CU News and Events – May Edition

June 5, 2024 |

This May, our League loved seeing all our credit unions spring into action to serve their communities. Many credit unions hosted celebrations, both to engage with one another and to show support for various beloved organizations—including the Campaign for Ending Hunger and Special Olympics Maine. With ample fundraisers, donations for community partners, opportunities for industry collaboration, and more achieved, our League offers an inside look at what our credit unions were up to last month.

  • Acadia FCU welcomed members both virtually and in-person for their Annual Meeting on May 22. Five randomly selected attendees won $50 gift cards for attending the special event. 
  • On May 15, Atlantic FCU broke ground on a new branch location in Scarborough next to the Scarborough Downs development project.
  • This May, staff at Bangor FCU finished distributing all of the funds they raised for the Campaign for Ending Hunger in 2023. They generously donated $10,000 to the Belfast Soup Kitchen, nearly $7,000 to the Newburgh Regional Community Food Pantry, and $5,000 to the Widows & Orphans Food Cupboard. 
  • Friday, May 24 brought about Brewer FCU’s Member Appreciation Day, complete with a hot lunch from the grill.
  • Throughout the month, Capital Area FCU solicited for donations to support their annual yard sale taking place on June 8. This special event will benefit Special Olympics Maine. 
  • Casco FCU hosted members on May 31 for their Member Appreciation BBQ and a special 70th Anniversary Celebration! 
  • With fraud an ever-present force—especially in the financial services industry—Central Maine FCU warned members on Facebook to never give personal information over the phone as many scammers impersonate trusted financial institutions. They provided steps to take to help ensure the person on the phone is legitimate. 
  • Changing Seasons FCU joined the rest of the Bangor Chapter of Credit Unions in hosting the 2024 Colors for a Cause 5K on May 19! The event’s proceeds supported the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Other credit union participants included Acadia FCU, Downeast CU, Maine Savings FCU, University CU, Seaboard FCU, Bangor FCU, Brewer FCU, The County FCU, and Empeople CU.  
  • Coast Line CU promoted loans on their website that can help members reach their goals, including summer travel plans, home and auto needs, and more. 
  • On May 23, Community CU celebrated the graduation of its third cohort of Getting Ahead Investigators.
  • Adam Cappucci, a Member Service Representative with Connected CU, completed the League’s Certified Teller Training. Congratulations, Adam!
  • cPort CU was honored to receive Alkami Technology’s acclaimed FIssionaries™ Award in the member experience category as part of Alkami’s 2024 Co:lab programming. Congratulations to the cPort crew! 
  • The 21st Annual CCFCU School Staff Appreciation Night at the Sea Dogs took place on May 21! Cumberland County FCU offered a set number of free tickets to school employees as a way to show their gratitude. 
  • On May 24, Dirigo FCU celebrated the grand reopening and ribbon-cutting of their South Paris branch! They saw a great turnout and thanked The Oxford Chamber, Uncle Andy’s Digest, Top It Mobile Ice Cream Cart, and Fable & Faire Photography for making the event extra special for all involved. 
  • On May 23, Downeast CU staff helped the Bangor Chapter of Credit Unions facilitate a Financial Fitness Fair in Baileyville for students at Woodland Junior and Senior High School. 
  • A team from Eastmill FCU joined credit union industry peers on the greens at Purpoodock Club on May 16 for the League’s Annual Convention Ending Hunger Golf Tournament. 
  • Business Development Officer Adam Carrier from Empeople CU attended the Maine HR Convention in Rockport to connect with other employers and feature the benefit of maintaining a financially fit workforce. He even ran into a few people who had been members of the credit union for over 30 years! 
  • Evergreen CU, an Adopt-A-Trail Sponsor for the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, checked in on the progress of the Rivermeadow Nature Preserve in Westbrook. They also sponsor the Mill Brook Preserve, also located in Westbrook. 
  • Five County CU was presented with the Campaign Excellence Award for the 2023-2024 United Way of Midcoast Annual Campaign! This was a result of their successful workplace fundraising campaign and strong commitment to supporting the work of United Way. Last year, they raised $12,769.20 and made $17,000 their goal for this year—a goal they exceeded, pulling in $17,075.32. Congratulations, Team Five County! 
  • In support of the Campaign for Ending Hunger, Gardiner FCU hosted a book sale to raise funds to address food insecurity.
  • Great Falls FCU announced an exciting remodel for its Auburn location. Demolition of the existing branch will take place in June and a temporary facility will be available in its place until the grand opening next spring. The brand-new 4,000 square foot facility will allow the credit union to grow and improve member service.  
  • At their Annual Meeting, Katahdin FCU presented over $19,000 in Ending Hunger funds to six local food pantries and agencies.  
  • KSW FCU donated checks to the Fairfield Interfaith Food Pantry and The Greater Waterville Area Food Bank to assist with hunger relief efforts within the community. 
  • KV FCU wished all mothers a happy Mother’s Day on Facebook and thanked them all for their love, care, and endless support. 
  • In their lobby, Lincoln Maine FCU auctioned off summer-themed items, including gardening tools and gear, sunscreen, vegetable seeds, and a Lincoln Maine FCU-branded zip-up jacket. 
