What do you do, STCU?

By: Marya

Sean
Senior Loan and Member Service Officer, North Branch

Sean, his wife Nicole, and son Raleigh at Priest Lake.

What do you do at STCU?
I wear many different hats at the credit union. I do simple tasks such as transferring money from one account to another. I open new accounts for new and existing members. I assist members who want a credit card or would like to borrow money for their home, car, boat or motorcycle.

What is your favorite denomination of money?
I like the $2 bill or the .50 cent piece because most that I see are very old. It’s too bad they couldn’t tell you all the stories of where they have been and what they’ve seen.

How long have you worked for the credit union?
I have worked for the credit union for about three and a half years. The time has gone by very quickly and I would attribute that to the fantastic staff and wonderful workplace.

What’s your dream car?
A 2013 Bugatti Veyron; over 1,000 horsepower and over $1 million to buy.

What do you like best about your job?
Helping members with loans, especially when they need it most. It’s very rewarding to know the money the credit union is about to lend to a member is truly going to benefit them and possibly change their life. Whether they need help to pay for a daughter’s wedding, a son’s college, or a new car, the smile on a member’s face says it all. It’s extremely rewarding.

To have members come back and ask for you by name is very gratifying.

Cooper, Golden Retriever and picture subject extraordinaire.

Dogs or cats?
Dogs, obviously. Dogs are always up for playing or hanging out, and you can take them everywhere you go. Cooper, our Golden Retriever, is just as much a part of our family as our son, Raleigh.

Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip?
Mayonnaise. I have a ham sandwich with mayo and mustard every day for lunch. I really like Miracle Whip too, but it just doesn’t taste great with mustard.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself lucky enough to still be working at STCU. I hope to continue working with our members. I’m grateful for the position I have now and look forward to being able to grow with the company and move into a management role where I can pass down what I have learned and experienced.

Any advice for someone looking to do your job?
You have to be a people person. You have to be able to carry on a conversation with a complete stranger and still focus on the task at hand. You have to be able to handle difficult situations and be able to provide quick, accurate answers for members who need reassurance or help. It’s important to be upbeat and positive as well because your mood is obvious to the member in front of you.

Why do our members love us?
Many of our members love the fact that we are a local credit union who cares and gives back to the community. We treat each member, no matter the circumstance, with respect, as if they were one of our family members.

They also love us for the last day of the month, teacher’s payday, when we serve cookies and coffee all day long.

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What do you do, STCU?

By: Keith

Welcome to the new STCU blog series: What do you do, STCU?

This is the first of many STCU employee interviews highlighting some of the faces that help make STCU a fun place to work and a great place to be a member.

Siri
Teller, Northtown Square Branch

What do you do at STCU?
I work as a teller at our Northtown Square Branch. I process member transactions and help out with all of the frontline duties in the branch.

How long have you worked here?
Almost a year. I started my teller training in March last year.

Name something about yourself that not many people know.
I was born and raised in Canada and I’m very familiar with exchange rates.

What do you like best about your job?
The atmosphere, my co-workers, and the energy in the branch. Also the connections we make with our members. There’s always something new and exciting every day.

Do you get tired of the iPhone references because of your first name?
It’s nice that people know how to pronounce and spell my name. And it’s definitely a great conversation starter. However, I can’t direct you to the nearest Burger King or tell you the temperature in Paris. All I have to say is I was here first!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
When I was in elementary school I wanted to be two things: an Olympic gymnast and a geologist. My parents always said that I could be whatever I wanted. I used to collect rocks and wanted a career in performing. Singing, acting, dancing –- something on stage.

What’s your favorite denomination of money?
Twenties, for sure. They’re easy to count, usually in the best condition, and are practical to use. You can buy a lot with a twenty-dollar bill.

Siri, airborne at the top of Mt. Spokane.

What are your interests and hobbies?
Theater and dance. I’ve performed at the Spokane Civic Theatre and the Lake City Playhouse in Coeur d’Alene. I have also choreographed performances for students at Midway Elementary School and Mead High School, and taught groups at the Inland Northwest Theater Arts Festival.

What advice would you give to someone on their first day as an STCU teller?
You are prepared for this! On my first day I accidentally left my training binder in the car. My co-worker told me not to worry about it and offered support if I needed it. On the first day I completed over 100 transactions without any problems. Training was so thorough; I had nothing to worry about.

Describe yourself in five words or less.
Quirky, fun, compassionate, driven, Scandinavian.

Name a challenge you face at work?
Occasionally we set goals to see how fast we can complete our end-of-day duties. That can be a challenge. But all it takes is help from others and sometimes a motivational Destiny’s Child song to get the job done.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Still working. Possibly back in school working toward my degree. Trying to advance within STCU while being able to perform and teach theater and dance after work.

Siri’s dog, Sparty, posing for a picture.

Dogs or cats?
Dogs all the way. Dogs are cooler than cats; they’re energetic and playful. And your dog doesn’t have to shed like most cats do. I’ve got a Miniature Schnauzer named Sparty, for the Michigan State Spartans. My dad went to school there.

Why do our members love STCU?
Because it’s a place where our members can develop a relationship and trust. We truly go above and beyond to help and be there for our members. We care about them and they care about us.

 

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Upcoming March events

March 8: Riverfront Park’s IMAX Theater reopens
In March, you can see either “Rocky Mountain Express” or “Air Racers”
on the five-story-tall screen. More

March 8: Credit Unions for Kids Night at the Spokane Chiefs
There will fun activities including a photo booth, fun zone, chuck-a-puck and more. Purchase discount tickets and support the Children’s Miracle Network while cheering on the Chiefs. More

March 16: Spokane’s 35th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The parade starts at noon in Downtown Spokane. More

March 16: Coeur d’Alene’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The parade starts at 4 p.m. on Sherman Ave. More

March 23: 10th Annual North Idaho Regional Spelling Bee
The regional spelling bee for grades 4-8 that will decide who goes to the
national Scripps spelling bee. More

March 28: My Life, My Money Camp at the Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene 
You’ll learn tools to make the most of your money. For grades 6-8 (ages 11-14). Register

March 31: Riverfront Park opens its rides for the week of spring break
Riverfront Park will continue to be open only on the weekends through June 14th. More

Check our Kid’s Blog Calendar anytime for an updated list of fun activities taking place throughout the month.

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The barter system

By: Keith

Here is a split rail fence that stands on a Civil War battlefield. This style of fence was popular in early America and could have been built in exchange for goods or services, other than money.

Today in the United States, money is used to purchase goods and services. Everything available for purchase has a specific price, in dollars. A movie ticket costs $10 while a sandwich at the deli may set you back $4.50. A new car can cost $25,000… or more!

Have you ever wondered how people bought things before there was money?

Before money existed, people relied on the barter system, where goods or services were directly exchanged for other goods or services.

For example, if you were a fence builder, you might build a fence for a farmer in exchange for the food that his farm could provide.

If you’ve ever swapped sandwiches with a friend at school or traded cookies for a bag of chips, then you’ve already used the barter system.

When’s the last time you used the barter system?

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