2022 is a milestone year for People’s Credit Union as we embark on the Credit Union’s second century of commitment to serving its members. One hundred years ago, twenty-seven local residents, seven of them the initial incorporators, founded People’s Credit Union with the purpose of
“promoting thrift among its members, to give them an opportunity to save in small amounts and
to obtain loans at moderate rates which promise to be of benefit to the borrower.”
Many of the founders worked at the then United States Naval Torpedo Station on Goat Island in Newport Harbor. They all however held onto the principle of “people helping people” as the basic tenet that guided them to form The People’s Credit Union.
As we now begin our centennial year of People’s Credit Union’s founding, that guiding principle of “people helping people” continues unwavering and without interruption for our members. Of course, many, many things have changed, evolved, and modernized since People’s Credit Union opened its first branch up “on the hill” on Mill Street in Newport; however, our resolve to help people has not.
People’s Credit Union’s centennial year will be defined with celebration and a confident vision for the future. We will be having many year-long and longer events, as well as activities and programs for our members to enjoy.
Throughout the year, in support of a greener today & tomorrow, we will be working in conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 100 trees in each of the six markets we serve.
- Our partnership with Fill it Forward, an environmental sustainability company, will reduce plastic use; promote health and clean water hydration while enabling members to contribute to bettering the environment.
- Members will also see many local community activities with student-athletes from the University of Rhode Island, where People’s is now the Official Credit Union of URI Women’s Athletics.
- There will also be branch celebrations and opportunities for members to benefit from product promotions.
- And then, with an eye to the future, the Credit Union will be circulating a Time Capsule for contributions to be revealed to new generations 50 or maybe even another 100 years from now.
2022 will be a year of reflection, ceremony, and celebration; yet the centennial of People’s Credit Union will be, as it was meant to be 100 years ago, another opportunity for people to help people.
We hope you will join us in that endeavour.
Sean Daly
President & CEO
