One of six office locations that serve Western North Carolina, Champion Credit Union’s Arden location is conveniently located for Biltmore Park residents at 2311 Hendersonville Road. “We have been part of the community for over 91 years,” says Noralynn Gudger, director of marketing. “We believe in passionately impacting our community, helping to make lives better today than they were yesterday.”

During a time when businesses were failing across the country, leaving employees in need of a safe place to save their money, a small paper mill in Canton, North Carolina, was thriving. In 1932, seven employees of Champion Paper Fiber Company joined together to create Champion Savings and Loan, known today as Champion Credit Union. “Champion Credit Union offers a full range of financial products and services for both personal and business accounts that help our members thrive in today’s economy,” Noralynn says.

“We are a financial institution, but we look at serving our members beyond their finances. We know the impact that finances have on someone’s entire life, so we want to be part of that journey, to allow our members and their families to experience more in life,” she says. “From basic finances to counseling, to volunteering and helping in times of need with our Member Relief Fund, we want members and their families to see us as a resource, as a partner and as friends.”

Noralynn encourages Biltmore Park residents to visit their Arden location or one of their other five locations. “Oftentimes, people are unsure if they can be part of a credit union,” she says. “We are proudly a community-chartered credit union and would love the opportunity to get to know the families more and show them the ways we can add value to their lives, and to the Biltmore Park community itself.”

Champion Credit Union loves contributing to the community and schools by volunteering, teaching financial literacy in classrooms and at local civics groups, and presenting its financial simulation to students and other groups. “We dedicate time throughout the year to volunteering with local nonprofits in our area, and we hold our annual Community CONNECT Week, where we partner with different organizations across WNC to empower our employees to volunteer their time and energy,” Noralynn says.

 

Champion Credit Union was proudly named to the Great Employers to Work For in North Carolina 2023 list and the Best Companies Group for the sixth year in a row. This year Champion Credit Union was ranked as one of the 2023 Best Credit Unions to Work For by American Banker.

“Champion Credit Union is only as good as the team who works for us,” Noralynn says. “We have some amazing employees who truly love our members, who love serving them and going alongside them not only in their financial journeys but in their lives.”

Go to www.championcu.com.