Checkpoint Magazine - Spring 2024

WINTER 2024

A Hometown Original Since 1935 THE SPERO STORY

Serving South Carolina for More Than 85 Years

Refresh Your Finances

The Pink Walk

Supporting a Loved One Through Money Challenges

CONTACT

LOCATIONS Anderson 1720 North Main Street Anderson, SC 29621 1434 Pearman Dairy Road Anderson, SC 29625 100 Hanna Crossing Anderson, SC 29621

Columbia 1025 Pulaski Street Columbia, SC 29201

Corporate Office & Support Center 420 E. Park Avenue, Ste. 100 Greenville, SC 29601

Easley 118 Brushy Creek Road Easley, SC 29642

Five Forks 117 Batesville Road, Ste. 200

24/7/365 SERVICE

Simpsonville, SC 29681

Member Solutions Center Greenville: 864.232.5553 Nationwide: 800.922.0446

Mills Avenue 300 Mills Avenue Greenville, SC 29605

Spartanburg

MONEYLINKSM Online at www.spero.financial

MONEYLINKSM Audio Response Greenville: 864.232.3645 Nationwide: 800.633.4364

To locate an ATM near you, visit www.spero.financial

130 North Town Drive Spartanburg, SC 29303

FIND US ONLINE

Taylors 3237 Wade Hampton Boulevard Taylors, SC 29687

Verdae

/MySperoFi @MySperoFi @MySperoFi

601 Verdae Boulevard Greenville, SC 29607

www.spero.financial

In This Issue 3 5 6

Letter from the President

Community & Events Employee Spotlight: RONICKA CRAIG

8

Feature: THE SPERO STORY: HOMETOWN CREDIT UNION SINCE 1935

11

Money Matters: REFRESH YOUR FINANCES

14

Our Community: THE PINK WALK

16

Lifestyle: SUPPORTING A LOVED ONE THROUGH MONEY CHALLENGES

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Contents of this publication, including images, may not be reproduced without written consent from the publisher.

Published for Spero Financial by The Brand Leader.

Financial Refresh

FINANCIAL REFRESH

New Year.

New Financial You.

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Forget the new year’s resolutions (that’s so 2010s)! Instead, take a look at the money habits you already have established and give them a refresh to meet your current needs and goals.

And don’t forget, you’re not in this alone.

We’re here to help you every step of the way!

Talk with us today and explore the free financial resources available to you! spero.financial/Financial-Education

Ronicka C. Branch Manager and Member Since 2009

Letter from the President Brian McKay P R E S I DE N T

Dear Members, The new year brings excitement and anticipation for what’s to come, and I’m looking forward to sharing all we have planned for you in 2024!

Since 1935, Spero Financial has been helping our members achieve their financial hopes and goals. That purpose remains today, as we continue to focus on meeting the unique needs of our members. We are constantly working to provide the solutions and support you need most because that’s what you deserve. And we have a lot in store for the year ahead!

With its meaningful connections and unwavering support, our community is at the heart of everything we do. We are grateful for every member of the Spero family because, even though our financial journeys are all different, we’re always there to make sure nobody walks their path alone.

As we venture into this new year together, we want you to know that we are here to support you in your financial goals. This is the perfect time to look at your finances. If you’re looking for some ideas to help you get started, turn to page 11 for ways to refresh your finances in the new year.

Looking back on last year, it’s clear that we have so much to be thankful for. I feel excited and hopeful for all that this year has to offer, and I look forward to walking through it together.

I appreciate you!

That sense of community is a strategic pillar for our organization. For our members, volunteers, and teammates, “community” extends beyond our branches and into the neighborhoods we serve. It involves inspiring and nurturing financial hope to make the places we live, work, and play better for everyone. Turn to page 6 to hear from Branch Manager Ronicka about how community is at the heart of how we serve our members.

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TellerLink is real service, real Spero Team Members, and really convenient.

A common myth is that TellerLink is AI technology.

Myth Busted!

