People Helping People: How Genisys Credit Union Powers Oxford and Beyond
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Genisys Credit Union has been part of the Oxford community for decades, but its roots reach back even further. Founded in 1936, Genisys has grown into one of the largest credit unions in the state while staying grounded in its original purpose: serving members, not shareholders.
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Dan Bukowski, Oxford Branch Manager, knows that story well. He has been with Genisys Credit Union for 20 years. “Everything we do is for the members,” Bukowski says. “We’re not for-profit. We’re owned by the members, and what we earn goes right back to them in better rates and better products.”
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Today, Genisys operates 32 branches across Michigan and Minnesota and is the fourth-largest credit union in Michigan, a fact many people do not realize. That scale allows Genisys to offer standout financial products while maintaining a community-first mindset. One example is its youth and student programs, which focus on financial education from an early age. Children can start with savings and money market accounts, then transition into supervised checking accounts that teach budgeting, debit card use, and real-world money management.
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Genisys regularly partners with local schools to host budgeting classes and interactive budget fairs that simulate real-life financial decisions, from housing and transportation to food and entertainment. “We don’t just open accounts,” Bukowski explains. “We help kids learn what things actually cost so they don’t leave high school unprepared.”
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Bukowski is also deeply involved with the Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce and credits the organization with strengthening local business connections. “When people get to know you, like you, and trust you, they start referring business your way,” he says. “It really becomes a community selling for each other.”
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The conversation then shifted to Theresa Doan, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Genisys Credit Union, who highlighted one of the organization’s most talked-about offerings: its high-yield checking account. “It pays 6.75% interest,” Doan says. “That’s extremely rare, and it’s possible because we’re a nonprofit credit union giving money back to members.” With just a $5 minimum to open, the account has drawn national attention and is frequently ranked among the highest-paying checking accounts in the country.
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Doan also emphasized that Genisys’ impact extends far beyond banking. Community involvement is embedded in the organization’s culture. “People helping people is the motto of credit unions,” she says, “and we truly live that.” Genisys supports initiatives focused on ending homelessness and addressing hunger, partnering with organizations like Lighthouse and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.
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Last year alone, over 580 Genisys employees volunteered on the same day across 11 nonprofit organizations, adding to the over 7,700 total volunteer hours contibuted for the year overall. From building fences at Detroit Dog Rescue’s farm to packing food boxes and supporting local farms, employees give their time voluntarily. “This isn’t required,” Doan notes. “It’s who we are.”
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In Oxford specifically, Genisys is a longtime sponsor of the Davis Family Farmers Market at Seymour Lake Park and a visible presence at community events, festivals, and fundraisers. The goal, Doan explains, is simple: “We want to help make Oxford a great place to live, work, and play. When we show up, we’re there to add fun, support the cause, and help people connect.”
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Whether through innovative financial products, hands-on education, or meaningful community service, Genisys Credit Union continues to prove that success and service can go hand in hand, one member and one community at a time.
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To learn more about Genisys Credit Union, visit: https://www.genisyscu.org.