Feedback: November 2016

Question: What distinguishes your credit union from other types of lending institutions?

David E. Doss

President and Chief Executive Officer
OneAZ Credit Union
Sector: Financial Services

As a local financial cooperative, OneAZ Credit Union exists to serve members who live and work in Arizona. We are owned and controlled by our members, meaning the money they put into the credit union stays in the community rather than going to shareholders in other states. One member’s savings becomes another member’s loan. Keeping the money local ensures the future of fellow Arizonans as well as our communities.

Each year, our members elect a volunteer board of directors to manage the credit union. Members of the credit union are invited to attend our annual meeting and are eligible to vote on major decisions about our business.

As part of our commitment to help our members achieve their financial goals, our credit union offers a full suite of products and services tailored to their present and future needs. Members get better interest rates on mortgages and loans, lower fees for services and higher rates on savings accounts due to the cooperative nature of our business. “Together is always better” is the guiding principle we operate under every day.

David E. Doss is president and CEO of OneAZ Credit Union and has more than 35 years of executive leadership in financial services. He is a board director of PSCU, past member of the Twelfth District Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council of Federal Reserve Bank San Francisco, and a member of the University of Oxford Saïd Business School Alumni Association and the Economic Club of Phoenix. 

Susan Frank

Chief Executive Officer
Desert Schools Federal Credit Union
Sector: Financial Services

Desert Schools Federal Credit Union distinguishes itself from other lending institutions by practicing four very simple, but important principles that we refer to as “The Big Four.” They are Member Solutions, Employee Engagement, Community Involvement and Financial Strength. We think of these as the core fabric of our organization because each principle affects the other three.

We tell our members from day one that they’re an owner, not a customer, and there’s a significant difference in that line of thinking. Desert Schools is comprised of members who share their resources to help each other. Because members are owners, they also vote on the board of directors — ensuring their needs are always put first.

As a not-for-profit cooperative, Desert Schools prides itself on providing stellar service and innovative products to its members, and taking an active role in community outreach and education efforts in the Valley and beyond. The degree to which we care about our members and the community we serve is evident in the work that we do.

Susan Frank is the CEO of Desert Schools Federal Credit Union, a $3.6-billion, full-service, Arizona-based financial institution founded in 1939, with 50 branches located throughout the Valley. Her background includes more than 35 years of financial services experience, with 30 years dedicated to credit unions. Her community support extends to serving on numerous local and regional boards and supervisory committees.