, Judi_Desilets@cuone.org

Members appreciate Credit Union ONE diamond giveaway

Smiles all around as Grand Prize Winner Kali G. receives her beautiful diamond
bracelet from Credit Union ONE's Macomb Branch Asst. Manager Candy Orvelo
(left) and Andrea Pertile, Social Media Manager for Credit Union ONE (right)

Ferndale, Michigan – Continuing in the celebration of the 75^th Diamond Anniversary of Credit Union ONE it was only fitting to have a contest for credit union members.

The “Scratch and Win” Member Appreciation contest was just the answer.  From September 30-October 18, 2013 members coming into any Credit Union ONE branch had the opportunity to receive a scratch off card.  Once they entered their code from their card into the Credit Union ONE Facebook tab they either were declared an “instant winner” or they were entered into the Grand Prize drawing for a diamond bracelet.

Over 4,455 entries were received for the contest, and approximately 184 instant winners were awarded gift cards ranging from $5 to $100, and the Grand Prize winner, Kali G. took home a stunning diamond bracelet.  “I still can’t believe I won this beautiful bracelet; this was definitely a contest worth entering,” said Kali G.

Gaining over 883 Facebook fans from this promotion, Social Media Manager for Credit Union ONE Andrea Pertile said, “Branch staff was a huge help in reaching our goal of engaging new fans and creating an opportunity within our branch network to reach out to members who didn’t know Credit Union ONE was involved in social media.  We surpassed expectations with the high number of new fans and over 1,145 engaged users reacting to the Member Appreciation Giveaway.”

Credit Union ONE, headquartered in Ferndale Michigan for seventy-five years, offers a wide array of financial services and access to over 30,000 ATM’s nationwide, serving 108,000 members, with seventeen offices in three major metropolitan areas, including Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids and Traverse City. For more information go to cuone.org or "like us" on Facebook

Contact Judi Desilets, Director of Public Relations for Credit Union ONE, 248-584-5224, Judi_Desilets@cuone.org