On April 29, the Board of Directors of the recently merged Members Advantage and River Valley credit unions approved the credit union's new name: 802 Credit Union.
The process of merging “provided an opportunity to reimagine our name and brand to better reflect where we have been and where we are going in the future,” CEO Sean Gammon said in a news release.
The credit union hired an outside financial branding consultant, Stackpole & Partners of Newburyport, Mass., to assist with the rebranding process as members, staff, and volunteers were surveyed. A committee was then established to review the feedback and come up with a new name and logo.
“Our Vermont roots are an important factor for our staff and membership, and we wanted a name that reflected that heritage while also differentiating us from other Vermont financial institutions,” said Gammon.
He said that “the single 802 area code in Vermont is unique and recognizable to the communities that we serve.”
Gammon called the new name “modern, fresh, and approachable” and said it positions the credit union “for future growth throughout the state and into surrounding areas that appreciate and connect with the Vermont lifestyle and values.”
The credit union will begin rolling out the new name in signage and digital materials throughout the remainder of the year.
With the merger, 802 Credit Union is now a $350 million-plus financial institution, with nine locations in Vermont currently serving more 33,000 members. Members are part of a cooperative, meaning they share ownership in the credit union and elect a volunteer board of directors.
Anyone who lives, works or worships in Vermont, as well as Grafton, Sullivan, and Cheshire counties in New Hampshire, is eligible to join.
For more information about 802 Credit Union, visit 802cu.com.