Being the Change We Want to See in AZ

Giving back to our community isn’t just some ploy to attract your attention—it’s ingrained in who we are. Here at SunWest, we have made it part of our mission to help those who need it most. And what better way to do that than through volunteering with organizations that directly affect our Arizonan community?

We want to go beyond helping just our members and work toward the betterment of the community our members live and work in. Volunteering allows us to uplift the community in different ways – at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, we prepared goody bags for families staying with their child that might otherwise not get a chance to have fun snacks. We’ve walked and washed dogs at the Maricopa County Animal Shelter that have been cooped up waiting for love. We’ve gone around Lake Pleasant in kayaks, scooping up trash so the lake can be enjoyed by people and animals alike.

While we have enjoyed helping out how we can, the gratitude of the places we’ve volunteered at motivates us to do more and go even farther. At Andre House, both the people organizing everything and the people coming for the food service were so grateful, we knew we had to come back more often. At the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, helping out with the children’s crafts and seeing their excitement at being able to participate in a simple, fun activity warmed our hearts.

The smiles of those we’ve directly affected are worth so much more than all the time and money we put into these projects. Plus, being able to volunteer together brings SunWest employees closer to each other and to the community – at the Phoenix Zoo, we helped clear so many weeds as a team that we were able to get a choked-up stream to flow freely again, and completely changed the look of the whole area.

At the House of Refuge, a whole branch and their family members helped put on a barbecue and movie night for single moms on their kids. Everyone had a ton of fun, but one of our favorite stories was that “after the movie was over one of the moms came over to thank my sister and I, it was her son’s 2^nd Birthday and she really wanted to do something special for him but that she only had $15.00 to her name, so she decided to buy a cake for him, and then she said to have over 50 people singing happy birthday to him, the dinner, the movie, the glow sticks and the treat bags, she said he thinks that this “party” was for him. She said I know he’s too young to remember, but I needed you to know that I will be forever grateful, this will be one the most spectacular memories for me.”

These are the events that will affect not just our community – but us at SunWest. Our employees will keep these memories in their hearts forever. We have already volunteered more than 430 hours so far in 2019 – and can’t wait to expand our volunteer program in 2020. We’re ready to make more connections and improvements and continue to care for our neighbor – because we know that the more we can do for those in need, the better our community will be as a whole.

Wherever You Go, We’re There For You

You’re on your way to work, and you need to deposit a check. There’s an event on campus today, and you want to withdraw cash to spend at some of the booths. You need to transfer some money to your roommate to pay the rent this month, and they need it right away. You’re on vacation across the country, and you realize you forgot to cash a check.

The hustle and bustle of everyday life is enough to keep anyone on their toes and we understand you don’t always have time to stop by one of our branches. Luckily, SunWest is part of the CO-OP Shared Branch program, which means you have a multitude of options when it comes to accessing your account. Even if you’re nowhere near a SunWest branch, you can still access your account through ATMs and other credit union branches that are part of the network.

Credit unions care about our members, so we work together to offer you more convenience. Take care of your finances at over 5,600 branches and 30,000 fee-free ATMs. That’s more than most banks! You can move away from our branches – you can even move out of Arizona. You can go on that vacation to Colorado or New York or Florida. There’s no need to worry about not getting to a branch – wherever you are, we’ve got you covered.

You can find a co-op near you with the CO-OP locator. Never stress about access to your account again!

More Than Just A Number

Finding a financial institution that fits your needs can be tough. Sure, you need a place that offers the basic accounts such as checking and savings. But your finances aren’t just for everyday purchases – they hold the key to your dreams for the future. You need an institution that understands who you are, not as a number that it can profit from, but as a person with unique needs and goals.

Credit unions are not-for-profit institutions that were created with people in mind. They are also owned by you, the member, rather than outside investors trying to squeeze every penny out of each customer. Plus, they’re much more inclusive than people might think – for example, anyone who lives, works, or worships in Arizona can join SunWest!

