New Dimensions FCU gets large business award

Left to right, Sara Fifield, Bruce White, Terry Gagne, Darla Frost, Sharon Storti, Elizabeth Dixon, Jeanine Derosby, Ryan Poulin, Tammy Poissonnier, Lori Schmitz, Jason Michaud, Lee Breton, and Tanya Verzoni. (Contributed photo)

On November 4, 2021, CEO, Ryan Poulin, and his team at New Dimensions Federal Credit Union, in Waterville, humbly accepted Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 Large Business Award at the Enchanted Gables, on Hussey Hill Road, in Oakland.

Because of New Dimensions FCU’s mission, “Educate. Empower. Evolve.” applies to both the community and its staff, they work to ensure the growth of membership and employee retention are equally balanced. In 2020, they worked on that balance of achievements that awarded them the honor of receiving such a prestigious community award.

In 2020, New Dimensions positioned itself for growth, and innovation, by constructing a state-of-the-art main office located at 94 Silver Street, in Waterville. The building was designed to be as green as possible including solar energy, heat pumps, natural gas-heated hot water, and energy-efficient lighting. It was imperative to use local contractors and vendors in the construction.

After the move to Silver Street, NDFCU renovated its previous Grove Street location into an operations center, now known as the Digital Branch. With this, the Credit Union expanded its workforce by adding a call center that fields over 7,000 calls monthly.

During the pandemic, New Dimensions focused on retaining all employees and training some of them to assist members in a new capacity including processing numerous SBA PPP loans for businesses.

New Dimensions provides the latest technology to conduct personal and business banking and continues looking for updated, useful and reliable solutions in its products and services that will serve their members well. Board Chairman Jerome Allen states, “We want our members to choose “how” they conduct business with us. From paying for groceries with cell phones to applying for loans or opening accounts from the comfort of their home. But if the member wants to visit a branch, our team is happy to provide that type of personal service, too.”

Ryan Poulin asserts, “New Dimensions doesn’t want to offer just a job to someone, it wants to offer them a career where they can learn and reach their professional goals. NDFCU has staff dedicated to training and career advancement for every employee. This has helped to retain valued, seasoned employees.

Financial Education is one of the key pillars of New Dimensions. Dedicated staff are available to provide members with one-on-one financial counseling. Members can meet with staff to review their credit report and get tips on how to boost their scores, craft an effective household budget, and more. It takes its financial education lessons on the road to local businesses with their Eat, Learn and Prosper program, as free lunch-time classes for the businesses’ employees with lunch provided by NDFCU. Additionally, Financial Educators can be found in classrooms teaching students from Kindergarten through High School with age-appropriate lessons. Deciphering between needs versus wants, how to save money for future goals, and how to use credit responsibly are popular topics. NDFCU has been able to work with hundreds of students both in classroom and through Google Classroom when remote.

Additionally, NDFCU and be credited for its fundraising efforts including their popular Cruise for a Cure Care Show. Fundraising for Ending Hunger Maine, Maine’s Special Olympics and Children’s Cancer Program are also a priority. Similarly, staff members donated over 3,000 hours of their own time in 2020.

CEO Ryan Poulin further adds, “We are in the dream fulfillment business helping people make their dreams come true by giving them the tools they need to be successful.”