Listening to Susan Adams and David Harpe one gets the feeling that they really believe what they are saying: “We are here to help people!”
Adams, president and CEO of a credit union established in the 1970s to serve the staff and missionaries of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, and Harpe, employee of the IMB and chairman of the credit union board, are eager to tell their story.
In the 1990s the board made the decision to expand its services to include churches and other Christian groups in the Richmond area. Groups like the Richmond-area Habitat for Humanity and the Presbyterian Union Theological Seminary along with several Baptist churches have sought membership. Unlike a bank, a credit union's membership groups must be approved by regulators.
What makes Entrust Federal Credit Union different from other credit unions and banks? “We give back to missions,” affirms Adams. “Every time our credit union credit card is used for a purchase, we make a contribution to the Lottie Moon offering.” She continued, “Our members run the credit union out of their Christian values. Our concern is to make our members better stewards. I don't think any bank in the country is going to say that.”
Harpe continued the thought. “We understand. All our board members are members of local churches. We understand the polity of Baptist churches. We know how churches operate.”
Both Harpe and Adams grew up in Baptist churches and continue to be active church members. Harpe is a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
A not-for-profit credit union with $45.9 million in assets, about 40 percent of Entrust's 8,700 members are missionaries and family members who live in 130 different countries.
The needs of foreign missionaries have created unique kinds of challenges for Entrust. Missionaries can't, for example, drop by the credit union to make deposits or withdrawals. Consequently, Entrust was at the forefront of providing on-line services for their members.
Another challenge has affected their ability to communicate their mission. Some missionaries serve in very sensitive areas of the world. For that reason, Entrust, cooperating with the IMB, has not marketed itself as serving an exclusively Christian membership. Although the IMB has given its tentative approval for Entrust to develop a second web site that outlines its commitment to providing financial services for Christians, their web site currently mentions nothing of this.
Adams emphasizes that their purpose is not to suggest that banks and other credit unions do not provide excellent services. Those in the Richmond area who are interested, however, in their Christians-only membership may call (804) 353-8012 for information.