Purdue Federal Credit Union marks ICU Day through community work in Northwest Indiana

At Purdue Federal Credit Union, every member gets an equal vote in electing the board, no matter how much money they have with the credit union. That ownership model is what International Credit Union (ICU) Day celebrates.

ICU Day serves as a reminder of principles the credit union tries to live out all year – serving the community and providing guidance.

That work includes financial wellness presentations at Purdue University Northwest (PNW), and school and classroom programs across Northwest Indiana and greater Lafayette.

Landry Buche, Purdue Federal Credit Union’s marketing specialist, believes there is a lot of information around money right now, between economic headlines and a constant stream of financial advice online.

“When things feel uncertain, people want a partner whose priorities don’t shift. Since we’re member-owned, our priority stays the same: our members’ financial well-being,” Buche said.

The credit union calls that consistency a “steady signal.” 

Staff members take time to walk members through their options. The rates and fees are designed around members rather than outside shareholders. Instead of asking how to maximize profit for shareholders, the credit union asks how best to serve the people who own it. 

Members also get free financial education to help them make decisions with confidence.

For first-time members, the ownership structure is the first thing to understand.

“When you open an account at a credit union, you’re not just a customer; you’re a part-owner. Our hope is that new members feel like they’ve joined something, not just signed up for something,” Buche said.

Members get earnings back through better rates and lower fees, plus services like free financial education.

ICU Day celebrates that model, which the credit union says millions of people around the world share. The cooperative structure has lasted for generations, and the credit union sees that longevity as proof that the model works.

This is seen not only in how customers are valued, but also in how employees spend their time.

Purdue Federal employees receive eight hours of paid volunteer time off each year to give back to the causes they care about. The benefit reflects the credit union’s mission of helping people, which still guides decisions from product design to how staff spend their time.

“That’s what ICU Day celebrates: a financial institution that measures success by the good it does, not just the bottom line,” Buche said.

The credit union exists to strengthen the communities its members live in, and its employees are part of those communities too.

Purdue Federal’s growth in Northwest Indiana comes with a commitment to education and partnership in the Region, Buche said.

“ICU Day is a good moment to remember that the institution you bank with can be invested in where you live,” Buche said.

The credit union has branches in Crown Point and La Porte, along with a new ATM/Video Teller Machine on the Hammond campus of PNW. It serves as the university’s official financial wellness provider and has a longtime partnership with local schools and teachers.

“Our members are our neighbors, and their success is our success,” Buche said.

To learn more about membership or the credit union’s free financial education, visit Purdue Federal Credit Union at purduefed.com.