A Safe Place to Learn Banking: Heather & Brenna’s Story
With decades in education, Heather Olson values curiosity, and found a financial partner in Affinity Plus that encourages questions, builds confidence, and supports her family every step of the way.
Heather Olson knows education – especially the value of a question.
As an educational professional with nearly three decades of experience and whose career includes teaching students and other educators, Heather knows that asking questions is key to understanding.
It’s especially important that someone feels comfortable enough to ask the question, she said. So when it came to banking, Heather wanted to go somewhere her questions – and her daughter Brenna Lindstrom’s questions – would be welcomed.
Other teachers in the state told her to try Affinity Plus, and Heather said she found a place to bank that not only welcomed inquiry, but supports and respects every member.
“One of the best things about Affinity Plus and Brenna was that she could ask questions,” Heather said. “Affinity Plus is extremely consumer-first, the language used is respectful, and you’re never made to feel ignorant.”
Brenna became a member at 15, and now at 24, credits what she learned from Affinity Plus as one of the main reasons she was able to graduate with honors from St. Cloud State University without debt.
Her relationship with Affinity Plus also helps out when the unexpected happens, like when Brenna was driving and hit a deer, totaling her car.
“We went in the next day and talked to the people at Roseville, they broke down the options and how they’d work for me, step by step,” Brenna said.
Financial knowledge isn’t something we’re born with, and Brenna noted it’s not often taught extensively in most schools.
“As a young person, finances are something we’re kind of taught in school but it’s not a subject,” Brenna said. “It’s really nice to have a credit union take time to explain things. It’s a judgment-free zone.”
Both Heather and Brenna said they feel welcome and comfortable at their Affinity Plus branch. They also said they can tell that Affinity Plus respects and views people as individuals, including the employees who work there.
“I feel a sense of safety with Affinity Plus,” Heather said. “They’re very aware of who you are as an individual and very patient when you come in with an individual need. I hope one day my daughter can find a place like that to work.”