PO Box 35148 Philadelphia, PA 19128 Contact: Michelle MacKinnon, Manager/CEO Phone: (215)508-1618 Fax: (215)508-1616 URL: http://www.triangleinterests.org/tifcu.html Email: ti@triangleinterests.org

Triangle Interests Federal Credit Union (TRIG) is the first and only national lesbian credit union in the U.S. Like other credit unions, TRIG's services are designed to help members make the most of their resources; and, unlike banks, TRIG will not generate profits for an outside group of stockholders. Earnings on loans and investments are reinvested into the credit union to expand services, lower loan rates, and maximize dividends returned to members.

Program

TRIG currently offers services in the following areas:

Loans
Secured Loans: Members can pledge the assets in their TRIG primary savings account for a low interest loan. As they pay the loan back, the funds in their savings account are made available for their use. Unsecured Loans: TRIG offers a 3-year fixed rate loan for up to $7,500 to qualified borrowers and may grant loans above $7,500 in special circumstances. Clients can use unsecured loans to pay off higher interest credit card balances or to pay for unexpected needs and expenses.

Savings Accounts
Primary Share Savings: All members in the credit union must maintain at least a $5.00 balance in their primary share savings account. Deposits of $100 or more earn interest.
Fantasy Club Accounts: This account lets TRIG members save money each month to meet their own financial goals, and members decide the start and end date of the account.
Certificates of Deposits (CDs): TRIG offers 6, 12 and 24-month CDs starting at amounts as small as $500. Rates depend on length of deposit and amount of certificate.

Investments by individuals, as well as institutions such as Calvert Foundation, provide the lending capital to TRIG.

Client Population

Triangle Interests Federal Credit Union offers membership to all members of its immediate family and organizations that are members of Triangle Interests. To be a member of Triangle Interest, an individual must be a self-identified lesbian woman or a supporting organization, which enhances Triangle Interests' mission of improving the economic status of women. TRIG's clients are located primarily in the urban and semi-urban areas of the greater Philadelphia region, as well as in New York City. TRIG does not track the ethnicity of its members.

Impact

Triangle Interests is proud to sponsor Triangle Interests Federal Credit Union (TIFCU), the first and only national lesbian credit union in the United States. During 2003, Triangle Interests Federal Credit Union operated with total assets equaling $544,376. TRIG's loan portfolio totaled $274,756 and total loans disbursed were $255,805. Moreover, total deposits at TRIG during 2003 totaled nearly $500,000. Through these loans TRIG helped put money back into the lesbian community and its special savings programs helped women plan and save for their retirement, or purchase a home, or start a business.