Nico Leyva writes for Nerdwallet, a consumer finance website that promotes financial literacy and looks for the best ways to save you money.

The importance of being green is often mentioned in regards to saving the world. You can do your part to decrease landfill, reduce carbon emissions, and clean up oceans and wildlife areas. But being green is also very important on an individual level. Being a green consumer can improve your personal financial standing, and by buying from local businesses, you can contribute to your community and help it grow. Your community isn’t just a city or a town; it’s a collection of all the economic and personal interests of everyone who lives there. By making conscious financial choices, you can help save the world and keep your unique community flourishing. Here are three ways to be a green consumer.

Cooperative Federal is more than a financial institution. Each day, our staff not only operates three bustling neighborhood branches and a youth credit union program; it teaches classes at community centers, offers free counseling at partner sites, and makes loans that stabilize our neighborhoods and strengthen the local economy.

Take a look at all that we accomplished last year in our 2012 Annual Report - including six inspiring Member Success Stories.

It was a lovely evening of of food, friends, and conversation. Thanks to our wonderful members for coming out and making it such a success!

Miss something? See slides from the annual meeting presentation here.

You can also view our Annual Report booklet, and our multi-year Impact Reports, here.

Check out the winter newsletter. Get the latest news and commentary from your credit union.

The autumn newsletter is here! Get the latest news and commentary from your credit union.

Warmest thanks to all of the members, partners, and friends who joined us for "CU at the Zoo," Cooperative Federal's 30th Anniversary Gala, on Saturday 9/22! It was an epic event that has left us inspired and recharged for our continued work over the next thirty years - and beyond.

Follow us on Facebook to see the photos ... now posted!

Special thanks to the D.R.E.A.M. Freedom Revival for a powerful and spirited performance.

Sponsors and Donors

By know, most of our members surely know all the reasons to move your credit card to Cooperative Federal's VISA Classic. Besides for the great rates and fair terms, there's the all-important fact that when you pay interest to Coop Fed, you're supporting community-based finance and financial education -- not a "big bad bank."

Well, now there's ANOTHER reason to move your money.

When you transfer at least $1,000 to your Cooperative Federal credit card, you'll get a chance to win your choice of a Kindle Fire or a $150 Gift Card. One winner will be selected for every 50 entries!

Download a Credit Card application now.

(Already have a Coop Fed credit card? Great! You can still get entered into this drawing. Call 473-0242 or talk to any teller.)

Limited Time Offer

Members of several credit unions have reported receiving emails supposedly from Enfact, a branch of Fiserv dedicated to alerting members to suspicious transactions. These emails have been confirmed as fraudulent phishing emails. Do not respond or click on any of the links included.

Below is a sample email.

Cooperative Federal stands with
Occupy Wall Street/Occupy Syracuse

Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union stands in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Syracuse, and the nonviolent Occupy demonstrations now occurring in communities across the globe. A resolution expressing this sentiment was passed unanimously by our Board of Directors, a committee of volunteers elected by their fellow members to govern our credit union.

Cooperative Federal exists to foster economic justice, mutual aid, and reinvestment in all the neighborhoods of Syracuse, NY.