Welcome to GoWest Digital Media Center, a one-stop resource for journalists, bloggers, communicators, and marketers. Whether the stories you tell are for trade outlets or for consumer-facing media, we are here to help.
About GoWest
Association
GoWest Credit Union Association is the trade association representing more than 300 not-for-profit, cooperative credit unions in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming and their 17.4 million total consumer members. We help our member credit unions with compliance, professional development, and advocacy for laws and regulations that remove barriers so they can better serve their members.
Foundation
Powered by a network of credit unions, GoWest Credit Union Foundation is uniquely positioned to harness and deliver resources that strengthen the financial lives of people and communities throughout the region. This is accomplished through asset building, economic empowerment, and cooperative development. The GoWest Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization.
Solutions
Serving as a collaborative hub, GoWest Solutions harnesses the power of cooperative intelligence to connect GoWest member credit unions with leading business partners in the industry. These world-class partners provide innovative solutions designed to help credit unions save money, stay up to date with emerging trends, deliver cutting-edge technology, and ultimately, better serve their diverse memberships.
Questions? Contact us:
SVP, Marketing & Communications Washington Phone: 509.499.3929 Toll-free: 800.995.9064
Katy Wagnon
The CU Difference
Credit unions help consumers achieve their financial dreams. They provide every possible financial service, including savings accounts, loans for cars, homes, and businesses, credit cards, financial counseling, and more.
What is a Credit Union?
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution, essentially owned by the people who have chosen them as their financial services partners.
How are credit unions different from banks?
That’s easy. Credit unions put people before profits. While banks are owned by stockholders and must deliver profits to them, credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives, essentially owned by the members using their services. Instead of returning profits to Wall Street, credit unions reinvest in their members, offering them smart, economical products and services, and to top all that off, a voice in how the credit union is operated!
The American Credit Union Movement took flight during the Great Depression when people in need could not access the for-profit financial services system. Founding members pooled their own money to make affordable loans possible for people who needed help. While membership in credit unions has grown and technology has evolved to meet members’ needs, credit unions remain as true to those roots as ever.
Not-for-profit
Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives existing to serve members, not to make a profit. Unlike most other financial institutions, credit unions do not issue stock or pay dividends to outside stockholders. Instead, earnings are returned to our members through benefits such as lower loan rates, higher interest on deposits, lower fees, free financial education, and added emphasis serving communities large and small, metropolitan and rural.
Your money is always safe in a credit union.
Deposits in most federally insured credit unions are insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF). Some credit unions offer similar or additional insurance protection for your accounts.Funded by credit unions and administered by the National Credit Union Administration, , the NCUSIF is backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.
Taxation
Credit unions do pay taxes – payroll taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes. Credit unions are exempt from corporate and income taxes because of their not-for-profit structure.
Ownership
Credit unions are an economic democracy. Each credit union member has equal ownership and one vote – regardless of how much money a member has on deposit. At a credit union, everyone is both a member and an owner who gets to vote on how the credit union will be run through board elections.
Member-Driven Boards
Each credit union is governed by a board of directors elected by and from the credit union’s membership.
Membership Eligibility
Nearly everyone qualifies for membership in a credit union, depending on where they live, work, worship, or attend school.
People Helping People
Credit unions exist to help people, not make a profit. The goal is to serve all the members well, including those of modest means – every member counts. Members are fiercely loyal for this reason. They know their credit union will be there for them in bad times as well as good. The same people-first philosophy encourages credit unions and their employees to get involved in community charitable activities and worthwhile causes.
News Releases
We provide releases to be picked up by news outlets and published for immediate use. We are a go-to source for news outlets covering credit unions, the economy, consumer finance, and more.
In The News
Anytime the GoWest Credit Union Association is recognized by a news source, we will publish that information here. We are a go-to source for news outlets covering credit unions, the economy, consumer finance, and more.
Upcoming Events
All EventsCompliance Council: Sess. Three
HR & Trainers Council: Sess. Three
Digital Innovation Council: Sess. Three
Lenders Council: Session Three
On The Go Articles
Get Ready for International Credit Union Day on Oct. 17!
International Credit Union (ICU) Day is right around the corner, and we want to know how your credit union plans to celebrate!
Teachers Make Sacrifices for the Good of Their Classroom – How Credit Unions Can Support Them
By Olivia Sorensen, Senior Community Development Specialist, SELCO Community Credit Union A new school year has a unique way of […]
October 17 is International Credit Union Day – Time to Educate, Participate & Celebrate!
Thursday, Oct. 17 marks the 76th annual International Credit Union Day, which celebrates the spirit of the global credit union movement. The day is recognized to reflect upon the credit union movement's history, promote its achievements, recognize hard work, and share member experiences.