BUSINESS: Communication Federal Credit Union

Communication Federal Credit Union opened a new branch in south Edmond, on August 25, 2012. Located at 100 NE 150th Street, the branch boasts a community room available to local groups, a refrigerator stocked with free sodas and water, a free coffee bar in the lobby, and larger private offices. “We want to make people feel at home,” Stephen Lark, VP Marketing and Corporate Development, commented. “Our focus was on our members and how we could improve our facilities and came up with this new branch model.”

Communication FCU started out small in 1939, owned and operated by employees of Pioneer Bell. Over the years, they merged with other Bell Credit Unions around the state. Today, with 16 locations throughout Oklahoma, two in Topeka, Kansas, and 53,000 members, they serve 250 groups including most of the major utilities in Oklahoma including Sandridge Energy, Chaparral Energy, OG&E, and Oneok, to name a few.

“We want to stay visible in the community and let everyone know we are not only there to provide financial resources for consumers but that we are part of the community and there to support the community,” Lark explained.

One weekend in October, the new Edmond branch employees helped at the “Juggernaut”, a run at Mitch Park, which benefited the Komen Foundation, a charity the credit union sponsors. Always looking for new ways to get involved in community activities, Communication FCU workers have participated in the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, the annual Enid BBQ event, the A2A Marathon in Ardmore, the Habitat For Humanity Chocolate Festival in Muskogee, Race for the Cure in Tulsa, and many more.

“Everyone can provide the same checking account, the same loans, but we feel being involved in the community, supporting the community, is what sets us apart from some of the other institutions. That’s why we created the slogan ‘connecting with you’” Lark commented. “All credit unions are member-owned financial cooperatives. That’s how we can offer such great rates because we take care of the membership as a whole.”

Lark offered, “Our auto loan rates are spectacular right now. Our home loans are at all-time lows. We just started a new program for CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) fueled vehicles, a new local alternative to foreign oil. CNG is also a zero emissions fuel compared to gasoline, so it’s much better for the environment.”

On May 24, 2011, during a week of severe tornado outbreaks, one employee mentioned the costs involved in purchasing a storm shelter. After some discussions with the CEO and staff, a new product was made available the next day. Storm Shelter loans at the fixed rate of 2.99% APR were serviced within 12 hours after launch.

Check out their website at www.comfedcu.org to browse their member services and products