June 23, 2022

SVSU-Wildfire partnership brings financial services, scholarships to campus

Saginaw Valley State University has named Wildfire Credit Union as its financial services partner. Under the agreement, Wildfire will commit $100,000 in scholarships each year, an on-campus presence including ATMs, a mini-grant program to support SVSU student organizations, financial literacy education, and continued support of SVSU Athletics. 

“We welcome Wildfire as our new financial services partner. They have long been a community-minded organization, and we are excited about the new opportunities this relationship creates,” said Donald Bachand, SVSU president. “The scholarship support will play an important role in helping more students complete their SVSU degrees and begin careers in the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond. We also appreciate the commitment to financial literacy, which will benefit many students as they chart their financial futures.” 

Initially, SVSU will devote the scholarship funds to support incoming transfer students; the typical full-time student would receive $1,000 per year for up to two years. 

Tim Benecke, president and CEO of Wildfire Credit Union, said, “We have been supporters of SVSU for many years. Entering into this agreement gives us the opportunity to make a significant difference in not only supporting the university, but also supporting the students who attend through our scholarship commitment, financial literacy expertise, and specialized banking services developed for the students.”   

SVSU faculty and staff will also benefit from Wildfire’s services. The credit union’s Work Place Perks program will provide discounts and benefits on banking services to help them reach their financial goals.  

The proximity of Wildfire to SVSU’s main campus also is favorable, making it convenient for credit union personnel to attend events, make presentations and effectively serve the financial needs of the campus community. 

The agreement is for a period of 10 years.