MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) is quickly growing. April Clobes, President and CEO of MSU Federal Credit Union, sat down with me to talk about how she climbed the corporate ladder to become the CEO but also how this credit union, which started in a desk drawer over 50 years ago now has hundreds of thousands of members and manages $7.5 Billion in assets.

Links:

MSU Federal Credit Union Website: https://www.msufcu.org/

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Watch the YouTube Version Here: https://youtu.be/yT0a2p375cA

April Clobes, MSUFCU: I

didn't set out to be the CEO.

2

in 2010, our then CEO, who was five

years from his retirement, had an

3

arrangement with the board that

no one knew, to prepare internal

4

candidates for his succession.

5

I didn't really understand I was on this

journey to be considered to be the CEO.

6

then he had a real conversation

with me of Oh, now we're like less

7

than two years away before I'm

going to make an announcement.

8

So it's now you.

9

Cliff Duvernois: Hello, everyone, and

welcome to Total Michigan, where we

10

interview ordinary Michiganders doing

some pretty extraordinary things.

11

I'm your host, Cliff Duvernois.

12

Today I'm in Lansing, Michigan.

13

And I get the unique privilege and

honor to talk to somebody who's

14

really accomplished quite a bit

15

It's really an incredible story.

16

Ladies and gentlemen, let me

present to you the president and

17

CEO of MSU Federal Credit Union,

and that would be April Clobes.

18

April, how are you?

19

April Clobes, MSUFCU: I'm doing great.

20

Thanks for having me.

21

Cliff Duvernois: Awesome.

22

Why don't you tell us a little bit about

where you're from and where you grew up.

23

April Clobes, MSUFCU: Oh absolutely.

24

So I am from Bay City, Michigan.

25

And I did grow up most

of my life in Michigan.

26

I did spend tell us a little you

know, maybe five to six years living

27

in other states with my family

before we returned to Michigan.

28

But graduated high school

from Bangor John Glenn.

29

Cliff Duvernois: go to college?

30

I went

31

April Clobes, MSUFCU: I went

to Michigan State University.

32

Cliff Duvernois: What did you study?

33

April Clobes, MSUFCU: I studied

marketing, in the College of Business.

34

It was probably like my third or fourth

major choice, but that's where I finished.

35

Cliff Duvernois: Why did you

decided to get into marketing?

36

April Clobes, MSUFCU: Well, I had come

to school to be pre law, in all honesty.

37

And I had, spent a lot of time

preparing for a career as an attorney.

38

And when I started doing,

some of the school work.

39

I just started working through like,

I'm not sure this is what I want to do.

40

Mostly I started, I had a class assignment

where you had to interview attorneys.

41

And I had to interview different

types of practicing attorneys.

42

So I interviewed a prosecutor,

I interviewed a defense

43

attorney, corporate lawyer.

44

And I was like, I don't know

that this sounds like fast paced

45

and interesting enough, right?

46

And and so then I

started exploring majors.

47

And, I was already taking some business

courses and really took a marketing class.

48

And it just, it felt right.

49

And so I finished out in marketing

and it's actually where I spent most

50

of my career before this job, Yeah.

51

Cliff Duvernois: Speaking of which,

after you graduated from college,

52

where did you land your first job?

53

April Clobes, MSUFCU: job?

54

My first job was with Monroe Auto,

which is an automotive supplier

55

located right here in Michigan.

56

Except I was, assigned

the Chicagoland area as my

57

territory, doing corporate sales.

58

I showed the corporate clients,

which were Kmart and TrackAuto.

59

Cliff Duvernois: I Oh.

60

Very nice.

61

April Clobes, MSUFCU:

Yeah, it did not last long.

62

Cliff Duvernois: have to be,

That wasn't your cup of tea.

63

April Clobes, MSUFCU: Yeah, I think

you have to be, have the perspective

64

of 1994, which is a long time ago now.

65

And the work environment and, being,

at the time, probably one of very few

66

females in the role, in just the industry

expectations and, it, it was not a

67

work environment where I could thrive.

68

Cliff Duvernois: so how did you start

to put your foot into banking finance

69

April Clobes, MSUFCU: Yeah.

70

well, this was everyone, oh,

this is not my, like, sat

71

around and had a good dream job.

72

It was, for me, I had

a marketing background.

73

And so after I left Monroe Auto, I

actually went to a company in the metro

74

Detroit area called Lighting Supply.

