MEMBER PROFILE

Michelle Menter

I've been an entrepeneur for years now, and I credit my ability to start and keep going to the Business CENTS program. Leslie Ackerman, Business CENT's director, suggested Cornell's BR Legal services when I needed to form a LLC, and Legal Zoom couldn't get me there. She helped me think through my business structure and marketing plan for starting my vacation rental business. It's a good thing Business CENTS exists - to help folks like me launch a new idea with a sense of support behind me. Thanks!

The Alternatives Federal Credit Union's core investment assumption is that we would like to loan all available funds to members within the constraints of prudent management. We consider lending to be our mission - to be a vehicle for investing money in our community.

We will not make an investment when a suitable loan is available. Our primary investment with funds not loaned out in our community places funds with other Credit Unions in the state through our Corporate Central Credit Union in Albany. In most environments, loan demand is sufficient that we need not pursue investments beyond this point. If we do have longer term excess funds, we place excess funds with banks and savings and loans that have a record on investment in their communities, a high level of capital, and a profit. Our final investment alternative is government or government agency issues. We usually chose short T-bills or FHLB (Federal Home Loan Board) bonds depending on the situation.