Rox, Crescent Credit Union Team Up, Debut "Round the Bases" Program
June 14, 2010, Brockton, MA. – The Brockton Rox professional baseball club and Crescent Credit Union announced a partnership on Monday, unveiling the “Round the Bases” program for Brockton youth age 8 through 12.

The program’s events will take place throughout the month of July at Campanelli Stadium. Members of the program will attend Rox games, participate in clinics with players and coaches, and even help with the behind-the-scenes operations of a game in a safe and supervised environment, free of charge.

“The Rox are excited to partner with Crescent Credit Union and the Brockton community for the Round the Bases program,” said Rox General Manager Brian Voelkel. “We’ve always been proud to be able to provide positive experiences for young people at Campanelli Stadium, and it should make for a great summer.”

“Working with the Rox to create this program provides us with an exciting opportunity to help children in Brockton make the most of their summer,” added Crescent Credit Union President Robert Gustafson. “We are happy to be involved with creating safe activities for the city’s youth. Programs like this play an important role for both the children involved, and the community.”

The full schedule:

• Friday, July 2: Members attend Rox game and stay for post-game fireworks show.
  
• Thursday, July 8: Field Day, with games and activities on the field from 6:00 to 9:00pm.
  
• Wednesday, July 14: Rox Youth Clinic, where participants learn baseball skills and techniques from the team’s players and coaches.
  
• Monday, July 19: Members participate in between-innings promotions during the Rox game, and have the opportunity to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
  
• Friday, July 30: “Kids Rock” Night; members help Rox staff with a variety of jobs and assignments during the game.

“It’s great that local businesses are taking an interest in the youth of our city,” said Brockton Mayor Linda Balzotti. “This program will benefit 100 Brockton kids this summer, at a time when they’re looking to be actively engaged, and to participate in an organized activity.”

For more information about the program, please contact Koren Cappiello, Director of Community and Social Services at Mayor Balzotti’s office, at 508-580-7123.

Marketing in Tough Economic Times
June 9, 2010, Brockton, MA – The Massachusetts Small Business Development Network Southeast Regional Office, Metro South Chamber of Commerce, and Crescent Credit Union presented Marketing in Tough Economic Times - a free workshop open to the public.

Times are tough. But this is not the time to just cut your marketing efforts and budget.  Attendees learned low cost ways to increase their market penetration and sales revenue at this FREE workshop. The presenter was Dr. Cliff Robbins, a visiting lecturer at UMASS Dartmouth, a Senior Business Advisor at MSBDC and a battle scarred veteran of growing, marketing and selling his own businesses.

Summer Food Drive Kicks Off
May 20, 2010, Brockton, MA – On Monday, May 24, Crescent Credit Union kicked off its 2nd annual summer food drive to benefit food pantries in its market area. Through Saturday, July 31, Crescent branches will be accepting non-perishable food donations during regular business hours from credit union members and non-members alike.Contributions will be distributed to those in need via St. Vincent de Paul Society in Brockton, Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen in Taunton, and Holy Family Parish in Rockland.

“With summer right around the corner, and kids out of school, it’s important that we do as much as we can to keep the food pantries full,” said Crescent President & CEO Robert Gustafson.

For more information, please visit your nearest Crescent branch, or call 508-559-5400.

Crescent Selects BIC for FHLB Grant
February 9, 2010, Brockton, MA – The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Boston recently awarded Crescent Credit Union with an opportunity to select a non-profit organization of its choosing to receive $2,000 in grant money. The Credit Union selected Brockton Interfaith Community (BIC) as the recipient, and matched the grant with a $2,000 donation of its own, for a total contribution of $4,000. Crescent was awarded the opportunity due to the Credit Union’s utilization of borrowed funds from FHLB Boston to invest in its community in the form of mortgages primarily to Brockton residents.

“The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston works with its member financial institutions, such as Crescent Credit Union, to provide liquidity and technical assistance to serve their communities,” said Christine Gimbel Rogers, Senior Community Investment Manager of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. “I commend the leadership of Crescent Credit Union and Brockton Interfaith Community for their ongoing work in the city of Brockton.”

Crescent Credit Union has been a business partner with FHLB Boston since 1999. The Credit Union’s mortgage programs include the First Time Home Buyers Program and the Buy Brockton Mortgage Program affiliated with the Brockton Housing Partnership. The Buy Brockton Program is designed to help qualified buyers purchase a home currently owned by a bank, in foreclosure, or to be sold in a short sale.

