HANAMAULU — Monica Belz stood before a packed crowd Saturday at the Aqua Kauai Beach Resort and announced that the Kauai Government Employees Federal Credit Union will be opening a new branch in Kilauea later this year.
The new branch is planned as a result of member requests for a presence on the North Shore. Belz, who is the CEO and president of the credit union, made the announcement at the KGEFCU’s 72nd annual membership meeting, revealing the news before hundreds of members, their families and volunteer board members.
“This credit union is for Kauai, by Kauai, in Kauai, and we’re going to keep it that way,” Belz said. “Due to a lot of member demand and requests, we heard over and over again that everybody on the island from basically Kapahi all the way to Haena were saying, ‘we would love a credit union that’s closer than Lihue.’”
Belz said that KGEFCU decided they were going to be a pioneer and be the first credit union on the North Shore.
“We’re opening in 2019 a branch in Kilauea to help service everyone from the Eastside all the way to the north,” Belz said. “We’re trying for quarter four of 2019.”
Cyndi Ayonon, board chair, echoed Belz’s sentiment.
“Kauai government is expanding and moving our services out to the North Shore in response to a lot of requests from the community,” Ayonon said. ”Especially since the flooding from last year. We were the first responders as far as financial institutions offering loans to some of the families affected by the flooding.”
Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami gave a proclamation prior to Belz making the anticipated announcement, which will bring the first credit union to the North Shore.
Kawakami said he remembers seeing the big financial institutions being bailed out during the recession of 2008, but he remembers it was the credit unions, especially KGEFCU, who bailed out main streets.
“There’s no better, noble calling than to be a public servant,” Kawakami said to the numerous government employees at the business meeting. “To be a guardian and a steward of your home and to be able to serve our people. Every single day, the work that you do contributes to our island. It contributes to our economy, making a better place for our keiki and kupuna.”
Sean Kaley, KGEFCU board vice president, said the new branch is an opportunity for people on the north side who don’t have access to credit unions without going to Lihue.
“The annual meeting highlights the difference between a bank and a local credit union,” Kaley said. “Our members are able to come and participate in the leadership of the credit union and have a say in front of the board of directors and know who they are. It’s great that we have so many of our members who are willing to come out and participate.”
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Ryan Collins, county reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or rcollins@thegardenisland.com.
