Beyond The Transaction Member Newsletter - Spring 2026
In this edition of Beyond The Transaction...
Community Partner: More Than A Mission Statement
Community Partner: More Than A Mission Statement
To go beyond the transaction to truly serve, advocate, and guide our members as their trusted financial and community partner.
Partners 1st Federal Credit Union’s mission is more than just a statement. It’s carried out in our everyday duties. We live in the communities we serve, so we want to be a trusted community partner. That’s why we focus on getting involved in local organizations that make our communities better and find ways to give back and make an impact. Here are some of the ways we serve:
Connection Committee Volunteer Award
Internally, we encourage our staff to volunteer for organizations that they are passionate about. Throughout the year, they take time from their busy schedules to drive meaningful change. To recognize their community-focused work in 2025, we awarded three employees the Connection Committee Volunteer Award: VP of Mortgage Operations Sabrina, Branch Sales Manager Cammy, and Branch Sales Manager Missy.
“A lasting memory from my volunteering last year was getting to bring my son along to the Relay For Life to celebrate cancer survivors. We cheered on one of my longtime employees as she walked with the other survivors. It was a beautiful moment full of life and positivity.”
“The Out of the Darkness suicide prevention walks that my branch fully committed to last year and the years to come have touched everyone at our branch. Each of us has experienced someone in our own personal lives with this matter. I have used this quote for my own family: 'You do not get to decide the storm that you are going through but you do decide on how long and how your destiny turns out by what you do in the storm.'”
“'As we therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. Galatians 6:10' This quote resonates with me because I love working for a company like Partners 1st Federal Credit Union that supports every community that we operate in.”
On April 1, we kicked off the Spread The Love peanut butter and jelly campaign. Our goal is to collect as much peanut butter and jelly as possible to donate to local food pantries in our communities. Partner with us! Each Partners 1st location is a collection station. Drop off your contribution by the end of the month.
The Charles M. Cook Scholarship is awarded to qualified high school seniors* or full-time undergraduate students who express academic excellence and financial need.
To apply, please send to scholarships@partners1stcu.org:
âś“ Charles M. Cook Scholarship application
âś“ High school, trade school, or college transcript
âś“ Letter of recommendation
âś“ Photo of yourself
Successful applicants must have a Partners 1st Federal Credit Union account in good standing. Winning recipients receive their share of up to $15,000 in academic aid for the 2026-2027 school year. Please submit your application via mail or to scholarships@partners1stcu.org by May 31, 2026, to be considered.
* A high school student must have met the requirements to graduate by the end of the current school year.
A New Chapter For Pennies
With the U.S. Mint pausing penny production, many financial institutions can no longer order them from the Federal Reserve. To keep operations running smoothly and to get ahead of the shortage, we announced new procedures, effective March 1, for how we are handling this adjustment.
The two main changes are:
- We won’t be selling pennies to members or businesses by the roll or in large quantities anymore.
- We will provide exact change during transactions for as long as our supply lasts. At some point in the future, we will transition to automatically depositing change from transactions directly into member accounts.
Automatic Change Deposits: Next time you deposit a check, you may only get bills back. Your coins will be automatically deposited into your account. With automatic change deposits, there will be less change rattling around in your pocket!
If you have questions about these adjustments, please contact your local branch or call our Member Support Team at 800.728.8943.
Culpeper, VA: Assistant Branch Sales Manager Nicholas joined the 2026 Culpeper Chamber of Commerce board of directors. We’re excited to see how he continues to be a financial advocate for members and really be part of the community he serves.
Fort Wayne, IN: President & CEO Clinton shared his expertise and insights about the credit union industry with the Indiana Credit Union League’s Ignite Program new cohort. It was a day-long event full of energy, inspiration, and strategic direction.
Fort Wayne, IN: Senior Mortgage Loan Originator Brooke represented Partners 1st within the real estate industry to keep an important conversation moving forward at the Indiana Statehouse. She contributed and learned about current and upcoming legislation and its impact.
Fort Wayne, IN: Our Account Solutions Team knocked down some pins and landed some wins for the kids. It was a fantastic opportunity to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana, an organization that is making a real impact in our community.
Our Mortgage Loan Originators will be placed at three new-build locations in Fort Wayne, ready to answer any of your mortgage questions. Look for updates on Facebook.
Our Mortgage Loan Originators will be placed at three new-build locations in Fort Wayne, ready to answer any of your mortgage questions. Look for updates on Facebook.
Partners 1st FCU will be closed on Monday, May 25 for Memorial Day. As always, you can access your accounts online 24/7/365.
Partners 1st FCU will be closed on Friday, June 19 for Juneteenth. As always, you can access your accounts online 24/7/365.
