Betty Jo Welch

A highlight of the annual meeting of First Choice America Credit Union on Tuesday night was the presentation of the annual Community Spirit Award to the Salvation Army of Brooke and Hancock County.  This non-profit organization supports the community by assisting those in need with clothes, food, and necessities.  The organization received a beautiful plaque and a cash award of $2,500. Pictured are the credit union’s Board of Directors and the award winner (l-r) Edward L. Kennedy, John R. Thayer, Captain Gene Hunt, Salvation Army; Scott E. Winwood, Kenneth W. Truax, and Robert G. Mrvos.

WEIRTON—First Choice America Credit Union continued to make significant progress in 2022, our 83^rd year, amid tough competition, economic uncertainty, record inflation and a volatile interest rate environment.  The Credit Union steadily moved forward buoyed by the excellent performance of a committed employee team and the tremendous support and loyalty of its 36,000 members who remain the bedrock of our business.

Scott E. Winwood, President and CEO, said “Our employee team worked diligently to maintain a safe, sound and secure financial institution for its members.”  He listed these significant financial achievements in 2022:

• Earned another “Superior” rating.
• Grew assets to a record $595 million.
• Expanded deposits to a record $512 million.
• Preserved a strong capital position.

“Our Credit Union’s capital strength, asset quality and management ability help maintain our enviable position as one of the very elite among America’s nearly 5,000 credit unions,” Winwood stated.  

These impressive achievements reflect the sincere commitment to success of the Officials, Management, and Staff of First Choice America.  Our employee team is professional and highly skilled, dedicated to excellence in serving our members, and very proud of the significant strides made during the past year.

In our quest to offer the best available technology, First Choice America updated our online and mobile banking solutions which provided additional enhancements while maintaining the mobile experience that our members trust.  Via our mobile banking APP, our members can take us anywhere they go and have access to their accounts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  In the future, we intend to continue maximizing our investments in technology to better serve our members and strengthen our position in a very competitive marketplace.                         

While keeping pace with the latest technology, we still continue to offer our members better rates on loans and deposits, more personalized service, and importantly, fewer fees than other financial institutions.  We are proud to report that no new fees were enacted during the past year, nor any adjustments made to our long list of member benefits.

With fewer fees, better rates, more personalized service, and a full array of financial products and services, your membership in First Choice America gives you a meaningful financial advantage – “better value” for your money.

The formidable combination of a dedicated professional staff, excellent technology, and a complete array of affordable financial products and services positions us to continue making a real difference in the financial lives of the people we serve.

Our Credit Union strives to embrace the merits of good citizenship by generously supporting a wide range of charitable organizations in the communities that we serve.  Throughout our long history, our Credit Union has earned countless awards and commendations for our intensive year-round community involvement practices which we are very proud and sincerely grateful.  We strive to embrace the merits of good citizenship – and expand our value to society.

Concluding, he noted “First Choice America is proud of our rich heritage of serving our members and the communities in which they live since our beginning in 1939.  We have established strong bonds with our members by providing the most cost-effective alternative for all their financial needs.  We value and cherish these bonds, and are grateful to our members for their loyalty.  We will never cease in our efforts to earn both your business and your trust.  We remain a safe haven, a reliable resource, and a leader that you can count on for all your financial needs, both today and tomorrow.  We appreciate your business and welcome the opportunity to serve you.”

During the meeting, Edward L. Kennedy and John R. Thayer were reelected to the Board of Directors.  Richard Schaffer, President of the West Virginia Credit Union League, spoke briefly.

Founded in 1939 in Weirton, First Choice America maintains eight offices in the Ohio Valley.