When Hope Credit Union merges with an existing credit union, the objective is to create a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts.  Through mergers, HOPE taps into a membership base with deep local roots and rich histories of neighbors helping neighbors. When combined with HOPE’s development finance capabilities, the result is a reinvigorated community-owned financial institution that is laser-focused on meeting the needs of local residents.

Three mergers in 2017 drove this point home. HOPE merged with B&W Mississippi Employees Federal Union in West Point, Mississippi; Michoud Credit Union at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans; and Tri-Rivers Federal Credit Union in Montgomery, Alabama.

Together, these three institutions had a combined history of 134 years of service. The three credit unions now operate under the HOPE name, but the positive legacy of the original institutions and their commitment to their communities remain unchanged.

Karen Copeland, owner of Copeland McLean Real Estate and a 30-plus-year resident of West Point, was familiar with HOPE’s mission to improve lives in economically distressed areas and was thrilled when she saw the Hope Credit Union sign go up in her community.

“HOPE’s mission is one I’m keenly interested in, especially from a housing perspective,” Copeland says. “Homeownership is critical to people’s financial health and to the health of the community.”

“HOPE is open to helping people who want to buy a home but don’t have a lot of options,” Copeland continues. “They may have a good income, they may work two jobs, but they don’t have a lot of cash or their credit score is low. HOPE is willing to help those people become homeowners and that helps our entire community. I want West Point to grow and thrive, and I see HOPE as a partner in helping us achieve that.”

After HOPE opened at Michoud, one of the first customers was Ivan Jackson, the NASA facility’s associate director of IT Security. Tree roots had left Jackson’s home severely damaged and he needed a loan for repairs. HOPE not only approved the loan, but when Jackson discovered he needed more repairs, HOPE modified the transaction to increase the loan amount.

Miguel Melendez, Jr. a service technician for Coca-Cola in Alabama, was relieved that Tri-Rivers’ merger with HOPE didn’t affect his relationship with the credit union where he’d been a member since 2007.

Melendez was born in Chicago and grew up in Boston, but his wife, Anyelina, and their 12-year-old son, Robin Xavier, are citizens of the Dominican Republic. It has been 13 years since the Melendez family has lived under the same roof, in the same country. Melendez travels to the Dominican Republic every four months to visit his wife and son, who have never set foot on United States soil.

Two years ago, Melendez began the complicated legal process to bring his wife and son to America – a process that should have taken six months but has been complicated by changing immigration policies. When Melendez needed a loan to help with fees for the physical exams and the paperwork required, he turned to HOPE for assistance.

“Asking HOPE for a loan was easier than asking a family member,” Melendez says. “HOPE is very loyal and I know I can depend on them. HOPE has been there for me when I’ve needed them.”