Limestone FCU Announces New Branch Location on Lake Superior State University Campus
Limestone Federal Credit Union in Manistique recently announced an agreement with Lake Superior State University to open a branch location on the Sault Ste Marie Campus.
The credit union expanded multiple times to add additional employer groups, and eventually all of Schoolcraft County. Future expansions in 2011 and again in 2022 granted FCU the approval to serve all 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula.
This brand-new, full-service branch will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology designed to provide members with walk in, self-service options. This location, the second micro branch for Limestone, coined The Hub @ LSSU, will mirror the branch located in Jack's Fresh Market in Manistique. Securing space on the campus of Lake Superior State University will provide Limestone a platform to provide a host of educational opportunities to undergraduate students, a demographic widely underserved with regard to financial services and general financial education.
“Limestone is eager to expand our education program to the students and faculty of Lake Superior State University," said CEO Jennifer C. Watson. "This branch brings us one step closer to realizing our vision of empowering all residents of the Upper Peninsula to achieve financial independence through service, education, and advocacy. We look forward to proving our model at the university level, providing valuable financial services and education while offering opportunities aimed at inspiring the entrepreneurial spirit of students and residents of Chippewa County.”
The Hub @ LSSU will also support a broader range of talent recruitment and retention for the credit union and the movement as a whole through the consistent training and development of interns. Student interns will be offered positions at the on-campus branch and, as appropriate, at the main branch, as well as opportunities with partner organizations.
Limestone has been widely recognized for executing innovative service models to provide educational value to their membership. The most notable project is The Grind Coffee House, a nonprofit student operated small business, operated between 2017-2022. This project provided students with invaluable educational opportunities. After four years of operation, the venture outgrew the business model and was sold to a local entrepreneur with the capacity to expand products and services. This project continues to operate today as a thriving coffee shop. Entrepreneurial activities coupled with classroom education, financial reality fairs, and cybersecurity awareness training has long been the foundation of Limestone’s education program.
In addition to student activities, Limestone has taken the lead in providing education to its member owners in financial exploitation and security awareness. Limestone offers their members cybersecurity training free of charge, hosts in-person security awareness and scam sessions, as well as hosts BYOD (bring your own device) days in their lobby, facilitated through a partnership with cybersecurity experts, SineTech, LLC. These events will be offered to all members, with in-person sessions planned on the LSSU campus and during special events such as Move in Day for students.
“We are excited with the opportunity to expand our model to provide quality banking services paired with impactful social and economic benefits to the communities we serve,” said Watson.
