2022 Annual Community Impact Report
Charlene Bauer is the SVP Outreach, Advocacy & Chief Development Officer at Metro Credit Union. Bauer has been employed with Metro since April 2000, having held similar roles at other financial institutions such as Salem Five and The Bank for Savings.
In her role as SVP Outreach, Advocacy & Chief Development Officer, Bauer oversees business development and community relations initiatives across the credit union, increasing our membership and improving financial wellness within the neighborhoods we serve. She represents Metro through local advocacy and outreach, aligning with the credit union ethos of community partnership. Bauer holds a Bachelor of Arts from University of Massachusetts Amherst and has completed a three-year academic program with the National School of Banking in cooperation with Fairfield University. Additionally, she is certified as a Credit Union Development Educator through the National Credit Union Foundation and is a Board Member of several local nonprofit organizations.
Supporting Our Members and Their Communities
If you know Metro Credit Union, you also know that giving back to the communities we serve is at the center of everything we do. Founded on the idea of “people helping people,” we are committed to investing in the success of our members and local communities and we do so every day through many different important initiatives.
Through financial education, we empower our members to make financial decisions with confidence so they can reach their financial goals – whether they’re purchasing a home or automobile, building savings, planning to pay for college, or hoping to improve their credit. We also support our local communities and the causes that matter to them through partnerships, sponsorships, and volunteer hours at non-profits and advisory boards.
Read our full report below for a look at how we made an impact over the last year and click here to read how we’re expanding our philanthropic efforts even more in 2023 through the launch of the Metro Credit Union Foundation.
Community Lending
Metro’s year-end loan-to-share ratio was 114.1% demonstrating that Metro gives back to our membership in the form of loans.
Metro partnered with Second Chance Cars (SCCARs) and provided 37 loans for $33.3K.
Metro granted 11 loans totaling $43M in community development lending which includes affordable housing for those with low and moderate incomes.
Metro's innovative and flexible consumer financing enabled 1,090 loans totaling $15.11M to individuals who might not otherwise have qualified for a loan.
Metro provided 86 Credit Builder loans totaling $82,381 to help members establish or improve their credit score.
Metro provided $82M in mortgages to first time homebuyers through products like our Home Possible and HomeReady mortgages.
Community Partnership Highlights
Metro’s Matched Savings Program Partners had 454 Matched Savings participants. These participants saved over $380,639.
Some of our Matched Savings Partners include:
- BreakTime
- Boston Saves
- Inversant
- Lawrence Community Works
- Heading Home
- EMPATH
- LaVida
Community Partnership Highlights Continued
2022 Corporate Citizenship Award
Boston Business Journal
Metro recognized for charitable contributions.
$192,000
In charitable donations
and sponsorships!
2022 Commnity
Reinvestment Act
Metro awarded "outstanding" rating for reinvesting in our communities.
$24K
raised during Metro’s sponsorship of the 10th annual Celebrate Literacy Day Celebration.
30
food baskets delivered to the West Medford Community Center as part of Metro’s Thanksgiving food drive.
183
community and Metro@Work
seminars presented.
$13K
awarded in scholarships to local High School seniors.
75
local children received holiday gifts donated by Metro employees.
9,058
Everfi Digital Learning program users.
75
community boards & committees with management involvement by Metro employees.
460
individuals enrolled in Metro’s nationally certified Bank On Safeguard Checking Account.
Metro Credit Union is the largest state-chartered credit union in Massachusetts, with $3 billion in assets. Metro provides a full range of financial products to close to 200,000 members in Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Worcester counties in Massachusetts, and Cheshire, Hillsborough, and Rockingham counties in New Hampshire. Metro is the credit union of choice for employees at over 1,200 companies through its Metro@work program.
Founded in 1926, Metro currently operates 18 branch offices in Boston, Burlington, Chelsea, Dorchester, Framingham, Lawrence, Lynn, Melrose, Newton, Peabody, Reading, Salem, Tewksbury, West Roxbury, and coming soon to Medford. Metro is also a Juntos Avanzamos (“Together We Advance”) designated credit union, an honor given to financial institutions for their commitment to serving and empowering Hispanic and immigrant consumers. Metro was recently named among the most charitable companies in Massachusetts by the Boston Business Journal. Learn more at MetroCU.org
and connect with us on LinkedIn.
Dedicated to giving back and building a stronger community for everyone.
Invested in our communities.
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