BEDFORD, Ind. — Congressman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) paid a visit to Hoosier Hills Credit Union to gather information about its community activities and operations.
"The fact that most of the local banks in Southern Indiana have sold out and the big regional banks have chosen not to employ commercial lenders in our market, plus the minimum advance requirements, many times eliminate the small business owner from the kinds of account relationships for which the big banks are looking," HHCU President/CEO George McNichols explained. He is also a member of the Indiana Credit Union League Board and chairs its Government Affairs Commission.
During his visit, Buyer met with three business services staffers, all bankers in their previous lives, who talked about the needs HHCU is meeting for more than 1,200 small- and medium-sized businesses at the credit union.
"The credit union's role of hiring a lot of ex-bankers in all areas of our operations was also discussed as the large banks typically cut many of the hometown banks' employees once they take over," McNichols explained. "The fact that HHCU is playing an expanded role in supporting economic development in the markets where it operates was the core message and we need [the Credit Union Regulatory Improvements Act] to pass the U.S. Congress in order to continue to meet this vital need…The growth of the business loan area is the best barometer I can use to suggest we are meeting a very important need in the communities where we operate."
The congressman also toured the main office and administrative office facilities and met with many of the credit union's staff members. –scooke@cutimes.com
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