Your Story

We are going through a change in sales processes and also a new program for our staff to track their sales; Two brand new and complex systems. This has been very difficult for the staff to accept as they feel they have no control over their already busy days. Change management is partly their responsibility. However, management has to be able to recognize when to step in, who to support, what to look for to decide who to ask for help, and not micromanage their efforts.

While doing the above courses, I kept relating our changes and challenges in a difficult market to what I was learning. Some of the courses were review from previous courses I have taken and some information provided new tools for me to use with my staff.
 
One thing I should let you know about was the difficulty I had in getting the information in a timely manner. I got access to the courses late last week. There was a lot of material to cover to be prepared for the course on the 29^th of November. This may have been our issue at Westminister Savings Credit Union, but it did not give us enough time to thoroughly review the material.

I also had a problem where it cancelled me from the one course in error, and it may have been my error, when I had to go and help a member, but was very quickly reinstated when I emailed  Client Solutions who gave great service.

When I was hired with the credit union, I was thrilled to learn about their community involvement, the future for career growth, and most excited about the opportunity to utilize CUSOURCE Credit Union Knowledge Network!  I could not believe that such a well-rounded, convenient, and relevant training source was available to us employees!  I was (and still am) absolutely amazed that we are fortunate enough to have CUSOURCE Knowledge Network at our finger tips. I have taken many courses, from the very job specific to courses on maintaining a healthy work and home life balance. 

I feel so supported by credit union for offering, and encouraging our development through the use of CUSOURCE courses. I really feel that I have the tools I need to educate myself and gather the skills and knowledge to find my ideal "fit" within the Grand Forks Credit Union. In a small town like Christina Lake with two young kids, I am VERY fortunate to have this opportunity to learn and grow...all from my home!  I so appreciate CUSOURCE Knowledge Network having learnt so many things about my job, myself, and my future. Thanks!

I missed several months of work after being diagnosed with Parsonage Turner Syndrome – not a readily ‘visible’ disorder, although I still have not regained complete use of my right arm.  I appreciate now all the things my credit union has done to make access to work easier for me and others with a physical disability. Just coming through the front doors is still a challenge for me but the automatic door-opener buttons let me in easily.  I hadn’t realized how heavy these shatter-proof doors were until I couldn’t open them. 

I often ask myself, what must it be like for someone with a permanent disability?  These automatic buttons tell our members “Welcome to Unity Savings and Credit Union……we value you as a member……” 

I was fortunate enough to attend the Applied Consumer Lending training program held by Mel Gosse and  CUSOURCE Knowledge Network. I was lending for a few months before I took the training, and I found the training extremely beneficial. The training environment was incredible. There were a lot of questions amongst the other credit union employees at the course and it was a great chance for everyone from different credit unions to share their stories and thoughts. The course helped build my knowledge of lending, but also helped me become more comfortable with the scenarios you might encounter in the real world. I feel after taking this course that I have less “butterflies” when I have members in my office, because sometimes it can be intimidating to have people in your office behind closed doors.

I have nothing but good things to say about CUSOURCE Knowledge Network and Mel Gosse. Every CUSOURCE course I have taken has made me more knowledgeable and confident in doing my every day work. Thanks for everything!

Recently, my teams needed to expand knowledge to work and to improve employee engagement and increase their general management skills.  Instead of purely delegating folks to take courses, I thought I too should update my knowledge and was pleasantly surprised how great the Harvard MentorMentor series of modules turned out to be and how quick it was to complete the modules.  At less than 1 hour per subject, it really is a quick and easy way to refresh on management theory.  With over 42 modules to choose from, there are lots of subject choices that are applicable.

Although I had taken many management courses in the past, it is always useful to see what has changed and to keep current to navigate the future more easily.  Also, it is easier to get staff to buy in to participate when you have already participated yourself.

What a great refresher.  Now if only I had started earlier in this series regardless, I am grateful that I did get started!    Thank you CUSOURCE Knowledge Network for these great training options that can be fit into a work day easily.

