CCU celebrates International Credit Union Day Oct. 16

Waukegan, IL, October 7, 2014: All six Consumers Credit Union offices will join in a celebration with credit unions worldwide to commemorate International Credit Union Day on Oct. 16.

Officers, directors, managers and staff of Consumers Credit Union ($610 M, Waukegan, IL; CCU) will be on hand to greet members and the general public.

Those who visit a CCU office location on this day can enjoy a cup of coffee and a doughnut or cookie, a free gift and learn some interesting information about International Credit Union Day!

"Credit unions have made a positive difference in the lives of our members for many, many years and International Credit Union Day gives us a way to celebrate these achievements," noted Sean M. Rathjen, CCU president. "CCU is proud to share in this celebration while expressing our thanks and appreciation to our Members. It also gives us a chance to share a bit of the credit union history and discuss the wonderful benefits the movement has to offer. We hope both members and nonmembers will stop by, meet our management team, grab a free gift and enjoy some treats on this very significant day."

Beginning in 1844 in Rochdale, England, the focus of the credit union movement has been, and still is working with the community to provide products and services helping members achieve their life goals and dreams. Others gravitated to the movement quickly, with credit union activity first showing in Germany around the 1850s, then across the ocean in Canada. The first credit union in the United States was formed in the early 1900s and by World War II, there was at least one credit union in nearly every state of the country.

With the growing popularity of the movement, a need gradually emerged to establish an annual occasion to celebrate the positive impact credit unions make on the lives of its members. By 1948, credit union leaders in the U.S. felt strongly enough to set aside a day to bring members together.

As a result, two national organizations - Credit Union National Association and CUNA Mutual Insurance Society - selected the third Thursday of October to recognize the cooperative history of credit unions and the many benefits available for its members. Today, credit union membership extends over 100 million credit union members in the US and a great deal more worldwide - so International Credit Union Day has become quite a large celebration.

CCU celebrates the occasion from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 16. For more information about International Credit Union Day, contact Sean Rathjen, CCU president, at (847) 782-4670.

Consumers Credit Union is member-owned with six convenient locations: Waukegan, Mundelein, Round Lake Beach, Gurnee, North Waukegan and Volo; and online: www.myconsumers.org.