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Ribbon cutting held for new Cyclone Branch

Northeast Community Credit Union recently held a ribbon cutting event for the new Cyclone Branch, a student-run branch located inside Elizabethton High School.

Congressman John Holsclaw, Jr. praised the initiative for providing students with an invaluable project-based education.

The branch is the second student-run initiative that Northeast Community Credit Union has begun in Carter County. In 2019, the Unaka Ranger student-run branch opened at Unaka High School and continues working with its students.  Collaborating with school personal finance and business instructors, administrators and advisors, the Credit Union has helped many students develop practical saving and spending plans, learn what debt is about, and other personal finance concepts that are easier to grasp using real-life experiences.

The school branches are open a few hours each week.  Students learn to conduct financial transactions and take park in various training exercises led by NCCU personnel. The curriculum is planned to coincide with classroom lesson plans so the students can gain real life experience while receiving instruction on key personal finance topics. Through experiential learning programs, students learn about business, customer service, economic systems, how to make and stick to a budget, and much more.

Starting next semester at EHS, students will be selected to work in the Cyclone Branch through an actual interview process that also includes individual feedback to help students prepare for future job interviews. Students can earn community service credits required for scholarships and gain beneficial skills that will help them in workplaces later in their lives.

NCCU President/CEO Teresa Arnold said the opening of the EHS Branch was a group effort involving Elizabethton High School staff, the Northeast Community Credit Union Board of Directors, credit union staff, and the Tennessee State Department of Financial Institutions. “Giving students this advantage as they start their adult lives and careers is a definite plus for them, their families, and our whole community.  Sound judgement, common sense, and strong financial principals are important to making wise money choices.  We’ve seen how conservative choices impact personal resources as well as the health and wellbeing of our community.  We appreciate another opportunity to make a positive impact by helping students be better prepared to enter the workforce.”

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NCCU Sponsors TLC Community Center’s Bundles of Love

Northeast Community Credit Union is helping sponsor the TLC Community Center’s Christmas Bundles of Love program.

NCCU donated $1,000 to the TLC Community Center to use for the program and will be providing volunteers for the distribution of the gifts. NCCU will also serve as a drop-off location for gifts for angels for the Bundles of Love.

“Our primary mission is to help improve the lives of our neighbors, financially or otherwise,” NCCU President/CEO Teresa Arnold said. “There are needs here and we are pleased to be given the opportunity to work with TLC Community Center to help meet those needs.”

The Bundles of Love program collects items for children in need in the local community; such as hygiene items, school supplies, personal items and small toys. The bundles are distributed based on referrals from local schools and to clients who participate in the TLC Summer Food program.

“There are so many families missing basic essentials here in our community,” TLC Director Angie Odom said. “This is about meeting the needs in our hometown.”

NCCU’s Main Office (behind Elizabethton High School) will be a drop-off location for several angels from the TLC Community Center.

The Bundles of Love will be distributed in December to boys and girls aged from toddler to teenager.

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Important – Always Carry Two Forms of Payment

REMEMBER:  ALWAYS carry both an NCCU Debit Card AND an NCCU Visa Credit Card. Cards use different networks for processing transactions & having BOTH our cards gives you a backup plan.  When a network isn’t working or a merchant restricts your purchase, DON’T be stranded with no payment options – PREPARE ahead by carrying BOTH a debit and credit card!

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Important Information – Be Prepared for Holiday Shopping

NCCU Debit Cards have daily limits for your protection – if you need your spending limit RAISED for holiday shopping, you MUST call us to make the change.  Don’t have your purchases DENIED due to not preparing ahead of time. Get ready to spend big by calling 423-547-1200 Monday through Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm

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Important: Let Us Know If You Are Traveling

Northeast Community Credit Union Debit Cards can be used outside your home state ONLY IF you make arrangements with us before you go.  Call us at 423-547-1200 Monday through Friday to authorize card usage in other states or countries. Don’t delay – get ready to go global today!

