FAST Federal Credit Union earns nod as Chamber's Business of the Year

Saturday, January 17, 2015 - 11:20am By Ed Martin, The Leader Editor

If a business’s reputation was based solely on its community service, then the Families and School Together (FAST) Credit Union would be the largest credit union in California. FAST employees, volunteers, supervisors, board members, and Ambassadors collectively dedicated some 3,600 hours to volunteer service in 2014 alone.

According to FAST Chief Executive Officer Paula Lehn, FAST has encouraged and incorporated into the credit union’s work ethic, the concept of volunteer service. It’s part of the FAST values, she said. “I think the numbers indicate such. They (employees, volunteers, board members etc.) can choose to volunteer however they wish; we don’t give them time off or pay them for it – they do it on their own time. With only 38 employees, it’s evident we have true servants on our staff.”

For FAST’s volunteer spirit, as well as being a top-notch business and an important cog in Lemoore’s and Kings County’s financial well-being, the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce will honor FAST Credit Union as the 2015 Business of the Year at its 57th Annual Installation and Awards Banquet on Jan. 23 at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.

“FAST is truly honored to have been selected for this prestigious award,” said Lehn. “Our great FAST team of visionary, dedicated and servant-minded individuals working together to make a difference in our communities permeates throughout FAST, from our volunteer Board of Directors to our frontline staff. We truly appreciate the Lemoore Chamber recognizing FAST as we daily live out our mission of people helping people.”

FAST has also sponsored Character Counts conferences at local schools, raised money for United Cerebral Palsy Day, and sponsored a Christmas tree at the Soroptomist’s Festival of Frees to help raise funds for programs to improve the lives of women and girls.

FAST is also a sponsor of the annual Students of the Month luncheon for the Lemoore Chamber of Commerce and of course is an eager participant in the annual Central Valley Pizza Festival held in Lemoore every year.

FAST was the first local credit union, starting in 1953 as Kings County School Employees Credit Union with seven members depositing $5 each. The first office was a member’s garage. FAST is now a full service, not-for-profit member-owned, financial institution dedicated to serving the financial needs of its members. The profits are returned to its members in the form of higher dividends, lower interest rates on loans and many other low or no-fee services. FAST has saved members over $1 million in interest and fees by simply looking at the loans and credit cards they currently have and seeing if they can improve them.