“We’re honored that the Federal Home Loan Bank selected Crescent Credit Union for this award,” said Crescent President Robert Gustafson. “And we’re excited to be able to match the funds and pass it along to a worthy, community-focused organization such as BIC.”

The recipient of the $4,000 contribution, Brockton Interfaith Community (BIC) is a nonpartisan, faith-based community organization made up of thirteen religious congregations and Stonehill College. Since 1990, BIC has worked to improve the quality of life in Brockton by training ordinary citizens to organize and bring about change in a variety of areas such as crime and public safety, housing and home ownership, education, health care, and youth issues. For more information about BIC, visit: www.brocktoninterfaithcommunity.org/.

Community Learning Center Dedicated in Brockton
February 1, 2010, Brockton, MA – Brockton Mayor Linda Balzotti and Cape Verde Parliament member Cristalina Pereira were among the guest speakers Tuesday evening, January 26, as Crescent Credit Union dedicated its new Community Learning Center in an event co-hosted by the Metro South Chamber of Commerce.

Addressing an audience of one hundred plus, which included State Representatives Christine Canavan and Mike Brady, as well as newly-elected City Councilman Tom Monahan, Mayor Balzotti spoke about the need for ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in Brockton, and praised the credit union for its willingness to take on the challenge and provide the resources so desperately needed in the city.

“In these hard times it’s encouraging to see local businesses like Crescent Credit Union stepping up to meet the challenges we’re facing here in Brockton,” said Balzotti. “Mr. Gustafson and his staff should be applauded for their efforts in making the Learning Center a reality.”

“There is a demand for these classes in our community,” said Crescent President Robert Gustafson. “It’s something we’ve wanted to do but never had the space. Now that we have the space, we’re happy to be able to help meet the demand with the Learning Center.”

The Learning Center, at 115 Commercial Street in down-town Brockton, opened in January offering ESOL, Financial Literacy, Basic Computer Skills, and Preparation for U.S. Citizenship. For more information about the Learning Center, please contact Christine Dasylva at 508-586-8557.

William Rosa Elected Chairman of the Board
February 1, 2010, Brockton, MA – After eight years as Chairman of Crescent Credit Union’s Board of Directors, Herbert S. Nagle passed the gavel to newly elected Chairman William Rosa. Mr. Nagle will continue to serve as a Director, a position he has held since 1959.

“I relinquish the chairmanship knowing full well that Crescent Credit Union continues to be a strong, sound financial institution,” said Mr. Nagle. “I have the utmost confidence in our ability to continue to serve the people in the Brockton, Taunton, and Norwell areas, meeting any and all of their financial needs,” he added.

Mr. Nagle became Chairman of the Board in 2002. A graduate of Colby College, he was President of Victory Shoe Company in Brockton, Massachusetts, which was founded by his father, William Nagle. Mr. Nagle also worked for Atsco Footwear – formerly Taymor Shoe. He is currently a volunteer at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton. In 2008 Mr. Nagle was elected to the Brockton High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Mr. Nagle is credited with leading Crescent through its highly successful merger with Uniti Credit Union in 2007, and, even more recently, successfully navigating the Credit Union through the storm of economic recession.

William Rosa replaces Mr. Nagle as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Rosa joined the Board at Crescent Credit Union in 2002. He has served as Vice Chairman since 2007.

“I look forward to the opportunity to serve the members of Crescent Credit Union,” said Mr. Rosa. “As the last few years have shown, the need for strong, local financial institutions is essential for the economic growth of the area. As we head into a new decade, Crescent Credit Union is well poised to serve that role in our community.”

Mr. Rosa is a graduate of Rutgers University and holds a Juris Doctrine degree from the New England School of Law. A Partner at the law firm of Wynn & Wynn, P.C. in Raynham, Massachusetts, he is also a member of the Taunton Bar Association and the Rhode Island Bar Association. Mr. Rosa currently serves as a Director for the Old Colony YMCA in Brockton, as well as a Director of CATIC Exchange Solutions, Inc. in Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

Crescent Credit Union Coat Drive Nets 559 Winter Coats
January 21, 2010, Brockton, MA – Crescent Credit Union partnered with Anton’s Cleaners in Brockton, Dermody Cleaners in Taunton, and Fantastic Cleaners in Hingham to collect and clean 559 winter coats, which were then delivered to non-profit community organizations for distribution to those who need them most. The coat drive began in mid-October and wrapped up this past Saturday, January 9.

