News & Updates

AVENIR FINANCIAL

News & Updates

 

Avenir Financial Donates New Digital Marquee to Somerton High School

April 25, 2024. Avenir Financial proudly announces the unveiling of a new digital marquee at Somerton High School. The new sign will serve as a vibrant welcome for visitors and locals alike to the brand-new high school, which opened in August 2023. 

The collaboration represents a significant milestone in Avenir Financial’s ongoing commitment to uplifting the communities we serve. “We have been proud members of the Somerton community for over thirty years. The addition of the new high school is monumental for the community, and we wanted to contribute something that would have a lasting impact,” stated Adele Sandberg, Avenir Financial’s President and CEO.

With its eye-catching design and strategic placement, the sign is informative, displaying current events for the school, and contributes to the aesthetic appeal of the surrounding area.

"Avenir Financial illuminates the path to success at Somerton High School with the generous donation of the state-of-the-art digital marquee sign,” stated Lucky Arvizo, Somerton High School Principal. “Supporting students is an example of their commitment to the community, and we are truly grateful for their invaluable contributions."

A ribbon cutting ceremony unveiling the sign was held on Thursday, April 25th. School officials, Somerton High School student council, local dignitaries, and Avenir Financial representatives were in attendance.

 

AEA Federal Credit Union is Now Avenir Financial

January 10, 2024. In late December 2023, we shared the exciting news of a change on the horizon: that we will be adopting a new name to better reflect who we are and our growing membership. We are excited to announce our new name and give you more information about what is ahead. On January 16, 2024, we enthusiastically opened our doors as:

Avenir is a name full of promise and energy. The new name reflects our longstanding passion for helping each of our members meet and exceed their financial goals. It reflects our deep roots in the communities we serve. It is also optimistic and actively reaching for the future, just like we are.

As Avenir Financial, we are committed to uplifting families toward their American dream – the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to anyone, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved. We remain focused on building relationships because people are at the heart of everything we do. We will continue to be curious so we can learn and uncover opportunities that make lasting impacts on our members’ lives and the communities we serve. We are honored to be your financial institution.

On behalf of our staff and volunteer Board of Directors, we appreciate your membership and look forward to serving you as Avenir Financial for years to come.

Please take a moment to read the Q&A, stop by our branch, or give us a call at (928) 783-8881 with any questions or concerns regarding the change.

 

Avenir Financial Awarded Best Consumer Loan Experience for 2024 

February 13, 2024. Avenir Financial has been recognized as a recipient of the 2024 Best of the Best award, a prestigious accolade presented by MemberXP, a leading CX program offered through CU Solutions Group. This distinguished award is an annual acknowledgment given to credit unions that consistently excel in delivering exceptional service.

In 2023, over 300,000 MemberXP surveys were strategically deployed nationwide among nearly 8 million credit union members, spanning all 50 U.S. states, and extending into Canada. Custom questions were triggered by relevant member engagements and designed to capture insights spanning a diverse range of financial interactions, from account openings to loan applications. The annual competition focuses on two universal CX metrics – Net Promoter Score (NPS)^® and Member Effort Score (MES), meticulously identifying and verifying the top 25% of performers in each financial experience category, leading to the presentation of the Best of the Best awards. Avenir Financial stands among this elite group, exemplifying excellence in member satisfaction and service delivery."

We are delighted that our members took the time to share their feedback on our service,” stated Adele Sandberg, Avenir Financial President and CEO. “As a member-owned financial institution, this recognition illustrates our dedication to supporting the needs of our members and the communities we serve.”

"Fostering member loyalty amidst growing competition from financial institutions and Fintechs is a formidable challenge,” affirmed David Dean, COO for CU Solutions Group and leader of the MemberXP business unit. “However, credit unions that successfully engage members and harness their valuable insights not only distinguish themselves, but also wield the power to catalyze positive change within the organization. The recipients of this award attentively listened to the needs and desires of their members and took decisive actions based on that feedback, leading to remarkable results. Congratulations to this year's member experience leaders."

AEA Federal Credit Union Announces Agreement to Acquire West Valley National Bank

November 1, 2023. A.E.A. Federal Credit Union (“AEA”), headquartered in Yuma, Arizona, has entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with West Valley National Bank, headquartered in Goodyear, Arizona, and its parent holding company, West Valley Bancorp, Inc. (“West Valley Bancorp”). Pursuant to the agreement, AEA will purchase substantially all assets and assume substantially all liabilities of West Valley National Bank.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both institutions. Following the completion of the transaction, West Valley National Bank and West Valley Bancorp will each dissolve and liquidate, and all remaining assets will be distributed to West Valley Bancorp’s shareholders. When the transaction is finalized, the combined institution will have approximately $456 million in assets, and AEA will have seven branches in Arizona and one branch in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The acquisition is part of AEA’s strategy to expand its footprint in the Phoenix, Arizona region and into Nevada, diversify its assets, and add additional talent and expertise. West Valley National Bank customers who become members of AEA will have full access to all of AEA’s expansive product and service offerings.

Adele M. Sandberg, President and CEO of AEA, said “This partnership with West Valley National Bank and its customers will expand our footprint into the Phoenix, Arizona region and also add a presence in Las Vegas, Nevada. Our goal as a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) is to serve the underserved, and by expanding our footprint eastward into Arizona through this acquisition, we can do so more expediently.”

Ronald T. Evans, Jr., President and CEO of West Valley National Bank and West Valley Bancorp, said “We believe this is an exciting moment for West Valley National Bank. This transaction allows West Valley National Bank employees to join together with AEA employees in a shared commitment to deliver quality community-focused financial services and expertise to our collective customers throughout the communities we serve, and allows us to leverage our collective strengths and resources to deliver such services.”

The transaction is anticipated to be completed in the late second quarter of 2024 subject to receiving all required regulatory approvals, approval from the shareholders of West Valley Bancorp, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions.

AEA was advised by Luse Gorman, PC as legal counsel. West Valley Bancorp and West Valley National Bank were advised by Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP and the Parker Law Team, PLLC as legal counsel.

About West Valley Bancorp and West Valley National Bank

West Valley Bancorp has served as the bank holding company of West Valley National Bank since the bank’s inception in 2006. Serving the State of Arizona and Clarke County, Nevada, West Valley National Bank is one of a few locally-owned and operated community banks, which was founded by local leaders for the purpose of fulfilling the banking needs of the local community. West Valley National Bank conducts its business from its headquarter in Goodyear, Arizona and its three full-service branches in Gila Bend, Arizona, Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. West Valley National Bank has approximately $80.6 million in assets. For more information, visit https://www.wvnb.net.

Forward Looking Statements. Certain statements in this news release contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to future plans and expectations, and are thus prospective. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, such as the businesses of AEA and West Valley National Bank may not be integrated successfully or such integration may take longer to accomplish than expected, the expected cost savings and any revenue synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized within the expected timeframes, disruption from the transaction may make it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, associates, or suppliers, the required regulatory approvals of the transaction may not be obtained on the proposed terms and schedule, or West Valley Bancorp shareholders may not approve the transaction, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate. Therefore, we can give no assurance that the results contemplated in the forward-looking statements will be realized. The inclusion of this forward-looking information should not be construed as a representation by AEA and West Valley National Bank or any person acting on their behalf that the future events, plans, or expectations contemplated by AEA and West Valley National Bank will be achieved. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning AEA and West Valley National Bank or any person acting on their behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by the cautionary statements above. None of AEA, West Valley National Bank or West Valley Bancorp undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.