PHOENIX–Canyon State Credit Union said it is partnering with Grand Canyon University to be its partner to offer financial products and services to the university’s students, staff and alumni, as well as fans and supporters of the University.
As part of the partnership, the $187-million credit union will open a branch on campus within the GCU’s “Lope Shop” in the fall of this year. The university’s athletic teams are known as the Antelopes.
“Grand Canyon University has selected Canyon State Credit Union as our first university-based branch and we look forward to the financial and professional development this partnership will provide to our students, faculty and staff,” said Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller.
The credit union said it will also work with GCU to hire students this fall to complete staffing of the on-campus branch.
Thunder the Antelope
In addition to the campus branch, Canyon State CU said it has created a free Lopes Checking account based off of GCU’s mascot Thunder the Antelope. Lopes Checking will be free with eStatements, have a Round-Up Savings feature and will offer a GCU Affinity Mastercard debit card. With each qualified swipe of the GCU affinity card, Canyon State Credit Union said it will donate to the GCU General Scholarship Fund.
“We are uniquely positioned to serve not only the students who are on campus every day, but the community as a whole as well,” said Canyon State Credit Union’s interim CEO, David Skilton.
The two organizations began their relationship back in 2015 when Canyon State Credit Union became an official sponsor of GCU’s men’s basketball. Since that time, the credit union said it has participated in multiple Move-In Weeks as well as sponsored athletic games. This year it will also include men’s baseball and soccer.