Left to right: PAHO/WHO Federal Credit Union's Michael Ray, SAFE Credit Union's Amanda Merz, Numerica Credit Union's Amanda Swan, and Northeast Family Federal Credit Union's Joanne Todd.
PODCAST: 2023 Credit Union Heroes
Unsung heroes share their dedication to community advocacy.
Credit Union Magazine’s 2023 Credit Union Heroes have shaped their credit union spirit and philosophy around their personal outlook and experiences.
These heroes join the CUNA News Podcast to share those values and detail how they advocate for people in their communities.
The 2023 Credit Union Heroes are:
- Amanda Merz, community impact manager at $4.6 billion asset SAFE Credit Union, Folsom, Calif.
- Michael Ray, vice president of business development at $291 million asset PAHO/WHO Federal Credit Union, Washington, D.C.
- Amanda Swan, vice president of community engagement and philanthropy at $3.5 billion asset Numerica Credit Union, Spokane, Wash.
- Joanne Todd, president/CEO at $112 million asset Northeast Family Federal Credit Union, Manchester, Conn.
Visit news.cuna.org/cuhero to read about our 2023 Credit Union Heroes, who will be featured in the spring issue of Credit Union Magazine. Vote for the 2023 Credit Union Hero of the Year in our online poll. Voting ends March 18.
You can listen to the CUNA News Podcast in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher Radio.
In this episode:
2:20: Intro to Amanda Merz
5:26: SAFE Credit Union's three pillars of philanthropy
7:51: Common member financial struggles
9:15: Programs that SAFE Credit Union supports
10:52: Merz's advice for credit unions addressing community needs
11:33: Intro to Michael Ray
11:45: Ray's approach to business development
13:14: Developing credit unions internationally
15:51: How international experiences have shaped Ray at home
17:06: Improving members' financial literacy
23:32: Intro to Amanda Swan
24:05: How Numerica Credit Union gives back
26:32: How Swan's life experiences shaped her service
28:03: Forming community partnerships
29:56: The Numerica Charitable Fund
31:25: Being more than charitable, and more than a credit union
33:13: Intro to Joanne Todd
35:25: Building trust within the community
36:48: Todd's belief in cooperatives
37:45: American Friends of Kenya
39:15: Financial literacy's connection to culture
42:16: Meeting people where they are
42:45: Addressing member needs within their budget