In times of global financial crisis, going local might make for a very shrewd move. As we hear more and more about bank failures, bailouts and toxic assets, it really does seem as if our collective confidence in the banking industry has been shaken. And although the current situation bothers us, it has not been a burden. Why? Because we're not a bank.

In many ways, United Federal Credit Union really is the Anti-Bank. Our biggest differentiator being is that we're not in this for a profit. We're a collective of communities who pool their funds and return any income back to our members in the form of lower charges, higher returns on investments and better service. Sure, we offer checking, savings, loans, CD's, cards and ATM's. But because we give voting power to people on both sides of the teller window, we make decisions based on the greater good, not greater greed. Which makes us not only the Anti-Bank, but the Anti-Dote for what's wrong with the world of finance today.