With TellerLink, you get personal connections, round-the-clock convenience, and expanded member services without ever having to step foot inside a branch. TellerLink is more than just a screen — it’s real Spero employees providing real service. So, you can enjoy convenience while still building meaningful connections with your local Spero Team.

Give TellerLink a try today! spero.financial/TellerLink

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Community & Events D O R A M AX W E L L AWA R D Spero Financial was recently named the first-place recipient of three statewide Credit Union National Association awards, including the Dora Maxwell Award for community service, the Alphonse Desjardins Youth Financial Award for youth financial education efforts, and the Louise Herring Philosophy in Action Member Service Award for our certified financial counselor program. The awards gala will be held on February 7th.

ROBERT WILSON Join us in congratulating Spero’s Senior Leadership Advisor & Community Advocate Robert Wilson for being the recipient of the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Robert is a 30-year veteran of the credit union movement and has a strong legacy as a valuable community resource in the Anderson community.

Holiday Closures

January 15

February 19

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

PRESIDENTS ' DAY

How would you like $3,000 in scholarship money?

If you’re a Spero member pursuing a college degree, apply for the Louis C. Addison College Scholarship by February 1st.

You can apply at spero.financial/college-scholarship

5

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Employee Spotlight

Ronicka Craig BRANCH MANAGER AND MEMBER SINCE 2009

E M P LOY E E S POT LIGH T

M

eet Ronicka, the Branch Manager at our Pearman Dairy location in Anderson, South Carolina. A native of Anderson, Ronicka loves her hometown community, and that love inspires her to serve her members and find financial solutions for each person who walks through the doors of her branch.

That same love for community drives our organization’s mission of improving the financial lives of the members we serve. Ronicka brings a special light to Team Spero, one that emanates a deep devotion to the city of Anderson. Continue reading to learn more about Ronicka and how her love for her community reflects our commitment to the Spero community as a whole.

A Hometown Girl

have that connection. When they talk to me about what is happening in their personal life, I really understand what’s happening because I know them.”

It isn’t just product knowledge or certifications that equip Ronicka to serve; it’s her involvement and desire to know each member on a personal level that sets her apart. This same care for our members is what drives us, as an organization, to improve the financial lives of the members we serve — something we’ve been doing for over 85 years.

Ronicka shared a story of one member she’s had the privilege of walking through life with as he moved from high school to adulthood. Ronicka said, “I have one member who I serve, somebody I watched go from a high school student to a young man. I was able to walk alongside him in that process, and through it all, he knew that if he had questions, he could call me.”

A wife, mom, and manager, Ronicka’s hometown roots run deep in Anderson, where she cares for her family, supports her Spero members, and serves the greater This sense of partnership highlights the credit community as a board member for Anderson Interfaith union difference. When Ministries. While her heart members come into the for the community shines branch, we know that through these avenues, Our members are a part of a credit everyone is unique. We her love and concern for union that wants to see them succeed all come from different the people around her backgrounds. We all carry and thrive.

We’re all working together to motivates Ronicka to serve individual experiences. her community however get them where they want to be.”

We’re all in different she can. stages of life. We all have A Primary Piece to the Puzzle different goals. And we all have different approaches As she describes it, Spero is one of the main to reaching them. Our financial lives are personal pieces to the puzzle of Ronicka’s involvement in and often complex, and it’s this realization that her community. While it is not the only way she gives Ronicka and her team the opportunity to offer contributes to the lives of those around her, it is the personalized service each member deserves. one of the biggest opportunities she has to interact When this happens, a branch visit is no longer a with community members and impact their lives transactional exchange but a discussion with someone in a positive way. As Branch Manager, Ronicka has willing to be a partner on your financial journey. the unique opportunity to influence the financial The success of our members defines our collective lives of the members who reach out for guidance or success as an organization. Ronicka and the whole support. While many banks and financial counselors Spero team believe this, and we are driven by the offer products, services, and financial education, desire to see every person succeed. In fact, Ronicka Ronicka’s caring approach truly puts the member said it best, “Our members are part of a credit union first. Everything she does comes from the innate that wants to see them succeed and thrive. We’re all desire to be there for them and walk alongside them working together to get them where they want to be.” through their financial journey.

