Freedom Federal Credit Union Expands Field of Membership to Serve Baltimore City and Carroll County

Credit Union’s Field of Membership Now Includes Businesses and Consumers in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Harford County

August 28, 2024 – Freedom Federal Credit Union announced today that they received approval from the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), regarding their request to expand the organization’s field of membership. Effective immediately, Freedom membership is now open to businesses and any individuals who live, work, worship, volunteer, attend school, or have family in Baltimore City and Carroll County. Prior to this expansion, Freedom’s field of membership included Baltimore County and Harford County.

Additionally, the Freedom Board of Directors unanimously approved and ratified the new charter.

“With NCUA’s approval, we can now provide what we call the ‘Freedom Advantage’, our unique credit union service offering, to serve a broader range of individuals and businesses, particularly those who have been underserved by other financial institutions,” stated Mike MacPherson, President and CEO of Freedom.

“Making Freedom membership available to all businesses and individuals in Baltimore City and Carroll County is part of Freedom’s long-term strategic growth plan,” continued MacPherson. “Over the years, many businesses and individuals from these areas have expressed a strong interest in partnering with Freedom and becoming members. We are confident that Freedom is exactly the kind of financial institution that Baltimore City and Carroll County have been asking for and need.”

Freedom Federal Credit Union was founded in 1953 as MATCOM Federal Credit Union. The Credit Union started in Baltimore and later moved to Harford County in support of the Edgewood Arsenal, which became part of Aberdeen Proving Ground. Freedom received their Harford County community charter in 1999 and changed their name to Freedom Federal Credit Union in 2000. The expansion of their charter to Baltimore County was ratified in July 2020.

“The Board of Directors saw the vision and strategy of expanding into Baltimore City and Carroll County, and enthusiastically approved the new charter,” stated Lisa Ermatinger, Chair of the Freedom Board of Directors. “Because credit unions are financial cooperatives, the health and strength of the organization is dependent on its members actively engaging and using its products and services. The more members that are an active part of Freedom and that use our products and services, the better the ability we have to offer lower cost loan options, higher deposit rates, less fees, better technology and access, and more community support.”

As part of the expansion, Freedom will look at all options with respect to new physical locations throughout its entire field of membership, as well as how to best leverage technology for those who prefer to conduct business electronically.

READ THE MEMBER COMMUNICATION

About Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering business banking services and consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school, or have family in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Harford County. To learn more, visit freedomfcu.org.

Special Announcement from Freedom’s President and CEO

August 28, 2024

Dear Freedom Members,

Back in March of this year, I announced to you some very exciting news about our intention to merge Atlantic Financial Federal Credit Union (AFFCU) into Freedom Federal Credit Union.

Since then, a lot has been going on behind the scenes in support of the merger. I would like to update you now on one of those initiatives.

One of the first steps in the merger process was to ensure the field of membership (FOM) charters for both AFFCU and Freedom FCU matched identically. As a result, in May, we formally requested and applied to our governing body, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) to expand our FOM to include Baltimore City and Carroll County, in addition to our existing charter which includes Harford County and Baltimore County.

I am pleased to inform you that the NCUA has approved the FOM expansion request. Your Board of Directors have also unanimously approved and ratified the new field of membership charter.

Effective immediately, in addition to Baltimore County and Harford County, Freedom FCU membership is now open to businesses and individuals who live, work, worship, volunteer, attend school, or have family in Baltimore City and Carroll County.

With NCUA’s approval, as well as Freedom Board of Directors’ approval, we can now provide “The Freedom Advantage”, our unique credit union service offering, to the greater Baltimore City and Carroll County communities.

Why is this Important?

The new Field of Membership (FOM) Charter enables us to serve a broader range of individuals and businesses, particularly those who have been underserved by other financial institutions. With Freedom’s comprehensive financial products, services, and accessible technology, we can now better meet their needs and help them thrive.
With the ability to reach more individuals and businesses, we can make a larger, more positive impact on the financial well-being of the communities we serve.
By expanding our reach, this is an opportunity for Freedom to help more people achieve their financial goals, and in turn, help us reach our strategic and growth goals.

