Editor's note: The following letter to the editor is in response to Executive Editor Heather Anderson's column that ran in the March 23, 2016 print issue of CU Times, "Credit Union Principles Matter."

Oh how you oversimplify for those of us who are financially illiterate.

Consider these possibilities for your scenario:

1. The east coast credit union did not know you were a 25-year financially literate consumer;

2. The east coast credit union did not know you were a John Tippets disciple;

3. The east coast credit union did not know you had a great deal from your existing credit union;

4. If you were the average, financially illiterate consumer, their offer might have both lowered your monthly payment and saved you money in the long run; and,

5. Even if the rate weren't better, if you were a single parent with rent, food and clothing expenses for your family, could $100 a month help with your situation?

I am not sure all association affiliations are despicable. We generally do not use them in this credit union, but it is very helpful to car dealers who want to help us reach out to current nonmembers who can get a better deal from us than a captive or a bank. This gives us a chance to give them a better choice and we often get between 6% and 10% of them to respond to other services.