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North Augusta, SC – “Good Things Are Happening at SRP” as we share our Board of Directors has once again approved a Loyalty Dividend be paid out across our membership. The additional dividend payout of more than $3.9 million serves to reward SRP members and to recognize the financial strength of the Credit Union.

“This Loyalty Dividend reflects our commitment to giving back to the members who make SRP Federal Credit Union strong and successful,” said Eric Jenkins, CEO of SRP Federal Credit Union. “We are proud to share the benefits of our growth directly with our members.”

This also demonstrates SRP’s belief in the “People Helping People” credit union philosophy. SRP FCU is a member-owned nonprofit financial institution with a volunteer Board of Directors. As such, our members can receive higher interest rates on savings, lower rates on loans, and lower fees.

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Augusta, GA – SRP Federal Credit Union will fund a new program at Augusta Technical College to cultivate financial success for students. Called SRP Cougar$mart, the program will enhance financial training for students in a variety of courses and other offerings at the college.

“As we prepare students to enter the workforce and create sustainable careers, we believe that increasing their financial literacy will better enable them to have lifelong financial wellbeing,” said Dr. Jermaine Whirl, President of Augusta Technical College.

The SRP Cougar$mart Program will include a co-branded interactive classroom learning environment. Augusta Tech students will benefit from the financial literacy curriculum embedded in the college’s new “Introduction to College and Computers” course, which is required for first-semester students. Additionally, the program will strengthen for-credit personal finance courses and create extracurricular learning opportunities for enrolled students, Dual Enrollment high school students and participants in Augusta Tech’s Adult Education and Continuing Education programs.

SRP Federal Credit Union frequently assists members facing financial difficulties stemming from decisions made early in adulthood. “Through Cougar $mart, we will help students not only avoid these costly types of financial mistakes but also teach them how to make the right decisions, which will lead to financial success,” said Eric Jenkins, CEO of SRP.

Cougar$mart is the second of three partnership initiatives being launched between SRP and Augusta Tech. The first initiative, announced earlier this month, is Accelerate Augusta Powered by SRP, a small business incubator that will be housed at 600 Broad Street to help entrepreneurs in the area launch their companies. The Downtown Development Authority is also a partner in this effort. The third initiative will be announced early in 2025.

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North Augusta, SC – On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene brought severe devastation to the CSRA. With destructive winds, tornadoes, and extensive damage to utilities and homes, all ten counties served by SRP Federal Credit Union were significantly impacted.

In response to the recent challenges, SRP quickly stepped up to support both its member-owners and team members. Throughout the immediate aftermath, SRP provided Emergency Relief Loans, Skip-a-Pay options on consumer loans, and waived or refunded various operational fees. Many members were able to access relief through these emergency loans, and thousands took advantage of the opportunity to skip their loan payment, reducing immediate financial pressure to help with the burden during recovery. Through these efforts, SRP reaffirmed its commitment to standing by its community in times of need by providing nearly $13.6 million in relief to their members.

“SRP has always prioritized the needs of our members, especially in times of crisis,” said Eric Jenkins, CEO of SRP Federal Credit Union. “With so many affected by this disaster, our goal was to provide immediate, practical support to aid in their recovery. I am proud of how SRP has stepped forward to support our community through this challenging time.”

He continued, “We have witnessed a tremendous resilience among our team, members, and community. As the recovery progresses, SRP remains committed to supporting all as we rebuild and grow stronger together.”

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Rated one of only twenty-two credit unions nationwide with a top rating by Weiss Financial Ratings, SRP Federal Credit Union is headquartered in North Augusta, SC and provides financial services to more than 194,000 members. For more information on SRP Federal Credit Union, visit www.srpfcu.org.

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Augusta Technical College, in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta, proudly announces that SRP is the naming sponsor for Accelerate Augusta, the region’s newest small business incubator and microenterprise center.

SRP has made a significant multi-year commitment to support the project. As a result, the initiative will be referred to as “Accelerate Augusta Powered by SRP” for the next 10 years. SRP’s investment will provide furnishings and technology for the program, which will be headquartered at 600 Broad Street, as well as underwrite training programs for emerging businesses.

“SRP has long played a critical role in supporting businesses in the CSRA. We are delighted that they are committed to this hub for innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Jermaine Whirl, President of Augusta Technical College. “This is the first of a three-part partnership between the college and the credit union. We look forward to announcing additional projects within the next few months.”

Accelerate Augusta is poised to become a cornerstone for small business development, providing a dynamic space for entrepreneurs to thrive. Housed in the renovated I. M. Pei Building, situated in the heart of Downtown Augusta, the center will offer essential resources, mentorship, and opportunities for growth.

"Augusta Technical College is a driving force in the CSRA for enhancing workforce readiness and building economically stronger communities. Accelerate Augusta represents the next evolution of the college's ability to promote economic development by serving as a launching pad for entrepreneurs, startups and innovators. We are honored to forge a strategic partnership with Augusta Technical College on this initiative, which will have a generational impact on our communities," stated Eric Jenkins, CEO, SRP Federal Credit Union.

The search has begun for the founding director position, and renovations on 600 Broad Street will be completed by the end of the year.

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North Augusta, SC – SRP Federal Credit Union is pleased to announce the promotion of Mr. Ryan Trapp to the position of Director of Consumer Deposit Operations. Formerly serving as the Operations Manager, Mr. Trapp will now provide strategic leadership and oversight to the Consumer Account Services and Operations departments at SRP FCU. His responsibilities will include directing department activities to align with the credit union’s mission, strategic vision, and goals.

Mr. Trapp has been a dedicated member of the SRP team for eleven years, beginning his career as a Teller and advancing through roles such as Recovery Specialist, Accounting Supervisor, and Operations Manager. His extensive experience and deep understanding of SRP’s operations make him well-equipped to excel in this new leadership position.

