SANTA ROSA, Calif. — On Oct. 17, Redwood Credit Union joined credit unions around the world in celebrating International Credit Union Day, a day for credit unions to reflect on their history and commitment to serving their members and communities.

RCU honored ICU Day by donating 25 cents per card transaction to local nonprofits each time members used their RCU Visa® debit or credit cards on Oct. 17.

In total, $56,434 was donated to five nonprofit partners across six counties:

Marin: Community Action Marin;
Lake and Mendocino: North Coast Opportunities;
Napa: UpValley Family Centers;
Sonoma: La Luz;
San Francisco: Larkin Street Youth Services.

This represented a 15 percent year-over-year increase, RCU’s largest ICU Day donation to date.

All of the multi-service nonprofit recipients specialize in empowering communities, providing job training, and offering financial wellness education.

These trusted partners ensure access to resources, training opportunities, and empower individuals to make informed financial decisions, ultimately leading to greater financial stability.

RCU also hosted federal, state, and local officials and their staff at its Cleveland Avenue offices in Santa Rosa on October 17 to provide education about the credit union movement and the benefits credit unions provide to the communities they serve.

“International Credit Union Day celebrates the positive impact and unique role credit unions play in communities every day,” said RCU President and CEO Brett Martinez. “We’re honored to be part of an industry that supports financial empowerment and is passionate about investing in the well-being of our members, team members, and communities.”

Credit unions are member-owned, not-for-profit cooperatives built on the principle of “people helping people.”

Credit union earnings are returned to members through better rates, fewer fees, and access to competitive services such as a nationwide network of more than 30,000 fee-free ATMs.

Most credit unions are community based, which means they can serve anyone living or working in a specific geographic region or sharing other common bonds such as working in a specific industry.