75

And they were a commercial

lighting distributor.

76

And I did their marketing.

77

What that meant was I did catalogs

of light bulbs and trade shows

78

for the facilities team at

your corporate office, right?

79

And the light bulbs that they might

need to buy, and really handled

80

the marketing for this company.

81

company.

82

And so I really enjoy marketing.

83

I was in the metro Detroit area.

84

And wanted to come back

to the Lansing region.

85

My now husband was here.

86

He was working at Michigan State.

87

So I just started looking for jobs to

be honest with you in the old fashioned

88

way of a newspaper back in the day.

89

And, I was a member of the credit

union from my time at Michigan State.

90

There was a marketing job open and I had

been, while working at Michigan State

91

University as a student, I had been a

marketing intern in the union building.

92

And the credit union had an office

location, for a branch in the union.

93

And I often had to call the vice

president of marketing at the

94

credit union for things, right?

95

Will you put an ad in this

student event program?

96

Will you sponsor this?

97

Can you give us trinkets?

98

And when the, when I saw the

ad, I was, had a memory of Oh,

99

I remember this experience.

100

And the woman that I worked

with at the credit union.

101

So I applied.

102

Turns out she remembered me

from my time at MSU as well.

103

And then I was hired in as

104

Cliff Duvernois: 1996.

105

When you graduated college and

you entered the workforce, Okay,

106

you newly minted college graduate.

107

Did anybody give you any advice?

108

As far as, starting your

career, anything else?

109

April Clobes, MSUFCU: No.

110

We were talking a little bit as

we were getting ready, right?

111

I'm a first generation

college student, in my family.

112

And so I have working class parents.

113

And my mom actually grew

up on a farm in Michigan.

114

And so navigating college and then

after college, what I knew was I had

115

worked and put myself through college.

116

And I needed a job after college.

117

And when In the time that I graduated

and I had a marketing degree,

118

your job options were really to

be a salesperson for some company.

119

And so I went through rounds and rounds of

interviews, and landed with Monroe Auto.

120

And that's why I said it just

wasn't the place for me, right?

121

I didn't go to do sales.

122

I did...

123

Wanted to do marketing.

124

I wanted to do like the

traditional marketing, right?

125

I wanted to promote products and services

to customers in our case members.

126

and so to me It was I had to

work my way back to doing what I

127

considered the marketing experience.

128

so then I ended up here.

129

So it wasn't about Banking or finance.

130

It was about doing marketing.

131

Cliff Duvernois: So you were saying

before about being a first generation

132

college graduate in your family.

133

Your parents must of been very proud.

134

April Clobes, MSUFCU: Yeah.

135

my mom is very proud of me.

136

We talk about it a lot.

137

I give my mom all the credit

for how I got to my journey.

138

And how I was able to be successful.

139

And my dad left, when I was 10.

140

And so my mom was single mom to myself

and my brother for, since I've been 10.

141

And, She really had a lot of expectations.

142

Because she didn't want me to experience

what she had experienced, right?

143

She didn't have a chance

to attend college.

144

She, didn't have the maybe income

potential as a single parent, that is

145

afforded people who went to college.

146

And so it was a very big emphasis in

our household of study, get good grades,

147

work really hard, go to college and

you'll be able to support yourself.

148

And I tell that story all the time.

149

And my mom is like, ah, and I'm

like, mom, I am where I am because of

150

who you are.

151

Cliff Duvernois: Indeed.

152

April Clobes, MSUFCU: Yeah.

153

Cliff Duvernois: Beautiful.

154

So you've got hired in at the credit

union as a marketing specialist.

155

April Clobes, MSUFCU:

a marketing specialist.

156

Cliff Duvernois: So talk to us a little

bit about navigating the corporate ladder.

157

How did you start to, start to really make

a name for yourself and climb those rungs?

158

April Clobes, MSUFCU: Sure.

159

So you have to be in perspective.

160

I know people maybe know what our

organization looks like today.

161

1996, 27 years ago, we had a hundred

employees at the credit union.

162

We were 400 million asset institution,

very MSU local into Lansing.

163

So it was really easy to do extra

work, is what I always tell everyone.

164

So I started in marketing.

165

I'm actually old enough that we

did not have internet capable

166

programs at the credit union.

167

And when my predecessor in the

CEO position became the CEO of

168

the credit union, he had a big

focus on we needed to be online.

