O Bee Blog

With cyber threats on the rise, adopting smart security habits in our daily lives is more important than ever.

International Credit Union Day is a great reminder of how credit unions work together to make the world a better place—one community at a time.

Donate today to our summer school supply drive.

O Bee Credit Union is proud to announce the appointment of Andrew Downin as its new Chief Executive Officer.

If you visit our branches or administrative building, you will notice how well-kept our offices are. This is due, in part, to the extraordinary work of our Caretaker team. Our Caretakers take tremendous pride in their work, making sure that all our facilities are clean and healthy. They keep the team caffeinated, the plants thriving, and the dishwasher humming. The Caretaker team is a vital part of O Bee. They are the heart and soul of our credit union. Get to know this group of superstars – you will love them as much as we do!

Do you remember when you first started earning money? When we earned our first paychecks, most of us didn't think about how we would save our money; we thought about how to SPEND it! Saving money may not be the most exciting concept for teens, especially when faced with the tempting tug of trendy gadgets, outings with friends, or entertainment. However, realizing how important it is to save money when you're young lays the groundwork for financial freedom and security down the road.

As kids grow and start earning money, they often need a little guidance in prioritizing their spending. Helping them set up a budget is the first step toward responsible financial management. Here are five budgeting basics to help your teen manage their money wisely.

For wedding planner and floral designer Kiara Hancock, 2024 is the year of saying YES. “This year is about connecting all the dots I have scattered all over the canvas of my business to create the bigger picture,” said Hancock. “I’m trying to say, ‘yes’ to more this year because it opens the doors to other avenues, lessons, and connections that I am trying to build both interpersonally and business-wise,” she added.

Martha Prestin’s office at O Bee looks like a regular workspace. As the Chief Financial Officer, she’s got the standard issue desk, plants, and computer. You’d never guess it holds a significant piece of the credit union’s history. But if you look closer, you’ll notice a certain marble pen holder on the desk. For those in the know, it is THE pen holder. It belonged to Prestin’s great-grandfather and O Bee Credit Union founder, Ted McGill. The pen holder was a key part of the loan application process.

For most adults, budgeting and managing money are everyday tasks. But wouldn't it be great if we could teach these skills to teens so they're better able to deal with these decisions when they grow up? That’s the goal of a new program launching at O Bee, the Bite of Reality Financial Fair.  

In 1955 Ted McGill, a worker at the Olympia Brewery, heard about credit unions and thought it would be a good idea for the brewery workers to start one. Ted went on to establish O Bee Credit Union, now a multi-million-dollar organization. He likely never imagined that 68 years later his great-granddaughter would assume the role he once held.

Get to know our branch managers in our Meet the Manager Series.