Hoosier Hills Credit Union hosts U.S. Congressman Steve Buyer
April 10, 2007

BEDFORD, INDIANA--On April 2, Hoosier Hills CU (HHCU) hosted United States Congressman Steve Buyer (IN-4). According to HHCU President/CEO George McNichols, the goal was to share information about the credit union’s activities in the communities it serves with the primary emphasis placed on acquainting the Congressman with the credit union’s commercial lending and treasury services for small- and medium-sized businesses.

This group posed for a photo at Hoosier Hills CU during a visit from Congressman Steve Buyer (IN- 4). From left: President/CEO George McNichols; Director Gary Faubion; Congressman Buyer; Chairman William Miller; Vice Chair Jennie Edwards; Director Leo Meadows; Treasurer Max Wright; Director William Cassidy. Not pictured is Secretary Alan Cummings. Right-click here and select Save Target As to download a high resolution version of the photograph.

Congressman Buyer met with three business services staffers, all bankers in their previous lives, who talked about the needs HHCU is meeting for more than 1,200 small- and medium-sized businesses at the credit union. They discussed the 2007 version of CURIA, specifically the issues regarding the business lending cap and the problems it has created for HHCU and consequently the small businesses it serves.

“The fact that most of the local banks in Southern Indiana have sold out and the big regional banks have chosen not to employ commercial lenders in our market, plus the minimum advance requirements, many times eliminate the small business owner from the kinds of account relationships for which the big banks are looking,” McNichols explained. “The credit union’s role of hiring a lot of ex-bankers in all areas of our operations was also discussed as the large banks typically cut many of the hometown banks’ employees once they take over. The fact that HHCU is playing an expanded role in supporting economic development in the markets where it operates was the core message and we need CURIA to pass the U.S. Congress in order to continue to meet this vital need,” he said.

The Congressman also toured the main office and administrative office facilities and met with many of the credit union’s staff members. The visit ended with the congressman sitting at the board table with the HHCU board of directors and hearing about the history of the credit union and seeing firsthand the dedication of the volunteers who believe so strongly in the credit union philosophy and the good the credit union is doing for nearly 25,000 members that live in the southern Indiana counties served by HHCU.

“The growth of the business loan area is the best barometer I can use to suggest we are meeting a very important need in the communities where we operate,” said McNichols. “We need the support of our public officials in Washington, D.C. to support the CURIA bill to help us do just that. We appreciate Congressman Buyer’s visit and his interest in Hoosier Hills Credit Union.”

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