  • Lisbon Community FCU held a Chocolate Bar Fundraiser for the Campaign for Ending Hunger, satisfying members’ sweet cravings and providing meals to those in need. They sold them for $2 per bar and offered milk chocolate, crispy rice, almond, and caramel varieties. 
  • As a partner of the Kiwanis Club of Lewiston-Auburn, Maine Family FCU announced they are serving as a bronze sponsor of the Kiwanis Club’s Hole-in-One Fundraiser, which runs from June 1 through June 8. 
  • In its spring newsletter, Maine Highlands FCU reminded members not to fall for spoofing scams, noting that they would never call a member and ask for account information. 
  • Maine Savings FCU made several donations to local hunger relief organizations throughout the month of May. They donated to the Hancock Grammar School’s Backpack Program for kids, the Christine B. Foundation to assist with tailored grocery packages for cancer patients throughout Maine, and the Bar Harbor Food Pantry to help provide food to Hancock County. 
  • In hopes of raising funds for the Campaign for Ending Hunger and providing meals to those in need within Maine, Maine Solutions FCU encouraged members to “be part of the solution and donate” on its website. 
  • Trekkers welcomed Maine State CU as a 2024 Advocate Sponsor. 
  • Midcoast FCU opened registration for their 4th Annual Bags & Brews Cornhole Tournament taking place at Mast Landing Brewing Company in Freeport on June 13. 
  • On their website, Milestones FCU thanked Dick Metivier for serving on their board for 50 years. They also bid farewell to 11-year Board Member Mike Hughes, who is retiring after many years of dedicated volunteerism. Thank you, Dick and Mike! 
  • New Dimensions FCU’s Skowhegan and Silver Street branch locations held a bake sale full of yummy homemade treats on May 3, raising  $492 for the Campaign for Ending Hunger and Special Olympics Maine. 
  • Northeast CU helped the Monarch School of New England celebrate their 50th year in service by assisting at their annual golf tournament and helping secure auction items for their annual fundraiser. When Northeast CU staff were onsite to lend their support, they presented the Monarch School with a Nourish Award and a $5,000 grant to uplift the important work they do to help students find nutritious meals. 
  • Corey Pelletier, Commercial Loan Officer at NorState FCU, graduated from Aroostook Partnership’s Leadership Aroostook Program. Over a span of nine months, he and his classmates met monthly to learn from Husson University professors and other leaders within the County to build leadership skills to strengthen and benefit the Aroostook community. Congratulations, Corey! 
  • OTIS FCU held its annual Ending Hunger Plant Sale and Raffle and raised $1,417.61 for local food pantries! 
  • Oxford FCU once again ran their senior spotlight fundraiser for the Campaign for Ending Hunger, allowing people to put their senior’s name “up in lights” on their electronic road signs for a donation to the Campaign. 
  • Penobscot County FCU’s Janet Bosse also graduated from Leadership Aroostook, a program led by Husson University and the Aroostook Partnership to encourage economic development in the area. Congratulations, Janet! 
  • On May 5, Luke Labbe, President of PeoplesChoice CU, presented York and Cumberland County schools and food banks with funding as a result of the money the credit union raised in 2023. In total, over $36,000 was distributed. 
  • Sabattus Regional CU employee Charlotte Waterman completed her first-ever marathon on Sunday, May 12 at Sugarloaf Mountain and raised $2,400.20 for the Campaign for Ending Hunger in the process! She had a goal of raising $100 per mile, cleverly calling this feat “Running Miles, Feeding Mouths.” Great work, Charlotte, and thank you for advocating for the Campaign! 
  • The Saco Meals Program continued to see support from Saco Valley CU, their meal sponsor, as credit union staff joined them in the kitchen to prepare homemade soup and shepherd’s pie. 
  • Employees from Seaboard FCU volunteered at the Special Olympics event at Hampden Academy on May 15, connecting with and showing support for all of the athletes. 
  • Jim Lemieux, President of Sebasticook Valley FCU, accepted the Delmar Doody Award for his significant contributions to the local business community. The award was presented by the Sebasticook Valley Chamber of Commerce, who also held a great event in honor of Jim. Congratulations on this outstanding honor, Jim!
  • At the beginning of the month, The County FCU announced the results of their 1st Annual Ending Hunger Snakebit Bowling Tournament that took place on April 28. In total, they raised nearly $5,400 for the Campaign and local food organizations! 
  • In conjunction with May’s Older Americans Month, Town & Country FCU contributed $3,500 to Southern Maine Agency on Aging in support of a pilot initiative aimed at helping older adults throughout Cumberland and York Counties maintain or find affordable housing. 
  • Trademark FCU hosted Miracles in Motion, a fundraiser for The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. Thanks to incredible community support—including raffle item donations from area businesses—the team hit their goal of raising $10,000! 
  • TruChoice FCU announced its sponsorship of the Bonny Eagle Little League team. 
  • Seth Poplaski, Community Engagement Manager at University CU, presented a donation to the Maine Veterans Project to help their mission of supporting veterans in Maine once they come home. The Maine Veterans Project understands the sad reality many veterans face upon returning home and have made it their mission to honor and assist them to try and directly reduce veteran suicide. 
  • Winthrop Area FCU brought their debit cardholder members a new, free fraud detection feature on May 8 that will monitor their transactions and send a text to the member’s phone number on file if it detects any suspicious activity.