Massachusetts Story Archive
Massachusetts’ Freedom Credit Union Opens First Location in Connecticut
Freedom Credit Union in Springfield, Massachusetts, recently opened its first location in Connecticut. The $683 million-asset credit union opened a loan production office in Enfield dedicated exclusively to mortgage and business lending, at least for now. In 2020, Freedom expanded its charter from people who live, work or attend school in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties in Massachusetts to also include people in Hartford and Tolland counties in Connecticut. Read More
Worker’s Credit Union Caroline Santangelo Named 2022 Credit Union Rock Star
Sept. 27, 2022 — Massachusetts’ Caroline Santangelo has been named as a 2022 Credit Union Rock Star by the editorial team of Credit Union Magazine. Santangelo works as the VP of Marketing at Worker’s Credit Union in Littleton, MA. 
The Credit Union Rock Stars program recognizes outstanding credit union professionals and directors from a wide range of disciplines who use their unique strengths to advance the missions of their credit unions.
“The 10th class of Credit Union Rock Stars demonstrates once again that our movement is filled with those who invent, innovate, and most importantly inspire,” says Michelle Willits, Credit Union Magazine publisher. “Our Rock Stars represent small to large credit unions nationwide and work in operations, leadership, and board roles. We are proud to present this year’s class, brought to you by Fiserv.”
“This year’s Rock Stars are shining examples of those in the credit union industry who continue to push boundaries and address challenges with determination,” said Theo Curey, president of credit union solutions at Fiserv. “This award recognizes the tenacity, diversity, and innovation of the many individuals and institutions making a difference and creating significant opportunities for their members and communities.”
The Credit Union Rock Stars will be profiled in a special issue of Credit Union Magazine, sponsored by Fiserv.
Check out all the winners and read their stories at news.cuna.org/rockstar.
Largest Credit Union in Massachusetts Names New CEO
Shruti Miyashiro will take over the helm at Digital Federal Credit Union after Jim Regan retires in July.
Courtesy of Peter Strozniak, Credit Union Times
June 17, 2022 — Shruti Miyashiro will become president/CEO of Digital Federal Credit Union on Aug. 1, the board of directors for the largest financial cooperative in Massachusetts said Friday. She will succeed current President/CEO Jim Regan, who will retire from the Marlborough-based credit union on July 31.
Regan was appointed CEO in 2009. During his tenure, DCU grew assets from $4.4 billion to its current assets of $9.8 billion, while membership expanded from 307,309 to its current membership of 1,003,316, according to NCUA Call Reports. Regan also was a founding member of DCU for Kids, which has raised and donated more than $22 million since 2005.
“Jim leaves a lasting legacy of service and innovation for DCU to build on moving into the future,” DCU Board Chair Matthew Menning said in a prepared statement. “All of us wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement.”
Miyashiro will join DCU from Orange County’s Credit Union in Santa Ana, Calif., where she has served as CEO since 2007. During her tenure, OCCU increased assets from $870 million to its current assets of $2.4 billion, and membership grew from 81,427 to 124,061, according to NCUA Call Reports.
She also served as CEO of the $237 million Pasadena Federal Credit Union in Pasadena, Calif., for four years. She currently serves on the board of Jack Henry & Associates and is a member of the Advisory Committee for the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.
“After an extensive search, DCU could not have found a more qualified or respected leader – or a more passionate credit union industry advocate – to lead the credit union forward. Shruti brings tremendous leadership talent, over two decades of credit union experience and unparalleled dedication to member service to DCU,” Menning said. “With Shruti’s expertise, combined with our outstanding senior management and employee team and solid strategic framework, DCU is in an excellent position to continue to grow and thrive while delivering exceptional member value.”
Read the entire article here.
Massachusettes Align Credit Union and Alltrust Credit Union Announce Intent to Merge
February 16, 2022 – Align Credit Union, a $740 million credit union located in Lowell, MA, and Alltrust Credit Union, a $300 million credit union located in Fairhaven, MA, have announced their intention to pursue a merger. Pursuant to regulatory and member approval, the merger would combine Align’s 28,230 members with Alltrust’s 13,900 members and will result in an organization with combined assets of over $1 billion.
Both credit unions were formed in 1922 as telephone worker credit unions and both are celebrating their 100th year anniversary. The joining of two telephone worker credit unions is a collaboration of shared mission and culture, and both have a passion for providing superior banking services to their members and the community.
The decision to pursue a possible merger was originated due to several criteria including the similar telephone worker backgrounds of each credit union; their shared values; desire to deliver financial guidance and solutions to their members and the community; and a joint dedication to their employees and their careers.
“The synergies between Align and Alltrust led us to this path of discovering the possibility of a merger,” stated Ken Del Rossi, Align President and CEO. “Our credit unions were each established as telephone worker credit unions and the merger would bring the amazing vision and culture of our credit unions together. Along with the shared goals, a merger would allow the combined credit union to realize economies of scale and strengthen our abilities to improve the products and services offered to our members.”
Massachusetts Own Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union’s “We Share A Common Thread” Foundation Raises Over $110,000
May 2022 – Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union held its twelfth annual We Share A Common Thread Foundation Fundraiser on Wednesday, March 30, at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, raising over $110,000 for local non-profit organizations. The We Share A Common Thread Foundation was established in 2011, with a mission to support people in the community by assisting with food, shelter, clothing, health, and education.
This was the first time since the start of the pandemic that the event was held in person, and more than 300 Jeanne D’Arc employees, business partners, members, and supporters gathered to attend the Fundraiser. Attendees took chances on raffle baskets, bid on silent auction items, and listened to live music all while helping those in need.
This was the Foundation’s largest fundraiser yet, raising over $110,000 which will be distributed to 141 non-profits in 24 different cities in the Merrimack Valley area. To see a list of organizations who will benefit from the We Share A Common Thread Foundation Fundraiser visit wsact.com.