As she shared about her care for her community, Ronicka said, “I know so many of my members. We

Let’s move forward, together. Because when we do so, we will reach new heights.

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1935 Our story begins in our hometown of Greenville, South Carolina, on May 17, 1935. In the parking lot of Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Company, nineteen employees — led by William Wirt Stover — began making trades from the trunks of their cars. With these initial exchanges, Greenville Telco Federal Credit Union was born. With the purpose of promoting thrift among its members by giving them the opportunity to accumulate their savings and offering more affordable loans, the pioneers of our organization sought to emulate the credit union cooperative spirit — “people helping people.” Our first year ended with $5,000 in assets.

Growth in our first 25 years was slow. But in 1959,

The Spero Story

Hometown Credit Union Since 1935 For over 85 years, we have devoted ourselves to improving the financial lives of the members we serve. While a lot has changed over the years — from mergers and name changes to new logos and locations — our mission has never wavered.

At the center of this mission is our heart for community, where our roots and legacy run deep.

Let’s look back to see how it all started.

leaders of the organization voted to expand our membership to include the employees of American Telephone & Telegraph. This monumental expansion led to a name change, becoming South Carolina Telco Employees Federal Credit Union, and much growth, resulting in $600,000 in assets by the end of 1962.

1966 Growth continued into 1966 as we expanded our membership to all employees across South Carolina and opened branches in Columbia and Charleston a year later. That same year, our founding father,

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F E AT U RE

Mr. Stover, retired from the credit union due to poor health, leaving the organization with 1,490 members and $1.5 million in assets.

In the next few years, we opened a new location in Florence and reached $3 million in assets. In 1974, along with other South Carolina credit unions, we became federally insured by the National Credit

1980-2020

Union Administration.

In the years that followed, the credit union experienced tremendous asset growth, national recognition, partnership with local credit unions, additional location openings, and new adventures. As our organization reached new heights, we knew our brand needed to reflect that growth.

1977 As we continued to grow, so did our ability to serve more people. Now able to offer more financial services, we expanded our membership to all individuals living throughout the markets we currently serve. With our statewide reach, we became SC Telco

2021

Federal Credit Union in 1977.

When we joined with Anderson Federal Credit Union in early 2021, we decided to mark this new growth with a name to carry us forward — Spero Financial.

Inspired by our deep roots throughout South Carolina, our name reflects our proud history and hopeful future.

1979

What began in a parking lot over 85 years ago has grown into a $700 million credit union with ten

Our desire to improve financial lives acted as the catalyst for innovation. In 1979, we offered our first share certificate of deposit. A year later, we piloted a checking account offering a 5.50% APR. In 1984, we launched the Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

Six years later, we introduced MoneyLink Online

locations throughout our great state. But just as in our beginning, the power of community remains at the center of everything we do. As we continue to help our members and neighbors soar financially, we know that our communities will become greater places to live, work, and play.

Banking and gave our members 24/7 access to manage their funds. Many of these products and services are still in place today, though they have

To explore more of our story and the values we hold fast,

evolved significantly from their early days.

visit spero.financial/our-story 9

D I G I TA L WA L L E T

Goodbye Wallet.

Hello Convenience.

Add your Spero credit and debit card to your phone’s digital wallet to make purchases anytime, anywhere! It’s tap and go convenience with an added layer of security.

Get started today! spero.financial/Digital-Wallet

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MONE Y MAT T E RS

5 Ways To Refresh Your Finances in 2024 We all want to start the new year strong, and a successful year is often marked by financial success. Whether you’re looking to break free from debt, boost your savings, or make long-held dreams a reality, creating a new financial plan could be the key to unlocking that success. As we step into the new year, here are a few ways you can refresh your finances to get — and stay — on the right track.

