MATTESON, Ill. — USA One Credit Union is walking the credit union difference talk.
For the past two years USA One CU has helped ensure Prairie Packaging employees are fiscally fit while showcasing the credit union difference.
"Prairie Packaging is one of our most active and enthusiastic Select Employer Groups, and they're a prime example of a company that shows how much they care for their employees, rather than just talking about it," said USA One Vice President Jerry Haley. "What separates USA One Credit Union from other financial institutions is that we don't wait for our members to come to us and ask for help managing their financial matters–we proactively provide each of our members with recommendations on how to effectively manage their money."
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The Bedford Park, Illinois family-owned manufacturer of foam and plastic disposable dinnerware items for the foodservice and retail market, says the partnership is a win-win for everyone and has made for happier more productive workforce.
The move is a sound one. According to WORKFORCE Magazine helping employees understand and manage their personal finances through employer-sponsored financial planning "is one of the hottest perks around."
USA One CU provides customized personal financial education materials, programs and seminars to Prairie Packaging's over 13,500 employees at five Chicagoland locations. The bilingual credit union staff is flexible and works around employees schedules. For example, a basic budgeting seminar for second shift employees started during their lunchtime, which is generally around 1:00 a.m.
As part of its BALANCE Financial Education Initiative for company staffers and management seminar topics range from "The Golden Years: Planning For Retirement" to the more financial fitness focused "The ABCs of Finance and Plastic Surgery: How to get out from under credit card debt."
"We have a very diverse employee base (18-65+ in age) that is facing a lot of different financial challenges in their daily lives from buying their first home, to paying for their children's educations, to planning for a comfortable retirement," said Robyn Saffron, Prairie Packaging's director of compensation/benefits. "The folks at USA One truly understand everyone's different cultural needs, and they do a great job of providing sound financial principles and practical methods for bettering our employees' lives now and in the future."
According to Saffron, the partnership has helped shed the image of credit unions as an upscale alternative to currency exchanges and payday loan operations.
"It is much more than that for our employees," said Saffron. "It's amazing how one financial service company can provide financial solutions for so many different people facing individual financial challenges."
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