CUNA's Sakash talks small credit union member service on podcast

CUNA Manager of Small Credit Union Initiatives Tom Sakash appeared on American Banker's Bankshot podcast recently to discuss Holy Trinity Baptist FCU, one of the smallest credit unions in the U.S., and one that has thrived for more than 50 years. 

Leaders from the credit union told how the credit union began, what it offers, and how it continues to meet member needs. 

"We're small, but we're faith based. And the seniors, they like coming to the credit union as well as young people, is because we issue out loans on faith base," said . Treasurer and Manager Dee Peters. "We believe in you, you are a member of the church, God has sent you to us. So that's how we work with our loans. And we have a delinquency of zero."

Sakash noted that there are about about 3,000 small credit unions (under $100 million in assets), which he said is a reminder that there are many small credit unions that continue to serve members. 

"I think the way that they operate, their service model, they still really like to be in front of the member," he said. "The industry is going a lot more technology forward a lot more, efficient, streamlined, frictionless service with a very digital forward approach whereas a lot of smaller credit unions, they still find their value proposition to be that really high touch service. They really just understand their members, know their members personal lives, know their stories and you know that that really does resonate with members who using some of these small credit unions because they feel part of the family, they really feel that their membership is unique to them."