Redwood Credit Union has been voted Best Credit Union in the 2011 NorthBay biz readers poll.
“I’ve always said credit unions were the best kept secret out there, but that’s changing,” says Redwood Credit Union (RCU) president/CEO Brett Martinez. “These days, a lot of people are talking about the benefits of credit unions.” Among those benefits, he says, are “better customer service, more convenience, better loan rates and higher interest on deposits [than] a bank can offer.”
RCU has been voted Best Credit Union by NorthBay biz readers every year since the category was established in 2006 (it’s also been voted Best Company to do Business with in Sonoma County twice). It’s an honor Martinez doesn’t take lightly. “People’s faith in financial institutions has been pretty shaken over the last few years, so to be voted Best during that time really says something about the trust we garner from the community,” he says. “Ultimately, this means a lot—now more than ever.”
With a field of membership that includes San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Solano, Contra Costa and Napa counties, and a nationwide network of 28,000 fee-free ATMs, RCU has grown from its humble Sonoma County beginnings more than 60 years ago. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is its dedication to the communities it serves.
“Our mission statement is ‘To passionately serve the best interests of our members, employees and communities,’” says Martinez. “We encourage community involvement and support it at the organizational level as well. That includes financial giving, serving on boards, volunteering and participating in events.”
Additionally, the Community Room at RCU headquarters on Cleveland Avenue is made available at no cost to local nonprofits for their meetings and events. In 2010, RCU staff and board members served more than 3,000 hours, attended more than 400 events and donated more than $320,000 in support for worthy organizations, including United Way, American Cancer Society and Children’s Miracle Network.
“Our service model and our people make the difference,” says Martinez when asked about the credit union’s winning streak. “It’s who we hire, how we train them and their attitude toward community.
“It’s a people-helping-people model,” he continues. “Our goal is to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives. For example, we don’t push our products. We listen to a person’s needs and try to help find solutions that fit. Sometimes, it’s as easy as helping them learn budgeting.
“I remind my staff that our members are experts at what they do—lawyers, builders, teachers, whatever that is—but they’re not necessarily financial experts. That’s our job. We need to share our expertise with them in a meaningful and helpful way.”
Redwood Credit Union is a full-service financial institution with a full array of consumer and business products, including checking and savings, investment, insurance—even an auto dealership. Already the 13th largest credit union in the state, an April 1 merger with Santa Rosa-based Cal State Central Credit Union added branches in Sonoma and Glen Ellen, and a long-planned Sebastopol branch is due to open in the fall.
So it’s really no wonder when Martinez reports: “We have people coming in daily wanting to switch to a local financial institution they can trust and that supports the community.”
And it’s no wonder those who are already members voted RCU Best Credit Union once again. Says Martinez, “We’re honored. I think it means our communities appreciate what we’re doing—and we’re committed to continue doing it. Thank you.”