“The response from the community is just amazing,” said Herb Nagle, who recently stepped down as Chairman of Crescent’s Board of Directors, though he continues to serve as an active board member.

“We are deeply appreciative to our members, neighbors, and employees for their generosity in these hard times,” said Crescent President Robert Gustafson. “Because of their compassion, 559 people will be warmer this winter.”

The coats are being distributed by Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Holy Family Parish, Catholic Charities, MA Coalition for the Homeless, and The Salvation Army, amongst others.

Founded in 1919 and headquartered in Brockton, Crescent Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative providing better banking services to over 44,000 members. Anyone who lives or works in Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk, or Barnstable counties can join Crescent Credit Union. For more information, please call 508-559-5409 or visit www.crescentcredit.org.

Fraud Alert
September 4, 2009, Brockton, MA – Customers and members of several local banks and credit unions have received pre-recorded phone messages and text messages indicating that their debit card or automatic loan payment has been deactivated, and to call a special number and input account information.

Crescent Credit Union will never call you unsolicited to verify account or personal information over the phone or via email. We do not send text messages to cell phones. If you are contacted in such a manner, do not give out this information, do not return any text messages or telephone calls. Instead, call Crescent immediately at 1-800-894-4445.

Crescent Celebrates 90th Anniversary
June 19, 2009, Brockton, MA. – A group of nine members 90-years young visited Crescent Credit Union’s Commercial Street office in Brockton as the Credit Union celebrated its 90th Anniversary Thursday, June 18, with cake and coffee, giveaways, and a drawing for an HDTV.

While conversing with each other, several in the group were delighted to discover that they had actually been high school classmates. Two even came to determine that they had been friends back when they were 5-years old, when they attended the same church!

“We’re proud of our history here at the Credit Union,” said Robert Gustafson, President and CEO. “And we’re delighted that we were able to bring this group of senior members together to join us in celebrating a history here in Brockton that they’ve participated in for so long.”

Michael Furtado of Taunton was the lucky grand prize winner in the drawing, taking home a widescreen flat panel HDTV. Coincidentally, it just happened to be his birthday that same week – so happy birthday Michael! First prizes of $90 cash were also awarded to members at each Crescent branch, along with other prizes.

Founded on Crescent Street in Brockton on June 18, 1919, Crescent Credit Union was originally chartered to serve the financial needs of employees at the Tarlow Cut Sole shoe factory. Crescent now provides banking services to over 44,000 members, with offices in Brockton, Norwell, and Taunton. Anyone who lives or works in Plymouth, Bristol, Norfolk, or Barnstable counties can join Crescent Credit Union.

Crescent Launches New Website
May 11, 2009, Brockton, MA. – Brockton-based Crescent Credit Union launched a new website today at www.crescentcredit.org. The new site was designed to provide a better online experience for both current- and potential- credit union members.

“First and foremost, we wanted to make sure that our members could access their accounts in a safe and secure manner,” said Crescent Credit Union CEO Robert Gustafson. The new site utilizes the latest encryption technology, including secure socket layering (SSL) and multifactor authentication.

Crescent’s new site also incorporates improved navigation with updated graphics. “We wanted to make it easier for members to find what they’re looking for,” added Gustafson, “while presenting an appearance that’s easy on the eyes.”

In addition to free Online Banking and Bill Pay, Crescent’s website offers members the ability to apply for personal loans, car loans, mortgage and home equity loans – all from the comfort of their home or office. The Credit Union also plans to roll out online account opening and funding later this year.

Crescent Collects Over 800 Books for Children
May 1, 2009, Brockton, MA. – Participating in the ninth annual Children’s Book Drive, sponsored by the Massachusetts Credit Union League, Crescent Credit Union collected over eight hundred children’s books during the month of April.

With help from the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, the books will be distributed to many non-profit agencies statewide.

Crescent CEO Robert Gustafson explained the importance of the program, saying, “Every child should have books to read. Building a love of reading is one of the surest ways to give a child a chance to excel in school.”

Mr. Gustafson went on to say, “Unfortunately, many underprivileged children do not have the opportunity to grow and enrich their lives through reading. There is an ongoing need at after school programs, hospitals, shelters, libraries, and with children’s literacy programs throughout Massachusetts for children’s reading books.”

“Crescent reached out to our communities, and our neighbors responded in a big way,” added Gustafson. “The eight hundred books collected far exceeds past years, when we’ve typically collected two- to three- hundred. Everyone who contributed deserves a great deal of thanks.”