Credit unions are also located all over the world! Thanks to the credit union shared branching network, you have so many more locations to stop at in addition to our 8 local branches. We know that convenience is important to you, whether you need to complete a transaction on your way to pick up the kids after work, deposit a check before getting to campus for classes, or simply dealing with the hustle and bustle of daily life. The network includes more than 5,600 branches nationwide, so whether you’re a neighborhood away or traveling across the country, you’re covered!

Some places are constantly trying to sell you products you don’t need while credit unions are more transparent when it comes to your banking. Our goal is to improve your financial health and keep money in your pockets. Along those lines, SunWest doesn’t charge ATM or account maintenance fees, so you aren’t paying to access your own money. We’re also launching a financial education program to empower our members to take control of their financial journey and better their situation.

What else makes a community better? Volunteering! From the Phoenix Zoo to Ben’s Bells, Andre House to Casa Maria, our employees have volunteered at a wide variety of organizations. We’ve been brought to tears by the emotional stories of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and couldn’t hold back our smiles when taking care of dogs at the Maricopa County Animal Shelter. From people, to animals, to the environment, we want to aid in bettering our neighborhoods.

So why not bank with an institution that’s better than a bank? Our members matter not because of the money they bring us, but because of the people they are. We’re part of the same community as you, and we want us to all grow together. So the next time you’re in the neighborhood, stop by a branch so we can introduce ourselves, and prove to you: credit unions care about you.

International Credit Union Day Part 2

International Credit Union Day has come to a close for this year, and we had a blast! Did you stop by any of our branches and join in the celebration? It’s amazing to think that this day has been officially celebrated for 70 years – and did you know that SunWest FCU has been around even longer?

We were founded in 1937 – so this year is our 81st anniversary! But back then we were called Phoenix Telco Federal Credit Union, which makes sense since 12 telephone workers were the ones who came together to start it up. Which name do you prefer?

From the beginning, the goal was a financial cooperative that truly existed for the people. Now we continue to do our best to give you all exceptional service focused on dedication, integrity, and compassion. Supporting our communities is extremely important to us. We want our members to thrive!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tammy Strawn Denslow (@tamtam_thrives)

Not only that, we want you to feel comfortable with us, and confident that we’ll take care of you. So we aim to be friendly and respectful, as well as a place where you can ask any financial questions you have and get a helpful answer. Ask us your questions on our Facebook or Twitter so that we can help you reach your goals sooner! And of course, you can always visit any of our branches to ask in person.

As Erin on Facebook said, “There is such a difference in the atmosphere when you enter the bank. You all make me feel like a valued customer and not just a number! Thank you all! 😁”

International Credit Union Day 2018

International Credit Union Day is coming up and we are so excited! This year, it’s the 70^th anniversary, which means everything is platinum-themed. SunWest will be having giveaways on our social media next week leading up to the big day, then a grand prize giveaway for those who visit one of our branches on October 18. But what is so special about credit unions that they were able to get their own day dedicated to them – all around the world?

Credit unions as we know them began in Germany in the 1850s. They were based on cooperative principles, such as self-help, democracy, and equality. Hermann Schulze-Delitzsch was so passionate about his credit union projects that they popped up wherever he went. By 1912, the people’s banks he founded in Germany had 641,000 members!

Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen built on Hermann’s approach but aimed to help more rural areas. This established some more conventions that we still follow today, such as people volunteering to serve on the board of directors to save the smaller communities money. Thanks to many rural communities joining the credit union movement, they were able to prove wrong those who believed that poor people were unlikely to pay back loans and no bank would be able to profit from poor Germans.

It’s pretty easy to see why the idea of credit unions caught on! We still highly value our communities and believe in openness and social responsibility. If you have any ideas on how we can better serve you as our members, or help the communities you live in, leave us a comment here or message us on social media. We would also love to hear your story about how credit unions have made a difference in your life.

As Lisa on Facebook said, “I have been with SunWest Federal Credit Union for over 30 years. You have proven I can trust you as banks have not. You have always been fair, not perfect but fair. Everyone is always so pleasant, fun and helpful. I created accounts for my two kids years ago, my dad has had an account there as well. It feels like family.#platinumliningfound”. That’s what we love to hear, thank you Lisa!