Business View Magazine Feb 2023

124 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 2 PREFERRED VENDOR/PARTNER n Barefoot Creative www.barefootcreative.com Barefoot partnered with Northern Birch Credit Union to develop a forward-looking brand.We navigated the precarious path of brand renewal and sawmembers with a high level of ownership of the Credit Union embrace the new brand. We continue to engage with the NBCU marketing team, developing effective brand and member growth campaigns. along with GICs and mutual fund investments. Northern Birch provides for member needs throughout their life cycles, from student loans and trust funds through registered education and retirement savings plans to RRIFs and estate services. The rapid speed at which the financial services industry is modernizing requires Northern Birch to stay abreast of high-tech trends, such as the digitization of documents.With shrinking margins, efficiencies are paramount in such a competitive space, Saar says.“We need to be lean and mean with our processes and staff,” she says. In addition to building up the credit union’s marketing growth, a big priority is keeping pace with any regulatory changes required by the national and local governments, and the banking industry as a whole. The Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act of 2020 was established to reduce the regulatory burden for credit unions, increase their business and investment powers, and improve consumer experience and protection. Changes built into the act continue to be rolled out and require close attention from Northern Birch leadership. Advancements and requirements in IT to support cyber security and the safety of member accounts are important areas of focus for 2023. More than anything, Northern Birch Credit Union aims to exceed the needs of its members through safe, convenient, and easy-to-follow digital and advisory services, Saar says.“We will always take steps and offer products that are in the best interests of our members and be there to help them address financial goals,” she says.