Defining the Difference

Why do you trust a cooperative, not-for-profit credit union? Your employer may have offered it to you as a service, you may have heard that co-ops consistently offer better rates, service, and community outreach than other financial institutions, but the real difference is the value in having ownership in the institution that you trust with your money. Whatever the reason you've chosen ownership, we're glad you're a member. To truly understand the value of that unique status, read on:

Justice: At the core of credit unions is a belief in economic justice; equal economic rights for all. That's why we have a democratic structure, with each member getting one vote, regardless of the balance in their share account. While other financial institutions might do charitable works, charity is a hand-out. Justice is a hand-up, a concrete philosophy of "People helping People to Help Themselves."

Cooperation: Credit unions succeed because members cooperate with each other, and because institutions cooperate at a larger level. As a member, you deposit money into the credit union and manage it well so that the credit union can offer loans to other member/owners who need them. Meanwhile, your fellow member/owners are doing the same for you. At a for-profit financial institution, cooperation doesn't matter; all that matters is the bottom line. For that same reason, credit unions cooperate at an institutional level, sharing resources, ATMs, branches, knowledge, and passion.

Not-for-profit: The Board of Directors of a credit union is made up of volunteers, and the shareholders are the members themselves. That means that money that would otherwise be spent on the board or private shareholders goes instead back to the membership, in the form of lower fees and better rates. And the motivation for attracting new members is not profit, but service.

Social goals: Credit unions exist to empower members and allow them to exercise their financial rights and responsibilities. Because the member is the priority, credit unions naturally respond to the needs of the community: they are the community. Credit unions, as not-for-profit financial cooperatives with justice at their core do not have to be legislated to care. They naturally create products and services to cater to the needs of their membership.

So, whether you came to Denver Community for a loan, a savings account, or low fees, we hope you'll stay because of our belief in justice, cooperation, and not-for-profit service to the community. You ARE the credit union.