Featured Donor: Spirit of Alaska Federal Credit Union
Established in 1960, Spirit of Alaska Federal Credit Union is the largest locally
owned and operated credit union in Fairbanks. In the beginning, it was a small organization
located in the Constitution Hall’s Viking Room at the 鶹 Fairbanks.
When it opened, SOA had $32, stored in a metal cash box. Anthony Rizk, 1997 SOM MBA
alum and currently SOA president and CEO, provided some insight into the organization
and its connection to UAF.
Anthony reported that SOA has had fantastic experiences with UAF graduates, and over
16% of SOA staff are UAF alumni. SOM 2020 graduate, Ben Udden, recently accepted a
position as vice president of Core Financial Systems. UAF faculty and staff have served
on SOA’s board of directors over the years. The synergetic and long-term partnership
with UAF is a boasting point for SOA.
Spirit of Alaska was well positioned to adapt to the COVID disruption. SOA responded
with proactive, preventative measures and offered several options for members to access
their accounts from anywhere. Its customer experience has remained top notch, and
the majority of changes have related to how members complete transactions. The steady
number of transactions during the initial pandemic outbreak was attributed to preparedness.
Members who typically visit the physical lobbies were able to use the drive-up windows
and online banking for uninterrupted service.
SOA is committed to providing members with state-of-the-art technology, and customers
are about to get an upgrade with an enhanced online banking and mobile platform launching
in early November 2020. This new platform will be a refreshing move to a more user
friendly and efficient experience for its members.
Spirit of Alaska has been an ardent supporter of SOM over the years, supporting:
- Professionally Polished Program, a partnership with Frank’s Menswear providing clothing and style coaching to students
- SOA FCU scholarships annually awarding $10,000 to four students
- Plans for a cutting-edge conference room and interactive learning center
As a member of the SOM Business Advisory Council, and as an MBA graduate of SOM, Anthony has a strong affinity for UAF. “I am certain
that I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t made the decision to earn my MBA from
UAF SOM,” says Anthony. “My time in the MBA program were the most beneficial to me
from a career growth standpoint and learning perspective.”