Andrews Federal Credit Union Gives Back Throughout the Year and Around the World

We’ve taken up a new blog series highlighting financial institutions that don’t just serve their customers, but also serve their communities as a whole. As we’ve dug in, we’ve been pleasantly surprised to find out just how many companies make concerted efforts to improve the lives of the people around them.

This credit union serves military members living in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey, along with those stationed in military installations in Europe. It has a 75-year history and now has nearly 140,000 members. Committed to serving those who serve and serving their communities, Andrews Federal expands its impact by giving back to both members of the Armed Forces living abroad and local communities throughout the northeast.

Andrews Federal supports service members

Beyond functioning as the financial institution for service members, Andrews Federal does more to help them thrive. That includes the credit union’s:

Overseas utility relief assistance grants and loans: If a military member moves abroad and is then burdened by high utility costs, Andrews FCU offers grants of up to $2,500 and loans of up to $5,000 to help.

European vehicle purchasing: For servicemembers who want to buy a vehicle while stationed in Europe, Andrews Federal Credit Union offers privileged military pricing.

Euro bill pay: This program ensures that even when stationed in Europe, servicemembers can pay their bills on time and in the right currency.

Armed Forces Financial Guide: To help people navigate some of the financial hurdles that can crop up while serving in the Armed Forces, Andrews Federal partnered with military financial education experts to develop this guide.

Efforts like these have earned Andrews Federal Credit Union accolades, including being named the "Distinguished Credit Union of the Year" by the U.S. Department of the Army " — not once but twice — and "Air Force Credit Union of the Year" by the U.S. Department of the Air Force.

Financial literacy from Andrews FCU

Serving in the Armed Forces requires a significant amount of time, attention, and energy. That often leaves service members with little left over to designate to other areas. To help there, Andrews FCU offers free debt counseling services. With this option, people can get the professional guidance they need to understand their credit score, manage any existing debt, and move toward a debt-free life.

Beyond that, the credit union regularly offers financial literacy webinars. In Q2 2024, for example, Andrews Federal has webinars planned to cover topics including:

Social security and retirement

Medicare

Annuities and lifetime income streams

Diversifying financial portfolios

Also, to ensure its members can easily use all of its features and services, Andrews Federal Credit Union has created a wide range of digital banking tutorials. These demonstrate how to do everything from depositing checks on a mobile device to setting up security alerts on various accounts.

Community efforts from Andrews Federal Credit Union

While Andrews FCU does a lot to help its members stationed domestically and abroad, the credit union is also committed to improving the overall community where it has branch locations. Its efforts there include:

College scholarships: High school seniors can submit an essay to apply for up to $5,000 from Andrews FCU.

Summer camp awards: To help offset childcare costs for its members over the summer, the credit union offers $500 awards. To apply, families submit their child’s summer-themed drawing or essay.

Classroom supply funding: Before the 2023–2024 school year got underway, Andrews FCU donated funds to seven schools to help teachers pay for classroom supplies that they usually purchase with their own personal funds.

Flexible library development: For an elementary school that’s still under construction, Andrews Federal Credit Union supported the creation of a sidewalk library from refurbished newspaper racks.

Annual turkey drive: Each year, the credit union provides turkeys and food care packages to those in need domestically and gives monetary donations to help military members abroad enjoy the holiday season. As Damita Robinson, Chief Operating Officer at Andrews Federal Credit Union, put it, “We’re proud to offer support for local community members in need.”

Holiday toy drives: Last winter, Andrews Federal collected toys at its branches in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, then distributed them to five local elementary schools. As Robinson explained, “Our credit union actively supports education and strives to enhance the lives of our young community members.”

Our team applauds Andrews Federal Credit Union for all of its tireless work to support service members, their families, and their communities.

Does this leave you inspired to look for more ways to give back at your own financial institution? If you want help freeing up more time so you can explore ways to improve your community, book a demo with our team at BankingBridge today. With solutions like rate tables that automatically update and lead workflows to help you generate more business without active work from your team, we can help.