A North Augusta native, Mr. Trapp holds a Bachelor of Science in Business and Accounting from the University of South Carolina Aiken. His promotion is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and commitment to both SRP and the communities it serves.

“During his tenure, he has served in various roles across the organization and contributed to or led many projects within our company,” states Andy Starcher, Vice President of Operations. “This promotion reflects Ryan’s work ethic, dedication, and contributions to the Operations area and SRP over the past eleven years.”

Rated one of only twenty-two credit unions nationwide with a top rating by Weiss Financial Ratings, SRP Federal Credit Union is headquartered in North Augusta, SC and provides financial services to more than 195,000 members. For more information on SRP Federal Credit Union, visit www.srpfcu.org.

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North Augusta, SC – The Carolinas Credit Union Foundation has named SRP Federal Credit Union winners of four prestigious credit union awards.

SRP was named first-place winner of the Louise A. Herring Philosophy-in-Action Award. This award is given for a credit union’s practical application of the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People” for internal programs and services that can benefit membership. The SRP entry was their Community Revitalization Project. This initiative worked with minority businesses and government agencies to provide low-income housing in communities in need of revitalization. It began with homes in the Laney Walker/Bethlehem area in Richmond County, Georgia, and was geared toward assisting combat and disabled veterans.

SRP’s Reality Fairs earned first place for the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award. Reality Fairs are interactive simulations aimed to teach students about the importance of budgeting. Students begin by receiving job titles along with salaries from which they need to budget their expenses. They then visit ten tables staffed by SRP team members representing various expenses such as housing, clothing, and technology. The students have the option to spend more or less on each item as long as at the conclusion of the exercise they remain within their allotted funds. The real-life scenario is an eye-opening experience for many students. At the end of 2023, SRP had held 22 Reality Fairs in 13 locations, reaching 1,884 students.

SRP received second place honors for the Dora Maxwell Social Responsibility Award. This award is presented to a credit union for its social responsibility projects which benefit the community. SRP was recognized for its collaboration with The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta (B&G Clubs). In 2023, SRP began a five-year financial commitment to the B&G Clubs which includes sponsoring a Family Connections Center that provides free internet connectivity, computers, and educational resources for B&G Clubs members. A “Club-on-the-Go” was also sponsored by SRP which is a mobile B&G Club where SRP team members can volunteer as it goes out to do financial literacy games. In addition, SRP purchased and assembled bicycles at Christmas for twenty-five children in need from various B&G Clubs throughout the CSRA.

SRP was recognized as the second-place winner of the Desjardins Adult Financial Education Awards for its dedication to small businesses. In 2023, SRP launched a significant initiative focused on business banking and supporting small business owners by expanding its financial services for business members, a focus that continues into 2024. SRP hosted numerous Small Business Seminars aimed at helping business owners enhance their financial knowledge and address other requested topics essential for business success. These well-attended seminars, covering subjects like tax information, business insurance, digital marketing, and government contracts, remain ongoing today.

“We are honored to be recognized with these four awards, especially knowing the great work other credit unions in our region are doing,” states Eric Jenkins, CEO of SRP Federal Credit Union. “SRP believes in the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People,” and we strive daily to make that happen. Whether you are a member-owner receiving service in one of our branches or a member of our community who has been touched in some way by our seminars, events, or volunteerism, SRP is here to help. Good things are happening at SRP!”

Rated one of only twenty-two credit unions nationwide with a top rating by Weiss Financial Ratings, SRP Federal Credit Union is headquartered in North Augusta, SC and provides financial services to more than 193,000 members. For more information on SRP Federal Credit Union, visit www.srpfcu.org.

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North Augusta, SC - SRP Federal Credit Union held a press conference yesterday to celebrate over $1,000,000 in donations to Aiken County High Schools through the SRP High School Affinity Debit Card Program.

The Affinity Debit Card Program began in 2018 to assist participating area high schools with funding. Each participating high school designs its own card, and every time the card is used, the school receives a donation. The schools are free to use the funds any way they wish. These funds have been useful in the counties we serve, where funding has been used for various needs like computers, team uniforms, teacher certifications, student incentives, and more. 

Dr. Corey Murphy, Superintendent of Aiken County Public Schools, spoke at the event, stating, “Never in my history as a public-school administrator have we had such a lucrative partnership with any other outside organization, and the amount of funds raised here in such a short period of time is just phenomenal! This is a very tangible and great partnership.”

Many of the Aiken County high school principals were also in attendance to show their appreciation of the unrestricted funds provided through the program. Mr. Sheldon Higgenbottom, principal of Midland Valley High School, discussed how his school has made use of the funds over the past few years stating they had been able to upgrade the facility with desks and whiteboards, buy band and athletic uniforms, provide professional development for staff, purchase signs and banners, purchase student welfare items and more. Since the money from the program is unrestricted, schools may purchase items they feel are needed.

Mr. Eric Jenkins, CEO of SRP Federal Credit Union, thanked those who have supported the Aiken County schools through the program. “Special thanks to the 16,433 SRP member-owners who have chosen an SRP High School Affinity Debit Card with an Aiken County high school logo on it. They are the individuals who performed the transactions that allowed this more than $1,000,000 in funds to be donated.”

“SRP FCU is committed to creating value for its member-owners and to enhancing the communities in which we are privileged to serve. So much so, that we write those priorities into our strategic initiatives. This more than $1 Million milestone is tangible, real-life proof of our commitment.”

Pictured (Left to Right):Dr. Corey Murphey, Superintendent of Aiken County Public Schools, Mr. Eric Jenkins, CEO, SRP Federal Credit Union