Brian McKay

President & CEO

I RECENTLY ASKED TEAM SPERO to share one word that they would use to describe 2022. Their responses included grateful, productive, collaborative, accomplished — just to name a few. My response? Proud!

Amongst all that was accomplished in 2022, I am most proud of Team Spero’s relentless commitment to improving the financial lives of our members. The 2022 economic environment brought financial hardship to many of us due to rising costs of everyday items. We know that these rising costs have created new financial challenges for many of you. We stand ready to help with competitive loan rates and flexible deposit offerings. We appreciate your continued trust in us. We are honored to serve you.

I am also proud of how Team Spero continues to deliver excellence in Digital Experience, Personalized Service, and Community Impact for our members.

In 2022, we did this by launching digital account opening, designed to provide our members with a frictionless digital experience. Within Online Banking, you can now select “Add New Account” to open a checking account, savings account, money market, or certificate within minutes - all from the comfort of your home. In 2023, we plan to roll out the same experience for Spero loan products.

2022 also brought the launch of 11 new TellerLink machines throughout our branches. We converted our Spartanburg, Verdae, and Anderson Highway 81 branch drive-thrus to TellerLink. This transformation provides time-saving convenience to our members paired with the personalized service you deserve. Members conducted over 27,000 TellerLink transactions in 2022! If you haven’t used it yet, I encourage you to do so. We’ve even extended our hours so you can speak to a teller from 7:30 AM until 6:00 PM MondayFriday.

Speaking of our branches, we continue to make great strides in transforming our branches into relationship centers. Our goal is simple: to create a comfortable environment where you, our members, can discuss your financial goals with us, and we can help you achieve them. In 2022, 17 members of Team Spero completed a rigorous financial counselor certification program through the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) - with more scheduled to complete it in 2023. We know our members come from all walks of life, some flourishing financially, with others barely surviving. No matter your situation, we are here to provide financial hope for you.

And lastly, I am proud of Team Spero’s commitment to making our communities greater places to live, work, and play! Last year, our staff spent 648 cumulative hours volunteering in our communities. As an organization, we donated over $200,000 to local non-profits to support their efforts. As we move into 2023, we’ll continue to provide HOPE by combating hunger, elevating opportunity, supporting affordable-housing efforts, and providing financial education to our neighbors.

I am grateful to Team Spero and how they work together daily to improve the lives of our members and communities. I am grateful for our Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee, as they guide the strategic direction of our Credit Union and serve as the voice for our members. I am grateful for you, our members, for your continued trust and loyalty in us.

I appreciate you.