OUR Credit Union Offers Products and Support to Help Members and Communities Reach Their Goals

In a Nutshell: OUR Credit Union has made it its mission to benefit Michigan communities with its products and community support. OUR Credit Union offers card and loan products to help members build credit and achieve more all year long. The organization provides free financial wellness resources and services to energize communities, and it maintains a commitment to charitable giving that lifts those members most in need.

When the colder weather yields in Michigan, residents often turn their attention to summer activities. And in many communities north of Detroit, that means baseball. The United Shore Professional Baseball League, an independent professional minor league, provides outdoor entertainment all summer long at Jimmy John’s Field in Utica.

The USPBL gives talented players who may not have caught the attention of major league scouts one more opportunity to chase their dreams. The league relies on local business sponsorships to supplement ticket sales and keep its product top-notch for the fans.

One of those sponsors is OUR Credit Union, a stalwart in several communities north of Detroit, including two branches only minutes away from the USPBL ballpark.

“The USPBL gives players a second chance — they’ve had 25 or 26 players who have signed in the big leagues,” said Jeff Glaser, OUR Credit Union’s Director of Marketing. “And that’s our mantra here. We’re here as a resource for the community.”

The USPBL sponsorship is just one of many ways the team at OUR Credit Union works to bring Michigan communities together and foster growth. For more than 60 years, OUR Credit Union has offered products and services to help members reach their financial goals and support local organizations to help those in need.

OUR Credit Union got its start in Royal Oak when it grew out of a local Catholic church. In the 1980s, it took on a community charter and began a gradual expansion. Now, OUR Credit Union has five branches and manages more than $360 million in assets while serving members throughout the state.

OUR Credit Union’s card and loan products help thousands of members achieve and manage their own success. The credit union has something for everyone with a card lineup that includes a secured card and a closed personal loan product.

The most popular card is its low-rate offering, with no annual or hidden fees and an annual APR that can be as low as 8.95%. It’s an essential product for folks in the credit mainstream, and while the APR is advertised as an “as low as” rate, OUR Credit Union prides itself on not using that number as a teaser.

“We believe in offering a fair rate to everyone,” Glaser said. “We’re not trying to entice people in and then jack up the rate to double digits — it’s just not what we do.”

On the higher end, OUR Credit Union’s rewards card offers a point per dollar on top of an APR that starts at 10.95%. While Glaser says it may not be as flashy as other rewards products, members appreciate it because it is so straightforward.

For members who are just starting with credit or rebuilding from setbacks, OUR Credit Union offers a shared secured card that can function as a credit-building tool. The share secured card has a low rate and enables them to demonstrate financial reliability.

“It’s a great way to start on your own,” Glaser said. “I did that with both my daughters when they got out of high school.”

No matter where they are on their credit journey, members also count on OUR Credit Union to provide services and resources to support them in making the most of their finances. One significant way the credit union accomplishes that is through its partnership with financial wellness expert GreenPath.

GreenPath is a nonprofit dedicated to helping credit union members lead financially healthy lives. It helps OUR Credit Union members address challenges ranging from budgeting and money management to debt repayment, improving credit scores, and avoiding common financial pitfalls.

Beyond the direct personalized assistance offered through GreenPath, OUR Credit Union helps members in many other ways. GreenPath is one of many services provided through OUR Credit Union’s online Financial Library, which includes links to free credit reports and identity theft services, among many others.

Its dedicated Financial Resource Center includes more than a dozen content channels that help with everything from financial and career planning to make the most of shopping and travel.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, OUR Credit Union employees were frequently in the community and schools offering seminars. Much of that activity transitioned online in 2020, but a partnership with content provider Cemark enables OUR Credit Union to continue reaching students with physical and online instructional materials.

“That allows us to get into those classrooms,” Glaser said. “When someone is ready to receive the message, they’re going to listen.”

OUR Credit Union’s role as a community institution doesn’t end with its affiliation with the USPBL — although that sponsorship does exemplify its commitment to making everyday life better in the communities it serves.

The credit union’s charitable foundation also gives back to the community in a variety of ways. Its annual golf tournament raises funds for area organizations, and other programs and initiatives allow team members to volunteer and connect with members.

The credit union awards scholarships, donates school supplies and holiday gifts, and raises money for a local food bank to help feed families. And OUR Credit Union aims to be there every day, working directly with members to help them make the most of their financial lives.

In keeping with how Glaser worked one on one with members to help them pay their bills, OUR Credit Union now offers a free financial credit review to every member who requests one.

“Members can come in, sit down, and we’ll take a look at their credit file with them side by side,” Glaser said. “We look for opportunities to improve scores and save money, and we’ve been successful with that.”

That sort of relationship building continues to distinguish organizations like OUR Credit Union from depersonalized banking experiences typical at larger institutions. And, like the USPBL players who are getting their chance at the big leagues, everybody who walks in the door at OUR Credit Union has an opportunity to join a winning team.

“I’ve been at this credit union for 34 years — my whole career,” Glaser said. “I’ve been born and bred in credit unions, and our job is to be a resource — first and foremost.”