CEO Message

Carlos R. Calderon

President and CEO

Dear fellow members

2021 was another complicated year but, despite the pandemic affecting everyone’s health and finances, and despite the turbulent socioeconomic times we live today, we maintain our stability and solid financial standing.

2021 saw inflation for the first time in many years, and there is talk of a possible recession starting. And yet here, the Credit Union continued to make advances. Building on the technical changes of the past three years, we spent 2021 streamlining our processes and reorganizing ourselves to embrace a more digital future.

The pandemic’s impact on the global economy pushed the world to create a new reality, a new way of living. Our multinational membership already gave us a competitive edge in that we knew how to provide services to all our members abroad efficiently. Last year we expanded to adapt to this lifestyle, so that our staff can work from anywhere to extend all digital access to every single one of you, wherever you happen to be.

There are many variables at work, and we know that we are not done evolving: managing and adapting to the economy, COVID, new members, volunteer and staff expectations is making us look at our own working space with a lens of a different color.

Because of the current situation we adapted our digital channels to do just that. We improved our online services and added new ways to assist you, like our virtual appointments, instant money transfer service, and integrated our Online and Mobile Banking platform. And we aren’t done: there are other changes coming to our website and our phone system to make both more accessible and helpful.

We have come to understand that it is possible to restructure our space to serve you, our members, better as well. Last year, when access to the OAS building was limited, we created a service teller window to assist members without entering. This is just the start. You can expect some interesting changes to our offices moving forward, changes that will make our service even friendlier and our approach to space more sustainable. We continue our journey towards a more earth-friendly and inclusive Credit Union and these digital and physical changes help lower our carbon footprint and provide other significant improvements in this regard.

As some of you already know, 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of this our Credit Union. In 1962 a group of enterprising and determined international workers decided to get together and start something new, something for the good of everyone. They opened their doors in October of that year and 60 years later we’re still here.

In 1962, OAS FCU ended the year with 286 accounts. Today we have 8,928 and $292 million in assets, a long way from the original $15 thousand of that first year. What a great journey it has been getting here!

And we are not done. Know that our plan is to continue serving you for as long as you will have us. We will make use of the trust you place in us to develop and provide quality financial solutions to serve you, your children, and the many future generations of OAS FCU members. Let’s go for one hundred years!

Your CEO and President

 

Carlos R. Calderon