Three More Credit Unions Move their Processing Business to TNB Card Services

DALLAS, TX ? TNB Card Services has won the credit card processing business of three West Coast credit unions, the company announced today. The new clients, in Washington and California, have moved their credit card programs from other processors to TNB to take advantage of TNB?s wide range of processing services, competitive products, and quality client service.

The new processing clients are United Health Services Credit Union of Spokane, Washington, GaPac Employees Federal Credit Union of Bellingham, Washington, and Horizon Credit Union of Fresno, California.

?We are continuing to see more and more credit unions moving to TNB from other processors, usually for the same general reasons,? said Rollie Penn, executive vice president, TNB Card Services. ?They see the opportunity to get better products and service for themselves and their members, at a lower price, from a company that is owned and directed by credit unions. They know that with TNB, and our relationship with First Data, they have a processing partner who delivers world class products and truly understands their business.?

United Health Services Credit Union of Spokane, Washington, was formed in 1960, originally serving the employees of Sacred Heart Medical Center. It expanded its health care employees focus over the years, and then in 2004 received its community charter. The credit union now serves residents of 19 counties in eastern Washington, with 10,500 members and about $69 million in assets.

Fred Rose, president and CEO, said TNB offered a much better price for its services than the credit union?s former processor, and it was a big plus that TNB is owned and directed by credit unions.

?Many credit unions are choosing to sell their card programs, but we have made the choice that we want to re-evaluate our card program and make it grow,? Rose said. ?We believe TNB has the products and services to help us accomplish that.?

GaPac Employees Federal Credit Union of Bellingham, Washington, began in 1952 to serve employees of the Pacific Coast Paper Mill, now part of Georgia Pacific West Corporation. The credit union was community chartered in 2002, and now also serves residents of Whatcom County. It has about 4,300 members and total assets of $38 million.

The credit union chose TNB as its processor for several reasons, explained Kate Jordan, president and CEO. She said TNB offered a more competitive price for the service, could provide credit union members a better selection of credit card products, and made card data available via the Internet, for more efficient access by credit union employees.

?We were looking for more value for our members who carry the GaPac credit card,? said Jordan. ?We wanted additional, affordable options, such as Platinum cards, rewards, and other benefits. That is very important for a credit union our size.?

Horizon Credit Union of Fresno, California, was founded in 1954 as the Southern Pacific Employees Credit Union. It now serves all employees of Union Pacific and the company?s holdings, as well as a number of regional employee groups. The credit union has 2,600 members and assets of $17 million.

Sue Engelmann, CEO, said the move to TNB for processing was driven by attractive pricing by TNB and the credit union?s former processing company?s inability to meet system accessibility and other customer service needs. ?With TNB, we?re looking forward to more flexibility in our product offerings, so that our credit cards fit our members, rather than have a one-size-fits-all offering,? said Engelmann.

?We want customization, and the TNB program offers more of that. In addition, we hope to use the money we are saving on processing to enhance the product.?