CU*Northwest, a 100% credit union owned CUSO located in Liberty Lake, Washington, celebrated its ten year anniversary on October 1st. CEO Greg Smith gave a special thanks to their network partners for helping to make it possible.
“Turning 10 is a milestone for any company, but for CU*NorthWest this is not only a business victory but a victory for cooperative values,” Smith said. “As I reflect on where we were 10 years ago today, I am just grateful to have been a part of this.”
Smith recalled meeting with a group of credit unions and CU*Answers CEO Randy Karnes in the basement of Spokane Firefighters Credit Union: “Those credit unions and their boards could have focused on all the reasons NOT to form this CUSO. But instead, they “stepped off the curb” without 100% certainty it would work. They refused to listen to those telling them it was crazy, too risky, not needed, and too much work. That didn’t stop them.”
“I am grateful in so many ways for their determination as partners to make it work. They pushed for a different future and boldly took a risk many would not have taken,” Smith continued. “I am grateful for that spirit then and for the continued spirit and vision of our client/owners today.”
Since 2005, CU*NorthWest has grown to provide core data processing and other services to over thirty credit unions in six states, with more scheduled to join the CUSO in the future. Eighteen of the client credit unions have also become owners of the growing organization.
“The entire team at CU*NorthWest works each day to be good stewards of this cooperative and keep the priorities of our client/owners as our focus. I am grateful for employees of our network of partners who each day, vest in our success and work to make this network stronger. As a cooperative network, we must continually care for the success of everyone and work to help everyone succeed. I am honored to have been associated with such a talented group of people and for the best job I have ever had.”