169

And we needed to be able to promote

our products and services online.

170

We needed to be able to

serve members online.

171

And we had nothing online.

172

And so when he became the CEO in

173

effort and initiative for the credit

union to become, wired online.

174

The true story is, he came and

said, Hey, we need a website.

175

And I'm the one, marketing

employee reporting to the

176

vice president of marketing.

177

And we may have had an intern or a

second, person that was, we always

178

had felt like one employee and a half.

179

and so I raised my hand because it

was like, I'm sure that's going to

180

require that I have to work extra.

181

Because I will need to do

my day to day already job.

182

And then we're going to do this website,

and I might make overtime, right?

183

And having put myself through college,

that seemed really appealing, that I

184

could, make a little extra cash, be

able to, maybe buy some fun clothes

185

and shoes, which was my passion.

186

And pay off my student loan.

187

So it sounded like a great idea.

188

So I literally taught myself

how to code a website, and...

189

HTML for dummies was a great

book when that came out.

190

Cliff Duvernois: Hey, I had it.

191

So I'm right there with you

192

April Clobes, MSUFCU: and it

journeyed from there to be honest.

193

And so I spent, really from about

194

operations and making them digital.

195

And I think some, I spoke

to new hires this morning.

196

And they asked a question

about my journey.

197

And no, I didn't set out to be the CEO.

198

But what I think happened in

that path is a few things.

199

One, I really, intricately knew

how the organization operated.

200

We took every process and put

it online for the member, right?

201

So if you had walked in the door to

do a transfer in your account, I had

202

to figure out how that worked, right?

203

And how are we going to put

it in a program that now

204

is a home banking program.

205

If you wanted to apply for

something online, what were

206

the fields that we needed?

207

And when that button hit submit,

what type of output file and how did

208

we get it into the core software to

actually open an account for you?

209

and what documentation was

needed from the members?

210

They came in all of those parts.

211

You learned how the data and the

information and the process flowed.

212

And you also learned all about

the service to the member and the

213

expectation and how to deliver that.

214

So I had this unique set of skills

that, I, probably can't be replicated

215

unfortunately today to find out

how things worked in a new way.

216

And so I got to do that for a long time.

217

And I went from, a manager and

218

And in 2009, my first boss

here at the credit union,

219

the VP of marketing, retired.

220

Then I had the opportunity to

also, work with our marketing team.

221

in 2010, our then CEO, who was five

years from his retirement, had an

222

arrangement with the board that

no one knew, to prepare internal

223

candidates for his succession.

224

And myself and another individual were

those candidates and and I tease him

225

about it, so we have, and I still see

him, and he lives in town, and we joke

226

about it, I really thought, and now

I'm sure people can think this about

227

me, he was getting to be a certain age.

228

We were getting much bigger at this point.

229

We were over a billion dollars in assets.

230

Approaching two.

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we just started thinking

well he he needs help right?

232

Like it's getting bigger.

233

So and probably he's getting older and all

those things that as a young person you

234

may assess without the life experience.

235

And so really what happened is the

organization leadership was divided

236

amongst the two of us to, learn other

operational areas of the credit union.

237

And we did that for a little bit.

238

And then another organization,

had a CEO position open.

239

And my counterpart applied for

and received that position.

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I didn't really understand I was on this

journey to be considered to be the CEO.

241

But after she left, then he had a real

conversation with me of Oh, now we're

242

like less than two years away before

I'm going to make an announcement.

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And three years before I leave.

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And there's not enough time to

start preparing other people.

245

So it's now you.

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And so then I was like,

that's what we're doing?

247

I wasn't prepared for that.

248

Most people are surprised to hear

this, but I'm an introvert by nature.

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Being the CEO is a very extroverted job.

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And my boss, he was very extroverted.

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And so I was like, I can't do that.

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And then we spent, the next two

years, and I learned other areas of

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the organization, board operations,

and working with our Board of

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Directors and all those great things.

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I tell everybody that every

day is your job interview.

256

Because I felt like that my career

path gave me the opportunity.

257

The Board knew me from early

years when I'm presenting.

258

This is a website at the Board meeting.

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Because no one knew what a website

was or how it worked except for me.

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I made it.

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and so you had some experiences that

made me uniquely positioned for the role.

262

and for people to know me along my journey

as we were making and creating new things.

263

Then the board, of course,

put me in the role.

