Amy Crowe of Great Wisconsin Credit Union authored a column as part of the Wisconsin State Journal "What I Do" feature talking about her job as marketing assistant and, specifically, doing financial education in schools. "The most important thing is that I try to teach the students they have choices with their money and they need to make choices that are good for the situation they're in," Crowe wrote.
The Baltimore Sun highlighted the trouble payday loans can cause by featuring someone who should know better: Aziza Gary, a lending specialist with Municipial Employees Credit Union. The piece noted that Gary often counseled members to steer clear of such lenders, yet she was plagued with three payday loans herself. The article noted that even though Maryland essentially blocks payday lenders, such loans can be obtained online, which is how Gary came to fall behind to such lenders. Soon as I hung up the phone, ... I said, 'OK, this has to end.' That's when I actually pulled my contracts and read what I signed," she says. "It's right there for you to see-when you want to look for it." Gary noted she came to realize she was paying an APR of 524% on one loan, 700% on another. After finally breaking down and admitting her dilemma to a supervisor, Gary borrowed $1,700 from the credit union at 12.99% APR to pay off the loans.
