From left to right at a Canvas CU-CSU Pueblo partnership press conference in Pueblo, Colo., on May 6: Timothy Mottet, president, CSU Pueblo; Dr. Paul Plinske, vice president for athletics and strategic partnerships, CSU Pueblo; Mikayla Lerch, student president, Associated Students' Government, CSU Pueblo; Todd Marksberry, president/CEO, Canvas CU and Dr. Donna Souder Hodge, vice president of operations and advancement, CSU Pueblo. (Photo credit: CSU Pueblo)
The $3.8 billion Canvas Credit Union in Lone Tree, Colo., has become the official credit union of Colorado State University Pueblo in Pueblo, Colo., reflecting an effort to strengthen its commitment to the CSU system and deepen its relationship with members in Southern Colorado.
The five-year sponsorship, which is set to begin in July, will include the operation of a new branch in the university's Occhiato Student Center; exclusive benefits for university students, alumni, faculty and staff; the launch of student account services designed to focus on the unique needs of college students and young adults; and a CSU Pueblo Journey scholarship program totaling $500,000 over the five-year agreement, according to Canvas. Other potential components of the partnership could include an alumni credit card, financial literacy programing, plus potential partnerships with CSU-Housing to provide financial assistance for homebuyers and special offers for CSU affordable housing.
The sponsorship will be structured similarly to Canvas' deal with Colorado State University in Fort Collins, which launched in 2018 as a 15-year sponsorship and includes the operation of a campus branch in the university's Lory Student Center; dedicated CSU account services for students, faculty and staff; and naming rights to the university's Canvas Stadium.
"We are wildly passionate about supporting students and steering their financial well-being early in life," Canvas President/CEO Todd Marksberry stated. "To us, few things are more exciting than the opportunity to help share the power behind the credit union movement with students, as the future of our community. In collaboration with CSU Pueblo, we know we can bring more support, value and community investment to southern Colorado, and ultimately help more Coloradans afford life."
Canvas also said the partnership aligns with a 10-year campaign CSU recently launched to invest into its Pueblo campus, which the university initiated in response to the region being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and resulting economic crisis. Pueblo is located about 40 miles south of Colorado Springs and 114 miles south of Denver.
"Southern Colorado is historically and culturally rich, and it is important that we select partners who share our love for Colorado and will honor the qualities that make our region unique. Welcoming Canvas into our ranks will only elevate our efforts to reinvigorate the Southern Colorado community following the impacts of the pandemic and fuel the forward momentum the region is experiencing," Donna Souder Hodge, vice president of operations and advancement at CSU Pueblo, stated. "We know our relationship with Canvas Credit Union will bring immeasurable value to our 4,000 students and the larger Pueblo community comprised of 120,000 residents."
Canvas completed a merger with the $179 million, Grand Junction-based Western Rockies Federal Credit Union in the fourth quarter of 2021. At the time the merger was proposed, Western Rockies had approximately 14,000 members and three branches in Grand Junction, Rifle and Fruita, Colo., which the combined organizations have continued to run.
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Natasha Chilingerian
Natasha Chilingerian has been immersed in the credit union industry for over a decade. She first joined CU Times in 2011 as a freelance writer, and following a two-year hiatus from 2013-2015, during which time she served as a communications specialist for Xceed Financial Credit Union (now Kinecta Federal Credit Union), she re-joined the CU Times team full-time as managing editor. She was promoted to executive editor in 2019. In the earlier days of her career, Chilingerian focused on news and lifestyle journalism, serving as a writer and editor for numerous regional publications in Oregon, Louisiana, South Carolina and the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition, she holds experience in marketing copywriting for companies in the finance and technology space. At CU Times, she covers People and Community news, cybersecurity, fintech partnerships, marketing, workplace culture, leadership, DEI, branch strategies, digital banking and more. She currently works remotely and splits her time between Southern California and Portland, Ore.
