From a chipper "Hello" when members call to a friendly conversation at the front counter, the voice of REGIONAL federal credit union Branch Manager Maricela Nava carries a welcoming, uplifting tone through many avenues at the Portage location. Almost six years at the credit union has allowed Nava to become a jack of all trades on the job. She wears many hats each day and absolutely loves the roles she plays in helping the branch thrive.
"I started as a teller, and now I hop on the telephone line and help as a member service representative. I'm also working on loans and answering questions and new member concerns, so my time is split between other things throughout the day," said Nava.
While Nava knows the ways of the Portage branch inside and out, working at REGIONAL is surprisingly her first credit union endeavor. She was quite intrigued when doing research during the application process and knew when she first stepped in the door that this was the place for her.
"When I first applied here, I didn't know much about REGIONAL or credit unions themselves, but I went to the website and looked around. I saw it looked like a traditional bank and was inspired because the loan rates were slightly lower," Nava said. "They were also very approachable when I first came in, which caught my attention, especially not knowing what REGIONAL or credit unions were all about."
Little did Nava know she would soon be part of the lively mix and become an integral part of the team that welcomed her in with open arms.
"I have enjoyed working with my team members – they make it fun," Nava said. "We're pretty close and have each other's back if we need help. There's not a lack of balance here; they're willing to jump in and help out, and I try to help them out. We are all about helping each other out."
Having such a helpful team has also helped Nava get to where she is now in her career at the branch. A supportive team has made her feel comfortable bringing up any questions and having that level of guidance has made a world of difference while learning the ropes of the REGIONAL way.
"This is a very supportive team," Nava said. "I have never felt like I was completely alone or not getting any support. All of the executive leadership have an open-door policy. If I have this question and I do not understand it, I can reach out to them, and I know that they will get to me as soon as they can. I've never felt that support before. I don't need to figure this out alone, and I'm not alone – just knowing they're there is such a great feeling to have."
Coming into that very generous team has prompted Nava to keep that kindness going. She wants members who visit the Portage location to experience that same genuine connection to the group she works with daily.
"Our members definitely get that personalized service, and we always try to get to know our members. We know them by name when they walk in. We'll always ask them things like 'How are you? What are we doing? How's the family?'" Nava said. "They'll definitely get that personalized service that REGIONAL strives for; it is part of our mission statement. Here at the Portage branch and all of our REGIONAL branches, we honestly try to know all of our members and make it very personal for them."
Loans, credit, financial advice, and much more – REGIONAL's Portage branch has a ton in store regarding finances and money management. No matter the reason, REGIONAL is here to help, so stop in today to see how they can help and become a member of the credit union family today.
"If you're coming in for something such as a loan, for example, the Portage REGIONAL location has a great rate," Nava said. "If you want something personal, we will get to know you personally. We are completely understanding and will try everything we can do to help. If you're looking for financial support or guidance, come to REGIONAL. We are here for you. If there's something that we cannot do, we will try to find a way to help you out."