NorCalUrban

CUs NATIONWIDE COME TOGETHER TO OPEN CU BRANCH IN UNDERSERVED AREA OF EAST PALO ALTO Branch Is First Credit Union in Area Currently Served By One Community Bank, Several Check-Cashing and Payday Lending Establishments March 21, 2008 From coast to coast, several credit unions have banded together to help Community Trust Credit Union in Modesto, CA open up a branch in East Palo Alto. The community of more than 40,000 residents, mostly low-income and Latino, is currently served by one small community bank as well as a number of check-cashing and payday lending establishments. Many banks left the 2.5-square-mile city in the 1980s. On March 15, Community Trust Credit Union of East Palo Alto held its grand opening celebration with more than 150 members, community and credit unions leaders, residents, and legislative officials in attendance. Palo Alto, CA-based Stanford Federal Credit Union and Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union, and San Francisco-based Patelco Federal Credit Union joined u...

Dear NCUD Friends, Recap of Grand Opening Last Saturday we had a wonderful grand opening celebration. Many leaders, well wishers and friends from the East Palo Alto (EPA) and surrounding community attended. This included State Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, East Palo Alto Mayor Pat Foster, City Council members David Woods, Ruben Abrica and Pete Evans, members of the national, regional and local credit union community and church leaders from EPA and surrounding communities. We also had a special presentation of a flag that was flown over the Capitol in Washington D.C. from Congresswoman Anna Eshoo given to us by State Congressman Ira Ruskin. This was a wonderful, joyous celebration where we culminated over 3/1/2 years of work, planning, praying and organizing. I know many of our friends were able to stop by, thank you for celebrating with us. I will shortly post pictures of the event on our website at www.norcaludc.org. I have also attached an article that was in the Palo Alto Daily News las...

Here's a recent article about the credit union project. Our grand opening was yesterday - more updates to come... First credit union shows signs of success Plan aims at low-interest loans for East Palo Alto By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer John Liotti has a vision for East Palo Alto, and it involves low-interest loans. With the support and help of several community members, Liotti last December launched Community Trust Credit Union, the city's first credit union. He's hoping that a combination of cheaper car loans and mortgages, eventual small business financing and an alternative to the expensive check cashing outlets in the city will help locals save and succeed financially. Liotti said the credit union can offer members car loans 5 to 10 percent lower than banks. The credit union will celebrate its grand opening today. "This community has been amazingly under-banked," Liotti said inside his credit union office on Bay Road. "Our goal is to move pe...

COMMUNITY TRUST CREDIT UNION of East Palo Alto POSITION TITLE: Financial/Member Service Representative (PT) SALARY: $12.00- 15.00/ Hr (DOE) We are looking for a friendly, energetic, dedicated individual for our East Palo Alto Branch. We train in all aspects of our front line operations. If you are anxious to be part of a team that values team work and excellent member service, Community Trust Credit Union is the place for you. JOB SUMMARY: Responsible for performing a broad variety of paying and receiving functions, including processing deposits, withdrawals, loan payments, cashiers’ checks, money orders, and cash advances. As well as a broad variety of member services such as opening accounts, renewing certificate accounts and assisting members with bookkeeping and checking account matters. Candidates that meet the following requirements are encouraged to apply for this position IMMEDIATELY. This is a part-time position. To apply for this position, please email your resume and cover l...

Stanford Federal Credit Union 1500 Page Mill Road Palo Alto, CA 94306 DRAFT July 12, 2007 News Release CONTACT: Phoebe Wall Howard, 415-246-8794 CREDIT UNIONS IN BAY AREA MAKE HISTORY For the first time in state history, three large credit unions are partnering on a major reinvestment project that will contribute to economic stability in East Palo Alto. Community leaders who have worked over the past three years to win state approval will meet at the DLA Piper Law Firm in East Palo Alto on July 18 at 10 a.m. to sign the Memorandum of Understanding that seals the partnership among credit unions and allows the project to move forward. Doors open to the public in September. The East Palo Alto Credit Union will technically be listed as a branch of Community Trust Credit Union in Modesto because CEO Joe Duran is considered an expert on revitalization and Latino outreach. City Council Member Ruben Abrica said, “People have historically had to struggle...

Thanks for supporting us in your thoughts and prayers last weekend. By all accounts the meeting with CTCU went well, thanks to all who played a vital role, especially Stu Fisher (Addison Ave. CU), Keith Troup (Stanford Federal CU), Katie Fantin and Jenni Ingram. The group we presented to, in their CEO's words was "unanimously in favor of proceeding." This means the next step will be to present, discuss and hopefully approve the Memo of Understanding (MOU) we are drafting with the credit union attorney. I want to pause and thank God that this vital step has been taken. There are still more hurdles to jump in the coming weeks, please keep up the prayers, good will and thoughts! I truly appreciate all of your support. We're getting closer to realizing the dream of fostering financial independence and empowerment to East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park.

I'm soliciting your prayers for NCUD this Saturday. Without going into too much detail - we're making a critical pitch to the group that can give the green light to the credit union project. If in this meeting our plan is approved, then we should be pushing toward opening this summer, perhaps as early as June. I don't believe we'll recieve a decision on Saturday, but we should hear something back within a matter of days or weeks. Our portion of the meeting will be Saturday from 11:00 to 12:00. This is the culmination of almost two years of hard work and organizing - so your prayers for the right outcome and the peace of God would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for standing with me through this process. Your support and prayers have been a great encouragement. I'll let you know what happens from here...