CU News and Events – March Edition

April 3, 2024 |

Between Easter and St. Patrick’s Day, as well as ample fundraisers for charities near to our hearts, Maine’s credit unions sprang into action this March. Below, our League provides an inside look at what some of our credit unions were up to:

  • During the month of March, Acadia FCU sold tickets in support of the Campaign for Ending Hunger, raffling off a handmade quilt that was generously donated to the credit union for Campaign fundraising. In total, the credit union raised $3,110! 
  • Atlantic FCU hosted a virtual home buyer seminar on March 20. 
  • St. Patrick’s Day was especially meaningful this year at Bangor FCU, as the credit union hosted its Annual Meeting on this festive day. 
  • Brewer FCU shared its excitement for the upcoming Little League season. The credit union is one of the business sponsors supporting Brewer Little League this year. 
  • Capital Area FCU announced it will be hosting its Annual Meeting on April 14. The credit union will be celebrating its 70th anniversary at this special event. 
  • Casco FCU delivered checks to the Gorham Food Pantry, Buxton Food Co-Op, and the Standish Food Pantry to help these local organizations feed community members in need. 
  • Central Maine FCU held its Annual Meeting on March 17 at St. Dominic’s Academy. 
  • Changing Seasons FCU wished the Hampden Academy boys basketball team good luck as they prepared to play in the Class A North title game. 
  • Coast Line CU is hoping you will “save the date!” and attend the credit union’s Annual Meeting on April 20. 
  • Community CU’s Betsy Sibley and Erin Dunn-Kimball hit the airwaves to talk about Community Recycle Day, National Financial Capability Month, and more. They joined WIGY’s Mark and Sara for a Breakfast Club interview. 
  • Connected CU joined 107.9 The Mix to surprise Fortin’s Home Furnishings, a local business, with pizza for lunch. 
  • cPort CU’s Middle Street branch hosted enthusiastic learners from Portland Adult Education’s Teller Training program. The participants experienced what a typical day for a teller is like at a credit union and asked cPort team members thoughtful questions about their work. 
  • Celebrating staff anniversaries is important to Cumberland County FCU. In March, the credit union recognized Sarah for 20 years of dedicated service. Congratulations, Sarah, on this outstanding milestone!
  • Dirigo FCU celebrated Women’s History Month by profiling some of the dedicated team members they have on their staff who proudly contribute to the People Helping People movement. 
  • Downeast CU partnered with Mason’s Brewing Company to host a fundraiser for the Campaign for Ending Hunger. Ten percent of the proceeds from Mason’s dinner service on March 19 benefited the Campaign. 
  • To celebrate Easter and engage their younger members, Eastmill FCU coordinated an Easter basket give-away. For a chance to enter, members were asked to color a drawing of the Easter Bunny. 
  • Empeople CU shared sweet treats from Sugar Ray Baking Company to encourage members to stop by their new 6 State Street location in Bangor. Members could come by, enjoy a delicious cookie, and take a valuable financial health quiz. 
  • Some staff from Evergreen CU joined other credit union peers and the League at the State House on March 25 for a day of advocacy, collaboration, and learning. 
  • Five County CU was proud to sponsor the Travis Mills Foundation Vietnam Era Veterans Breakfast at the end of the month, where over 600 Vietnam-era veterans were paid tribute. 
  • Franklin-Somerset FCU is looking for volunteers! The credit union shared on its website that they are looking for members to serve on their Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee. Volunteering for the credit union is a great way to give back to the community.
  • Gardiner FCU hosted a Book Sale for Ending Hunger in their lobby, with bookcases full of children’s and adult books and a bargain table with marked down prices. 
  • Katahdin FCU joined their credit union colleagues in the region for a Northern Penobscot Chapter of Credit Unions dinner.
  • KSW FCU encouraged eligible students to apply for their James A. Veilleux Scholarship. 
  • KV FCU invited members to reserve their tickets for the Annual Meeting breakfast taking place on April 13. 
  • A 50/50 raffle to support the Campaign for Ending Hunger took place at Lincoln Maine FCU. The winner donated their winnings back to the Campaign to add to the total funds raised from this initiative! 
