Holyoke, Imperial credit union announces ‘profitable’ year, elects new board member

If you ask Randy Hale, president of Holyoke Community Federal Credit Union, his organization is “all about people and helping people.” The credit union, after all, was first created in 1938 by residents cooperating, stepping up in lieu of the banks to provide financial services in Holyoke. By the late ‘90s, it added a new branch in Imperial, Nebraska, appropriately titled Imperial Credit Union.
And, if the organization’s annual meeting is any indication, ending the day with chances to win cash either by catching flying dollar bills in the Money Machine or spinning the Wheel of Fortune certainly doesn’t hurt.
Moving into its 85th anniversary, the credit union brought together 160 people from the Holyoke and Imperial areas to the Phillips County Event Center on Monday evening, both to update its members and elect people for its board of directors.
Following a dinner provided by Happy Jacks, where recent owner Karla Varela took the lead in catering for the first time, Secretary Brenda Krueger regained her spot without opposition and Imperial candidate Jill Mays joined the board, also unopposed. Krueger, a member of the credit union for more than 50 years, acts as part of a family owned farming corporation and is a 15-year veteran of the Holyoke School District. Mays, who considers herself “chaos coordinator” in her role at the administrative office of Chase County Schools – eight years and counting – joined the credit union in 2001. She also served as a teller and loan officer at Imperial Credit Union.
The credit union, following a “profitable year,” in the words of Hale, has experienced a more-than-10-percent increase in total assets from 2021-22, or a $41.2 million to $45.7 million jump.
Total loans approved by the organization equal an estimated $9.6 million, with about $3.8 million through consumer loans and about $5.8 through real estate loans.
He made special note of outgoing board member Jan Graham of Imperial, who volunteered for the credit union’s outside loan officer committee after retiring from the Imperial branch as a loan officer. When that committee disbanded, Hale continued, she rejoined again as a supervisory committee member. Then, she kept a spot in the organization on the board of directors.
“It makes me sad to say that Jan is up for reelection this year and has decided to release her seat at the board table,” he said. “Please help me give a big thank you to Jan for her service.”

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