Waynesville, NC – March 6, 2019 Mountain Credit Union now has six certified financial counselors on staff to assist members with their daily financial decisions that will help them achieve financial success.

Sarah Steadman, Branch Manager in Candler, NC and Melissa Cameron, Member Service Representative in Fletcher, NC are the two most recent staff members to receive their Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation. This certification is obtained through the Credit Union National Association, which is a trade association that advocates on behalf of all of America's credit unions.

Other staff with CCUFC designations include: Kim Wagner, Regional Manager in Franklin, NC; Tanya Haskett, Regional Manager in Waynesville, NC; Fadrian Merrell, Loan Officer in Waynesville, NC; and Chris Angel, Business Development Director. Mountain Credit Union plans to continue to add more counselors in the near future.

“These employees illustrate perfectly the credit union philosophy of ‘People Helping People,’” says President & CEO, Patty Idol. “Their efforts give credibility to our mission of being a financial partner to those in our communities who might need that extra push to begin their journey to financial freedom.”

A recent report by the Center for State & Local Government Excellence found that 54% of Americans don’t have enough money set aside to cover three months of unexpected expenses and 16% spend more than 20 hours a month worrying about personal financial issues while at work.

Members of Mountain Credit Union can schedule appointments with any of these counselors to receive assistance with budgeting, establishing a savings habit, reducing debt and maintaining a good credit score in preparation for a major purchase, such as buying a home or auto.

Mountain Credit Union currently has eight branch offices located throughout Western North Carolina and serves anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison and Swain Counties of North Carolina. For more information, please visit www.mountaincu.org