Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union in new Food City

Tammy Zumbrun’s dad worked for TVA when she was growing up. She attended the annual membership meetings of the company’s credit union with her parents and opened (with a little help) her first account when she was seven years old. “I thought the meetings were exciting,” says Zumbrun. “There were door prizes for adults and kids, and it seemed like important things were going on.”

The credit union that was started in 1934 by 57 TVA employees who pooled $500 to get started is now open to anyone, TVA employee or not, who lives within the area it serves. It boasts 142,000 members and assets of over $1.4 billion. Zumbrun is still a member. She has also been marketing communications outreach director for what is now known as the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union for 35 years.

TVFCU recently opened a third location in Catoosa County — inside the new Food City that also just opened — at 150 U.S. Highway 41, Ringgold (but in Fort Oglethorpe). It’s their 18th location in their service area.

TVFCU is a non-profit entity. It is owned by its members and profits are used to benefit members rather than stockholders, as in for-profit banks. The credit union serves a 13-county area: Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in Georgia, and Bledsoe, Bradley, Grundy, Hamilton, Marion, Mcminn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie counties in Tennessee.

The criteria to become a member is generous. A person must live, work, worship, volunteer or attend school in, or own businesses or other legal entities in, or have immediate family or household members in, or be part of an organization in the 13-county region.

There is no membership fee. The only requirement is to open an account with TVFCU. No minimum deposit is required if the account is opened as a direct deposit or payroll deduction account and the potential new member signs up for e-statements.

“A lot of people get started with us seeking a car loan,” says Lisa Elrod, who like Zumbrun has worked for TVFCU for 35 years, going from part-time teller to Vice President of Operations.

Like most banks and credit unions, TVFCU offers online services and ATMS, but they also offer ITMS — interactive teller machines. “We were the first ones in this area to offer this technology,” says Elrod.

ITMS utilize touch screens and connect members with live tellers Monday-saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is an ITM at the new Food City branch.

TVFCU celebrated its new branch on Jan. 29 with a Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce grand opening and a ribbon-cutting with a ribbon made of 110 onedollar bills. After the ribbon cutting, the bills were donated to Children’s Miracle Network.

Hours for the new TVFCU branch are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-friday (closed 2 p.m.-3 p.m. for lunch), and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. To learn more about Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, visit their web site at tvfcu.com.

/ Catoosa Chamber of Commerce On Jan. 10 the Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce held a brunch at The Colonnade to celebrate the installation of its 2019 board of directors and its new president and CEO. Back row, from left: Craig Jones of Fort Oglethorpe NHC Healthcare, Fort Oglethorpe Mayor Earl Gray, Catoosa County Commis-sion Chairman Steven Henry, Ken Mccollum of FNB Bank, Ian O’shea of Crye-leike Real Estate, Mike Key of Mike Key Entertainment and Photography, Wil Stiles of Flegal Insurance. Middle row, from left: Board Chair-elect Barton Mathews of Starr-matthews Agency, Matt Farmer of North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, Delaine Hunter of North Georgia Healthcare Center. Front row, from left: Board Treasurer Chris Hunt of Community National Bank, Lisa Elrod of Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union, Terry Issac of Nexthome Plus, Board Chair and Catoosa Schools Superintendent Denia Reese, Keith Barclift of North Georgia Joint Development Authority, Ringgold City Council-man Randall Franks, Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Amy Jackson. Not shown: Board Vice Chair Rodney Crowe of B. Rodney Crowe, CPA, and 2018 Board Chair and current Board Member Cindie Robin-son-patty of Uniktings.

/ Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union celebrated the grand opening of a branch in the new Food City on U.S. Highway 41 in Fort Oglethorpe with a Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting. Kneeling, from left: TVFCU Financial Services Representatives Jonathan Campbell, Noel Michael and Trey Suttles. Standing (with scissors) is the Branch Manager Cathy Jo Rector.