When I was a child, my mother used to say, “time flies when you are having fun.” That sentiment certainly holds true when reflecting on the year we had at American Eagle in 2022. Despite several challenges in the environment—the protracted effects of the pandemic, inflation, rising rates, and economic uncertainty—we had our best financial year ever at the Credit Union. Our success is a direct result of the service and solutions we provided over the last twelve months to the communities we serve. Moreover, our results are an essential indicator of how well we delivered for the marketplace. 

With my first year as your CEO at American Eagle in the rearview mirror, I am grateful for the year we experienced, the growing membership we serve, and the talented team that does our work, illustrated by adaptability and resilience. I am especially appreciative of our relationships with 180,000-plus members and your engagement with the Credit Union. In an effort to highlight and celebrate the year in review, we are publishing a Top 5 List.

Drumroll, please….

1. American Eagle received various awards last year in recognition of outstanding achievement in several categories:

• 1^st place for Best Credit Union by the Hartford Courant
• 1^st place for Best Community Bank by the Hartford Courant
• Best of Southington Citizen, 2022
• Best of Berlin Citizen, 2022
• Louise Herring Philosophy-in-Action Member Service Award by CUNA Mutual Group
• Excellence in Public Relations Marketing by the Credit Union League of Connecticut
• Award for Cybersecurity Awareness by the Credit Union League of Connecticut

2. We experienced our best year through meeting the financial needs of the communities that we serve. Our results are an important part of success and ensure the ability to make future investments to enhance the member experience and deliver on our mission at American Eagle. Specific areas of excellence include:

• Membership growth
• Growth in total assets
• Net income
• Loan production
• Loan quality and performance

3. The effort to give to our community was evident in contributions to local businesses through our Cash Back to the Community program. We give to a worthy organization every time our members use their debit or credit cards. The list of twelve winners in 2022 is detailed below. Our winners were nominated and voted on by our local community. We open the nominating period every quarter, and our market votes on the businesses to receive the awards. For more information on this vital program, please visit www.americaneagle.org

• Hartford County 4-H Camp 
• Connecticut Children's Foundation
• Boxes to Boots
• Love Mom XOXO Foundation
• Free Center - Middletown
• The ARC of Connecticut
• Southington North Little League
• Open Doors Outdoors
• For All Ages     
• Meriden Humane Society
• Girl Scouts of Connecticut
• Hartford Performs

4. Our team implemented a new recognition program for team members at the Credit Union to celebrate displays of courage, leadership, and exceptional personal or professional development and to recognize demonstration of company values—caring, trust, and dependability. These elements are critical in delivering outstanding service to our membership.   

5. We rolled out new technology to support the data and digital experience for members at American Eagle. We also made some structural changes in our organization to advance our capabilities in anticipating your financial needs and providing financial solutions for you. So the next time you are in a branch or speaking to one of the team members in our call center, ask them about any customized offers we have for you. In addition, if you have Online or Mobile Banking, the same offers are available within your account. The initial products available are Auto Loans, Personal Loans, and Visa^® Credit Cards.

I hope you share the excitement and pride in our results detailed in the Top 5 List above. It is essential to highlight that, as a member, you are an owner and an important stakeholder at the Credit Union. This aspect of membership is a critical element in the credit union difference that highlights the fact that everything we do is for you, our members.

As we turn the page to 2023, we continue to work hard to engage our membership, include others, deepen relationships, and anticipate your financial needs. Specifically, we are supporting the communities we serve through this inflation cycle, focusing on budgeting, protecting consumer credit, and providing higher deposit rates for members seeking investments with safe and solid returns. In addition, our team stands ready to address any concerns you may have in the new year and to provide solutions for you. The future is bright at American Eagle, and we look forward to another successful, rewarding, and fun year!

Warm regards,

The New Year has arrived and it's a great time to review your financial habits to see how you can improve and change the way you spend your money. American Eagle FCU has a helpful financial education program with courses that you can take online. With many courses to choose from, you can get started on adjusting your spending habits, learning tips for saving, and more by visiting the link below.

This tool is available to you through Online and Mobile Banking. Credit Sense is a free service offered to help you understand your current credit score, give access to your full credit report, provide credit monitoring alerts, show you how you can improve it, and see ways you can save money on new and existing loans with us.

American Eagle Financial Credit Union announced the recipients of $26,926 in donations from its participatory funding program, Cash Back to the Community.

Congratulations to Open Doors Outdoors, Meriden Humane Society, and Hartford Performs. Each nonprofit organization received an $8,975 donation for earning the most votes in AEFCU’s fourth quarter Cash Back to the Community program. A total of 154 organizations were nominated and 933 votes were cast by AEFCU members and the general public.

American Eagle Financial Credit Union announced $7,500 in donations to local food and housing assistance organizations within the Credit Union’s service area. Connecticut Foodshare, Hands on Hartford, and The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts will each receive a $2,500 donation from American Eagle to advance their mission and fund their supportive services for people in need.

“American Eagle is very thankful for every organization making a difference in our communities and touching the lives of those in need this holiday season,” said Howard Brady, President & CEO of American Eagle Financial Credit Union. “These three organizations—Connecticut Foodshare, Hands on Hartford, and The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts—perform tremendous work by putting caring into action and providing needed support and resources to our service area throughout the year. We give thanks for their partnership and for all they do.”