I looked to CUSOURCE Knowledge Network for help and found the CUIC Human Resources Management course. I took the course, passed the CUIC exam and immediately signed up to the National Knowledge Exam. I am pleased to report that I was the provincial High Scorer in Nova Scotia for the NKE that round and I attribute my success on the NKE to the CUIC Human Resources Management course.

I would strongly recommend it as part of anyone’s preparation for the CHRP designation. Thanks so much CUSOURCE Knowledge Network!

I encouraged them to get it done asap as it is a very important component of all of our jobs.  While I encouraged each to work through it on their own, we did at times consult each other when one had difficulty answering a question. This way we all had opportunities to review and better understand the trickier questions as we talked through it.  It was a good team building exercise

My first department is a back-office administration group, handling incoming/outgoing clearing, ATM/POS reconciliations and miscellaneous other back-office functions. Some think we have no exposure to money laundering activities in the back-office. When in reality, we have seen suspicious activity through these channels that have led us to report to our AML department who forwards to FINTRAC.  Since taking this course they are now viewing their work with a more open eye towards detection of suspicious activity.   

My second department is our call centre and as well as handling all types of member calls, they also handle the administration and forwarding of incoming and outgoing wires for our branch network. They also have opportunities to identify potential money laundering activity and found the information enlightening – giving second thoughts to those “weird” member queries that may possibly tie into money laundering.

Now having almost all fifteen completed from mid-April to the first week of May, the comments are much more positive. The additional information helped clear up some uncertainties and gave a better understanding of how money laundering works. Also, the quizzes and exercises throughout the course kept it interesting so we didn’t lose interest, and we’ll be better able to identify potential suspicious activity, etc. 

I will soon be leaving behind the department management role and taking on a larger role in Anti Money Laundering & Fraud so it is vital that I keep both groups on track and focussed on detecting and reporting any type of suspicious activity.

As a new employee, a lot of training was needed to get me to understand all aspects of being someone who works so closely with members’ money which is also their survival. Taking CUSOURCE courses increased my knowledge of very important security issues such as Anti-Money Laundering, Robbery: Are you prepared? and many others. Little did I know that shortly after being with the credit union that the Cheque Fraud course would not only have saved our credit union thousands of dollars, but also would for a member.

Here is a recent scenario that happened at my credit union and is a true example of how what I learned assisted me through this process. A member had brought in two bank drafts both for the same amount of $2,500, from the same person. The member had mentioned that he had sold his car to a person overseas and he was supposed to keep the first for the payment of the vehicle and use the second cheque to cash and pay for the shipping back to the purchaser of the vehicle who lived in Europe. Thanks to the Cheque Fraud course, I was aware to look at all aspects of the cheque and if I had any suspicions to bring it to my supervisor.

While looking at the cheque, I noticed that the cheque had been written from a Canadian financial institution which I thought was strange because the member said the cheque came from overseas. This could have been a Canadian citizen in Europe so it could be legitimate but as I continued to look at the cheque, there were other discrepancies. The number amount box on the cheque and the protectograph area both had different currencies labeled. This signaled a red flag, so I brought my suspicion to my supervisor.  My supervisor had just been sent a communication about these types of scams and the cheque was not cashed and the police were called.

Living in a remote area there are not many resources to assist me to perform my job, so having such easy access to CUSOURCE learning is amazing. I’ve studied the credit union system using a study guide on my own time, then I sat the exam at a college nearby. I’ve also travelled to other locations for a one or two-day session with others from different credit unions, and I am currently registered in another lending course with a study cohort.

CUSOURCE Knowledge Network offers so many courses, and there are so many ways to participate—I consider myself very lucky to have access to such a great resource. I love that I can still live in my small mountain town, but continue post-secondary accredited education!

The instructors and staff of CUSOURCE Knowledge Network have been very knowledgeable, supportive and encouraging, which has been very beneficial in my completing the CUDA Program and writing the ACCUD exam in June – and successfully passing it so I now have the ACCUD designation.

