One Vision. One Purpose. One Freedom.

I want to start by saying thank you.

Whether you’ve been with Freedom Federal Credit Union for decades, or whether you joined us more recently, your trust is something we never take lightly. Everything we do — every decision, every investment, every long-term plan — begins with that trust.

When I reflect on 2025, one word rises above all others: transformation.

This past year wasn’t simply another year of growth. It was a defining year — one that tested us, stretched us, and ultimately strengthened us.

In 2025, Freedom completed the merger with Atlantic Financial Federal Credit Union — a milestone that represented years of careful planning, thoughtful due diligence, and intentional leadership. Mergers are often talked about in terms of size or scale, but this was about something far more important.

It was about strengthening our mission. It was about ensuring long-term stability. And it was about creating greater opportunity for members, employees, and the communities we serve.

We didn’t rush the process. We didn’t compromise our values. And we didn’t lose sight of who we are.

Instead, we brought two organizations together with care, respect, and discipline — and today, we stand as one united credit union, stronger and better positioned for the future.

At the same time, Freedom remained financially strong and well capitalized — even while navigating industry headwinds, regulatory pressure, and a rapidly changing economic environment.

That matters.

Because financial strength isn’t an end goal for us — it’s what allows us to serve members responsibly, invest thoughtfully, and stay committed for the long run. As always, the full financial story is detailed in our Annual Report, and I encourage you to review it.

But I want to be clear about this:

Success at Freedom is never just about numbers.

In 2025, our members trusted us with some of the most important moments of their lives — buying homes, financing vehicles, growing businesses, and planning for what comes next.

We welcomed thousands of new members. We expanded access to responsible lending. And we continued investing in products and services designed to meet people where they are — not where convenience or profit margins alone might lead us.

That is credit union philosophy in action.

Our impact also extended far beyond the walls of our branches.

Through the Freedom to Help Foundation and our community partnerships, Freedom supported dozens of local nonprofit organizations — organizations feeding families, educating children, supporting veterans, and strengthening neighborhoods.

These aren’t side initiatives. They are central to who we are.

We believe financial institutions should play a role in building stronger communities — not just serving them from a distance.

None of this — none of it — happens without people.

To our employees: 2025 asked a lot of you.

You guided members through change. You supported new colleagues. You showed patience, professionalism, and empathy — sometimes in moments that weren’t easy or predictable.

I want you to know this: your work mattered, and it continues to matter.

You are not just employees of Freedom. You are stewards of its culture. You are the reason members stay. And you are the reason trust grows year after year.

To our Board of Directors and volunteers, thank you for your leadership, governance, and steady guidance. Your commitment ensures that Freedom remains mission focused, well managed, and accountable — today and into the future.

So, where do we go from here?

The answer is not simply “forward.”

It’s forward with purpose.

As we look ahead, Freedom is entering its next chapter from a position of strength — financially, organizationally, and culturally.

Our focus is clear.

We are investing in technology that improves access and convenience without sacrificing personal service. We are expanding products that reflect real member needs — not one-size-fits-all solutions.

We are continuing to build a workplace where people are supported, developed, and empowered to do meaningful work. And we are deepening our commitment to the communities that trust us to be more than just a financial institution.

Our Strategic Plan isn’t about chasing growth for its own sake.

It’s about growing the right way. It’s about strengthening relationships. It’s about financial empowerment. And it’s about staying true to our core values — integrity, service, community, and trust.

Most importantly, it’s about ensuring that Freedom remains exactly what its name implies — a place where members have choice, opportunity, and confidence in their financial future.

As we move ahead, there will undoubtedly be change — in the economy, in technology, and in our industry.

But one thing will not change.

Our commitment to you.

We exist to serve members. We exist to strengthen communities. And we exist to make a positive difference — one relationship at a time.

Thank you for being part of Freedom Federal Credit Union. Thank you for your trust. And thank you for believing in what this credit union stands for.

We are proud of what we’ve accomplished — and even more excited about what lies ahead.

Because at the end of the day, everything we’ve built — and everything we will build — comes back to one vision, one purpose, one Freedom.

The Smile of a Clown

Every day, our members and teammates walk through our doors wearing what looks like confidence, calm, or even cheer. Sometimes, though, that expression is nothing more than the smile of a clown — a brave, outward appearance crafted to mask worry, grief, fear, or pain we cannot see.

