On October 17, 2013, credit unions in 100 countries will celebrate International Credit Union (ICU) Day® by joining together and celebrating their cooperative spirit.
Hudson County’s own Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union is proud to take part in the initiative. Unlike many banks, Liberty Savings isn’t in business to make a profit. Credit unions all over the world are a united front focused on you, the members, with an unwavering belief in the “people helping people†philosophy upon which they were built.
In the U.S., they’re  known as credit unions, but across the world, they go by many names…co-operative societies, cooperativas, and caisses populaires to name a few.
This year, the cooperative spirit is coming to the Falkland Islands. Currently, one bank branch operates there, but the 2,300 workers find access to credit limited. Through the World Council of Credit Unions, staff from a U.S. credit union are assisting in the development of a credit union that can help the business that were refused bank financing.
Sometimes, starting a credit union isn’t enough. In Kenya, more than a million children have lost parents to the AIDS. Many U.S. credit unions are supporting an orphanage in the town of Busia. The program provides food and security to these orphans, as well as financial access to the surrounding community.
Off the southern coast of India, women rice farmers in Sri Lanka are recovering from devastating floods in 2011 and growing their businesses with the help of both farming and financial training through a joint agribusiness and credit union program. Profits are up and so are savings thanks to a new infrastructure to safeguard deposits. Now, small branches collect savings through children’s clubs and school programs. In one district, volunteer members hike daily to the local market to collect deposits.
Here too, in the U.S., credit unions are looking after their members.
One small credit union, made up only of descendants of Manley and Lucy Williams is helping members buy new cars, raise families, and pay for college. Credit unions often think of their members as family, and in this case they literally are.
Whether on a small or large scale, doing good is something credit unions take very seriously. Some large credit unions are able to pull together funding from millions of members to improve housing, healthcare, and education in local communities and the world. Be it in the form of scholarships or interest-free loans, it’s still people helping people.
At Liberty Savings  they take their obligation to the community of Hudson County seriously. It’s their  responsibility to support local charities and organizations in their fundraising efforts. LSFCU is also committed to be there as a pillar of support when the community is in need of specialized loans and financial products. And if you’re thinking about any aspect of your finances for today or tomorrow, they can help you individually through free financial literacy classes, specialty low interest loan products and savings tools.
The credit union movement is a united force based on camaraderie, cooperation, and collaboration. That’s why, at a credit union, you are never a number — you are a member, and the credit union is there to  serve you.
To find out more about how Liberty Savings  can help you, please visit with us online at www.LSFCU.org or call 201.659.3900 Ext. 5.
Copyright 2013 Credit Union National Association Inc. Information subject to change without notice. For use with members of a single credit union. All other rights reserve