264

I wouldn't be here with you right now.

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Cliff Duvernois: We got a lot to unpack.

266

April Clobes, MSUFCU: I try to tell

that in a succinct way because it's

267

really like this weird journey, right?

268

Cliff Duvernois: No, but it's your

journey and I love it and we definitely

269

need to unpack a couple of things.

270

But for our audience, we're gonna take

a quick break to thank our sponsors

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and when we come back I'm gonna pepper

April with all kinds of questions.

272

We'll see you after the break.

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Hello, everyone, and welcome back to

Total Michigan, where we interview

291

ordinary Michiganders doing some

pretty extraordinary things.

292

I'm your host, Cliff DuVernois.

293

Today, we're talking with April Clobes,

president and CEO of the Michigan

294

State University Federal Credit Union.

295

Might as well put it all

out there for everybody.

296

April, before the break, going back

when you first joined the credit union.

297

This was internets in its infancy.

298

Not a lot of people are online.

299

If they are they're probably in chat rooms

using aOL dial up or whatever what I would

300

like to do is I to explore the journey

of bringing the credit union online.

301

Because that for a lot of people

is a huge like culture shift.

302

Like we were so used to doing everything

via paper and, members have got to come

303

in and if you start to do it online, the

credit union is going to fail or whatever.

304

And I know you probably had some people

that may have give some resistance.

305

So talk to us about.

306

That, that literally like the

culture shift going on, going

307

from a pure paper world to online.

308

April Clobes, MSUFCU: As I was sitting

here trying to reflect on that, today

309

I could see what might happen with

the employees and the members, right?

310

At the time that I was tasked with

this, I was probably young and totally

311

oblivious in all honesty, right?

312

I'm a people pleaser by nature.

313

My boss gave me a job.

314

And I was going to achieve it, right?

315

and so I, I don't remember like

all the resistance to online.

316

But I do remember that, there

was a lot of me explaining and

317

talking about what we're doing.

318

And I think that's probably, I have

a marketing background, so I probably

319

just looked at, oh, we have a new

product, we have a new whatever, I

320

need to tell everybody what it is.

321

And so we did a lot of employee

meetings and said, oh, we're

322

going to have this website.

323

And here's how you're going to use it.

324

And here's what's on it.

325

And I'm going to come and sit in your

department, and you're going to help me.

326

Because that was also it.

327

I knew our products.

328

But I didn't know how to journey

them to the fine detail when a member

329

would call and ask, how do I apply?

330

I knew we had auto loans.

331

I knew the rates.

332

I knew you could apply and

come into the branch, right?

333

But then I didn't know what happened.

334

And so I did a lot of time shadowing

lots of employees and sitting with

335

them, watching what they were doing.

336

And then trying to, for me

and my marketing mind, right?

337

Draw it on a piece of paper and

make it look like a web form and

338

figure out if they push submit here.

339

Now what's going to

happen behind that form?

340

And where does it go and

touching our core software?

341

and so I think because again, we

were still a smaller organization

342

with just around 100 employees.

343

People knew what I was working on, right?

344

And I knew I was coming and

going to learn from them.

345

And I think the fact that people were

helping me figure all those processes

346

out really meant we were all in it.

347

I do remember getting an

opportunity to present to our

348

board at the, in the earlier years.

349

And it was when we were

beyond the first website.

350

But we started having conversations, you,

talking about AOL and all of that, right?

351

And but explaining we're

gonna, we need email addresses.

352

And, that members are going

to email us and ask questions.

353

And we needed to be able to serve people

via an email exchange versus a phone call.

354

I remember one of our board

members, who was a great human,

355

but at the point was retired.

356

And he retired before, there

was email in the office, right?

357

And I remember being in a board

meeting explaining, I remember

358

the hand going up and going.

359

Who's going to email us?

360

And what would they write?

361

And just like being confused

that what do you mean you don't

362

understand what they might email us.

363

Cause I was living this world

of we understood people would

364

email you anything just like they

would call and ask you anything.

365

But really then realizing I needed to

unpack that information for different

366

audiences at the organization, was

probably a great learning opportunity,

367

for the rest of my experience of

everyone is at a different point

368

in their journey with everything.

369

And so how do we make sure we're

touching everyone with what the

370

information they need at the time

they need it, internal and external?

371

And so then we went on a bigger

journey of let's talk about how

372

we're going to use this platform?

