news.cuna.org/articles/118785-podcast-faith-based-credit-unions
Faith-based credit unions
From left: Robin Hollis and Drs. Hiram and Joronda Crawford

PODCAST: Faith-based credit unions

Small, volunteer-run institutions collaborate for members’ benefit.

December 11, 2020

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

This proverb sums up the mission of faith-based credit unions and the Faith Based Credit Union Alliance. The alliance, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in September, embraces collaboration to move its member credit unions—and their members—forward together.

This episode of the CUNA News Podcast features Drs. Joronda and Hiram Crawford, board members at $1.4 million asset Israel Methcomm Federal Credit Union in Chicago, and Robin Hollis, regional director for the Illinois Credit Union League

They discuss how faith-based credit unions differ from their mainstream counterparts, relying primarily on volunteers to serve their tight-knit memberships.

They also explain how the Faith Based Credit Union Alliance fosters collaboration among its member credit unions, what mainstream credit unions can learn from faith-based credit unions, and more.

You can listen to the CUNA News Podcast in Apple’s iTunes Store, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio.

In this episode:

1:25: Joining the movement

4:58: Credit unions bonded by faith

7:34: Unique challenges

9:34: Taking a chance on members

11:44: “A complete collaboration”

12:30: Service during the pandemic

17:31: Operational changes

19:06: “We must move forward together”

20:03: Ten years of memories

23:23: Sources of inspiration

26:11: Navigating the pandemic