Why Credit Unions Like MACU are Truly About People Helping People

MACU-Celebration-1The name Members Advantage Credit Union (MACU) is more than just a moniker that rolls off the tongue, it’s a testament to the philosophy and commitment of credit unions themselves.

And here’s why members really matter at credit unions like MACU.

Credit unions, unlike banks which are for-profit, are non-profit institutions whose stakeholders are the very members that walk through their doors to do business with them. And because of this distinction members can have the peace of mind in knowing that credit unions are always working in their best interest.

Credit unions are cooperative in nature, ever since their inception in 1934 when the Federal Credit Union Act was signed by President Roosevelt in an effort to make credit more available to more Americans during the Great Depression. They are designed, as non-profits, to ensure that the profits that made are given back to the members in the forms of lower interest rates, better rates on savings accounts, and little or no fees on accounts.

In essence, becoming a member of a credit union means that you’re joining a team that only grows when you do and whose business plan is built upon the success of you, not shareholders.

And this cooperative, community-based focus extends to that of credit unions themselves. Unlike banks, which are focused on their success and bottom line, naturally, credit unions as a whole are working together cooperatively; which leads to one less known benefit to credit unions: shared branching.

Shared branching is the answer to one of the biggest misconceptions out there about credit unions: that there’s just not enough locations to justify joining a credit union. But because of Co-Op shared branching, when you become a member of a credit union like MACU you’re also gaining banking access to over 5,000 shared branches and nearly 30,000 ATMs.

And that number is only expected grow as credit union popularity increases.

But no matter how big that number above grows, the beauty of your local credit union, like MACU, is that a credit union’s national appeals is built one member at a time through each union working tirelessly for a community they are committed to.

And there is no better example than that of MACU, whose dedication to the Northwest Indiana community is shown day in, and day out.

Because, as MACU President Frank Beachnau puts it, there’s nothing better than watching MACU and the community grow together.

“I genuinely enjoy coming into work knowing the group of people who work at MACU are passionate about creating a successful credit union. Their enthusiasm helping others succeed is infectious and refreshing, especially for our clients.”