The Best Credit Unions to Work For with assets over $1B

September 26, 2019 10:11 PM

These credit unions make being the best look easy.

This year 50 institutions made Credit Union Journal’s annual ranking of the Best Credit Unions to Work For, a project done in partnership with Best Companies Group. Credit unions on the list range in size from just 31 staff members and under $200 million in assets all the way up to institutions with billions in assets and thousands of employees.

But all of them go out of their way to take care of their workers. Many offer additional healthcare options, such as annual biometric screenings, access to physicians’ services over the phone and regular wellness fairs.

An explanation of how each year's winners are selected can be found here.

What follows is a listing of this year's honorees who hold $1 billion or more in assets.

Note: All institutions are listed by their chartered name as listed by the National Credit Union Administration.

Bay Federal Credit Union

Location: Capitola, Calif.
Assets: $1.05 billion
Overall rank: 1
Asset category rank: 1

Reasons employees like working here:
· In an effort to relieve stress and promote exercise, the credit union offers “walking meetings” for employees.
· Employees on the CU’s “fun squad” organize entertaining events throughout the year.
· During public, company-wide events, eligible staffers are awarded milestone anniversary gifts.

Pictured above: Bay Federal Credit Union fosters community engagement through volunteer programs, which allows employees to stand out as “heroes.”

South Carolina Federal Credit Union

Location: North Charleston, S.C.
Assets: $1.85 billion
Overall rank: 2
Asset category rank: 2

Reasons employees like working here:
· The credit union offers a dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match of up to 10% of employees’ salaries.
· An in-house career development team provides personalized career coaching services, job shadowing, mentoring opportunities and leadership coaching.
· Employees receive a day off for their birthday and work anniversary.

Pictured above (left to right): Andrew Hall, financial center manager; Meggan Corbin, human resources manager; Courtney Johnson, financial sales representative; Zoe Watkins, human resources representative; Kelly Franceschi, financial service representative; Tab Hibbard, financial service representative; and Ke’Aira Primes, financial service representative.

Consumers Credit Union

Location: Kalamazoo, Mich.
Assets: $1.16 billion
Overall rank: 3
Asset category rank: 3

Reasons employees like working here:
· The credit union provides annual biometric screening for all staff members and their spouses.
· Free telephone physician services are available to all employees and their families.
· Food trucks visit the credit union on-site every week.

Pictured above: Consumers Credit Union team members celebrate after a successful “Purple Community 5K” race. Each year Consumers gives over $200,000 and donates more than 30,000 hours to 300-plus community groups, events and causes, including this one that supports the Van Andel Institute and its fight against cancer, Parkinson’s and other diseases.

FAIRWINDS

Fairwinds Credit Union

Location: Orlando, Fla.
Assets: $2.44 billion
Overall rank: 9
Asset category rank: 4

Reasons employees like working here:
· Call center workers can utilize standing desks. Other departments have massage days where crew members can enjoy a 15-minute chair massage.
· Unused sick hours can be reimbursed to pay for personal and dependent health and wellness expenses.
· Each December, employees submit holiday wishes for themselves or loved ones that are granted by fellow crew members and management.

Pictured above: Fairwinds Credit Union Executive Club winners enjoy dinner and a private fireworks viewing at Disney World with members of the credit union’s executive team. Winners also are awarded a three-night Caribbean cruise package.

America's First Credit Union

Location: Birmingham, Ala.
Assets: $1.64 billion
Overall rank: 12
Asset category rank: 5

Reasons employees like working here:
· America’s First Federal hosts an employee-engagement conference each year on President’s Day. The credit union is closed for business that day, but staffers gather to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and discuss upcoming initiatives.
· The credit union celebrates various holidays – such as National Cookie Day and Milkshake Day – by providing cookies and milkshakes for all employees.
· All staff members’ immediate families are invited to attend corporate events.

Pictured above: America’s First Federal Credit Union’s HR and training department dress as Barbie dolls for the CU's annual Halloween costume contest.

Arkansas Federal Credit Union

Location: Jacksonville, Ark.
Assets: $1.23 billion
Overall rank: 16
Asset category rank: 6

Reasons employees like working here:
· Groups of employees hold events off-site throughout the year to develop a team atmosphere outside of work. Examples include escape rooms, a day at the horse races, bowling and game nights.
· Last year, during a credit union-sponsored charity event, employees got to see three executives receive a pie in the face from the top fundraisers in a benefit for the American Cancer Society.
· The credit union participates in the Blue & You Fitness Challenge through Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Participating staff members receive points in the credit union’s reward and recognition platform each week for completing that week's challenge.

Pictured above: Arkansas Federal employees enjoying a sweet treat on “food truck Friday” from Loblolly Creamery, a local business partner.

Veridian Credit Union

Location: Waterloo, Iowa
Assets: $4.27 billion
Overall rank: 19
Asset category rank: 7

Reasons employees like working here:
· Management provides food and snacks during large-scale projects and other busy times throughout the year.
· Employees are allowed 12 hours of paid volunteer time per year.
· Veridian’s health care benefits include covering infertility treatments for part-time and full-time employees.

Pictured above: Veridian Credit Union employees partner with the United Way of East Central Iowa to help a local youth camp get ready for thousands of summer campers.

