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union members have the best of both worlds, big and small. Most Pioneer Valley
financial institutions are branches of a corporation with a remote headquarters,
and with little regard for personal service and individual customer concerns.
Credit unions are part of a solid financial system that holds more than $480
billion in assets for 79 million people in the United States. They are
unique in the fact that they have local interests at heart and put personal service
first.
ValleyStone Credit Union® believes that people are worth
more than money. We exist for the purpose of serving our members, while banks
exist to earn profits to pay their stockholders. We invest in the people who matter
most - our members. As a member, you become a part owner of unique institution,
which exists solely to meet your financial needs. To that end, we not only provide
outstanding personal service, but our members often earn higher returns on their
savings while paying lower rates for loans.
ValleyStone Credit Union®
is based on a one-member, one-vote structure, thus giving members the power
to direct credit union policy, in an effort to meet their cooperative needs. This
structure is vastly different from the for-profit sector where stockholders vote
according to the number of shares of stock they own. Our not-for-profit status
enables us to operate at a lower cost than many for-profit institutions and enables
us to offer very competitive loan and savings rates. For example, we generally
charge lower interest on credit cards than most other providers, with no annual
card fee. We offer the financial services our members want and need. Sometimes
this means coming up with a new service or improving an existing service to better-fit
member needs. We do whatever it takes because we serve you, our members.
Year after year, credit unions consistently outshine banks and S&Ls
in the area of consumer/member satisfaction. For more than a decade national
studies have consistently shown that credit unions offer lower loan rates and
higher savings rates than banks and other financial institutions overall. These
studies also show that credit unions require fewer fees for services, and those
occasional fees are lower than those charged by for-profit financial services
providers. In a world where services are increasingly conducted through electronic
transactions (ATMs, touchtone tellers, online access and bill paying, etc.), this
difference in fees can add up to significant savings.
Credit unions
typically pioneer services that become the standard of financial institutions.
When members wanted more advantageous mortgage arrangements, credit unions developed
weekly/biweekly payments and various other mortgage options. When members asked
for assistance with financial management and long-term financial planning, credit
unions developed financial planning services. Service in response to member needs
is the credit union way.
Once a member, always a member. You'll
enjoy the privileges of ValleyStone Credit Union® membership for as long as you
maintain an active account, through job changes, career shifts, or a physical
move of residence.
All ValleyStone Credit Union® members are entitled
to vote on issues important to the ValleyStone Credit Union®'s future by
attending our January annual meeting. Our Board of Director members are elected,
so you have the option to run for a position on the Board of Directors if you
choose to do so. All Directors come directly from the credit union membership,
which ensures a vested interest in ValleyStone Credit Union®'s overall welfare. 
Federally
insured by NCUA
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