373

What for?

374

How will the members use it?

375

And then once it's going

live, come back and talk about

376

here's what people are doing.

377

Here's the data.

378

I mean I could probably still this day.

379

But I could at any point you could

ask me how many people applied for

380

their account online versus in person

And I could tell you that number.

381

How many people did a transaction

themselves right on the home banking

382

versus in the branch and so forth.

383

Because you needed to be able to show the

value of the work that you were doing.

384

if we were doing it correctly

and the members were responding.

385

So it, you became versed in things

differently than you used to before.

386

Cliff Duvernois: I love how you

evangelized the website and understanding

387

who your audience is to be able to

explain it to not only employees,

388

but also going up the ladder as well.

389

Like you were talking about

explaining it to the board.

390

April Clobes, MSUFCU: Yeah, that's

the nice part of a small organization.

391

And at the time when you were the

one leader that knew the technology

392

online, you then it was like, Hey, you

have to come and present to the board.

393

And that's why I said I had some very

unique everyday job opportunities by I

394

don't know today that an employee who is

working on a project would be invited to

395

a board meeting to explain it anymore.

396

And because now their leader

knows it, their leader's leader

397

knows it, all of those things

because of our scope and size.

398

But we were a flat organization.

399

And so you had a chance to demonstrate

your work and abilities not only to

400

your direct manager, but to many people.

401

Cliff Duvernois: historical

context, because you've mentioned

402

a couple times that when you first

started working here at the credit

403

union, there was 100 employees.

404

So what I would like to do

is, I'd to explore like a

405

little bit about the history.

406

Like when was the credit union founded?

407

When you joined it, like where

was it at that point in time?

408

April Clobes, MSUFCU:

409

yeah, three years after the Federal Credit

410

our organization, there are people

who may not understand credit unions.

411

I'll try to do that real brief.

412

So, a credit union comes out of

the Federal Credit Union Act, which

413

was to have a banking alternative

for people of modest means.

414

We also are chartered to be, from the

federal charter, or a state charter.

415

So our organization is out of a

federal charter, means the federal

416

government, examines us versus

the state government examines us.

417

What that also means is how you're

chartered is you can be chartered

418

to serve communities, you can

be chartered to serve employers.

419

And we were chartered to serve an

employer, Michigan State University.

420

So the faculty, staff, we had to come

together and form the credit union.

421

And the credit union nature is our

board of directors are all volunteer.

422

And so for the first 20 years of the

credit union's existence, the board

423

of directors were the management

of the credit union volunteers.

424

And they ran the credit union

for 20 years for the employees

425

of Michigan State University.

426

And I tease today when I

go talk to students, right?

427

We all are used to go fund me and all

of those types of campaigns, right?

428

But in 1937, if you wanted

to borrow, I think we had a

429

maximum limit for $100 loan.

430

The board would call maybe 10

other Members that were in place.

431

Could you bring in $10 on deposit

so we can lend it over here?

432

then the board approved your loan

and the board knew who you were.

433

And they knew where you worked.

434

And the other people over

here knew who you were.

435

That, brought in the money on deposit.

436

But that's really the nature

of what a credit union is.

437

The members bring money in deposit, we

lend it to the members that need it.

438

so we operated like that for 20 years.

439

In 1957, the board of directors

hired their first employee, and

440

her name was Frances Liz Neskey.

441

I really always stop and pause.

442

1957, first employee manager of

the credit union is a female.

443

Fran was the leader of the

credit union for 30 years.

444

She was employee number one, and

445

So we're probably at 60 employees

or something at that point.

446

But we had an office on a Kwanzaa

Hunt and MSU's campus at that point

447

until we moved and grew at that point.

448

Fran is our virtual assistant now.

449

And so that's, we named our virtual

assistant, our AI chat bot after

450

Fran because, is you gotta have a

great story for your AI assistant.

451

And so today the credit union is, When I

started, we were 400 million in assets.

452

When I became the CEO, we were 2.

453

5 billion in assets eight years ago.

454

And we're just, about 7.

455

7 billion in assets today.

456

We have a little over 1, 100 employees.

457

We are a statewide organization.

458

We have 23 branches throughout

the state of Michigan, not just

459

local in Lansing any longer.

460

Cliff Duvernois: That's an

incredible growth spurt.

461

When you started, there was a hundred.

462

Now you're at 1100.

