Oklahoma Community CU employees enjoyed participating in the annual Salvation Army’s holiday season Red Kettle, bell ringing fundraising efforts in December. Salvation Army Board Members and Oklahoma Community employees, Alex Penny and Ruth Summers pitched the idea of the Battle of the Banks to Stillwater’s Salvation Army Captain Nicolas Arroqui.
The idea took off. Local financial institutions participating in the Battle of the Banks not only provided a friendly competition among the financial industry, but it provided the Salvation Army the ability to staff locations without having to pay a bell ringer salary.
Oklahoma Community employees, Alex Penny and Ruth Summers serve on the Salvation Army’s Board of Directors and they implemented the Battle of the Banks competition.
On December 10th, Six Oklahoma Community employees worked 2-hour shifts at the Wal Mart Neighborhood Market on N. Perkins Rd. to raise $449.00 in one 6-hour day.
Penny reported the Salvation Army exceeded their 2021 fund raising goal and Battle of the Banks raised over $8,500 in one week. This year’s winner was Arvest Bank. Other banks & credit unions participating included: Oklahoma Community Credit Union, RCB, the Bank NA, Exchange Bank and Stride Bank.
In a recent Stillwater NewsPress article, Captain Arroqui stated to reporter, Michelle Charles: “It is mind blowing that they would raise that much for us in one event, … this is the first year (for Battle of the Banks) so I’m still kind of in shock about it,” Arroqui said.
Penny and Summers looks to the future where the Battle of the Banks becomes an annual tradition. Oklahoma Community Credit Union plans to participate again in 2022. The Salvation Army states that all donations received stay in the community, and the more the community gives, the more it gives to those in need. This fits right into the credit union’s mission and purpose.