Main Blog Article Content
I would like to wish you a Happy New Year from your Devidot Credit Union family. As we celebrate new beginnings in 2018, we reflect on the many challenges we have overcome in the past year. Devidot Credit Union has not forgotten why we were founded. We are people helping people and in tune with 2017 International Credit Union Day’s theme, we know that your “dreams thrive here.” I am proud to say that we have truly helped our member-family this past year.
We conducted an in-depth analysis and compared our solutions to those of the top 5 banks in our area, Chase®, Wells Fargo®, SunTrust®, Bank of America® and Citibank®. On average we have saved our members over $9 million! We are excited about this and eager to save our members even more in 2018. Indeed, the more products and services you have with us, the more you will save. It is our fundamental purpose, to guide our member-family to better lives today and for all generations to come. Your dreams thrive here.
When Hurricane Irma came, your credit union was ready. We remained open as long as weather allowed for the safety of our staff and member-family. We ensured our ATMs were accessible for anyone needing funds before the storm. We were up and running Tuesday morning after the storm, extending grace periods for late fee charges by an additional fifteen days or as needed on a member-to-member basis. We also waived or refunded overdraft, ATM and shared branching fees for the entire month of September. We are grateful that most of us have been able to return to some form of normalcy. We know that there are others on a steady path to rebuilding. We are here to help and encourage you to speak openly to us as we express the love of family by providing personalized financial solutions. We are people helping people.
Our staff’s hard work and dedication continues to get recognized year after year. Our CIO, Michelle Diaz was awarded the Chief Information Officer of the Year for small businesses by Delaware Business Journal. For the fourth consecutive year, we received Credit Union Journal’s “Best Credit Unions to Work For,” in addition to the Sun Sentinel’s 2017, “Top Workplaces” and finalists in Delaware Business Journal’s 2017, “Best Places to Work.” In 2017, we were ranked as Delaware’s Top Performing Credit Union by S&P Global Market Intelligence. We continue to support LifeNet4Families food pantry, United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami and made generous contributions to the Red Cross. We participated in Making Strides against Breast Cancer awareness walk and sponsored the City of Pembroke Pines Easter Egg Hunt, Mayor’s Chess Challenge, Santa’s Calling and Bow Wow Ween. We also opened our doors to kids from the daycare for Children’s Home Society. The kids enjoyed touring our corporate office, receiving treats and being wowed by our festive decorations.
To provide convenience for our members, in 2017 we rolled out Popmoney®, Android PayTM, Samsung® Pay, Microsoft Wallet and Visa® Checkout. The breaches at some of our country’s top agencies and businesses were unsettling. We were ready with answers to your questions as well as offered discounted identity theft protection products to help provide peace of mind for you and your family. We have also begun converting our debit cards over to the chip-enabled card system, providing added security to your account.
We also welcomed Bonefish and Tarpon Trust to the family. Bonefish and Tarpon Trust’s primary focus is the conservation and restoration of bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries throughout the Southeastern United States, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Just like BTT, we believe in protecting our memberfamily through solutions that will improve the quality of life.
In April 2018, we will be going through our system conversion, allowing us to provide ease, convenience and state-of-the-art service to you and creating the foundation for future technological advancements. We will also have a website refresh, allowing you access to the information you need with one or two clicks. Look for more information to come on these adaptations in the next few months.
A cooperative is as strong as its members. The more members we have, the more money we can loan each other and the more discounted or free services we can provide. I challenge you to refer two friends or family members to us in 2018. Not only will this make us stronger, but both you and your referral with receive $50 each as a thank you. We are people helping people.
I say it often, but I do not take it lightly: we would not be here if it were not for you. We appreciate your loyalty and membership. As we celebrate the beginning of 2018, we will continue to focus on you, our memberfamily and provide superior products and services to allow your dreams to thrive at Devidot Credit Union. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the staff, we are grateful for your membership, thankful that you are a part of our family and hope you will continue to share the gift of membership with your friends and family.
With appreciation,
Leman Murray Chairman – Board of Directors