463

That's like a levity

gabillion percent increase.

464

That is huge

465

April Clobes, MSUFCU: You can

feel that some days, right?

466

Yeah.

467

I meet with new hires every

month and I literally am like,

468

I want to know your name.

469

But I do want to also explain

there's one of me that you

470

will know who I am, of course.

471

And there are eleven hundred employees and

I'm trying really hard to know all of you.

472

But you have to help me, right?

473

I may not remember.

474

The first moment I see you, your name or

where you are placed in the organization.

475

Cliff Duvernois: let's take a couple

of minutes to discuss that, because

476

I'm a real big believer in the fact

that culture does flow downhill.

477

So let's talk about you because

there's a two year transition, right?

478

And I want to make sure that I

emphasize that because a lot of people

479

think, CEO just, says, I'm going to

retire and get somebody else in here.

480

But there was a two year period.

481

You step into the role of CEO.

482

And talk to us about your views

on culture, employee relations.

483

April Clobes, MSUFCU: My predecessor had a

great foundation for the organization and

484

we've always been, if we treat employees

well, have great programs, benefits,

485

competitive pay for employees, they

will actually want to come work here.

486

And if you want to come work here

and you enjoy the work that you're

487

doing, then you may be happier.

488

And when you're happier, you have a better

interaction with our members and Then

489

they are happier, and then they want to

do more business with us, then we have the

490

financial ability to continue that cycle.

491

Now, it sounds so easy.

492

But it does take a lot of work and time.

493

We've made changes, of course,

as I've been in the role.

494

we've strengthened a lot of practices.

495

we have, a very robust DEIMB program.

496

Diversity, Equity,

Inclusion, and Belonging.

497

what that means though, is in the

workplace, we relax dress code, right?

498

So when I first started working here,

women had to wear nylons, right?

499

And, you couldn't have hair

in any color you wanted, it

500

had to be like natural hair.

501

You couldn't have visible tattoos or

piercings, and all the very, what I would

502

call traditional banking, dress code.

503

and one of the first things that

somebody asked me when I began,

504

can, why can't I have purple hair?

505

And I just looked at the person

and I was like, I don't know why

506

you can't have purple hair, right?

507

If you want purple hair, go for it.

508

and so really breaking down the workplace,

so people, no matter who you are, feel

509

you can come here and be yourself.

510

And that takes away just one more level

of work anxiety that give you time

511

to focus on the great work that you

can be a part of in our organization.

512

And so we really work at cultivating that.

513

My life goal is that when you wake up

in the morning, you're not dreading

514

coming to work at the credit union.

515

And because I've had jobs like

that, I've had times, maybe, with

516

some folks that I might have worked

here at the credit union with.

517

And it's for me, it's always do you

like the mission of the work that we

518

are doing in addition to the culture

that we have for you as an employee.

519

And they both have to align

for who you are as a person.

520

And when you can do that, then

I think great things happen

521

and that's what I think we see

in our organization every day.

522

To give

523

Cliff Duvernois: in addition to going

from 100 to 1, 100 employees, how

524

many branches have you grown to now?

525

April Clobes, MSUFCU: so we have

23 today open and operating.

526

We have seven in progress.

527

and those, two of those are

here in Michigan and five are

528

in the downtown city of Chicago.

529

And, we also have announced, two

community bank acquisitions that

530

will provide five additional

branches in the suburbs of Chicago.

531

By the end of 2024, we will

have an additional 12 branches,

532

so 35 by the end of next year.

533

Cliff Duvernois: That's incredible.

534

How many customers are you

535

April Clobes, MSUFCU: Yeah.

536

So in our industry, they're members

537

Cliff Duvernois: Members, yes.

538

April Clobes, MSUFCU: I just,

I can't say customer I have.

539

that would just feel really awkward.

540

And so for us as members, and so

today we have 355, 000 members.

541

and they are nationwide and worldwide.

542

so about 30 percent of our membership

lives out of the state of Michigan, right?

543

yeah.

544

Cliff Duvernois: That is incredible.

545

April Clobes, MSUFCU: We have

lots of elligible members.

546

I always like That to remind people that.

547

We're chartered to serve all

things Michigan State University

548

and Oakland University.

549

Actually, today I'm wearing my

Oakland University colors as I

550

visited their campus earlier today.

551

But, Michigan State alone

has 500, 000 living alumni.

