Business View Magazine | December 2020

210 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2020 IT UNION W oven into the fabric of every credit union is a spirit and drive to serve the underserved. But for ELGA Credit Union in Burton, Michigan that whim to create prosperity for those who, perhaps, lack it, is a badge of honor carried down from generations, and a legacy continued through their core mission: “Building Lifelong Relationships”. It was started in 1951 by Consumer’s Energy employees as the Flint Division Consumers Power Company Federal Credit Union. In 1959, a contest was held to rename the institution, and “ELGA” was chosen – distilled from the first two letters of Electrical and Gas. Today, the name is an acronym for Everyone Loves Goals Achieved, a signifier of the credit union’s commitment to enriching local communities and making positive social impacts through innovative approaches to everyday banking. Their 13 branches staff 250 associates and serve 80,000 members who live, work, worship, volunteer, or attend school within Genesee, Saginaw, Lapeer, Shiawassee, Oakland, and Livingston Counties. “We got our start the way most credit unions do, with just a few people coming together, pooling their money, and beginning a cooperative to serve the needs of a select group of individuals,” says Executive Vice President, Terry Katzur. “Credit unions SHARING GOOD FORTUNE WITH OTHERS