·October 17, 2022·3 min read

Small Business of the Month- October 2022: Four Points Federal Credit Union

In 1934, the same year Babe Ruth walloped his 700^th home run, infamous gangster John Dillinger was taken down, and the dust bowl swept through the prairies, the Farm Credit Administration Cooperative Credit Association was established in Omaha, Nebraska. It was one of the first 12 credit unions to serve employees of the Farm Credit System.

Fast forward 71 years to 2005.

The FCACCA converted to a federal charter and adopted the name Four Points Federal Credit Union to better reflect their ability to now serve members across all 50 states.

The name Four Points represents their Four Guiding Principles:

Integrity First: Do the right thing, for every member, every single time.
Improve & Innovate: Continually focus on developing new ways to make services simpler, easier and cost-effective for members
Inspire & Encourage: Create a wonderful customer experience so that the service provided at Four Points is one of the high points of a member’s day.
Go Above & Beyond: Real life is busy, so actively assist members with paperwork, make special arrangements and find ways to make things easier and less of a hassle.

“Our credit union provides consumer lending and deposit products at the best rates we can afford to offer,” said Matthew Peterson, Marketing Coordinator. “Since credit unions have members, not shareholders, we take pride in being great stewards of our community members’ money, and offering ways for them to grow financially through life.”

This approach to business means treating people as, well, people and not numbers on a spreadsheet. Tough times happen to everyone, so Four Points works with their members on a one-on-one basis, often adjusting rates or repayment schedules to make sure they’re able to provide for themselves or their family without the stress of repossessed property.

“Think of us as a trusted guide on your journey to financial success,” said Peterson. “We believe everyone’s future is filled with unlimited possibilities. And we believe we can help put you on the right path by strengthening your finances, providing timely funding for life’s big moments and offering a wealth of money management tools that leave you with more time and less stress.”

No matter who you are, and where you’re headed, Four Points is certain that your best days lie ahead.

“We’d be honored to support your financial journey, empower your dreams – and help you grow through every stage of your life.”

Winning Insights from Our Winner:

Best Practice Tip For a Small Business Owner

Be willing to go the extra mile for your customers. Adding those small little touches to your service, such as making exceptions or giving a little extra, will be repaid in kind by customers who know you have their back.

Cultivating a Strong Company Culture

Four Points Federal Credit Union always encourages employees to assist their community by any means necessary. “All service hours are paid for by the credit union, whether the employee chooses a certain service opportunity or the staff finds new ways to get involved,” said Peterson. “Everyone is given the opportunity for continued education, either through credit union-based learning or tuition reimbursement at a college of choice.”

The Value of Chamber Involvement

Because credit unions are generally smaller than the larger chain banks, having a support structure like the Omaha Chamber can get more eyes on your services and offerings. “Chamber membership allows us to interact with a greater section of Omaha that might not know we exist,” said Peterson.

Giving Back to the Community

“Four Points is proud to assist various organizations on an annual basis. Every year at Christmas, we collect toys and needed items for families in need via Open Door Mission’s Project Santa. We also volunteer time during the holidays to work at or collect donations for the Foodbank of the Heartland, or ring bells at the Salvation Army red kettles.”

Employees have also supported fellow co-workers with organizations near and dear to them, such as the Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis walk or the Step Up for Down Syndrome walk.

And when disaster strikes, the Four Points team was there to help too! During the bad flood a few years ago, they collected and dropped off clothing, food, water, and other important items to various towns around Nebraska. When COVID first happened, they were quick to offer 0% interest loans or alter loan payment agreements to assist with those affected by the virus.

Overall Operating Philosophy

“Four Points Federal Credit Union exists to help our members grow through life. We recognize that our members have different financial hurdles that they face at various life stages and we are happy to use our knowledge and resources to make them as successful as possible. From opening up their first checking account as a child, to saving for college, buying a first home, or settling down for retirement, we have everything a person might need to succeed.”

Many thanks to our generous sponsor!