WARNER ROBINS, Ga. –Combined Employees Credit Union is celebrating 50 years of providing financial services to this city and surrounding areas.
“Combined Employees’ personal touch has made them a successful part of this city – it’s as simple as that,” said Randy Toms, mayor of Warner Robins. “They know you, they care about you and they always want to do everything they can to help the people they serve.”
With little more than a vision and a total deposit of $200, eight individuals began what is today referred to as Combined Employees Credit Union on Oct. 6, 1969. The group formed the credit union – then called Warner Robins Employees Credit Union – to serve employees of the City of Warner Robins, including its elected and appointed officials.
In 1972, the credit union expanded its membership to include employees of Houston County, including elected and appointed officials, as well as employees of the Houston County Hospital.
“They gave us such a strong foundation,” said CEO Robby Glore. “And the leadership that followed deserves applause for letting the credit union stay true to its roots and its philosophy of ‘people helping people’ as we’ve continued to grow.”
Today, Combined Employees Credit Union serves employees, retirees and family members of employees of the Houston County Commissioners, Houston Healthcare Complex, Peach County Commissioners, Macon County Commissioners, Cornerstone Medical Associates, The Imaging Center and The Phoenix Center as well as employees of the city governments of Warner Robins, Americus, Oglethorpe, Montezuma, Centerville, Marshallville, Perry and Fort Valley.
Member and Warner Robins Fire Capt. Mike Thorn said he has noticed the growth in his credit union. But Thorn, who has served on Combined Employee’s CU’s supervisory committee, said he’s been impressed with how the credit union has maintained its sense of community.
He was reminded of that this past year when one of the fire chiefs he worked with was diagnosed with liver and prostate cancer. As soon as Combined Employees Credit Union’s leadership picked up on the diagnosis, Thorn said they sprang into action.
“Combined Employees was helping us get a golf tournament together within a month – and they did so many other things to help raise money for this man’s treatment,” he said. “I know this wasn’t something Robby had planned for, but it was something the credit union acted on without question. It wasn’t, ‘Oh, let me do some checking.’ They just helped.”