(BillAnderson, CEO; Kevin Cole, President; Matt Mitchell, VP Lending; Kyle Frick, VP Marketing; Sarah Hix, VP Finance; Kari Joel, VP HR; Jeff Sanders, VP IT; Dawn Morrison, VP Member Experience and Robert Dennis, VP Risk Management | Photos courtesy of Mid Oregon Credit Union)
Mid Oregon Credit Union Chief Executive Officer William R. Anderson and President Kevin Cole adhere to the credit union’s purpose to “help members meet their needs and achieve their dreams.”
Once they understand a customer’s needs, their team is poised to do the work to make it happen.
“This approach resonates with members that we exist to serve them, not sell them on things they don’t need,” Anderson said. “I can assure you that we have the products and services you likely will ever need.”
Serving community members since 1957, Mid Oregon Credit Union is the only truly local financial institution with its headquarters and its offices located in Central Oregon.
A key component to the credit union’s success has been establishing stellar team members who are dedicated to successful partnerships with their clients and the communities they serve.
Anderson joined the Mid Oregon team in 1990, and he was selected to serve as CEO in 1993. He has watched the company grow from $19 million in assets, one office and nine employees to currently nearly $500 million in assets, eight offices and 125 employees serving more than 38,000 accounts. The credit union provides consumer, commercial, mortgage and investment services.
“With that growth, we have continuously increased our community involvement, impact and support,” Anderson said.
Determined to ensure the continued growth and success of Mid Oregon Credit Union, Anderson recently appointed Cole to be the president and added six new vice presidents to the leadership team.
The leadership team vice presidents are Robert Dennis, risk management; Sarah Hix, finance; Jeff Sanders, IT; Dawn Morrison, member experience; Kari Joel, human resources and Matt Mitchell, lending. Kyle Frick, who has been with the company for 17 years, will continue to serve as vice president of Marketing and Community Relations to complete the leadership team.
“We are growing at a rapid rate that has provided the need and opportunity to position our team for continued growth in Central Oregon,” Frick said. “In November, we opened our newest branch in Sisters and have plans for additional locations. We have branches in Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras and La Pine. Our growth has allowed us to expand our business, mortgage, consumer lending and deposits as well as increase and improve our online/digital and service delivery.”
Anderson said the credit union industry’s original motto “not for profit, not for charity, but for service,” describes Mid Oregon’s value proposition.
“We do not maximize revenues at the member’s expense,” Anderson said. “We act as a partner in promoting their financial well-being.”
Cole, who joined Mid Oregon Credit Union in 2016, loves his job, because he and his coworkers can make a positive impact in the communities they serve, including supporting lending for economic development, working on innovative projects and assisting clients with realizing their financial goals.
“The decisions we make are made right here in Central Oregon. We have the technology and financial services you need, backed by people who care deeply about our members and the communities we serve,” Cole said. “Our mission is to provide the most value we possibly can to members, and we do not have to choose between our shareholders and our members — they are one in the same.”
Cole believes the success and growth of Mid Oregon originates from people working with people. “We pride ourselves on looking at members as individuals. Our loans are underwritten by people, not computers,” Cole said. “We think everyone should have a safe and convenient place to save and borrow money. Our staff works hard to provide the best service to members and our members reward us by referring friends and family to Mid Oregon. Our growth is the result of all these factors.”
