Press Room

(Woodbury, MN – October 15, 2018) Ideal Credit Union has launched a new digital banking platform intuitively designed to enhance security and offer new and expanded features and functionality, including personalization, customizable notifications, touch ID and face recognition and much more. Ideal CU partnered with Alkami Technology based in Plano, Texas, to provide its more than 52,000 members with an innovative, omni-channel digital banking experience that is seamless, consistent and user-friendly across all devices.

(Woodbury, MN – September 20, 2018) Ideal Credit Union recently hosted two sessions of its award-winning “Money Talks” financial literacy program in July, attracting 42 students from around the metro area. The unique peer-to-peer program, led and taught by high school-age Ideal CU Student Credit Union employees, teaches students the building blocks of personal finance: budgeting, savings and investments, credit, and money management tools. Students in attendance ranged in age from 16 to 22 years and came from a number of local communities, including Champlin, Hugo, Mahtomedi, Little Canada, St. Paul, Maplewood, Oakdale, South St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, West St. Paul, Cottage Grove, Hastings, Stillwater, Lakeland and more.

(Woodbury, MN – August 23, 2018) – Ideal Credit Union marked its 5^th Annual Community Appreciation Celebration by giving away $6,600 in cash prizes, including a $1,000 daily grand prize for adults age 18 and over, $100 a day for youth age 17 and under, and $3,000 in donations to local area food shelves. The celebration was held over the course of two weeks, starting August 7-16, 2018. Attendees enjoyed over 2,100 hamburgers and had a chance to win fun prizes, visit with kid’s club mascot Bucky Bear, and to give back to our local communities.

(Woodbury, MN – July 30, 2018) – Ideal Credit Union will give away $6,600 in cash prizes at this year’s Community Celebration, including a $1,000 daily grand prize for adults age 18 and over, and $100 a day for youth age 17 and under. Ideal’s fifth annual summer celebration will be held over the course of two weeks, starting August 7-16, 2018. Attendees will enjoy food, fun, prizes, a special visit from kid’s club mascot Bucky Bear, and a chance to give back to our local communities.

(Woodbury, MN – July 18, 2018) Faith Tholkes, Vice President of Mortgage Operations at Ideal Credit Union, has once again been named a “Super Mortgage Professional” for 2018 by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business, marking the third time she has been recognized as a leader in the industry. Tholkes was nominated for the award by clients who view her as a mortgage professional who demonstrates exceptional ability and service.

(Woodbury, MN – July 5, 2018) Ideal Credit Union has been named one of the Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Top Workplaces recognizes the most progressive companies in Minnesota based on employee opinions measuring engagement, organizational health and satisfaction. The rankings in the Star Tribune Top 150 Workplaces are based on survey information collected by Energage, an independent company specializing in employee engagement and retention. Ideal was ranked 38th on the midsize company list.

(Woodbury, MN – June 27, 2018) Joshua (Josh) Anderson has rejoined the Ideal Credit Union team as its new Business Relationship Specialist. Anderson previously served as Branch Manager of the credit union’s Hugo office, where he was responsible for developing growth strategies to ensure the branch’s success. Anderson first started at Ideal in 2011. He left in 2017 for a brief time and recently returned to take on this new role. He has 7 years of experience in the financial services industry.

(Woodbury, MN – June 5, 2018) – Ideal Credit Union member Stephanie Smidt and her family had been raising money to bring their baby daughter home from China when she was randomly selected as the winner of September’s $1,000 “Use & Win” Debit Card Giveaway. The Smidts were just nine days away from boarding a plane to pick up the newest addition to their family when they got the news. “Thank you so much Ideal CU for helping us bring our daughter home!!! This money is such a blessing to our family!”

(Woodbury, MN – May 2, 2018) – Ideal Credit Union has been named “Best Credit Union in the East Metro” for the second year in a row by readers of the Stillwater Gazette newspaper. Ideal became the first credit union to operate in the community in its 164 years of existence when its Stillwater branch opened for business in December of 2016. Ideal has had a strong presence in the east metro for 92 years.

