Annual Report

2021 Annual Report

President & CEO's Message 

"Last year, Meriwest Credit Union recognized 60 years of exceptional service to our members and community. Beginning as the sole credit union for International Business Machines Corporation employees in areas of California, the Pacific Northwest and Arizona, we have grown and expanded. As noted throughout this report, we reached $2 billion in assets in 2021 and now serve the greater Bay Area and Tucson, AZ. Along the way, we have never forgotten our mission and commitment of value and service to you, our members. I’m overwhelmed and honored to acknowledge this legacy. I ride on the shoulders of the three CEOs who preceded me. To this day we have had a rock-solid board that always places members first. As a member and employee for 30 years, I have been part of the Meriwest/Pacific IBM fabric and I am so proud to be a part of this journey.

Over these many years, I have witnessed great innovation driven by the desire to provide our members with the best options for their financial needs: our first ATMs, called “Money Mint,” stock lines of credit, first-to-market online banking service, state of the art branches and Relationship Advantage, our ahead-of-the-curve rewards program now called Merit Rewards. This innovation continues as technology enabled options increase exponentially. Currently, we are developing our new omni-channel platform where you will be able to shop, learn and transact anywhere with any device you choose.

Having said all that, we are still first and foremost People Helping People. Again, 100% of our staff participated in community outreach. Our team continued to conduct financial seminars and educational programs through the pandemic. We received multiple awards and recognition by our members, our employees, and our community. There will always be people helping people behind the technology.

Financially, your credit union continues to be well-capitalized and a safe and sound choice for your investments, personal and business needs. We continue to enhance and expand our cyber security posture, understanding that our single most important role is to protect your information. Given our size, we have an advantage in leveraging all our talent and resources to both create a wonderful experience and safeguard the credit union and you, our member.

It’s been quite a ride. Cheers!

Julie Kirsch, President/CEO 

Download the 2021 Annual Report (PDF)