OCCU Will Donate Up To $10,000 Based On Stories Submitted By Members

OCCU turns 70 by asking members to help shape its next chapter of giving

Eugene, Oregon – Sept. 1, 2026 — When OCCU | Oregon Community Credit Union

opened its doors 70 years ago, it started with a simple idea: people helping people.

Founded in 1956 as U-Lane-O Credit Union, OCCU began as neighbors pooling

resources to support one another and build stronger communities. Seventy years later,

that same spirit is at the center of a summer-long campaign designed to give back to the people who helped shape OCCU's story.

This summer, OCCU is celebrating its 70th anniversary through 70 Days of Giving, a

branch-led effort that turns a milestone birthday into a community-wide act of gratitude.

From June through the fall, OCCU branches across Oregon are creating opportunities

for employees, members and community partners to participate in local acts of service,

generosity and connection.

Some branches are creating memorable experiences inside their locations. Branch

teams have decorated offices, shared snacks and drinks with visiting members and

found creative ways to make everyday interactions feel a little more personal.

At one branch, members were invited to create their own floral bouquets, transforming a routine trip to the credit union into a colorful and highly visual community event. Other branches have taken their efforts beyond the branch walls, developing local giving projects tailored to the unique needs of the communities they serve.

Those efforts range from community sponsorships and volunteer projects to school

support initiatives. In Bend, OCCU served as title sponsor for a Bend Elks baseball

game. OCCU volunteers gave away tickets to members and helped organize a raffle to

raise funds for The Giving Plate in Bend. In Springfield, employees are organizing a "70

School Supply Kits" project to give free school supplies to local students and families. In

September, employees from OCCU's Coburg branch will play baseball with residents of The Archer at Crescent Park retirement community.

The campaign also invites members to share stories about how OCCU has made a difference in their lives. For every story submitted online or in person, OCCU will donate $1 to OCCU Foundation, up to $10,000. Those funds will support local organizations and programs focused on health, education and basic needs throughout the communities OCCU serves. More importantly, the campaign creates a way for members to directly influence where the credit union's giving efforts go next by sharing the

stories, experiences and relationships that have defined OCCU's first seven decades.

The result is a story that goes beyond an anniversary celebration. It's about a financial

cooperative reflecting on its roots while investing in its future. At a time when people

increasingly want relationships with organizations that feel local, personal and purposedriven, OCCU's 70 Days of Giving demonstrates how a credit union can celebrate growth while remaining grounded in the values that inspired its founding 70 years ago.

About OCCU

OCCU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $3.5 billion in assets. The

credit union was founded in Eugene, Oregon in 1956. OCCU has an expanding network

of branches and digital tools to provide its more than 300,000 member-owners with a full suite of financial services. Membership is open to anyone living or working in most of Oregon, southwest Idaho and anywhere in Washington. Learn more at MyOCCU.org