Campus Connection

UW-La Crosse partners with UW Credit Union to provide on-campus financial services

UW-La Crosse has entered into a partnership with UW Credit Union to provide banking services to the campus community. In addition to providing surcharge-free ATMs on campus and online banking, UW Credit Union will open a full-service branch in the new student center in January. An interim branch opens in 228 Cartwright Center Wednesday, Aug. 31, for use during fall semester. UW Credit Union will be open to all students, faculty and staff. "We are very pleased to be able to partner with UW Credit Union and look forward to having the credit union on the UWL campus," said Bob Hetzel, UWL vice chancellor for Administration & Finance. “They have a community-oriented philosophy that provides an excellent fit with UWL and the credit union shares the university’s commitment to serving the best interests of students, faculty and staff.” The credit union will also provide financial support to the university’s It Make$ Cents financial literacy program and student scholarships. It will offer employment opportunities over the next seven years, with the opportunity for three, one-year renewals. The agreement officially begins this August, offering UWL students, faculty and staff the following:

• On-campus location for conducting banking business
• A checking account option that features no minimum balance and no monthly or online banking account fees
• On-the-go banking technology: mobile app, mobile wallet, mobile deposit, email and text alerts and more
• Surcharge-free ATM services. Anyone using the on-campus ATMs will not have to pay terminal fees charged by many financial institutions.
• In partnership with the It Make$ Cents program, seminars aimed at encouraging responsible financial practices
• Consumer-friendly banking practices. For example, UW Credit Union does not assess an overdraft NSF fee related to regular debit card transactions and charges no more than one NSF or overdraft transfer fee per business day, regardless of how many overdraft items are involved. Other financial institutions charge multiple NSF fees, some up to six per day. Additionally, UW Credit Union accounts overdrawn by less than $10 are not assessed overdraft fees.

“We are dedicated to business practices that promote the financial well-being of students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the surrounding community,” says Rob Van Nevel, senior vice president & chief member solutions Officer at UW Credit Union. “Even though we do offer easy online access, our presence on campus adds another level of convenience to all of our consumer-friendly products and services.” Following a competitive bidding process, UW Credit Union was awarded the contract that provides annual compensation to the university, which could exceed $850,000 over a potential 10-year contract period. The funding is guaranteed regardless of the number of people who open accounts with UW Credit Union. This partnership with UWL will expand UW Credit Union’s full-service branch and ATM network to eight campus communities. Other campus communities include: UW-Green Bay, UW-Madison, UW-Milwaukee, UW Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point, UW-Whitewater and Madison College.

About UW Credit Union

UW Credit Union is a growing, federally insured financial institution and a leading provider of a full range of financial services to University of Wisconsin communities. UW Credit Union's 505 employees serve the financial needs of more than 214,000 members through world-class technology systems, and through a convenient network of 23 branch locations and over 100 ATMs. With assets totaling $2.2 billion, UW Credit Union is ranked nationally among credit unions. Founded more than 80 years ago by members of the University of Wisconsin community, UW Credit Union continues to operate as a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative with locations in the Madison, Milwaukee, Stevens Point, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Whitewater areas. Visit UW Credit Union at uwcu.org to learn more.