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For Immediate Release Contact: Patrick Harris Director of Media Relations Ohio Credit Union League pharris@ohiocul.org 800-486-2917

Credit Unions Bring Relief to Struggling Ohioans
While Celebrating ‘People Helping People’ Philosophy

October 15 is International Credit Union Day

Columbus, Ohio (October 9, 2009) – Ohio’s 402 credit unions will join credit unions across the world in celebrating International Credit Union Day on October 15, 2009.  This year’s theme, “Your Money, Your Choice, Your Credit Union,” encapsulates the member-owner structure of credit unions. After a year that has posed economic and financial challenges for people across the country, this theme honors credit unions’ philosophy of putting people before profit in order to provide access to affordable financial services to all their members.

October is also International Credit Union month, a month-long celebration where credit unions put their philosophy into action by strengthening the communities they serve.  As many Ohioans struggle to make their house payments, fill their gas tanks, afford health care, and put food on their tables, credit unions across the state are lending a hand by participating in the Ohio Credit Union Food Drive.  The sixth annual statewide drive will collect non-perishable food items to benefit the working poor, temporarily unemployed, seniors, veterans, single parent families, and children in need in local communities.

“Partnering our credit unions with local food banks is a testimonial to our ‘People Helping People’ philosophy,” said Paul Mercer, President of the Ohio Credit Union League.  “It is important that we take time to celebrate our fundamentally unique founding principles by continuing to help credit union members and non-members understand what we stand for as a movement.”

The typical credit union member enjoys many benefits, including lower loan rates, better rates on savings, and lower fees.  For years, credit unions have topped all other financial institutions in consumer satisfaction ratings in the American Banker/Gallup Consumer survey.  Credit unions have led the ratings for speed of loan decisions, deposit rates, improvements from year-to-year in service quality, and for staff friendliness and courtesy.

To join a credit union, visit www.FindACreditUnion.com.  This user-friendly Web site allows consumers to perform a simple search for credit unions they are eligible to join based on their city, county, ZIP code, employer, occupation, school, or employer’s location. A list of credit unions you can join will be generated, along with a link to more information about each credit union.  Searches can be performed in English or Spanish.

If you do not have access to the Internet, call the Ohio Credit Union League at (800) 486-2917 for personal service in finding a credit union.

For more information about credit unions, call the League or visit www.OhioCreditUnions.org.

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The Ohio Credit Union League, with offices in Columbus, is a state trade association representing 402 credit unions. Credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions owned and democratically-controlled by their members. Ohio credit unions provide savings, loans, and other consumer financial services to their 2.66 million members. To learn more, visit www.OhioCreditUnions.org.