MEMBER PROFILE

The Credit Path

Credit Path Illustration

As Alternatives Credit Union has grown and changed, our use of the Credit Path model of financial empowerment has changed as well. Originally developed by Bill Myers as a way of understanding our members' financial situations and incorporating that into our business planning, the Credit Path describes where people are situated at various points along a continuum between poverty and self-sufficiency. Our job, as a community development financial institution, is to help our members move along that continuum by empowering them to make decisions, and offering opportunities, that will move them towards financial self-sufficiency.<

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SERVICES FOR BUSINESS MEMBERS

• Checking (no minimum balance)
• Business Convenience Box (easy deposit drop off, no line)
• Merchant Credit Card Service
• Treasury tax depository - Deposit your sales and payroll tax. See www.eftps.gov
• SEP IRAs - IRAs for self-employed people
• Business consulting for business plans

Convenient remote banking service include:

• CU@Home - our online banking center
• Fortune Teller - 24/7 Automated phone banking
• BillPay@Home - Online bill payment

Marketing support:

• Free advertising on our Business Yellow Pages
• Brochure and business card rack in lobby
• Community information bulletin board
• Featured monthly member artists in lobby gallery and featured musicians for our Music on Hold
• RoundOff for non-profit organizations - donations from members
• Profiles on our web and in publications

Business counseling:
Business CENTS® (Community Enterprise Networking and Training Services)
Business CENTS® offers an inexpensive or free entrepreneurial training course, semi-nars, one-on-one technical assistance, marketing support, business roundtables and other support and networking.

Other services:

• Individual Development Accounts - Matched savings accounts for low income business owners
• Share Draft (Checking)
  
• Easy check re-ordering
  
• ATM locations