If you could save more than $3,000 by switching credit cards, would you?

Reid Williams did. The software developer at Horry Electric took advantage of 1^st Cooperative's promotional balance transfer and moved his high-interest credit card balance to a 1^st Cooperative Visa Platinum Card. He went from a 23.5% APR (annual percentage rate) to 6.9%.

"Making the same payments I'd been making, I'm able to pay the credit card off one full year earlier," said Reid. "That's saving me $3,668.67 in interest! What once seemed insurmountable now feels like it's within reach."

It could be in reach for you, too. To learn how you can give high interest credit balances the boot, click here or call 803-796-0234.

The national economy may have slowed in 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic didn’t stop the demand for services by members of 1^st Cooperative Federal Credit union. The credit union reported continued growth at its 2021 annual meeting, held March 30.

The credit union’s assets increased by $1.3 million in 2020 to a total of $19 million, according to a report given by board Chairman Keith Avery. Loans held steady at $14 million.

“I want to encourage you to continue to spread the word on the benefits of being a 1st Cooperative member to your co-workers and your family members,” said Keith Avery, board chairman. “These days, you can do all your banking with 1st Cooperative.”

The credit union added 155 new members including 85 family members of employees.

Four directors were re-elected to the board. They include (top photos, left-right) David Collins, vice president of finance at Blue Ridge; Bob Paulling, CEO at Mid-Carolina; (bottom photos) Betty Welsh, vice president of finance and administration at Black River; and Linda Wright, a retiree from Tri-County Electric Cooperative.

The credit union, chartered in 1970 as the South Carolina Electric Cooperative Employees Credit Union, celebrated its 50th anniversary at this year’s meeting.

Credit union membership is open to electric cooperative employees, trustees and their family members, which includes spouses, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, siblings and in-laws. More information is available at www.1stCooperative.com/join.

More than 50 years after 1st Cooperative Federal Credit Union was chartered, six of the first people to join are still members, and two of them attended the 2021 annual meeting.

Jean Koon (top photo) and Virginia Salley were recognized during the credit union’s annual meeting as it celebrated its Golden Anniversary. 

They were among several dozen people who joined the credit union only two months after it started. Jean, who worked at Mid-Carolina Electric, and Virginia, who worked at Coastal Electric, both joined the credit union on June 1, 1970.

Missy Marlow is the new 1^st Cooperative Federal Credit Union contact at Broad River Electric Cooperative. She's also the human resources manager at Broad River.

Missy takes over the role from Janice Martin who retired from the co-op in February.

"I love that the credit union's financial products and services can be completed online—such as membership and loan applications," said Missy. "I'd say 1^st Cooperative has done its best to meet its members where they are, and on their time."

Broad River Electric employees with questions about credit union services can go straight to Missy for the answers, or they can visit 1^st Co-op's website 24/7 at www.1stcooperative.com.