The night would not have been possible without the generous donors and sponsors including Fiserv, Inc., a global provider of financial service technology, as the Common Thread Sponsor, the highest level of sponsorship.
“It was great to see everyone back together, having fun and raising money to support so many worthy causes in our area,” said Mark S. Cochran, President and Chief Executive Officer at Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union.
Workers Credit Union, One Of The State’s Largest, Doubles Assets In 7 Years
December 16, 2021 —Walk into a Workers Credit Union branch, and you’ll notice the space isn’t dominated by a row of tellers’ windows behind a counter for signing deposit and withdrawal forms.
When so many people have direct deposits or can manage their portfolio through mobile banking, Workers has overhauled its branches to serve different needs.
Instead, a customer might find Olivia — a hologram that speaks 52 languages, including American Sign Language, and Pepper, a robot that can help with basic information or entertain kids.
Workers, which is more than a century old and the state’s fourth largest credit union by total assets as of June, entirely revamped how its branches to look, taking inspiration from an Apple or Tesla store. They have a more spare, modern look and help that is easier to find, said Peter Rice, the credit union’s chief banking officer.
“We threw the design out the window completely,” Rice said.
Workers has 17 branches between Worcester, Lowell and Orange, covering a broad swath of the state between the Merrimack Valley and a quiet region north of the Quabbin Reservoir. It was long based in Fitchburg, in the geographic center of its retail branches, but a year ago moved its main offices to a newly built headquarters just off I-495 in Littleton.
Massachusetts Credit Unions Donate $157,637 to Support “A Bed for Every Child”
July 2021 — Living their philosophy of ‘people helping people’, Credit Unions in Massachusetts donated $157,637 to “A Bed for Every Child,” an initiative of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless (Coalition), at the Stephen D. Jones Credit Union Charity Golf Tournament.
Ronald McLean, President/CEO of the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA), shared his appreciation to all the credit unions and supporters who are making a difference in the lives of so many children in need of a bed, saying, “The Massachusetts Credit Unions can be proud of their efforts, specifically their leadership role, as credit unions continue to lead the charge in helping the Coalition grow ‘A Bed for Every Child’ program.” ‘A Bed for Every Child’ began in 2012 when a concerned inner-city, public school teacher reached out to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. The teacher shared that many of her students were coming to school extremely tired because they did not have a bed. Knowing that many of the students’ parents could not afford to purchase one, she wondered if the Coalition could help get beds for some of her students – that one inquiry launched
‘A Bed for Every Child.’
Robyn Frost, Executive Director, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, was touched by the generosity of the Massachusetts Credit Unions, saying, “At the start of the pandemic, we needed to shift gears. If Dominos can deliver pizza curbside and contactless, we thought why can’t we deliver beds in the same fashion? And that’s what we did. We just couldn’t have groups build the beds and so our staff was busy, building and delivering beds to more than 2,800 children throughout the state last year and through the generous support of the credit unions, we didn’t miss a beat. We thank you all.”
Division of Banks Joins Multi-State Coalition of Regulators, Inviting U.S. Secretary of Education Cardona to Join Them in Protecting Student Loan Borrowers, Urging the Reversal of Policies that Undermine States’ Oversight of Student Loan Servicers
March 9, 2021 — The Massachusetts Division of Banks joined a multi-state coalition of state financial regulators congratulating Secretary Miguel Cardona on his confirmation and inviting him to partner with states in protecting student loan borrowers across the country. The letter calls to the Secretary’s attention two existing U.S. Department of Education policies that obstruct states’ ability to regulate the private companies that service federal student loans. The state regulators urge Secretary Cardona to reverse these policies and join states’ efforts to ensure the student loan servicing industry is a resource for borrowers, not a barrier to relief or source of harm. The legacy policies have created unnecessary obstacles to states implementing common-sense consumer protections and investigating potential misconduct:
DOE issued guidance asserting that federal law preempts states’ regulation of the private companies that service federal student loan, including licensing requirements and other consumer protections.
DOE attempts to use the federal Privacy Act of 1974 as a shield against states’ requests for information, claiming that federal law prohibited student loan servicers from sharing certain information with states.
MA Gov. Baker Signs Credit Union Modernization Bill
Jan. 21, 2021 — Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed S2828, An Act Modernizing Credit Union Laws, into law on January 12th, making it possible for Massachusetts credit unions to help further improve the lives of their members. The bill has long been a priority for Massachusetts credit unions and is the most important and comprehensive enhancement to the MA credit union state charter in over 30 years.
Throughout the legislative process the importance of credit unions to the Commonwealth in providing vital services to their communities was emphasized. The new law will allow credit unions to adapt to a financial landscape that has shifted dramatically over the last three decades through a more logical and organized system that will better serve the residents of Massachusetts.
The majority of provisions within the bill modernize existing credit union authorities, and address such areas as governance, credit union member authority, transactions, deposits and loans, and technology enhancements. The new law strengthens credit unions’ ability to enhance the financial stability of their members through streamlined personal loan authority, eliminating the 100-mile radius for real estate loans and increasing partner options for participation loans. It also modernizes a number of governance requirements for credit unions, including their annual meeting processes, electronic member voting, authorizes associate director positions, and streamlines committee composition.
1st credit union to take advantage of new interstate branching law
Feb. 5, 2016 — Lowell, Mass. — Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union said it will open its 10th branch office later this year in Nashua, becoming the first state-chartered credit union to take advantage of a new law allowing for expansion outside Massachusetts (Lowell Sun).
Final amendments for Mass branching law filed
Aug. 4, 2015 – Boston, Mass. – The Division of Banks has filed final amendments to implement new legislation relative to credit union branching.
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