TAPCO Prepares for 75th Anniversary by Earning 5-Star Award
TAPCO Credit Union has earned the highest award for healthy credit unions -- a "5-Star Superior" rating from BauerFinancial, Inc.
Tacoma, Wash. (PRWEB) April 25, 2008
TAPCO Credit Union, www. tapcocu. org, has earned the highest award for healthy credit unions -- a "5-Star Superior" rating from BauerFinancial, Inc. This quarter represents the 37th consecutive time that TAPCO has earned this highest honor for financial stability and strength.
TAPCO's award is timely news for thousands of valued members who belong to the Pierce County credit union. TAPCO is preparing to celebrate a major milestone next year -- its 75th anniversary.
"The times are changing and fewer institutions are qualifying for this top rating, but our rigorous standards remain," said Karen L. Dorway, president of BauerFiancial, the Florida-based independent credit rating and research firm.
Dorway indicated TAPCO's 5-Star Superior rating suggests TAPCO is unique in an era when other financial institutions are struggling.
"You should be proud to know that your local credit union TAPCO Credit Union can claim this highest honor and be confident in becoming a member," she added.
"With six convenient locations, TAPCO offers affordable loan programs and other valuable financial services, including secure and free mobile banking, online banking and bill pay at www. tapcocu. org]," said TAPCO CEO John Bechtholt.
"We appreciate the opportunity to serve our valued members since 1934," he added. Bechtholt said TAPCO's employees work hard to live up to the TAPCO value proposition: "Join and Prosper."
Anyone in Washington is eligible to join TAPCO.
Award-winning TAPCO has a rich history of serving the community. It has repeatedly been named recipient of the ''Dora Maxwell Award for Social Responsibility.'' Ms. Maxwell is well-regarded for her efforts to help the needy in the nation's early credit union movement.
TAPCO has also been instrumental in helping important causes, such as Tacoma/Pierce County Crime Stoppers, http://www. i91.ctc. edu/crimestoppers/ (http://www. i91.ctc. edu/crimestoppers/), and Tacoma-Pierce County Chaplaincy, www. t-pcc. org.
Why Join a Credit Union?
Credit unions are member-owned cooperative financial institutions that are historically organized around a common bond, such as an employer. Credit unions, unlike banks, are not-for-profit organizations existing only to serve their members. This enables them to pay favorable rates on savings accounts and charge competitively priced, low interest on loans.
Why Join TAPCO?
TAPCO Credit Union has a long and rich history in Pierce County. Founded in 1934 by nine City of Tacoma employees, TAPCO has grown to over 24,000 members.
Each member has a voice in how TAPCO operates. Member participation keeps TAPCO focused on the founding members' vision of "People Helping People."
How Does TAPCO Operate?
While maintaining a professional staff to run daily operations, TAPCO is governed by a Board of Directors that establishes and reviews policy. The Directors are TAPCO members who are elected by the membership and serve without pay. Every member has one vote, regardless of how much he or she has on deposit. At TAPCO, there is no select group of shareholders that profits more than anyone else. All members profit, individually and collectively.
TAPCO is a state-chartered credit union, organized under strict regulatory laws that are monitored and enforced by the National Credit Union Administration, an agency of the U. S. Government. The NCUA insures each member account for $100,000 which means that your money is safe with TAPCO, just as with a traditional bank.
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