I've been a member of this branch since 2006, back when it was Metro 1 Credit Union. When the 2011 merger with Travis Credit Union happened, I was anxious--I didn't know them yet. That anxiety didn't last long.
Since 2011, the service and culture here have been nothing short of outstanding. TCU Richmond is what a credit union is supposed to be: an authentically democratic community institution. Housing, healthcare, education, banking--it all works better when people are partners and co-owners, not just profit-centers for distant shareholders. There is no better value in an institution than its service to the People. Travis Credit Union operates on genuine community-first service.
Two people in particular make this branch extraordinary: Indira Simon (Sr. Financial Service Rep) and Sue Odah (Sr. Branch Manager). (Over the years I've had business and personal checking and savings accounts, a home equity loan, a car loan, and other financial services.)
Indira has heard all about my adventures over the last 10 years. When I left my job at Saint Mary's College in 2016 and spent years doing off-the-information grid field research (including through COVID), transitioning back to a radically changed world wasn't easy. (Still isn't.) Through all of it, Indira listened. Genuinely. She problem-solved. She was honest. She has patiently answered my emails and questions without ever losing warmth or patience. That is so rare. (Wish her a happy 13th TCU anniversary when you see her!)
Sue sets that incredible tone for the entire branch. As someone who has documented workplace cultures for my research, I can say firsthand that this branch is a hard-to-find, genuinely valuable community resource. Things are hard for lots of folx right now, and the world is changing rapidly. Someone solid, honest, and who understands what true service means: that's Sue. She's clear, straightforward, and deeply caring. She's one of the good ones.
Sue and Indira are the reasons I refuse to change branches, even though I live further away now. They're why I'll always be a TCU member and why I'll always recommend it to others.
I can't wait to see the new Richmond Branch remodel when it's done--so exciting! read more