Wings Financial to Serve Black Pilots Organization

APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — The Organization of Black Airline Pilots has selected Wings Financial Federal Credit Union as its official credit union.

As part of the agreement, $1.8 billion Wings Financial and OBAP will jointly

market the credit union's financial services to the OBAP membership and will work together on educational outreach efforts to young African-Americans considering a career in aviation. Wings Financial has also agreed to sponsor two

scholarships that will be awarded annually to participants in the OBAP Professional Pilots Devel-opment program.

“For more than 70 years, Wings Financial has been a part of the history of American aviation and understands the financial needs of aviation professionals, particularly as our jobs become more global,” said OBAP President Captain Karl Minter. “They also understand the importance of preparing young people for a successful future as well as highlighting the exciting opportunities offered by the aviation industry.”

Wings Financial said it would work with OBAP to promote its products and services to OBAP members immediately.

“Their commitment to promoting aviation careers to African-Americans and to all people of color fits extremely well with our goal to serve the broad range of the aviation community and to provide them the financial services they need–where and when they need them,” said Paul Parish, president/CEO of Wings Financial on OBAP.

In 2007, Wings Financial formed partnerships with four airlines to serve their employees: JetBlue Airways, Sun Country Airlines, Colgan Air, and Eos Airlines.

Founded in 1976, OBAP was formed to address the ongoing needs of black pilots by bringing together a representative group of aviation professionals, who were dedicated to advancing and enhancing the participation of blacks and other minorities in the aviation industry, according to the organization.

–msamaad@cutimes.com