(Woodbury, MN – April 30, 2018) Ideal Credit Union has announced the following personnel changes that have taken place over the past few months. Kari Olson has been promoted to Director of Mortgage Lending Operations. Olson joined the Ideal team in 1992 and has over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. In her role she will be responsible for monitoring and managing processing, underwriting, servicing and compliance functions of the credit union’s real estate lending area.

(Woodbury, MN – March 30, 2018) Ideal Credit Union President/CEO Brian Sherrick and wife Terrie hosted a first-ever “Party with a Purpose” fundraiser at their home on March 23rd to benefit the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf. The event drew 54 of the Sherrick’s family and friends and helped raise over $5,000, which far exceeded expectations.

(Woodbury, MN – March 22, 2018) Whether you’re a first-time buyer, or looking to sell your home, Ideal Credit Union’s no-cost 2018 Home Education Seminar series offers expert advice from Ideal CU’s Mortgage Loan advisors and local realtors, home staging and insurance professionals ready to help.

(Woodbury, MN – March 5, 2018) Ideal Credit Union has launched a new Zero Down Mortgage product, the first of its kind in the local mortgage market place, which gives prospective home buyers another flexible option to achieve their dream of owning a home.

(Woodbury, MN – February 15, 2018) Ideal Credit Union has announced the promotion of Tina Howe to E-Branch Manager. Howe joined the Ideal team in 2000 and has worked as a teller, Contact Center representative and was an exceptional employee in the electronic banking channels. She has 18 years of experience in the financial services industry.

(Woodbury, MN – February 2, 2018) Ideal Credit Union has announced the promotion of Emily Kelly to Vice President of Talent and Administration. Kelly joined the Ideal team in 1993 as a teller through the credit union’s OJT (On the Job Training) program with Tartan High School, which is now home to the Ideal CU Student Credit Union. She has also worked in the Contact Center and loan areas. Prior to her promotion she served as Director of Training and Development.

(Woodbury, MN – January 11, 2018) Ideal Credit Union has announced the promotion of Shannon Butler to Vice President of Digital Innovation. Butler joined the Ideal team in 2000 and has served as a teller, Member Service Representative, Marketing Coordinator, eMarketing Specialist and Contact Center manager. Prior to her promotion she served as Director of Contact Center & E-Banking. Butler has 17 years of experience in the financial services industry.

The Butler family joined Ideal Credit Union 36 years ago in 1982. Their total VIP+ payout since 2013 is now over $2,450.

 (Woodbury, MN – January 9, 2018) – Ideal Credit Union has returned 10% of its 2017 earnings to members through its exclusive VIP Program, rewarding 4,406 VIP+ members with cash dividends between $50 and $600, which were automatically deposited into members’ savings accounts in January 2018. A total payout of $532,150 was returned to Ideal CU members as a result of the VIP Program. Ideal CU has paid out over $3.1 million to VIP members since the program’s inception. Ideal is the only credit union in Minnesota offering this type of rewards program, believed to be the first of its kind in the state.

(Woodbury, MN –November 30, 2017) – Ideal Credit Union’s popular $1,000 Debit Card Giveaway is back for another four weeks this holiday season. Ideal CU has held this popular holiday promotion since 2012 and has given away $20,000 to 20 lucky members. To qualify, members with an Ideal CU personal checking account simply use their Ideal CU Debit MasterCard® or My Rewards™ Gold or Platinum Debit Card for purchases and earn a chance to win one of Ideal CU's four weekly $1,000 random drawings. Members earn 100 bonus entries into the weekly drawing when they make 25 or more purchases a week.

(Woodbury, MN – November 2, 2017) – To raise funds to help areas in the Caribbean devastated by Hurricane Irma, Ideal Credit Union, in partnership with the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, launched a two-week drive from October 6-20, 2017, to encourage donations from members, employees and the community at large, and pledged to match up to $2,500 of the money collected.

(Woodbury, MN – October 6, 2017) A strong showing of support enabled the Ideal CU Community Foundation to raise $25,560 at its 8th annual golf tournament on September 11, 2017, which is an increase of $2,300 from the previous year. The event, held at StoneRidge Golf Course in Stillwater, attracted 103 golfers and 36 sponsors. The foundation will use the funds to aid local education, food shelf and community initiatives.