The Women of Carolina Trust FCU Senior and Executive Management were photographed at the Conway branch. Left to right: Melinda Drake-Pearce, SVP Risk Management; Audrey Turner, VP Member Experience; Jessica Wilson, Chief Development Officer; Christina Naylo, Chief Operations Officer; Amanda Marker, VP Marketing; Connie Thompson, VP Mortgage Operations. Not Pictured: Kathy Cook, SVP Strategic Initiatives.
We are Carolina Trust FCU—your community’s credit union®: the primary credit union of The Grand Strand. We began in 1958 as the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Federal Credit Union, and we are proud to honor our roots and those who got us to where we are today.
In 2001, we became a community-chartered credit union. Today, we proudly serve Horry, Georgetown, Marion, Williamsburg, southern Florence County, and Brunswick County, N.C.; our membership is open to the community.
Our motto relates to the fact that we have been Putting People Ahead of Profits® since the day we started, and more than a motto, this is in our credit union DNA. This guides us in our everyday decision making for our members and employees.
As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, we aim to remain competitive with low rates, lower or nonexistent fees, and our personal touch on service.
Our senior and executive management team is 64% female. The credit union industry at large reflects females in leadership roles, as 51% of credit union CEO’s and 33% of credit union board members are female. This is far ahead of leadership at banks, where men make up 97% of CEO roles.
What sets our industry apart is the fact that we stand proudly and lead the way in promoting women to positions of executive leadership.
Five years ago, we instituted a Brand Ambassador. Always, August® is your financial concierge for financial resources, account assistance, and access to expert employees. In addition to helping members, she is actively involved in the communities we serve through Chamber of Commerce events, visits to area schools and senior care facilities, and service organizations. Follow her on Instagram @successinthebag for financial resources and spotlights on local businesses and events.
Additionally, Carolina Trust FCU is continually committed to community service.
As part of our credit union values, giving back is part of our “people first” philosophy. We are involved with the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, Little River Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center, Johnsonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Lake City Chamber of Commerce, Destination North Myrtle Beach, Conway Chamber of Commerce, and the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce.
In 2023, Carolina Trust gave back to 74 charities, community groups and area schools. We also pledged to donate $100,000 to the McLeod Health Foundation towards the Center for Cancer Treatment and Research at Seacoast, the first such comprehensive center in Horry County. We partner with the YMCA for Healthy Kids Day and the Georgetown Kids Mud Run at all three of the YMCA of Coastal Carolina branches. We have many scholarships we participate in, including the Key Scholarship in partnership with HTC, Inc., the CTFCU Veterans Scholarship in Memory of Lieutenant Colonel James B. Kendrick, USAF/Retired at Coastal Carolina University and two scholarships through the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation. We are a proud athletic sponsor of Coastal Carolina University, we are actively involved with the CAF, and we offer the official Visa of Coastal Carolina.
The credit union has also been the honored recipient of numerous awards.
This year, we won WMBF News “Best of the Grand Strand” in both the categories of “Best Bank” as well as “Best Mortgage Company”. This award means a lot to us as we pride ourselves on local hometown service with “our folks know your folks®” and our “No Sweat” Mortgage® process, because we believe enough things in life are difficult; your mortgage process shouldn’t be one of them. Additionally, winning again for 2024, we have been a South Carolina “Best Places to Work” for seven consecutive years and a winner of ‘American Banker’s’ Best Credit Unions to Work For in the country for six years, respectively.
Carolina Trust Federal Credit Union
1010 21st Ave N., Myrtle Beach SC 29577
(843) 448-2133
carolinatrust.org
Facebook and Instagram: @carolinatrustfcu