552

Oakland University is,

slightly shy of, 100, 000.

553

And so you put that together, right?

554

If everyone who could take advantage

of having their business, their

555

financial business with the credit

union, we could be even larger.

556

hmm.

557

Mm hmm.

558

Cliff Duvernois: That is That is

wonderful And I want to go back because

559

you mentioned something earlier about

being for the Michigan State employees.

560

But now we're talk about

students and alumni as

561

Is it literally anybody

associated with MSU?

562

And

563

April Clobes, MSUFCU: It's as

anybody associated who would like

564

to have an account with us, we can

open an account for anyone today.

565

So we were originally chartered for

the employees of the university.

566

Over time, you work with your

regulator and you move through a

567

process to add other constituent

groups to your field of membership.

568

And our world is called

field of membership.

569

So we expanded to include students,

alumni, not just the faculty and staff.

570

And then, Oakland university in

the fifties, was MSU Oakland.

571

And so when they became their

own independent university of

572

Oakland university, they were in

our field of membership still.

573

And so we actually serve

Oakland university as Oakland

574

University Credit Union.

575

So we run.

576

O U C U in the Oakland, campus area.

577

then also we, because of our charter,

credit unions have very unique

578

ways to be chartered, and we're

in charter as a select employer

579

group base, so that's what MSU was.

580

They were our selected employer.

581

But as that, you can add

incremental s employers.

582

and so we have added, One

by one, a lot of employers.

583

McLaren, Greater Lansing Hospital.

584

so though, they, there is a

regulatory process for approval.

585

The state of Michigan, employees.

586

So lots of employers have, gone

through the process to be approved by

587

our regulatory body that the, we will

serve them as a credit union as well.

588

And then we also run a foundation

that's called the Desk Door Fund.

589

Because we started at a desk drawer on

MSU's campus for those first 20 years.

590

if you are a donor to the desk drawer

fund, you are also eligible to open

591

an account at the credit union.

592

So if there is a process where

maybe you've exhausted all possible

593

connectivity, then you, we can, accept

your gift, to our scholarship fund and

594

then you're a donor to the foundation.

595

And then you become a member as well.

596

Cliff Duvernois: One final question I got.

597

as you're the CEO, why don't

you share with us the vision

598

of MSU Federal Credit Union?

599

April Clobes, MSUFCU: The vision

of the organization is to provide

600

superior service with human service

and technology working together to

601

provide financial access to all.

602

And when you break that down, really

what we're experiencing today is there's

603

always a digital journey to be had.

604

There's always an in

person or on the phone.

605

But a human person journey that

your business needs to have.

606

And they need to know how

to work well together.

607

There are people in our society that

only want to do self service and digital.

608

And there are people who

only want human help service.

609

And then there are people who fall in the

middle and you have to be able to hand

610

that off back and forth in a seamless way.

611

And then I think the pandemic era

taught us that the ability to serve

612

the volume that we are at today.

613

We will never be able to hire enough

people right now to do only human service.

614

So we have to have ways that technology

and digital are always working together.

615

So that's in our vision statement because

it provides the direction for projects.

616

It provides the path for what's

the focus of our organization.

617

Branching is the focus for us.

618

That's a human service capacity.

619

But when you walk in, there's

a digital component to it.

620

You check yourself in, just like at

the Secretary of State now, right?

621

I do, I can do an online appointment.

622

I have the ability to maybe manage my time

in the branch differently because we have

623

digital systems to help you with that.

624

So everybody's working

seamlessly together.

625

Cliff Duvernois: April, if somebody's

listening to this interview and they

626

want to check out more about what MSU

Federal Credit Union is about, what's

627

the best way for them to do that?

628

April Clobes, MSUFCU:

Well our website is www.

629

msufcu.

630

org.

631

You can certainly type

my name in LinkedIn.

632

And I'm sure you'll see lots

of things about us online.

633

Cliff Duvernois: April, thank you so

much for taking time out of your very

634

busy schedule to chat with us today.

635

I really do appreciate it.

636

April Clobes, MSUFCU: Thank you.

637

It's been a lot of fun.

638

Cliff Duvernois: For our audience, you

can always roll on over to TotalMichigan.

639

com, click on April's interview.

640

And, get the links that

she mentioned earlier.

641

We'll see you next week when we

talk to another Michigander doing

642

some pretty extraordinary things.

643

We'll see you then.