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NCCU ranked in Top 100 Healthiest Banks and Credit Unions in America

Northeast Community Credit Union has been named the only financial institution of any kind or size inthe Tri-Cities to be ranked in the ‘Top 100 Healthiest Banks and Credit Unions in AMERICA’.  The 2021 List by DepositAccounts publishes information on the 200 Healthiest Banks and Credit Unions in America.  Northeast Community Credit Union was the only bank or credit union in the Tri-Cities area to make the top 100.

NCCU is the highest ranked financial institution in the state of Tennessee west of Nashville, with a superior grade among both the largest credit unions and banks in our nation to the smallest.

“We believe consumers should have a way to evaluate the financial health of their institutions,” said Ken Tumin, found of DepositAccounts.com. “The intention of our health grade ratings is to help consumers make informed decisions when selecting a financial institution.”

The organization evaluates the financial health of all federally insured banks and credit unions in the United States once per quarter and has been tracking healthy institutions since 2010. To determine bank and credit union rating and recognition, each is graded on a number of factors including capitalization, deposit growth, and loan to reserve ratios.

Northeast Community Credit Union is a major contributor in the local community and has been providing service since October 1952 when it was chartered as a credit union by the State of Tennessee. Northeast Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative focused on youth financial education, coaching families for stronger financial futures, and growing successful businesses while serving anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Carter, Johnson, Washington, Unicoi and Sullivan counties along with their immediate family members.

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NCCU sponsors Trunk-or-Treats

This Halloween, Northeast Community Credit Union sponsored trunk-or-treats at Unaka High School and the Elizabethton/Carter County Boys and Girls Club. Hundreds of trick-or-treaters came to each event that was filled with smiles and amazing costumes.

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Kyle Hunt latest HTT winner

Kyle Hunt, robotics team coach at Happy Valley High School, is the latest Northeast Community Credit Union Helping Teacher’s Teach grant winner.

Hunt is using the grant to purchase necessary robotic parts to help the team build a robot for upcoming competitions. Teams spend two weeks designing robots and have a construction period of two months to complete their build before the competition. Each year, a new challenge is given to robotics teams to complete.

“Our program is in need to funding to purchase materials and parts for our robots in order to ensure we remain competitive despite the increased difficulty and mechanical demands of this year’s challenge,” Hunt said. “For many, this is the first time in an intellectual environment that empowers them to showcase their skills and abilities in ways they never thought possible. After participating in robotics, students often express an interest in STEM-related career areas and go on to pursue 4-year degrees.”

Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment.  Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website:  www.BeMyCU.org.

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Holly Mottern latest Helping Teachers Teach winner

Holly Mottern, first-grade teacher at Happy Valley Elementary, is the latest Northeast Community Credit Union Helping Teacher’s Teach grant winner.

Mottern is using the grant to purchase a large classroom rug for her students to gather on during lessons and read aloud story times.

“A classroom rug allows children to gather and gain a sense of community within our room,” Mottern said. “Students will be able to enjoy read alouds along with whole group interactive lessons rather than having to remain at their desks for long periods of time.”

Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment.  Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website:  www.BeMyCU.org.

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Lisa McGinnis latest HTT winner

Lisa McGinnis, counselor at Unaka High School, is the latest Northeast Community Credit Union Helping Teacher’s Teach grant winner.

McGinnis used the grant to purchase an industrial fan to use in the Unaka High School gymnasium during class time and extra-curricular activities. The gym does not have air conditioning and the windows cannot be opened because birds, bugs and other wildlife will enter the building.

“During the day when classes are going on, the only fresh air that could come in would be from opening the main doors into our hallway,” McGinnis said. “However, due to security, these doors must remain closed at all times when students are present. With no air movement, the gym has unbearable temperatures for students. No student wants to be in a class that causes sweat to drop from their heads and to begin their day with a bad feeling about themselves.”

Northeast Community Credit Union awards $300 every month to a classroom to be utilized for classroom needs, classroom activities, and academic enrichment. Helping Teachers Teach is open to teachers within Carter, Johnson, Unicoi, Sullivan and Washington counties who are members of Northeast Community Credit Union. Area teachers may become members online or at any NCCU location and can download the grant application on the credit union’s website: www.BeMyCU.org.