For the third consecutive year, the Credit Union Journal and Best Companies Group have identified Ascend Federal Credit Union as one of the “Best Credit Unions to Work For.”
According to Ascend Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Peggy Stubblefield, the credit union is considered a best place to work for several reasons.
“As a company that prides itself on employee growth, we look internally first when positions become available at the credit union,” she said. “Thirty-eight percent of our open positions are filled by promotion. Also, Ascend has a proud history of paying a livable way. In 2017, our wages were at least 31 percent above the minimum wage in Tennessee.”
Under Ascend’s group health plan, 100 percent of the employee’s health insurance premium is covered by the credit union. Eighty-eight percent of the credit union’s employees have health insurance sponsored by Ascend.
“Our 401(k) match is also well above average,” Stubblefield said. “By the fifth year of participation in the plan, Ascend matches 100 percent of an employee’s contribution, up to a maximum of 10 percent.”
Stubblefield said other factors that make Ascend a top employer include an annual picnic for employees and their families; offering employee opportunities to support community fundraising efforts; wellness initiatives; 10 paid holidays through the year; tuition assistance; and monthly accrual of vacation and sick time.
With more than $2 billion in assets and more than 197,000 members, Ascend is the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee and one of the largest federally chartered credit unions in the United States. The National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU) selected Ascend as the 2015 Federal Credit Union of the Year. Ascend is federally insured by NCUA.
