CEO Quarterly Update Fall 2024

A CEO Message from Jim

Hello wonderful members of WESTconsin Credit Union! I wish to start off my message by re-introducing myself and sharing some information with you about me personally. August 1, I began working as Chief Executive Officer. And while this role is new to me, my professional experiences with WESTconsin run deep as I have been part of this incredible organization for 30 years. In these years, I have been honored to lead offices and operations teams dedicated to serving our members while enriching the communities we live in. A few of my favorite hobbies and interests include reading mystery novels, morning walks around my local neighborhood and hiking during travels to the desert southwest, and of course quality time with my wife, our daughter, and our family members. I admit to being a strong supporter of Minnesota sports enjoying following both the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. To my Packers, Brewers, Bucks and Badgers fans… please do not hold this against me! I like these teams too.

There is much we can be proud about here at the credit union in helping our members and communities achieve financial wellness. In July, WESTconsin Credit Union received the honor to be named the top credit union in Wisconsin on Forbes’ “2024 America’s Best Credit Unions in Each State” list. This year, WESTconsin is listed as #1 for the first time, moving up three spots from fourth in 2023. 207 credit unions out of the nearly 4,700 across the country made the list. Many of our local offices have been recognized by community voters as top-ranking businesses in financial services, insurance and investments, and real estate. And our Service Center consistently places among the top 1-3 highest ranking among peers of our asset size credit union group. It couldn’t make us happier than when we receive member service satisfaction surveys that include comments about “how proud I am to be a member of WESTconsin!”

We are committed to making doing business with us easily and securely. Just recently, our Online Services department with many other teams launched online account opening. Also, members can now schedule appointments with our member services representatives and others using online appointment scheduling. Both these great services can be accessed through our website or mobile app. We appreciate the feedback members provide so that we can learn more about what we are doing well and what we can get better at. It’s exciting to see our mobile app reviews of 4.6/5.0 on Google Play and 4.8/5.0 on the App Store. As the number of members preferring and choosing to do their banking digitally continues to grow, these ratings support they are enjoying positive experiences in doing so. For those who may be interested in learning more about digital friendly services such as mobile deposit, digital wallet, card control, online bill pay, or eStatements, I encourage you to reach out to us whatever method you are comfortable with. Our staff who work in these areas will be delighted to speak with you. Speaking of “new,” we also started offering a new digital services checking account called eSmart Checking. Along with digital conveniences this account is set up with, a really impacting feature is that those who have this account are contributing to a quarterly charitable donation that WESTconsin makes on their behalf based on numbers of debit card transactions. And we are making our first donation this month!

WESTconsin offices, teams and our members participated in several Inspiring Better activities during this past summer. We held our annual School’s Out Summer Food Drive helping to feed kids on summer vacation by collecting non-perishable food items and raising money. In August, the Scrub-A-Dub Drive raised $1,966.35 and collected 2,800 hygiene products that were donated to 16 area community partners for distribution to students as they return to classrooms this fall. Be on the lookout for the upcoming World’s Finest Chocolate Bar fundraiser for Children’s Miracle Network and our popular The Mitten Tree collection event taking place this fall and winter. This spirit and the philosophy of people helping people guides our leaders and encourages our employees and members to get involved in charitable activities and worthwhile causes.

In closing, as we transition from fall into winter here in Wisconsin and Minnesota, during the upcoming months when daylight gets less and less and temperatures get cooler and cooler, consider how you might be able to help others. Little things like offering someone a hot cup of coffee during an unplanned visit, donating warm clothing items to your local collection outlets or to our annual The Mitten Tree fundraiser, or calling someone who might be lonely letting them know you care about them. We have such wonderful, kind members of WESTconsin Credit Union that I know many of you do this often. It goes without saying that small, random acts of kindness spread great joy! Thank you for all that you do!

Sincerely,

Jim Wookey
Chief Executive Officer
WESTconsin Credit Union