CUNA News
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • LOG IN
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • Topics
    • Community Service
    • Compliance
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Credit Union System
    • Directors
    • Human Resources
    • Leadership
    • Lending
    • Marketing
    • Operations
    • Policy & Issues
    • Sales & Service
    • Technology
  • Credit Union Magazine
    • Buyers' Guide
    • COVID-19
    • Digital Edition
    • Credit Union Hero
    • Credit Union Rock Star
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Awards
    • Nominate Credit Union Hero
    • Nominate Credit Union Rock Star
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Jobs
  • Contact

News

Home » Building financial confidence
Community Service CU Rock Stars 2016
Tai Kraft

Building financial confidence

Worrying about money is a universal human experience, says Mayo Employees FCU's Tai Kraft.

October 4, 2016
Jennifer Garrett
Tai Kraft

Worrying about money is a universal human experience.

But Tai Kraft’s goal is to build members’ confidence and financial skill sets.

“I’m motivated by our members’ success,” she says. “It’s more than helping people work through situations to successful financial outcomes.

"And it’s more than having members tell me how they’re significantly less stressed over their finances," she continues. "It’s hearing the pride in their voices when they tell me what they’ve achieved as a result of learning to successfully manage their money and credit.”

Kraft, who loves her job as a credit counselor, began in 2013 at $816 million asset Mayo Employees Federal Credit Union in Rochester, Minn.

“I’m one of the luckiest people I know. I love my job,” she says. “Some members are in crisis and need to find a fast solution to a problem. Some are struggling to find the best path forward as they work to reach a financial goal such as buying a home.

“Some are working to recover from an unexpected event that bruised their credit history,” Kraft continues. “Most of the members I get to work with are simply wondering, ‘Is there a better way to manage my finances?’”

Several members tell Kraft variations of the same line: “I have never been good with money.”

“They’re so certain about this characteristic of theirs, they state it as a fact that’s practically set in stone,” she says. “What I find pleasantly surprising is our members’ ability to prove themselves wrong.”

People who make a lot of money and people who make little money stress over their finances, Kraft says. Worrying about money is common to everyone.

“I love that I get to work with people and discover the path that will lead them to feeling confident and proud of their choices,” she says. “I consider my success to be dependent on our members’ success. If our members aren’t succeeding, neither am I.”

KEYWORDS Credit Union Rock Stars financial well-being
Credit Union Magazine: Winter 2022

Winter 2022

Credit Union Magazine’s Winter 2022 issue highlights data-driven marketing, the board’s role in cybersecurity, elder abuse scams, credit unions’ auto lending advantage, and more.
Digital Edition •  Subscribe

Trending

  • House passes CUNA, League-led board modernization bill

  • CFPB issues CUNA-opposed proposal on credit card late fees

  • Key committee leaders supportive of credit union priorities

Tweets by CUNA_News

Polls

Vote for the 2023 CU Hero of the Year

View Results
More

Champion for the Credit Union Movement

Credit Union National Association is the most influential financial services trade association and the only national association that advocates on behalf of all of America's credit unions. We work tirelessly to protect your best interests in Washington and all 50 states. We fuel your professional growth at every level and champion the credit union story at every turn.

More CUNA

  • Membership
  • Contact Us
  • Careers

Resources for

  • Credit Union Advocates
  • Leagues
  • Press
  • Providers

Our Affiliates

  • American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL)
  • Credit Union Awareness
  • Credit Union House
  • CUNA Strategic Services
  • National Credit Union Foundation
GET CUNA UPDATES
© 2023 Credit Union National Association | ADA Compliance Notice & Legal
Email Us