Teammate Times

Last updated: 4/29/2026

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March was another good month. Here’s how we look ¼ of the way through the year…

ROA – Goal .73% or more (Independent of the Bonus Accrual)

The Net Income for March was not bad considering we had a pretty high month of Provision for Loan Loss expense ($151K). March was the lowest month for Net Income so far. It was $190,600 which gives us $664,000 already this year. This projects to an ROA of .86%. This did come down from last month because we earned less than we had in the first two months but we’re still projecting well above the goal.

Delinquency – Goal 1.00%(avg) or less

March delinquency jumped up a little from February. The ratio for the month was .77%. ($1.93M of DQ loan balances divided by total loans of $249.2M). Since the rate for the month was just about the average through February, our average through 3 months remained at .75%.

Charge Offs – Goal .50% or less

Charge-offs were higher than our average so far this year. We charged-off $83,000. Our average month is $77,000. Recoveries were a bit lower than average ($12,700 versus the avg. of $19,500). Since the net c/o amount was higher than normal, our ratio did increase from .25% to .28%. Still in very good shape though.

Net Operating Expense ratio – Goal 2.79% or less (Independent of the Bonus Accrual)

We had a slight improvement in the ratio; it came down from 2.74% to 2.73%. There really wasn’t anything that took place in March that moved the ratio one way or the other. Pretty stable activity and very close to budget.

Loan Growth – Goal 3.00% or more

We had another good month of loan volume. We disbursed 220 loans for $8.3M which led to an increase in balances of $625K from the end of February. We grew a little in Second Mortgages but most of the volume was in participation loans again. That category grew $2.1M. If not for that business, we would not have grown as both direct and indirect vehicle lending has been a struggle. We are doing some but the amount of paydowns and payoffs is more than the amount of new loans. The growth in March puts us at 1.18% so far this year.

Loan/Share – Goal 78.00% or more

Share balances decreased $1M in March and that coupled with the loan growth of $625K, our Loan/Share ratio increased to 78.19%. This puts us above the goal for now but, keep in mind, shares will fluctuate from month to month because of how the calendar falls, so we could bounce between being above and below the goal many times this year.

Thanks, John.

Later this month, on May 29th, it’s National 529 Day! This is a great reminder to think about one of the most powerful tools available for saving for education costs. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings account specifically designed for education expenses. Contributions grow tax-free, and withdrawals used for qualified expenses like tuition, room and board, and textbooks are also tax-free. Many states, including Ohio, even offer a state income tax deduction for contributions which makes it an even better deal for local families.

You don’t need to be wealthy or have a college-bound teenager to benefit from a 529. Opening one for a newborn and contributing just $100 per month could grow to over $40,000 by the time they turn 18, assuming a 6% average return. And if the child gets a scholarship or decides not to attend college, the funds can be transferred to another family member or unused funds can even be rolled into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary. It’s one of the most flexible, tax-smart savings tools available to families today.

When members mention saving for a child’s or grandchild’s education, or when you’re opening a new Sparky or Club Ignite account, that’s a perfect moment to mention 529 plans. A simple “Have you looked into a 529 college savings plan? We can set up a brief call with our financial advisor if you’d like more information” is all it takes. Warm referrals like that can make a real difference for the families we serve. If you have a member who could benefit, send them my way, I’ll take great care of them!

Nichole Coyle, CFP®, CSLP®
Financial Planner

Cetera Advisor Networks LLC
Located at: Firefighters Community Credit Union
2300 St Clair Ave NE Cleveland, OH 44114
216.621.4644 x1607 office
330.607.2213 mobile

Investment Advisor Representative offering advisory services and securities through Cetera Advisor Networks LLC, a Broker-Dealer and Registered Investment Advisor, Member FINRA/SIPC. Cetera is under separate ownership from any other named entity.

Cetera is not affiliated with the financial institution where investment services are offered. Investments are: Not FDIC/NCUSIF insured * May lose value * Not financial institution guaranteed * Not a deposit * Not insured by a federal government agency.

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Congratulations to our most recent MVT winner, Melissa over at Emerald.

Ignite My Future Scholarship Winners

FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD TO HOME EQUITY

We are kicking off one of our most visible and fun campaigns of the year. From May 1 through July 31, FFCCU will bring a little magic to our branches with the 2026 Home Equity Promotion. The goal is to spark conversations, drive applications, and create a memorable experience for both members and teammates.

WHAT IS HAPPENING

This year’s campaign transports us to the Wonderful World of Oz, inspired by the original book. Each branch has been assigned a unique character to bring to life. The goal is simple. Turn every branch into an experience that gets members talking and teammates engaged.

You will see the campaign show up everywhere including email, social media, digital signage, and the website. Most importantly, it will come to life inside our branches. This is where we can make the biggest impact.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOUR BRANCH

Each branch will receive materials to help create an immersive setup including a cardboard house, photo booth props, and yellow brick wall decals. You will also have a small budget to get creative and make your theme stand out.

Here is where your team comes in. Transform your lobby into your assigned character theme. Set up a photo ready space for team and member engagement. Add yellow brick stickers as loans are approved to show progress. Capture and share photos with Marketing.

This is more than decorations. It is a conversation starter. Every interaction is an opportunity to connect a member’s needs to home equity.

Bill Deighton

Bill has over 40 years of experience in credit unions and previously served as Chair of the Board of Directors for 30 years. Bill is a retired Captain of the Cleveland Fire Department. Along with his credit union experience, he has served for 16 years on the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund Board. He believes that credit unions are powered by providing the best customer service to members. Bill volunteers at St. Ambrose Parish and the Fire Museum renovation. Bill and his wife live in Brunswick and have two grown children.

