When Karen Jones launched EcoElectrical Solutions LLC, she was turned away by 10 different lenders before she found out about our credit union. “When I dealt with Cooperative Federal, they were the first institution to actually follow through,” she says. Through Coop Fed’s Business Opportunity Fund, she was approved for a working capital loan as well as another loan to buy a van for her business. Now, Karen’s business is flourishing with many new contracts coming her way – including one from our credit union. She was the electrical contractor for our new office on Erie Boulevard.

Melissa used to own a home with her late husband, but she downsized to an apartment after he passed away. A few years later she was tired of paying high rents – and ready to build something of her own. That’s when a friend told her about the Homebuyer Dream Program at Coop Fed. “My housing counselor helped me to get my credit in order and understand the home-buying process. They were with me every step of the way.” Today, her monthly mortgage payment is $300 less than what she was paying in rent, and she’s building equity for the future. This process “got me my first house on my own, of which I am very proud. I sit here every day and think – this is MINE.” Homebuyer

Theardis has been a member of Coop Fed for decades, relying on our credit union for personal banking services, financial counseling programs, as well as commercial mortgages. He lives and owns properties on the Southside where he says there is “no access to capital outside of Cooperative Federal… With the credit union the people in my community have a place they can go to for full service.” Most of all, he values that we keep our promise to “lend to the community where the money comes from. There are other lenders who don’t do that,” Theardis says. “I’m a big fan of the credit union.”