Member Moments: Distance is Just a Number
Relationships and connection: that’s what it’s all about. Patricia Patterson started her membership with Affinity Plus when she started a new position in the Food Service department at St. Cloud State University in 2010. Patricia quickly began to develop relationships with various employees of the St. Cloud Campus branch.
“They are just sweet people,” said Patricia. “They understood my situation and helped me out with the things that I didn’t understand.”
Patricia retired in 2017 and moved to Monroe, Georgia to be with family. However, moving miles away didn’t mean that her relationship with Affinity Plus and employees had to end. In fact, she says that she’s become life-long friends. Despite being over a thousand miles away, to this day, she continues to bank with Affinity Plus.
Patricia says that Georgia doesn’t have many credit unions, which was a major reason she chose to stick with Affinity Plus. She already had all of her information and only account at Affinity Plus. She says it was an easy decision for her to stick with the people she already knew and trusted to look over her finances.
When Patricia retired and before she moved out to Georgia, the St. Cloud Campus branch held a retirement and goodbye party for her. As sad as the branch was to see Patricia move so far away, they were more than happy to host a party in her honor as a way to celebrate and give her a warm send-off. They also knew they would not be parting ways and would keep in touch with her.
Patricia says she’s not-too-keen on online banking and she credits that to not being a big fan of using technology. To meet her banking needs, JoAnn Rocheleau, the Assistant Branch Manager of the St. Cloud Campus branch, or another employee, will call Patricia a few times a week to update her on her account and to assist in any way that they can. They also spend the time catching up on each other’s lives.
The people of Affinity Plus played a key role in Patricia’s decision to continue banking with Affinity Plus. Patricia said “Again, they are sweet people. JoAnn is like a sister.” She knew that even from across the country they would still take care of her like they have always done. Not once has she regretted her decision.