Michigan State University Federal Credit Union

Location: East Lansing, Mich.
Assets: $4.5 billion
Overall rank: 22
Asset category rank: 8

Reasons employees like working here:
· Each summer, the credit union offers a dog-walking program in association with the Capital Area Humane Society. Employees can sign up for a 15-minute slot to provide socialization for a local shelter animal and take a break away from their desk to enjoy the weather.
· If an employee refers a candidate who is hired, the referring staffer receives a $400 bonus after the hiring is completed and another $400 after a six-month trial period ends.
· MSUFCU offers a generous paid time off package that includes 26 days of PTO, or eight hours of PTO earned per pay period, within an employee’s first year of employment.

Pictured above: Several MSUFCU employees volunteer at the registration table for a race benefiting the MSU Safe Place, which supports a nearby domestic violence service center.

Coastal Federal Credit Union

Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Assets: $3.25 billion
Overall rank: 28
Asset category rank: 9

Reasons employees like working here:
· The credit union sponsors ice cream socials and brings food trucks on-site as a way to celebrate company wins.
· Coastal pays for 100% of employees’ healthcare premiums.
· The credit union implemented Standout, a web-based platform that helps employees identify their strengths and enables managers to assign work that matches those strengths. Coastal also utilizes an internal social media platform designed specifically for its employees.

Pictured above: In April, 45 Coastal Federal Credit Union employees attend the annual “camp Coastal” workshop focused on the CU’s principles and philosophy.

St. Mary's Bank

Location: Manchester, N.H.
Assets: $1.04 billion
Overall rank: 32
Asset category rank: 10

Reasons employees like working here:
· The credit union’s spirit team hosts events such as trivia games and an annual off-site “winter social” where donations are collected for a local food bank.
· Staff have access to a pair of full-service fitness centers.
· Employees and their families can participate in wellness activities throughout the year including everything from theater and sporting events to apple picking, skiing, hiking and indoor rock climbing.

Pictured above: Employees at St. Mary's Bank, the nation's first credit union, take part in a team costume contest.

America First Credit Union

Location: Ogden, Utah
Assets: $11 billion
Overall rank: 38
Asset category rank: 11

Reasons employees like working here:
· Employees have access to a basketball court, pickleball court and ping pong tables.
· Staff can receive free or discounted tickets to area events.
· The credit union offers Fit First, a web-based wellness program that allows employees to compete and earn rewards in company-sponsored challenges.

Pictured above: America First employees deliver turkeys to the local food bank for Thanksgiving.

American Heritage Credit Union

Location: Philadelphia
Assets: $2.5 billion
Overall rank: 41
Asset category rank: 12

Reasons employees like working here:
· For staff members with family in the military, the credit union offers deployment benefits, such as a $750 monthly military stipend and a paid day off when that family member returns home.
· The credit union offers a biannual smoking-cessation program.
· Staff and families covered under the credit union’s benefits program can utilize a telemedicine service to seek medical attention 24/7 for non-emergency situations.

Pictured above: American Heritage employees take part in the Ronald McDonald House Show Your Stripes fundraiser.

Ascend Federal Credit Union

Location: Tullahoma, Tenn.
Assets: $2.5 billion
Overall rank: 42
Asset category rank: 13

Reasons employees like working here:
· During the holiday season, employees can take part in a workstation decorating contest or wear seasonal attire on themed dress-down days.
· Each year, the credit union purchases an eight-pound honey baked ham for each staff member and delivers it to them prior to the holidays to share with their loved ones.
· Staff are encouraged to wear costumes on Halloween to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Pictured above: In February, Ascend Federal Credit Union employees participate in an organization-wide fundraiser for the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day. Participants donate money for the chance to dress down into blue jeans and their favorite red attire.

Partners Federal Credit Union

Location: Burbank, Calif.
Assets: $1.82 billion
Overall rank: 44
Asset category rank: 14

Reasons employees like working here:
· As the official credit union of Disney, Partners employees – or “cast members,” as they are known – can take part in Magic Backstage, a year-round program that offers the chance to gain access to and engage in Disney-exclusive products and services. Prizes include backstage tours, experiences, special events, hotel stays, movie screenings and more.
· Every year a selection committee awards a full scholarship so one employee can attend Western CUNA Management School’s three-year program.
· Staff are eligible for discounts on loans and insurance products.

Pictured above: Partners Federal Credit Union’s bicoastal management team strike superhero poses during a 2019 business partnership workshop. The quarterly forum is a hub for coordination and integration across the organization to advance, align and pivot when necessary on the business plans of the organization, while integrating the overarching mission with divisional responsibilities.

More information about Partners FCU is available here.

Mountain America Credit Union

Location: Sandy, Utah
Assets: $9 billion
Overall rank: 45
Asset category rank: 15

Reasons employees like working here:
· To help employees reduce stress levels, the credit union offers several spaces for gaming, including an air hockey table, Pac-Man and Asteroids machines.
· MACU offers quarterly well-being challenges to keep healthy habits front and center. These range from participation in laughing yoga to stretching breaks, along with on-site massages several times a week.
· Staff have access to an on-site cafe with subsidized lunches and a variety of healthy options.

Pictured above: Mountain America Credit Union employees donate time and resources to help transform the Young family’s back yard. Nate Young is an injured veteran who works two full-time jobs to allow his wife Darcy to stay home to care for their daughter, Hollis, who has ongoing medical issues.