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M O NEY MATTERS

Review what worked and what didn’t.

Before we look ahead into the new year, it’s worth looking back at the previous one to determine how your financial habits played out. Were the goals you set realistic? Was your approach to budgeting effective? How were your savings? If things worked well — great! Carry those practices over into the new year. But if things didn’t go the way you’d hoped, evaluate what went wrong and determine how to make changes going forward.

Have an accountability partner.

Whether you’re working on physical fitness or financial health, having someone else working toward the same thing can improve your motivation and help you reach your goals. An accountability partner can help you stay on track and offer encouragement if you hit a rough patch. When things get tough, it’s nice to have someone there to pick you up so you can keep going.

Start small and celebrate often!

Did you set a financial goal last year that you were unable to reach? Instead of feeling discouraged, try a different approach to reaching your goal in the new year. Take small steps, and reward yourself as you reach each one. Success isn’t just when you reach your goal — it’s found in every step of progress along the journey.

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MONE Y MAT T E RS

Take a money inventory.

It’s always nice to start the year knowing where your money is going. Looking for an easy place to start? Take a look at any subscriptions or automatic payments to see if there are any you can cancel. This review is helpful because it’s possible you’re making payments each month without even realizing it. Keeping a finger on your financial pulse ensures you can always track where you’re spending your hard-earned money.

Remember your “why.”

Why do you want to refresh your finances? A clear understanding of your “why” provides excellent motivation and makes it easier to continue working toward your goals. If you need a little extra help to stay on track, consider downloading a goal tracker to map your milestones and track your progress.

ON YOUR FINANCIAL JOURNEY, staying focused on your goals is critical. Financial success won’t happen overnight, but the steps above are a great way to start. Your financial goals and definition of success are bound to change over time, so it’s helpful to refresh and reevaluate your finances going into the new year. Now, let’s make this the best year yet!

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C O N N E C T I O N TO C O M M U N I T Y

The Pink Walk “This is something we can do together.”

- Kay Yow

L

ast October, Spero Financial partnered with Anderson University Athletics and AnMed Health to host the Pink Walk — an event that brings communities together across the Upstate of South Carolina to increase awareness for all cancers, honor those who have battled cancer, and raise funds for an organization

devoted to fighting all cancers affecting women.

The Pink Walk joins people across age groups, backgrounds, communities, and walks of life and unites them in one mission — the fight against cancer. This event represents Spero’s mission of providing hope to our members, and it upholds the credit union’s values of “People Helping People” and making our communities better places to live, work, and play.

Continue reading to learn why the Pink Walk is more than just a charity walk — it’s an uplifting event that weaves a community together.

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O U R C O M M U N I T Y: C O M M U NIT Y IN AC T ION

What is the Impact of the Pink Walk?

While the impact of the Pink Walk is unique to each individual who attends, we believe there are a few ways the community event makes a difference.

What is the Pink Walk?

1. It unites the community.

The Pink Walk is an annual event led by Spero

The Pink Walk is powerful because of

Financial, AnMed Health, and Anderson University.

the people who are part of it. Whether

It is only made possible by the countless

volunteering at the event, sharing

organizations and volunteers who work to make it

their story, walking in the event, or

happen. Held each year in October, the Pink Walk

donating monetarily — each person’s

has always focused on raising awareness in the

participation propels the event and

fight against cancer and honoring those who have

promotes its purpose of uniting in the

fought their own battle.

fight against cancer.

While the Pink Walk continues to grow and evolve,

As Kay Yow says, “This is something we

it has always consisted of a 2.5-mile walk. What

can do together!”

started three years ago in the parking lot of Spero Financial’s headquarters with 50 employees

2. It raises awareness for a fight that

and their families has now grown to nearly 300

impacts us all in one way or another.

community members walking the track on Spero Financial Field at Anderson University.

Cancer impacts everyone — whether it’s a personal diagnosis or that of a family member or friend, we’ve all been affected by cancer in some way.

