GARBERVILLE, Calif.–Community Credit Union of Southern Humboldt has unveiled a new name. The credit union is now Vocality Community Credit Union.
“It’s time again,” said Pat Neighbors, president and CEO of Vocality, in a statement. “Twenty years ago we changed our name from the Mateel Credit Union to represent who we were becoming and this year we’re 40 years old.”
According to Neighbors, the name change followed discussions in the wake of the recent fire disasters with the state commissioner who oversees credit unions.
“So the commissioner that oversees credit unions for the state called us all out in asking what we were doing to serve communities affected by these disasters,” Neighbors told Kymkemp.com. “Also, our charter includes community development. We are chartered to serve low-income areas and under-served areas designated by the state and the feds. We are expected to and it is demanded of us to serve low-income communities.
Paying Forward
“We believe that after 40 years of serving our community with experience and understanding, we know how to take care of our members, they know that we’re loyal to them and we want to pay that service forward,” Neighbors continued.
The credit union has expanded its field of membership to include Trinity, Lake, Mendocino and Sonoma counties. The credit union is also investing in a mobile branch.
“We’re calling it the nomad branch,” Neighbors told Kymkemp.com, referring to a freightliner van that has four wheel drive and will have a satellite communication system. “We plan to have it by late September or early October and staff will be able to process loan applications, open new accounts and provide credit counseling from the van.”
The van will also have an ATM, and will serve as a backup branch in the event of an emergency.