Alaska USA: Investments in community and culture.

• Author: Anderson, Tasha
• Position: Corporate 100

Alaska USA Federal Credit union was founded in Alaska in 1948 and today has more than 640,000 members; eighty-seven branches in Alaska, Arizona, California, and Washington; and more than $7.21 billion in assets. Alaska USA Chief Administration Officer Rachel Norman says this longevity and level of success "boils down to our commitment to our members. Day in and day out, that is what's happening here. At any branch location, for any phone call that comes in, we have a group of people working hard to make our members happy and take care of them." She continues on to say that Alaska USA's members are one of the credit union's most significant assets: "How our members value us, and how we value them--that partnership continues to lead to great work in Alaska and the other markets we do business in."

In the Community

Alaska USA is a 100 percent member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative, so building and maintaining good relationships with--and providing support to--communities in which its branches are located is important to the credit union.

Norman explains that Alaska USA has focused on two primary groups for charitable giving: children and military members/veterans. In 2003 the organization established the Alaska USA Foundation, which "actively fundraises and distributes funds to organizations that provide needs-based services to children, veterans, and active duty members of the armed services and their family members."

In 2017 the Alaska USA Foundation distributed more than $220,000 to nonprofits in its member communities, including $81,902 in military donations in Alaska, $80,400 to food banks, and $59,000 to benefit children. Norman says, "These are incredible organizations doing amazing things for kids, veterans, and members of the military--and the foundation is so proud to be a part of it."

In March, Alaska USA hosted its 23rd annual Military Appreciation Breakfast, where the financial institution honored more than sixty members of Alaska's armed forces, including twelve recipients of the Service Person of the Year award. In a release about the event, Alaska USA President and CEO Geoff Lundfelt stated, "Alaska USA owes its existence to the military and its civil service force, who sought financial services in pre-statehood Alaska. The Military Appreciation Breakfast is a small token of our appreciation for what they did, and continue to do, for Alaska USA and the country as a whole."

In late December, Alaska USA employees...