Freedom Credit Union taps Salus to help attract Gen Z and millennial members. Massachusetts credit union also sees need for affordable microloans in underserved areas Charlotte, NC (September 3, 2026) | Freedom Credit Union, a $764 million Massachusetts-based institution serving the greater Springfield area, has partnered with Salus to launch automated microloans. The initiative reflects Freedom's strategic push to expand its offerings while attracting and retaining Gen Z and millennial members who are often drawn to fintechs. Freedom Credit Union's primary objective is to meet members where they are across every stage of their financial lives. For many members in Freedom's market, that means having access to small-dollar loans when they need them most and at a fair price. "In banking, everyone does the same thing: deposits, loans and services that spin off from those two things," Freedom Credit Union CFO Lee Craig said. "To appeal to these markets, you must position yourself as the connection between members and the adjacent financial services they seek. This product fits perfectly into that space." Freedom's Springfield market spans a range of economic circumstances, from higher-income suburban communities to areas of concentrated financial need where members currently have few to no good options for short-term borrowing. The microloan program is designed to serve both the next generation of members and other members in need of fast access to funds. "We're not doing this to make money," Craig added. "This is about planting seeds and building trust. The people who are going to use this product the most are members who may not need us for a major financial milestone yet. But when they do need a car loan or a transaction account, we want to be the institution they think of first because we helped them when others wouldn't." Freedom selected Salus in part because of the platform's existing integration with Freedom's core processor and strong references from fellow credit unions GFA Federal Credit Union and Metro Credit Union, both of which provided direct accounts of their implementation experiences. "Lee and his team are thinking about this the right way - as a long-term relationship builder, not a revenue line," Salus Founder/CEO James Chemplavil explained. "Gen Z and millennials want to be met where they are. A microloan at the right moment is how a credit union can earn decades of loyalty from a member who might otherwise never have walked through the door." Salus is the leading fintech provider helping credit unions meet members where they are and make them members for life. The founders leverage their decades of experience in credit and technology to continue developing new services to help credit unions drive financial inclusion. The firm offers microloans, credit risk analytics through its Sentinel service, Earned Wage Access and loan automation. To learn more, visit www.SalusFintech.com or schedule a meeting with the team here. Contact. Sarah Snell Cooke [email protected] Originally chartered in 1922 as the Western Massachusetts Telephone Workers Credit Union and renamed in 2004, Freedom Credit Union is a 10-branch, full-service financial institution. Today, membership is available to anyone who lives, works or attends school in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin or Berkshire Counties. Offering a complete range of banking services and loan products, Freedom Credit Union has conveniently located branches in Chicopee, Easthampton, Feeding Hills, Greenfield, Ludlow, Northampton, Turners Falls, and three in Springfield, including the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy branch. For more information, visit freedom.coop. LISA TWAROG Communications Director 413.787.1133 30 Capital Drive West Springfield, MA 01089 marketmentors.com Daily Credit Union News - Straight to Your Inbox Join thousands of credit union industry professionals who start their day with the latest news, events and technology supporting the credit union industry.

Freedom Credit Union strengthens IT team with new hire, promotions. SPRINGFIELD - Freedom Credit Union has announced several updates within its Information Technology department, including the hiring of Jason Cutroni as assistant vice president, information security officer, and the promotions of Eugene Marceau Jr. to information technology officer and Luke Sopet to network administrator. "Investing in talented technology professionals is essential to protecting our members, supporting our employees, and positioning Freedom Credit Union for continued growth," said Glenn Welch, president and CEO of Freedom Credit Union. "Jason brings valuable experience in information security, and Gene and Luke have consistently demonstrated the expertise and leadership that make them deserving of these promotions." As assistant vice president, information security officer, Cutroni leads the credit union's information security program, overseeing cybersecurity risk management, incident response, vendor risk, and business continuity planning. Before joining Freedom Credit Union, he managed business continuity, disaster recovery, and physical security programs for Workers Federal Credit Union. Marceau was promoted after 13 years as network administrator. In his new role, he oversees the information technology department, leading staff development, project management, and the implementation of technology initiatives across the organization. Sopet, who joined Freedom Credit Union three years ago as a computer network technician, now serves as network administrator, where he manages the organization's network infrastructure and helps ensure the performance and security of its systems. "Jason, Gene, and Luke each bring unique strengths to our organization, and we're excited to see the impact they will have as we continue to enhance the technology and security that support our members every day," Welch said.