RALEIGH, N.C. -- A unique volunteer program at State Employees' Credit Union of N.C. continues to be successful in giving locals control of the nation's second largest credit union.
SECU's volunteer program allows each of its 200-plus branches to have its own advisory board made up of volunteers from the local community. CEO Jim Blaine has said this concept is to give the locals more control of the institution. SECU steers away from centralized loan and other decisions and strives to give each branch some flexibility in serving its community.
At its recent annual meeting, SECU hosted approximately 500 of these volunteers, representing nearly each of the 100 North Carolina counties. "Knowing more about the operations of the credit union will make advisory board members better SECU ambassadors. We members, volunteers or not, appreciate being part of the lasting, friendly, down-home, locally-owned, cooperative spirit SECU embodies," said Stan Latta, an advisory board member from the county of Cary.
The annual meeting featured an address from Patrick Adams, executive vice president of St. Louis Community Credit Union.
