When choosing where to bank or get financial services, finding somewhere that aligns with your values is so important for establishing trust. Kemba Credit Union is a full-service financial institution that takes seriously their mission statement commitment of “enhancing the financial lives of members, employees and community.” Kemba is recognized with local and national awards for being a great place to work.
“Our employees believe in Kemba, and they believe in our leadership,” says Josh Fluharty, marketing director at Kemba. “Annually we survey our employees to ensure we are growing in the right direction.”
Part of how Kemba knits their teams together is through a culture of community outreach. They create partnerships with many local organizations where they invest their time, talent and treasure. In bonding over donation drives and volunteer hours, Kemba employees get to enjoy their work serving local families and small businesses.
A Tradition of Community Involvement
Kemba’s team loves sponsoring the Rubber Duck Regatta to support the Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati, the organization that combines direct aid to food-insecure families. The Foodbank also offers programs like Cincinnati Cooks, a cooking training program that helps people find jobs in the hospitality industry.
“We’ve been sponsors of the Rubber Duck Regatta for 13 years, and we take pride in it,” says Josh.
Kemba has supported local athletics as well, sponsoring the West Chester baseball complex and Lakota sports teams. One of their community pride endeavors allows Kemba members to show their support of Lakota West right on their debit card, with a checking account that donates a portion of rewards back to programs like the athletic or band boosters at the school.
Educating For Financial Success
The Kemba team has partnered to bring a financial education curriculum called Banzai to students at many local schools, and they’ve even pushed it wider, offering it to employees at different companies in addition to Kemba members.
“We sponsor the programs so that the teachers can utilize resources from it when they need materials to teach students about financial education,” explains Kim Kuchenbuch, director of business development at Kemba. “We’ve taken our financial education program to Edge Teen Center, and we are just beginning to bring in Kemba employees for mentoring and financial education.”
Financial education is particularly crucial as students move into their adult lives and make choices like attending college. Late last year, Kemba became the official credit union of Miami University athletics and alumni association, and with that effort they’ve employed a personal approach. Kemba CEO Dan Sutton personally takes time to visit Miami’s campus and share his knowledge from nearly 24 years with the credit union.
“I love to speak with the students about good credit, budgeting and fiscal responsibility,”
Dan says.
Dan shares that Kemba recently worked with some of their business school capstone students on a project to help the credit union grow its membership.
“I try to get out from behind my desk and into the community where my energy is best suited,” he explains.
Golfing to Give Back
Golf outings are a fun way to spend a day with friends and colleagues while also giving back to the community. Kemba’s 33rd Annual Golf Classic raised more than $71,000 for the Cincinnati Fire Foundation. The Cincinnati Fire Foundation supports the local fire departments where funds are most needed. One example of the Cincinnati Fire Foundation’s benevolent acts is they provide child car seats to ensure children ride in cars safely.
“Another contribution by the Cincinnati Fire Foundation was they outfitted an EMS mountain bike unit,” says Kim. “Now during large events in Cincinnati where roads are blocked, they can begin rendering care immediately.”
Kemba’s community mindset suffuses everything they do. They recently restructured their Community Outreach Committee to include one person from every branch. This inclusion of branch personnel ensures all Kemba’s communities are represented. This community-focused mindset has led Kemba to win the Ohio Credit Union League’s Dora Maxwell Award for Social Responsibility multiple times.
“We want people, small businesses and communities to know they are more than an account to us—they are truly a part of the Kemba family,” says Dan.
Kemba Credit Union | Kemba.com
"Kemba knits their teams together through a culture of community outreach."
