AMHERST, Mass.—UMassFive Credit Union is reporting early success with a charitable giving feature introduced as part of its upgraded digital banking platform, according to the Cooperative Credit Union Association.
The credit union launched the tool in October within its online and mobile banking systems, allowing members to donate directly to selected nonprofits through a transfers menu. UMassFive facilitates the transactions and distributes 100% of the donations to each featured organization at the end of its designated period, the CCUA explained.
The initiative is designed to make charitable giving more accessible while supporting vetted community organizations, the association said.
The Goal
“Our goal has always been to strengthen the communities we serve,” Craig Boivin, vice president of marketing at UMassFive, said in a statement released by the Cooperative Credit Union Association. “This feature offers a simple and secure way for our members to support organizations making a meaningful impact—right from their everyday banking experience.”
The first nonprofit featured through the program, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, received $1,985 in member donations from late October through the end of the year, supplementing the credit union’s existing support.
The Amherst Survival Center is currently featured through April, with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County scheduled to follow from May through August.
Nonprofits to Rotate
UMassFive said it plans to continue rotating nonprofit partners and incorporate member feedback into future selections.
“We’re excited to grow awareness of this donation option and deepen the connection between our members and the local organizations they care about,” Boivin said. “We want to ensure we’re uplifting the causes that matter most to the people we serve.”