My learning story has been successful, but my learning journey will continue because of the CUDA Program and ACCUD designation.

I was able to take numerous courses such as Anti-Money Laundering the second day of employment which in turn helped me meet the requirements for compliance under the credit union system.  I am also able to use it at home with my login and able to help better my education and knowledge to help me perform my job at an advanced level that I didn’t think was easily possible.

It is a great tool not only for management, but also the board of directors and our employees. I think it is great resource engine for training and for learning and look forward to additional learning classes that CUSOURCE Knowledge Network plans to offer in the future.

I have completed dozens of online courses and I’ve found each and every one of them to be extremely helpful. Just over a year ago I switched my roles in the credit union and I’ve become a Personal Account Manager. This role required me to complete the Credit Union's Products and Services and Credit Union's Consumer Lending courses and write the exams, (both of which I’ve passed). I want to personally thank CUSOURCE Knowledge Network for making this such an easy and knowledgeable way to gain a world of information and for making it possible to complete these via correspondence. Being a mother of 3 and working full time I would never have been able to afford taking these courses through a college or university, nor would I have had the time.  

I have since completed the Credit Union System course and passed the exam and I’m now one seminar away from becoming an Accredited Lender! This has been an amazing experience for me and I’m super excited to have been able to accomplish as much as I have since being introduced to your company. Thank you so much for helping  me reach my career goals!

I found the course to be helpful as I have increased my number of qualified referrals, and I am  able to better identify member’s needs through asking the right questions although this is just one aspect of my overall duties.  I feel that this program has been of tremendous benefit enhancing my sense of engagement as an empowered front line staff of United Communities Credit Union.

Although this program was not an easy task, the knowledge I gained was invaluable! I look forward to completing other professional development courses in the future.

I decided to take the CUIC course - Credit Union Products and Services about 8 years ago. Not only was this course a very good review for the things that I have already dealt with while I have been employed at the Conexus, but I also learned a lot of things that I never knew. The course touches on most anything you should ever come across in a Financial Services Representative position, and also a lot of things that you don't really have the opportunity to work with. 

If anybody is wishing to get a good overall review on all of the credit union products and services, I would recommend that you look into taking this course!

CUSOURCE Knowledge Network was a big help to me as one of my learning tools. I completed courses such as Anti - Money Laundering and Terrorist, Financing, Combating Check Fraud, Consumer and Debit Cards and It’s a Matter of Privacy, etc…

I found the website user friendly and easy to follow. It is a great tool to use for as a refresher as well as learning to improve my skills for a better and / or different position in our organization.

I would personally recommend the website to my employees for their learning, as it helped me greatly in my day to day work and I know it would help them.

Through taking this program, I am now able to be mentally prepared to start each shift as I attempt to best serve our members. My motto is "the only thing you should have to worry about each morning is what to put in your coffee." By learning more and more about Meridian and the products available, I am able to be more prepared each morning.

Fortunately, CUSOURCE Knowledge Network has been an invaluable ally in my job. I have always been able to find the resources I need to support our staff in their personal and professional development, from across-the-board money laundering and privacy training to personalized training plans. Whether somebody needs to improve their business writing skills, their time-management, or wants to become a lender or an HR professional, CUSOURCE Knowledge Network offers quality, relevant courses that allow our staff to advance in their chosen career paths.

I am very fortunate to have the CUSOURCE Knowledge Network as a resource to address the development and training needs of our staff, management, and board.

Specifically, I have found that the Anti-Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing always engages new employees about the importance of their role as a new Member Service Representative.

Admittedly, when I was first asked to start taking online courses when I started, I was sceptical about the usefulness of online training.  However, to my surprise, my experience has generally been very positive.  The courses are laid out professionally, and the pictures seamlessly integrate into each presentation properly. 

Now that I will be finishing up my degree at Brock University, I am looking forward to taking more appropriate courses that help me along my career path.  Through having discussions with my manager and HR regarding CUSOURCE training, I truly believe it could benefit me as a progress through my career.

Thank you for giving the opportunity of user-friendly online training!