Why did Freedom want to expand its Field of Membership?

Making Freedom membership available to all those who live, work, worship, volunteer, attend school, or have family in Baltimore City and Carroll County is part of Freedom’s long-term strategic growth plan.

Over the years, many businesses and individuals from these areas have expressed a strong interest in partnering with Freedom and becoming members. We are confident that Freedom is exactly the kind of financial institution that Baltimore City and Carroll County have been asking for and need.

How does this benefit current Freedom members?

Because credit unions are financial cooperatives, the health and strength of the organization is dependent on the membership being engaged and utilizing its products and services. The more members that are an active part of Freedom and that use our products and services, the better the ability we have to offer lower cost loan options, higher deposit rates, less fees, better technology and access, and more community support.

Our expansion into Baltimore City and Carroll County will allow Freedom to provide our unique financial product and service offerings to more consumers and provide a much-needed financial alternative to the big banks. In doing so, we will be able to increase our membership, and the ability to serve all our members, and our shared communities better.

Freedom has been a strong financial partner to our members for 71 years, and we look forward to being an even better partner with this new FOM Charter.

We will continue to share information and details about this exciting new chapter for Freedom and its membership, and where we go from here.

I ask that if you have family, friends, or coworkers who live, work, study, volunteer, worship or have family in Baltimore City or Carroll County, please help us spread the news of who we are and share with them your experience with Freedom. We can’t wait to meet them!

Thank you all for your ongoing trust and confidence in Freedom Federal Credit Union.

Sincerely,

Michael MacPherson
President and CEO
Freedom Federal Credit Union

Freedom Opens New Branch in Perry Hall

The New Location in Honeygo Village Center Officially Opened on August 21

Freedom Federal Credit Union opened a new full-service branch in the Perry Hall/White Marsh area on Saturday, August 21. The Credit Union marked the occasion with a community-wide grand opening celebration. The event was held at its new location, 5000 Honeygo Center Drive in the Honeygo Village Center, and featured music, food, games, and giveaways. This is the Credit Union’s first branch in Baltimore County, and sixth branch in Northeastern Maryland.

The branch features a full-service lobby, two drive-thru lanes, a 24/7 ATM, a free coin machine, provides ample parking, and allows for easy traffic flow and access. Financial Service Representatives are in-person, and onsite, to support all business and individual banking needs.

Earlier that week, Freedom held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, where their Leadership Team gathered with the Board of Directors, employees, local and state officials, representatives from Harford and Baltimore County Public Schools, and members of the MD|DC Credit Union Association to celebrate the Credit Union’s expansion.

Attendees heard from Freedom’s President and CEO, Mike MacPherson, along with remarks from Lynn Richardson, President of the Perry Hall/White Marsh Business Association and Councilman David Marks, 5^th District, Baltimore City Council, and Delegate Carl Jackson, District 8, House of Delegates.

“The opening of this new branch here in Honeygo Village Center is part of our commitment to grow our organization, and, as a result, to expand the many ways we have to serve this community, and our membership as a whole, as best we can,” stated Macpherson to the crowd. “We will grow, not to have the biggest bottom line but to be able to offer our members a quality financial experience with their best interests always top of mind.”

John Bratsakis, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Maryland and DC Credit Union Association, was also in attendance and shared some remarks on how the Credit Union Difference, and Freedom, will have a positive impact on consumers and businesses in the Perry Hall and White Marsh Community.

As a symbol of Freedom’s commitment to improving the Baltimore County community, MacPherson presented a donation on behalf of the Credit Union to The Education Foundation of Baltimore County’s Executive Director, Deborah Phelps.

Freedom Federal Credit Union was founded in 1953 as MATCOM Federal Credit Union. The Credit Union started in Baltimore and later moved to Harford County in support of the Edgewood Arsenal, which became part of Aberdeen Proving Ground. Freedom received their Harford County community charter in 1999 and changed their name to Freedom of Maryland Federal Credit Union in 2000. In 2020, Freedom’s charter was expanded to also serve those who live, work, worship, volunteer, or have family in Baltimore County.