Redwood Credit Union
“We’re here to help our members achieve their goals and dreams.”—Brett Martinez, president and chief executive officer
At Redwood Credit Union, the guiding principle says it all. “It’s our mission to passionately serve the best interests of our members, employees and communities,” says Brett Martinez, president and chief executive officer. “We live our mission every single day,” he adds. That’s why RCU not only earned distinction as the Best Credit Union in the North Bay, as voted on in the annual NorthBay biz readers’ poll, but it’s also been named the Best Company to Do Business with in Sonoma County.
Serving its members and community, RCU puts a priority on hiring people dedicated to providing excellent service. Its 630 employees volunteer with nonprofits, such as local food banks, serve on chamber boards and fundraise for charities such as The Human Race and United Way. “We have an amazing staff,” says Martinez, “At the end of the day, they are who makes us successful.”
That attitude paid dividends for the North Bay after the devastating round of wildfires in 2017, when RCU put its members’ and community’s needs first. The credit union helped raise more than $32 million for fire relief, with contributions from every U.S. state and 23 countries. “That was a lot of work. But it was the right thing to do. We don’t shy away from what needs to be done,” says Martinez.
More recently, RCU assisted its members during the 35-day U.S. government shutdown that began in late 2018. According to Martinez, impacted members had their hard-earned wages advanced by RCU, even though government funds were frozen. “When times are tough, we’re there to help. We’re consistent with that every day,” says Martinez. Redwood Credit Union also acts preemptively to help the community with finances, offering financial education to schools since 2008. “People work hard and we are serious about helping them keep their money,” says Martinez.
Begun humbly as a credit union for Sonoma County employees in 1950, Redwood Credit Union earned its new name in 1882 to reflect the growing demand for affordable banking services throughout the North Bay’s Redwood Empire. Soon, the Best Credit Union in the North Bay will have a larger presence in Napa County, as well.
A new office near the Napa County airport is in the works, set to accommodate another 700 employees over time. “We’ll have access to a completely different workforce,” says Martinez. “We’re not changing anything in Sonoma County. We’ll continue to grow.”
Redwood Credit Union will also open branches in American Canyon and Lower Lake later this year, and is primed to grow through diversity, with a successful Spanish-language mobile app. The credit union’s foundation is already firmly established, with RCU finding immense success in using its core principles to better the lives and finances of everyone.
“We’re here to help our members achieve their goals and dreams,” says Martinez. With more than 335,000 members to help—many whom have kept their membership after moving around the country—Redwood Credit Union is the Best Company to Do Business with in Sonoma County for 2019. And after their office in Napa is complete, their mission is certain to spread.
