SpringFour Partner of the Month: Patelco

Empowering members by fueling opportunities for lifelong financial wellbeing.

When Joan visited her local Patelco branch, she was having a hard time. She had just lost her job, and with her finances stretched to the breaking point, she was hopeful the credit union would be willing to reverse some fees. 

As she told her story to the representative, Joan shared more details. She was experiencing food insecurity, she couldn’t pay her utility bills, and she was fighting discrimination from her former employer. The representative listened to her story, and then connected her with SpringFour. When she learned that there were vetted, trusted resources available to her to address all three of those issues, she was brought to tears. 

Joan’s story is just one of many examples of where Patelco and SpringFour have joined forces to deliver real-life impact to the credit union’s members. 

Serving members with consistency and financial strength

Patelco was formed in 1936 by a few employees at Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company (now AT&T). They had a dream, and with only $500 in assets, Patelco Credit Union was formed. A fixture in the Bay Area ever since, Patelco Credit Union is a full-service, not-for-profit financial cooperative dedicated to helping its members and communities prosper.

It has grown to over 550,000 members nationwide, and as one of the largest credit unions in the nation, it remains focused on its purpose: to fuel hope and create opportunities to build financial resiliency and wellbeing. 

Over the last few years, the credit union has seen its members grapple with a growing cost-of-living crisis. With that financial reality, Patelco is dedicated to supporting its members’ everyday needs to help them better manage their day-to-day financial lives while taking a path towards financial wellbeing. 

“The economy is struggling. People are struggling to pay their bills. And this is where our partnership with SpringFour has been so instrumental in how we serve our members,” said Jennifer Mink, Director of Member Experience and Financial Wellbeing at Patelco. “When we’re talking to our members about how we can support them during these ups and downs, we bring up SpringFour, and we get a lot of positive feedback about the resources.”

Turning financially challenged borrowers into confident repaying customers

As a credit union, Patelco is truly invested in members’ financial health, and is part of a growing trend in credit unions partnering with SpringFour. Yet the benefits reach far beyond its members. 

When people have the resources to reduce or keep up with their expenses, they can free up cash to pay down debts owed. Access to SpringFour results in a two- to ten-fold increase in customer repayment rates. It also equips credit union representatives with the tools they need to support members, with 96% of agents saying SpringFour helps them provide better service. 

“I’m a huge fan of SpringFour and love to sing its praises whenever I get the chance,” said Mink. “I sincerely appreciate our partnership and the positive impact we’re able to make together.”

Connecting members with practical help

Founded by members and member-owned to this day, Patelco focuses on benefitting its members where they need it most. After surveying its members, the credit union learned that people wanted to learn more about tackling debt, saving more, setting financial goals – both short- and long-term – and budgeting for major life changes. 

In response to that need, Patelco brought in SpringFour to give members support wherever they’re struggling. From food insecurity to problems paying utility bills, SpringFour provides a one-stop spot for Patelco members to get what they need. “I’m actively working to integrate SpringFour wherever possible, streamlining the process for our teams to refer it out and connect members with much-needed support,” said Mink.

The credit union spotlighted the partnership on its podcast, Small Talks for Big Change®, which aims to inspire and educate listeners on navigating the financial journey and achieving money goals. In the episode, Patelco shared realistic ways to save more money. 

And SpringFour’s new interface makes navigating the available options even easier. By entering their zip code, members are connected directly with local resources in their area for practical help with everyday expenses. The easily navigable, judgment free space provides more than 28,000 vetted, local nonprofit and government resources and counting. And resources are fluid, meaning as funding and other factors change, so do the resources delivered. Patelco members who don’t know where to begin or what questions to ask a banker have found SpringFour’s guides especially helpful in identifying what they don’t know.  

In 2025, SpringFour delivered nearly 8 million resource referrals to consumers, and with partners like Patelco, even more Americans will receive the support they need to repay their debts and regain peace of mind.