As we close the chapter on another notable year, I want to take a moment to thank you - our valued members - for your unwavering support and loyalty. Together, we’ve reached an incredible milestone: Wescom’s 90th anniversary!
Over the past nine decades, Wescom has grown from humble beginnings into one of California's largest and most trusted providers of personalized financial solutions, serving a diverse membership throughout the state. Over the past nine decades, Wescom has grown from humble beginnings into one of California's largest and most trusted providers of personalized financial solutions, serving a diverse membership throughout the state. Every step of this journey has been made possible by your insightful feedback and the passion of our team members who strive to exceed expectations every day.
This year also marked the 25th anniversary of the Wescom Foundation, which has been a cornerstone of our efforts to give back to the communities we serve. Since its founding in 1999, the Foundation has donated more than $6 million to local nonprofit organizations. Funds are awarded to various nonprofits that support natural disaster relief and recovery efforts, promote financial wellness, and provide food and shelter for vulnerable individuals and families.
Reflecting on the Foundation’s achievements, we are reminded of the power of collective action. Your support and participation in our initiatives have helped amplify our efforts to build stronger, healthier communities. Together, we prove that financial and community well-being go hand in hand.
In honor of our 90th anniversary, we launched several initiatives to celebrate this achievement and to reinforce our commitment to your financial success. We introduced a limited-time 4.90% Annual Percentage Yield certificate*, giving you another way to grow your savings with competitive rates. During our annual Member Appreciation Season in December, we held giveaways, shared exclusive offers, and hosted special events in-branch and online. This season of appreciation allowed us to connect with you in new ways while showing our gratitude for your continued membership.
Our merger with Central Coast Federal Credit Union has been a transformative step in our journey. This welcome addition allowed us to establish a presence in a new market with four branches and a strong membership base. Since then, we’ve enhanced our branch network, introduced expanded financial services, and provided exclusive perks through programs like Signature Membership - all designed to deliver greater value to our members. We also moved the Marina Branch to a more convenient and accessible location. This new facility features an updated layout and design that enhances member experience and mirrors our vision for a more modern and connected future.
We’re continually fine-tuning our digital banking systems to make it easier to manage your money. Our goal is to provide you with intuitive, efficient, and secure solutions that seamlessly fit into your daily life. Guided by your feedback, we’ve enhanced our online and mobile tools, with more than two-thirds of members now relying on these top-rated platforms for convenient and reliable access to their accounts.
Another highlight of the year was our growing partnership with Knott’s Berry Farm. In less than 12 months as their Official Banking Partner, we expanded our presence in the community by opening our 30th branch at the California Marketplace. We also introduced the Knott’s Visa® Credit Card, which rewards visitors and associates with 5% cash back on select purchases**. To mark our 90th anniversary, we surprised the first 90 guests at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant with $90 gift cards on our official birthday, December 7.
We are looking to the future with optimism and resolve. We remain focused on expanding our services to meet your evolving needs, enhancing digital tools for greater convenience, and investing in new branches and partnerships to serve more Californians. Our core purpose, to help build better lives, will continue to guide every decision we make. Whether introducing innovative products, deepening our community impact, or strengthening our commitment to accessibility and inclusivity, our vision for the future is clear: we will grow alongside you.
All loans and accounts are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply.
*Limited time promotional certificate offer was available until 12/13/2024.
** Cash back offer is available through the redemption of MyRewards Points. Redemption values may vary. Visit https://www.wescom.org/knotts for details.
