Achieva Credit Union
| Company type | Credit Union |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial Services |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Headquarters | Sarasota, Florida, USA |
Area served | Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, Hillsborough Counties, FL |
Key people | Gary Regoli, CEO/President |
| Products | Savings; Checking; Consumer loans; Mortgages; Credit cards; Investments |
| Website | http://www.sccu.org/ |
Sarasota Coastal Credit Union, a Division of Achieva Credit Union, is a state chartered credit union and is regulated under the authority of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). As of November 1, 2009, Sarasota Coastal Credit Union merged with Achieva Credit Union, which is headquartered in Clearwater, Florida. The merger creates a credit union with more than $800 million in assets and more than 90,000 members in seven counties. Achieva had members in Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Hillsborough counties while Sarasota Coastal Credit Union currently served members in Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties.[1].
History
On December 12, 1953, seven school teachers came together and signed a Certificate of Organization to form the credit union. The original amount of $130 used to organize the credit union was deposited by those seven individuals. The name of the credit union started as The Sarasota County Teacher’s Credit Union. In the years that have followed, Sarasota Coastal adopted its current name in response to mergers with other credit unions, the inclusion of Sarasota County employees, and other select employer groups.
Like Sarasota Coastal, Achieva Credit Union was started as a teacher’s credit union in 1937 in Pinellas County. Throughout the years, their field of membership and number of counties served has expanded. The merger is seen as an excellent fit between the two credit unions as the membership base is similar and the combined field of membership now encompasses counties from Hernando to Charlotte on the West Coast of Florida.
Sarasota Coastal Credit Union members voted their approval of the merger in a Special Member meeting, held in Sarasota on Oct. 26, 2009. "We are pleased that the members of Sarasota Coastal Credit Union have voted in favor of merging, and we look forward to working with them throughout the entire consolidation process," said Gary Regoli, President and CEO of Achieva. "The combined strengths of the two credit unions will provide even greater benefits to all of our members." [1][2]
Membership
As with all credit unions, membership in Sarasota Coastal Credit Union, a Division of Achieva Credit Union, is limited to individuals sharing the common bond defined in its credit union charter. Membership is open to:
- Residents of and those who work in the following counties:
Eligible Hillsborough County zip codes include: 33556, 33558, 33607, 33614, 33615, 33618, 33624, 33625, 33626, 33634 and 33635.[3].
"Once a Member, always a Member." After joining the credit union, one may remain a Member for life, even if they move from the community.
Organization
Like all credit unions, Sarasota Coastal Credit Union, a Division of Achieva Credit Union, is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, elected by and from its membership. The Board has seven members, who serve for three-year terms. Board members can be re-elected to consecutive terms by the membership.
The credit union is a member of the Florida Credit Union League, through which it is associated with the Credit Union National Association.
Services
Sarasota Coastal offers the typical suite of account services offered by most financial institutions, including savings accounts, checking accounts, IRA accounts, and certificates of deposit. The savings product is named "Share Savings" to reflect the fact that a member's initial savings deposit ($5) literally represents their share of ownership in the credit union. Sarasota Coastal also offers members consumer loans, credit cards, mortgages, home equity loans, and HELOCs. Sarasota Coastal also offers an array of products for Small Business Services members.
Sarasota Coastal Credit Union, a Division of Achieva Credit Union, has 5 branch locations within Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte Counties. There are seven Achieva Credit Union locations in Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando adn Hillsborough Counties. In addition, Sarasota Coastal offers extensive online services including online banking and bill payment services, via its website, [1].
Sarasota Coastal has been named a Sarasota Green Connection (SGC) Approved Business, which means that they have been certified as having met SGC’s criteria of providing green, environmentally preferable products and/or services. This criteria has been modeled after Co-op America’s guidelines for the Co-op America Business Network (CABN).[4].
References
- ^ a b "Achieva Credit Union Press release". Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ Harrington, Jeff. Clearwater-based Achieva Credit Union and Sarasota Coastal Credit Union agree to merge. St. Petersburg Times 29 Oct. 2009
- ^ "Achieva Credit Union Press release". Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ "Sarasota Green Connection". Retrieved April 28, 2008.