Truth is, we rarely know what someone is carrying when they interact with us. A member may be facing financial stress, health concerns, or family challenges. A colleague may be navigating loss, exhaustion, or quiet anxiety. Yet both still show up — smiling, polite, composed — doing their best to move forward.

That’s why compassion and empathy are not just values here; they are responsibilities. How we listen, how we speak, and how we respond can either deepen someone’s burden or lighten it. A moment of patience. A kind tone. A willingness to truly hear someone’s story. These small acts of humanity often matter more than we realize.

At its heart, our work is about people, not transactions. When we choose empathy, we honor the dignity of every member we serve and every teammate we work alongside. By looking beyond the surface and extending grace to one another, we create a credit union culture where people feel seen, supported, and safe…even when the smile they wear hides more than it reveals.

Let us continue to serve with open hearts, remembering that kindness is sometimes the most meaningful service we provide.

It’s All In How You Look At It.

I should have been in Ireland today. Had it all planned out; flights, accommodations, itinerary, pocket full of euros. I was even packed days before departure. Nature, however, had other plans. Hurricane Irma developed and started on a collision course with Florida. My daughter, who is a TV Reporter for WPEC in West Palm Beach, got the news that her vacation was cancelled. It’s an all hands on deck situation. I could not leave her behind. There goes Ireland. I knew this was a possibility; I bought flight insurance, booked as many places as possible that I could cancel without penalty. All the preparations were made to go and not to go.

Yet all the provisions and planning, all the lengths to account for almost every possibility, none changed the emotional response as the maybes became definites and the inevitable began to unfold. Anxiety, uncertainty, led to disappointment and a little anger, but those feelings quickly passed and turned into concern and fear. While I was focused on a trip, an adventure, I forgot what was really at stake. There is a category 5 hurricane, a hurricane being called “potentially catastrophic”, heading straight toward my little girl and her job is to report on the impact of this historic storm; to be in it. Trip? What trip? There are bigger things at play and if a canceled trip is the worst thing that comes from this then I will consider myself blessed. That’s called perspective.

Knock on wood, cross your fingers, light a candle, we won’t have to deal with a similar situation or other form of hardship, but it makes you stop and think about the ones we do experience and how we react to them. We have a tendency to get worked up about lesser matters. We get anxious about change (almost any kind); we lose patience when systems are on the fritz or don’t respond fast enough; we get frustrated by a hectic day or offended by a misspoken word or email. We forget to put things in perspective. This is not to say we should accept mediocrity or allow things to inhibit our ability to serve our members or each other. We should, instead, recognize that life will have its share of disappointments and inconveniences and that they can be viewed in a different light. Think about it. We’ve all found ourselves in unexpected situations. Things happen, perhaps outside our control, and that’s the time to ask yourself; is this a problem to be dealt with or an opportunity to be embraced? Something you’ve been wanting or waiting for with anticipation or excitement is easy. The stuff that tests what we’re made of comes from circumstances we didn’t foresee or thought might come about, but didn’t give much thought. No matter what changes come, what opportunity or setback, no matter what preparation is done, success or failure ultimately comes down to the individual’s ability to take a breath, put things into context, focus on what’s important and change things for the better. This requires we embrace the possibilities, even if they are small in nature, short in duration, or come with an extra burden, because each one builds on the foundation that ultimately creates a person’s character or the culture of an organization.

I’m not foolish (no really), but I do believe in the power of positivity and if you focus on what matters, things will eventually work out as they should even if we can’t recognize it immediately. Life is a culmination of experiences; failures and successes, chances and misses. You persevere, keep negativity to a minimum, avoid excuses or placing blame and find solutions; you adapt and move on. I guess you could say I’m an optimist; which is not always easy. I believe there is good in most people, positives in most situations and opportunities around every corner; we just have to look for them (sometimes really hard). And yes, opportunities can seem few and far between, but the right ones will come if we have the desire, focus on the good and, whenever possible, strive to change the things that hold us back. We are trying to build something better at Freedom. A better place to work; a better place to bank. This takes time. Not everyone will share the vision, not everyone will succeed, not every step will be easy, but good things can happen just from being the best we can be each day regardless of our assigned role. Support your team, be open to learning and sharing your knowledge, seek and find how to serve, listen and build relationships with members and each other, find solutions and, most importantly, remember that “people helping people” is not just a credit union philosophy; it’s a way of life.

Mike