Interior Savings – local money for local good

Sep 8, 2017 | 11:25 AM

At Interior Savings, the watchword is “Local Money for Local Good.” It’s what they believe in every time they deal with one of their valued customers.

But what does that really mean? It means that when you walk in the door of one of Interior Savings’ Branches from Clearwater to Osoyoos, you are the number one priority. Whether you’re one of the 72,000 members, or one of 7,500 small business groups, the company is focusing on your needs.

“We know our market, and our members, and that means better, more personalized service,” says Corinne Johnson, Interior Savings’ Community Engagement Manager. “Our members are our owners, and our profits stay right here in our communities,” she adds.

In the past fifteen years, Interior Savings has shared over $50 million in profits with its members, invested over $8 million in support of community programs and services, and awarded over $1 million in bursaries to local students.

But that isn’t all. Johnson says the fact that they are locally owned means the company can respond quickly to needs in the community. “We shop at the same grocery stores as our members, we buy houses in the same real estate market,” says Johnson, “and so we know our communities well. We know when a major change takes place and we can respond immediately. We can make lending decisions quickly to help that young couple get into their first home and take advantage of changing market conditions. And we give you all the services you get with a bank, but you’re helping to build the community in which you live.”

Johnson is passionate about her job, and passionate about the way Interior Savings helps the communities they serve. As one of more than 500 employees, she sees the value that being local brings. Interior Savings members have given the company a 95% satisfaction rate for smart advice and consistent service. To her “Local Money for Local Good” isn’t just a saying. It’s a mantra that employees carry with them every day. Interior Savings proudly invests in a number of local programs. Through its Day of Difference, all employees head out in the community to volunteer, for a total of over 1000 volunteer hours in one afternoon.  With its Local Give, the Credit Union provides 100 people $100 to use for benevolent purposes in their communities. The annual Unplug and Play Family Literacy week  raises awareness of the importance of shutting down the screens and spending time with family and with nature. The credit union is also title sponsor of Ribfest and Moonlight Movies: two locally-based events that bring people together, create connections and raise money for community programs and services.

But while the focus is local, and you get all the benefits of local knowledge, members are also part of a cooperative which means members get the benefit of knowledge and resources from credit unions all across the country. Johnson says “many people don’t realize that being a member means you benefit from the shared strength and resources of credit unions across the country. We have an award-winning investment site, you can use our Deposit Anywhere feature where you can deposit cheques by taking a picture with your phone, and members receive free transactions through the second largest ATM network in Canada.” In other words, even though you’ve chosen a local credit union, you can still bank anywhere online or with the mobile app.

So what does “Local Money for Local Good” mean to you? It means caring people who put people before profits. You get all the things you get with a bank, but you’re helping to build and improve the community in which you live. You’re helping that neighbor down the street purchase their new home, you’re helping local charities reach out to those in need, and you’re helping a small business owner expand their local business, creating jobs for your friends and strengthening the economy.

Who you entrust to provide your financial advice is important, and personal. It’s a step of faith. And when we make that decision, it’s important to know that someone is going out of their way to walk with us as we deal with those tough decisions, whether it be how to invest our savings, finding the best way to raise the money for a new home, or planning ahead for our children’s education so they too can reach their dreams.

So how do you find out more about how Interior Savings can help you? Simply go to your nearest Interior Savings Branch and talk to one of the friendly staff. You’ll find out firsthand how friendly and supportive they can be.

Or check out www.localmoneyforlocalgood.com  It’s as easy as that. See why Interior Savings is different, and what that difference can mean to you.

–              Written by CFJC Today staff with files and information supplied by Interior Savings.