Dear Credit Union members,
First and foremost, thank you to those of you who attended our Independence Summits and shared your stories and great ideas for the future. Over 275 people gathered with us in Raleigh, Wilmington, Greenville, Asheville and Hickory to learn together and help co-create our Credit Union of the future. A credit union that is not last, not second, but first in service to the North Carolina local government community.
We used a process called Appreciative Inquiry that focuses on learning from the best of the past and then imagining an even better future. Together we got to know each other, and openly and honestly discussed Local Government Federal Credit Union’s journey to independence from State Employees’ Credit Union. As I said at the summits, “We are not running away from SECU, but are running toward our members.” This means that your ideas and input are and will always be important to us.
New products, new ideas
Summit participants expressed excitement and welcomed information about new products coming this year to Civic, our digital Credit Union. These include mortgages, Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Individual Retirement Accounts. Participants’ excitement led them to volunteer to help us create the best HSA product, made especially for our members!
We also shared with participants our plan to expand our statewide field teams for more face-to-face customer service and community support, and our plan to broaden our Experience Center to offer 24/7 online support. While the services are automated, our staff can be with you all the way by helping you complete documents and meeting with you face-to-face online.
Participants expressed appreciation for these new products and services, and for new online banking options — options some members have today — by using the digital platforms we’ve created for Civic. Independence is all about finding new ways to meet your needs, now and in the future.
Building the future, together
In collaboration with LGFCU executives and staff, participants shared their ideas on several challenging issues key to our success: the handling of cash deposits, improving broadband access in rural areas, and providing education for members on using digital services. We have teams working to create solutions to each of these challenges.
As we head toward our March 2024 goal for independence, your input is helping to make the difference. Continue to share your thoughts and be part of designing the dynamic future of our Credit Union. We are listening.
Here's what's next
Follow our progress and post your ideas and questions on our Independence webpage. Thank you for being a part of this exciting time at our Credit Union. I hope you’ll join our livestream of the 2023 LGFCU Annual Meeting on March 24, for more on what’s happening at LGFCU.
The best is yet to come,
Dwayne Naylor
Chief Executive Officer