While this fact is sobering, it ignites us all in the fight against it. The Pink Walk remembers those who have fought, honors those who are fighting, and celebrates those who have won their fight.

The Connection to Community

3. It’s personal.

While the Pink Walk is impactful

As a hyperlocal event, the Pink Walk brings

in many ways, one of the most

three local organizations together to support one

incredible aspects of the event is each

cause. With Anderson University’s long-standing

participant's personal connection. As

ties to the community, AnMed’s deep devotion

each participant registers for the walk,

to providing care to those in Anderson County

they are asked to share the story of

and beyond, and Spero Financial’s commitment

the person(s) they would like to honor

to improving the financial lives of our members,

or remember. This simple step sets

this group represents more than 300 years of

the tone for an event full of personal

combined service to the Anderson community.

reflection and meaningfulness.

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Supporting a Loved One Through Money Challenges

It's no surprise that money is a part of our daily lives. But many of us feel uncomfortable talking about money. It's personal. And it becomes even more personal when a loved one or close friend shares about their financial hardships with us. We want to help but don't want to overstep. We wonder if they will ask us to lend them money, but is that the right thing to do? Do they want our true opinion, or do they simply want us to be a sounding board?

If you've experienced this, you are not alone. During financial hardships, the first place many people turn is to their family or close friends. Here are some things to consider if you ever find yourself in this situation:

RESPECT THEIR BOUNDARIES. When a loved one shares their money challenges, one of the best things we can do for them is to simply listen. Don’t judge their circumstances or try to determine whether they have control over them or not.

It’s important for us to put ourselves in their shoes, remembering that it can be isolating and shameful, amongst an array of other things, walking through financial hardship. Sharing a personal struggle with someone you love can be empowering and an outlet for hope. Creating a judgment-free zone puts us on the same level and helps no one feel looked down on.

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LIF E ST Y LE

Next, we should ask how to support them best.

At Spero Financial, we provide financial wellness

Would they like you to simply listen, be there for

resources to help you and your loved ones stay on

them, or offer advice from their perspective? While

track to financial success. In joining efforts with

it may be tempting, we should always think twice

GreenPath, we offer financial coaching to point

before inserting our own opinion.

members in the right direction. We also have

Think about your relationship with the individual and consider whether offering advice or

educational resources to provide helpful guidance and advice in times of trouble.

instructions in that situation would be beneficial. If you’ve been through similar challenges, it may help to share some of your personal experiences and how you overcame them.

TO LEND OR NOT TO LEND? As we noted in the beginning, money is personal.

So, it’s not our place to tell you what to do or not do when a loved one asks you to lend them money. Here

EVALUATE YOUR OPTIONS. Supporting a loved one comes in many forms. One example could be acts of service. As your loved one focuses on overcoming financial hardship, they may not have enough time or energy to focus on other day-to-day tasks. You can support them by cooking them meals, cleaning their house, or completing various chores. If they need childcare while they work, you could offer to babysit for free.

are some questions to consider when determining if it’s right for you: ⋅ Are you financially able to lend them money? ⋅ Will it solve an immediate need or a long-term goal? ⋅ Is it a repetitive ask or a one-time thing? ⋅ Is lending the right thing to do, or would giving be a better option?

But before you do anything, evaluate your own

⋅ If it’s a loan and you decided on the terms, how will

situation to determine how you can be the most

it impact your current relationship if your loved one

helpful. While we may want to help, we may not

does not uphold their obligation?

always be the best person to help.

EQUIP THEM WITH RESOURCES.

No one should have to walk through financial hardships alone. We’re here to ensure that

In addition to listening and offering support, we

your loved ones get the support they need

can point our loved ones toward helpful tools and

to come out the other side more financially

resources. Whether it’s connecting them with a

secure. And we’re here for you, too! If we can

financial advisor or helping them find a budgeting app, there are countless resources available to

ever be of assistance, please reach out.

alleviate financial burdens.

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PO Box 10708 Greenville, SC 29603 www.spero.financial