News & Updates
Stronger Together: COVID-19 Updates
Update on IRS Economic Impact Payments
The AEA Team, along with the rest of the country, have been watching the news for updates on the second round of Economic Impact Payments, or stimulus payments. We know how important and vital these funds are for local families, our community, and you - our valued members. As eligible recipients await the stimulus payments, we found the following information from the IRS Economic Impact Payments Website very helpful:
- "The IRS emphasizes that there is no action required by eligible individuals to receive this second payment. Some Americans may see the direct deposit payments as pending or as provisional payments in their accounts before the official payment date of January 4, 2021. The IRS reminds taxpayers that the payments are automatic...As with the first round of payments under the CARES Act, most recipients will receive these payments by direct deposit."
- "For Social Security and other beneficiaries who received the first round of payments via Direct Express, they will receive this second payment the same way."
- "Anyone who received the first round of payments earlier this year but doesn’t receive a payment via direct deposit will generally receive a check or, in some instances, a debit card. For those in this category, the payments will conclude in January."
- To check the status of your payment, visit irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment
Branch Updates
The coronavirus (Covid-19) has become a part of our daily lives. It has affected our families, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. At AEA, we continue to be committed to doing what is best for the health and safety of our team, community, and you, our valued members.
Since the start of this pandemic, we have had eleven member-facing team members test positive for Covid-19 (listed below are instances from the past 90 days.) At first sign of contact or symptoms, our employees have been proactive in informing us of the situation and self-isolating. We then have been proactive in immediately informing employees who worked near them or had contact with them and in an abundance of caution, the Branch is deep cleaned, sanitized, and fogged.
- The week of October 26th, we received confirmation that a member-facing team member at our Central Branch tested positive for Covid-19. The employee was last in branch on October 23rd.
- The week of November 2nd, we received confirmation that a member-facing team member at our Central Branch tested positive for Covid-19. The employee was last in branch on October 27th.
- The week of November 16th, we received confirmation that a member-facing team member at our Central Branch tested positive for Covid-19. The employee was last in branch on November 13th.
- The week of November 30th, we received confirmation that a member-facing team member at our Central Branch tested positive for Covid-19. The employee was last in branch on November 20th.
- The week of January 18th, we received confirmation that a member-facing team member at our Central Branch tested positive for Covid-19. The employee was last in branch on January 13th.
We are committed to doing our part in stopping the spread of Covid-19 through the following efforts:
- Our branches, including all back-office areas, are thoroughly sanitized and deep cleaned on a nightly basis by a professional cleaning crew.
- Fogging is being done weekly at all Yuma County branches.
- Staff regularly sanitize and clean their areas throughout the day.
- We have installed glass partitions along teller windows and member service desks and social distancing markers along the floor.
- Staff and members at all Yuma County branches are required to wear face masks.
Remember, we are here for you. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please reach out to discuss your options with one of our experienced team members. As we work together to get through the coming months, we are grateful for the dedication of our team, strength of our community, and for you, our valued members - today and everyday.
AEA Recognized by the Healthy Arizona Worksite Program
AEA Federal Credit Union was recognized recently by the Healthy Arizona Worksite Program as achieving the Gold level of excellence in worksite wellness.
The Healthy Arizona Worksite Award recognizes employers that are making efforts to positively affect the health and well-being of their employees, their families and their community by implementing comprehensive worksite wellness strategies. The minimum qualifications to be considered for this award include attending the Healthy Arizona Worksite Program training and developing a plan to improve employee health and safety. To qualify for the Gold level of the award, employers need to support employee health through policy and systems changes.
AEA Federal Credit Union received this recognition by supporting employee health and engagement in a variety of ways. An internal ‘Wellness Team’ made up of employees from different areas of the credit union coordinate monthly wellness events for staff including hikes up Telegraph Pass, walks in the park, weight loss challenges, fruit in all break rooms, and more.
“We spend nearly half of our waking hours at work, so it’s important for us to provide a workplace that is committed to the health and well-being of our team,” said Adele Sandberg, President and CEO of AEA Federal Credit Union. “It is part of our workplace culture, it’s a “win-win” for AEA and the employees who participate, and we believe strongly in our strategic pillars, one of them being, ‘together be better.’”
The Healthy Arizona Worksites Program is a public health initiative offered by the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH). Its mission is to help employers learn how to successfully implement worksite wellness initiatives to improve the health of their employees and businesses. For more information, go to www.healthyazworksites.org.
Peter Barron Stark Companies Honors AEA Federal Credit Union for Workplace Excellence
August 2019 - AEA Federal Credit Union has received the “Award for Workplace Excellence” from Peter Barron Stark Companies (PBS). The award is based on the results of the PBS 2019 Employee Opinion Survey of AEA employees. The honor is awarded to exceptional organizations committed to a culture of workplace excellence and is limited to those that achieve an overall favorable response exceeding 80.0 percent on their Employee Opinion Survey. AEA Federal Credit Union joins other outstanding organizations who have received this honor.
The award recognizes workplace excellence based solely on actual employee feedback regarding a broad range of customized engagement and workplace factors. The survey process provides employees with an efficient way to provide feedback that is heard at all levels of the organization.
“Organizations who receive this award are focused on creating a culture of workplace excellence and see significant improvement not only in their organizational results but in the number of engaged employees as well,” said Peter Stark, President of Peter Barron Stark Companies. “We are thrilled to recognize the AEA Federal Credit Union leadership team in their dedication to growing an organization that values and appreciates its employee resources.”
Upon receiving the award, Adele Sandberg, President/CEO of AEA Federal Credit Union commented, “It is our goal to create an environment where employees love to come to work and feel valued. Receiving this award validates that we have a strong team comprised of exceptional employees committed to achieving high levels of performance.”
AEA Federal Credit Union Receives Bauer’s Top 5-Star Rating and is Named Best of the Best by MemberXP
April 2019 - BauerFinancial, Inc., the Nation’s Premier Bank and Credit Union Rating Firm based out of Coral Gables, Florida, salutes AEA Federal Credit Union, Yuma, Arizona for its financial excellence. AEA Federal Credit Union earned Bauer’s highest (5-Star) rating for financial strength and stability. This rating indicates that AEA Federal Credit Union excels in areas of capital adequacy, profitability, asset quality and much more.
“The People Helping People ideology that engenders credit unions”, observes Karen Dorway, president of BauerFinancial, “is alive and well. Credit unions base decisions on relationships, not just on numbers. We seem to be coming to a point where human interaction is regaining importance. Technology is an invaluable tool, but only when it enhances the member experience. AEA Federal Credit Union has never lost sight of that.”
AEA was also designated as one of 2019’s “best of the best” credit unions by MemberXP, a credit union member experience measurement platform. The MemberXP Best of the Best designation is awarded to credit unions that consistently provide exceptional levels of member service during a calendar year. This prestigious award is given to fewer than one in five of the high-performing credit unions using MemberXP’s service evaluation platform. A credit union cannot apply for this award. It is independently granted by MemberXP based on specific criteria including member service and ease of use.
“AEA Federal Credit Union’s top scores indicate a real commitment to doing what is right for members,” said Constance Anderson, founder of MemberXP. The MemberXP platform utilizes mystery shops and member surveys to gauge the overall member experience across multiple delivery channels and specific experiences such as getting a loan or opening a new account.
“Receiving the 5 Star Bauer rating and being recognized as Best of the Best by MemberXP is a testament to the efforts of our dedicated board of directors, leadership team and staff,” states Adele Sandberg, AEA’s President/CEO. “The future is bright at AEA and I am honored to be a part of such a great organization and team.”