Anthony Missig

Tony is honored to have been the current Board Director since 1999. He has been a credit union member of Cleveland Fire Fighter since 1988. Tony graduated with a BA degree in Business from Hiram College and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace College. He is currently an Assistant Chief with the Cleveland Fire Department.

Ben Laurendeau

Ben Laurendeau has been employed in the credit union industry since 1987 in a variety of positions. Ben has held the position of President/CEO with Firefighters Community Credit Union since January of 2005. Ben holds an Associate Degree in Accounting from Terra Community College, A Bachelor Degree in Accounting from Tiffin University and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Baldwin Wallace University. Ben serves as a Director on the Ohio Credit Union League Services Corporation Board and serves on the Ohio Credit Union League Audit Committee.

Gary D. Arbeznik

Gary is a lifelong resident of Greater Cleveland and has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2018. Many of his family members have served in the Cleveland Fire department and are long-time members of FFCCU. Gary holds a BA from Columbia College and a JD g from Cleveland State University. He has worked for both Cuyahoga County and the US Attorney’s office in Cleveland during his legal career. Now retired, Gary and his wife live in Lakewood.

Alyssa Garcia Evanoff

Alyssa Garcia Evanoff joined Firefighters Community Credit Union as the Chief Marketing Officer in February 2019. Alyssa has nearly two decades of experience in brand management and strategic marketing with a variety of organizations across the Greater Cleveland area. During her career, she has developed successful marketing and creative campaigns that have repositioned brand image and increased brand loyalty through emerging digital trends, content marketing and user experience strategy. Alyssa is a graduate of Miami University and sits on the board of the Cleveland chapter of the American Advertising Federation.

Jessica Bittner

Jessica Bittner joined FFCCU as a teller in 2009. In 2012 she was promoted to branch manager, and has managed multiple branches throughout the credit union. Jessica holds a Bachelors in Human Resource Management & Business Management, with a minor in accounting from Baldwin Wallace University. She was promoted to COO in 2021.

Kathleen Riggs

Kathleen Riggs joined FFCCU as Chief Retail Officer in 2013. Kathy has been in the financial services industry for over 25 years, holding a variety of positions. Kathleen received her bachelors degree in psychology from Kent State University and is a certified trainer of CUNA’s Creating Member Loyalty program.

Paul Humphrey

Paul Humphrey was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. He joined FFCCU in 2017 as the Chief Lending Officer. Paul is a graduate of Kent State University. He holds the designation of Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) from CUNA. Paul has managed lending programs in both small and large credit unions and brings that unique perspective to serve the members of FFCCU.

John Carrick

John Carrick is the Chief Financial Officer of Firefighters Community Credit Union in Cleveland, Ohio. John was hired by Greater Cleveland Firefighters Credit Union (former name of Firefighters Community Credit Union) as an Accounting Assistant in February 1993, was promoted to acting CFO in 1995, and was awarded the position of CFO in 1996. John has assisted in the acquisition of multiple mergers for Firefighters Community Credit Union and has managed two different Merging Credit Unions during the merger process. John is a former member of the Audit Committee of the Cleveland Chapter of the Ohio Credit Union League. John holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Cleveland State University.

Dennis Corrigan

Dennis has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2017. He is invested in forming bonds between the Credit Union and the community and helping members improve their economic situations. He has a strong desire to have a voice in the decision-making process of an institution that he was raised with and believes in. Dennis has been a part of the Cleveland Fire Department for 25 years and is currently a Captain. Dennis and his wife live in the Cleveland area with their three children.

Damian Borkowski

Damian has served on the Board of Directors for over 10 years. He has been the Citywide Service Manager for the City of Cleveland since 1983 and manages the demolition of houses and buildings. He holds degrees in Law and Engineering and is a member of the Ohio Bar. Damian lives with his wife in the Cleveland area. He has been a credit union member for 30 years.

Rich Bowman

Rich serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors and has been a board member since 2009. He has been a Cleveland Firefighter since 1989 and is presently a Battalion Chief serving the city’s lower west side. Rich is a founding member and Treasurer of the Firefighters Memorial Ride. Since their inception in 2004, they have donated over $250,000 to the families of fallen Fire, Police, and EMS workers. He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Finance from Cleveland State University.

James E. Polk

James is the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors and has served on the Board since 1982. He has also held the position of Secretary. Jim is a retired Cleveland Firefighter after 30 years of service. He is the past treasurer of Fire Fighters Local 93 and served on the Union Executive Board for 18 years. Jim is also a former Worker’s Compensation Representative for Local 93 and the NOFF.

Bryan Gallagher

Bryan has served on the FFCCU Board of Directors since 2006 and looks forward to continuing to help the credit union move forward and provide quality services to members. Born and raised in Cleveland, Bryan and his wife live in Lakewood and have three grown children. He holds a degree in Communications from Cleveland State University and spent 40-years as a cameraman for the MLB and NBA. After 33 years, he retired as a Captain from the Cleveland Fire Department. He is a former Sergeant at Arms for Local 93 IAFF and was Secretary for the Firefighters Memorial.

Robert Schwind

Bob is a lifelong Cleveland resident and has been a member of FFCCU since 1993. He has served on the FFCCU board since 2019. Bob is a graduate of Cleveland State University and has served as a Cleveland firefighter for the past 28 years, becoming a lieutenant in 2002. He and his wife live in Cleveland and have two grown daughters.

James Andrews, Jr.

Jim has been a credit union member for over 40 years and has served on the Board of Directors since 2012. He has been a Cleveland Firefighter for 29 years, currently stationed at Engine Company 13. James has served on the Cleveland Firefighters Relief Fund board and was a former Union Steward and Committee Member for Firefighters Local 93. He and his wife have three children.

Teammate Times

Last updated: 4/29/2026

Let’s Talk About IT – Logging In & Signing On!