Credit unions grow in 2010

Things are looking up for us in the credit union world, according to the Detroit News:

For a second straight year, Michigan credit unions added more than 50,000 members in 2010. That’s nearly three times the 17,000 members added in 2008, then the biggest gain in five years.

Whether it was disgust with high fees, jacked-up interest rates, slashed credit lines or the handing out of billion-dollar bonuses after taking government bailouts, more recession-weary people have decided big banks look too much like Mr. Potter, the greedy banker in Frank Capra’s classic film.

This squares with the reporting from our local MLive.com on businesses turning to credit unions, too.

Not to brag, but we’ve always thought credit unions were a pretty sweet deal.

Poll: What’s the best way to get information?

We’re wondering what method you use to get information about American 1, or what is the best way to get that information to you. Answering either is fine – we just wonder what our members are looking for.

If you have any further thoughts, leave them in the comments below. Thanks!

This month’s Lansing Lugnuts winner

Congratulations to Sonya F. of Jackson. She was our membership winner for July, and won a set of four Lansing Lugnuts tickets.

Thanks for sending a new member our way, Sonya!

June Lugnuts winner

Congratulations to Cynthia of Jackson. Cynthia referred her friend Rebecca in June and wins four Lansing Lugnuts tickets and food vouchers for an July game.

Thanks for referring a new member, Cynthia! You, too, can win Lansing Lugnuts tickets by referring a new member. But hurry – you only have until August!

Meet Sharon, our May Lugnuts tickets winner

Congratulations to Sharon Furman of Grass Lake. She’s our May 2009 membership drawing winner, earning four Lansing Lugnuts box seats and a few food vouchers.

Sharon referred her son, Michael, to American 1 after he quit his former bank.

“I told him, ‘It’s great – it’s where I like to go,'” Sharon said of American 1.

There’s one more month left in our Lugnuts referral prize drawing. Earn your chance to win Lugnuts tickets when you refer a new member in June.

Member wins Lansing Lugnuts tickets

Congratulations to Roger Kunak of Quincy. Roger was our Lansing Lugnuts tickets winner after referring his co-worker, Matthew, in April.

Rogers wins four Lugnuts box seats and a snack voucher for the May 30 game versus Quad Cities.

You can win your own set of Lansing Lugnuts baseball tickets by referring a friend.

February membership winner

Marina B. of Jackson referred her son to American 1 to open up a membership in February. For that, Marina wins our Pistons ticket package: four Detroit Pistons tickets, free snacks, free parking, and a picture down on the basketball court.

Marina is treating her brother and family to the game.

Thanks for referring a new member, Marina!

December 2008 membership gas card winner

A big congrats to Travis S., our December membership referral winner. Travis wins $500 worth of gas cards for referring his co-worker, Otis.

Travis told Otis that American 1 would be a great place to get a truck loan.

“American 1 is pretty good,” he told him.

For that piece of advice, Travis wins $500 worth of gas cards.

Our GreenBack group for December was the MacCready Reserve in Liberty Township. We learned about the MacCready Reserve thanks to a Jackson Citizen Patriot article. The reserve is open from dawn to dusk, even in January, for cross-country skiers and hikers – and in the summer for joggers and bikers. We had 175 new members referred to us in December, meaning we donated $350 to the reserve.

And so ends our GreenBack program. Thanks to everyone who referred a new member. Stay tuned for details on our 2009 membership promotion.

November gas card winner refers co-worker

Kathy P. of Quincy read about American 1’s membership campaign in her newsletter. She referred one of her co-workers at Randall Food Products in Tekonsha, MI, and then didn’t think much about it.

But then we called and let her know that one referral won her $500 worth of gas cards.

“It was a fluke,” Kathy says. “I just skimmed through the newsletter. I was amazed – I never win anything.”

Like many members before her, Kathy was skeptical when she found out she won.

“I wondered, ‘what’s the stipulation?'” she says.

There’s no stipulation – Kathy already did her part by referring a new member to American 1.

December is the last month you can qualify to win a $500 gas card. Find out more on our GreenBack membership campaign page.

October GreenBack gas card winner

A big congratulations to our October GreenBack gas card winner, Dale A. of Jackson (above, with his wife Sharon). Dale referred a few family members last month, but it was his grandson’s referral that won him $500 in gas cards.

“That should last me at least a month,” Dale said, joking that gas prices are bound to go back up.

Win your own set of $500 gas cards this month and next by referring your friends and family members. Visit our GreenBack page to learn details.