  • Lisbon Community FCU shared four scams and fraud attempts to be informed on and avoid: romance scams, travel scams, spoofing scams, and mobile payment app scams. 
  • March 28 marked 86 years of serving the community for Maine Family FCU! 
  • In their spring newsletter, Maine Highlands FCU excitedly announced to members that they raised over $20,000 for the Campaign for Ending Hunger in 2023! 
  • Maine Savings FCU’s Old Town branch provided community members with a chance to meet the Easter Bunny before the holiday! They also had a coloring contest, Easter crafts, and snacks. The event was free and open to the public.
  • On March 21, Maine State CU hosted a Budgeting & Goal Setting Workshop to help refine budgets, set achievable goals, and strategize for savings and debt payoffs. The credit union even offered personalized guidance for those looking for extra help managing their finances.  
  • As part of their goal to create a thriving community, Neeley, Tena, Shannon, Elizabeth, Taylor, and Chandra from Midcoast FCU volunteered their time to assist at the Morse High School Financial Fitness Fair. 
  • Milestones FCU warned members about phone scams on the home page of their website. 
  • In support of both Special Olympics Maine and the Campaign for Ending Hunger, New Dimensions FCU locations each had an Easter Basket Raffle. 
  • Northeast CU’s Sanford location hosted a toy drive in support of Make-A-Wish Maine and collected more than 50 donations for distribution to wish families. 
  • Karen Lavoie, an employee at NorState FCU, celebrated 15 years with the credit union. Thank you, Karen, for your dedication, professionalism, and positive impact.
  • A book and craft sale took place at OTIS FCU to benefit the Campaign for Ending Hunger. 
  • Oxford FCU proudly announced that they have earned the AARP BankSafe Training Seal in recognition of the training polocies they have in place to protect older members from financial exploitation and risk. 
  • Since scams are constantly evolving, Penobscot County FCU shared various fraud prevention tips on social media, including: sports betting scams, giveaway scams, real estate scams, and false fundraiser scams. 
  • PeoplesChoice CU encouraged members to take a different approach to spring cleaning by organizing their finances! The credit union suggested getting rid of high-fee, high-rate credit cards and adjusting travel, groceries, gifting, entertainment, and other expenses to allow for better financial decisions. 
  • On March 15, Sabattus Regional CU fundraised for Special Olympics Maine with a bake sale and a Pot of Gold 50/50 Raffle. In total, the credit union raised nearly $800. 
  • Seaboard FCU held a Pot O’ Gold Raffle in March, which raised $429 for the Campaign for Ending Hunger. The Bucksport, Ellsworth, and Hermon branches each had their own prize pot of “gold”—multiple gift cards to local businesses respective to each location. 
  • Sebasticook Valley FCU sold solar eclipse glasses for $1 each at its branches in Pittsfield and Newport ahead of the solar eclipse event on April 8. Funds were directed to the Campaign for Ending Hunger. 
  • To celebrate the St. Patrick’s Day holiday and raise proceeds for local food pantries in Maine through the Campaign for Ending Hunger, The County FCU raffled an alpine green Stanley tumbler with a gift card to a local coffee shop inside. 
  • Town & Country FCU recently hosted the 30th and final Swish-Out Childhood Cancer Challenge with more than 200 adults and youth coming together to raise $61,000 to support the work of the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. The annual three-on-three basketball tournament has raised over $750,000 since the event was launched in 1994. 
  • Trademark FCU sponsored a Power Hour at The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital’s Cares for Kids Radiothon, matching donations made during that timeframe. 
  • TruChoice FCU put a spin on March Madness and hosted Referral Madness all month long. In an effort to help members save some extra cash, the credit union gave $100 to both the current member and the new member if a current member referred someone who proceeded with becoming a member—a win-win situation! 
  • On Pi Day, University CU partnered with Woodman’s Bar & Grill in Orono to raise money for the Campaign for Ending Hunger. The restaurant donated 10% of all sales to the credit union’s efforts to end hunger, and the credit union encouraged those going to the restaurant to end their meal with a slice of cheesecake in honor of Pi Day! 
  • Winthrop Area FCU held a raffle to benefit the Campaign for Ending Hunger, perfectly themed for St. Patrick’s Day.