As Seen in Forbes & Fortune: Where Multiplying Good is More Than a Mission

In January 2025, Dow Credit Union returned $18.6 million to its members—most of whom are right in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region. It wasn’t a promotion or a one-time rebate but the latest chapter in a business model built to give back. And January wasn’t an anomaly. Since 1980, Dow Credit Union has returned more than $313 million to its members. Not in perks or points but in real, tangible money.

“It may sound unusual in today’s financial world, but at Dow Credit Union, it’s just how things are done,” says Michael Goad, President and CEO. “When a credit union is owned by the people it serves, value flows both ways."

That mindset is woven into Dow Credit Union’s mission to act as a “Multiplier for Good” as it shares success in ways that uplift members, empowers employees, and strengthens communities.

It all goes back to 1937, when employees of The Dow Chemical Company needed a financial safety net amid the Great Depression. Now serving more than 83,000 members across all 50 states and over 40 countries, the cooperative manages $2.5 billion in assets at its two branches, powered by a modern digital platform and the same relationship-first philosophy that sparked its founding nearly a century ago.

“Our mission is to return value in every direction,” explains Sanjay Ahluwalia, CFO. “That means delivering smart financial solutions— and doing it in ways that genuinely improve lives. That’s what it means to be a ‘Multiplier for Good.’”

Elton Brooks, Chief Retail and Lending Officer, iterates that the promise means more than just a better rate. For one member, it meant the chance to begin again. Newly employed, overwhelmed by bills, and running out of options, the member walked in hoping for a little breathing room. And yet, the Dow Credit Union team didn’t just offer a loan. They listened, restructured and consolidated her debt, and helped her reclaim $2,700 a month.

“That kind of transformation is the result of a system that puts people first,” Brooks says. “When your goal is to help someone build stability, everything else follows.”

Where Doing Good Comes Naturally

Dow Credit Union’s rare mix of discipline and generosity has drawn it national recognition. Newsweek, Investopedia, and Business Insider have all ranked it among the nation’s top credit unions either for the rates it offers or for the overall value it provides members. The real reason for its success? Simplicity and service. Dow Credit Union’s operating costs are half the national average, allowing more returns to members and reinvestment in the communities where they live and work.

Membership is also accessible to anyone who lives or works in Michigan, has an affiliation at nearly 100 select employer groups, or makes a $10 donation to the credit union’s Multipliers for Good charitable fund. The fund has supported a wide range of nonprofit initiatives, including funding much-needed X-ray equipment, helping to bring public art to life, providing health care supplies for veterans, and even helping to fund nonprofit organizations that directly support our most vulnerable individuals, including the ALICE population.

“Whether it’s food, diapers, financial coaching, or support for the arts, we show up where it counts, without exception,” says Sheila Wright, Chief Human Resources and Marketing Officer. “We lead with care, and that’s what people remember. When our members thrive, when our team is proud of their work, and when our communities grow stronger, that’s the real reward.”

More than operational efficiency, Dow Credit Union is proof that a culture built to serve attracts great people. Every smooth interaction starts with a team trained not just to respond quickly, but to respond meaningfully. As a result, more than 90% of inquiries are resolved on the first call because, as Wright puts it, “Care isn’t outsourced, and answers aren’t routed through endless layers of scripts and transfers.” She adds that culture multiplies just like dividends do. “Invest in it, nurture it, and the return is found in how our team shows up for members, especially in the hard moments,” she says. “That’s when you really see the difference.”

Unwavering Support, However You Need It

That same people-first mindset drives Dow Credit Union’s approach to technology. Under Chief Information Officer Mark Gandy, the credit union is developing a digital experience that’s fast, intuitive, and tailored to the lives of members. Continuous access to features like biometric login, real-time balance and transaction information, digital payments and wallets, and personalized alerting are just part of the package.

Members need secure, reliable digital banking services around the clock—and location is no longer a barrier. One member, preparing to relocate to Hong Kong, is confident their connection through the digital banking app will remain seamless. That’s exactly what Dow Credit Union’s digital platform is built to deliver. These aren’t edge cases—they’re precisely what Dow Credit Union’s digital platform is designed to support.

“Technology should simplify, not complicate,” says Gandy. “Whether a member’s in Midland or halfway across the world, we want the experience to feel seamless and familiar.”

Still, some of the credit union’s most defining moments happen in person. One such instance occurred when a woman requested $11,000 in cash to pay a contractor who needed it urgently. The teller supervisor personally discussed the situation with her and gently raised concerns, explaining how scams work and how pressure can cloud judgment. Days later, the member returned with the cash still in its box. A postal worker had flagged the destination address as a known fraud ring.

“I was about to hand over everything,” the member told the staff. “And you were the only ones who noticed. You saw what I didn’t.”

From a warm welcome to a well-timed alert, care is a cornerstone of Dow Credit Union’s service model, as even the most straightforward products are designed to give more than they gain. Take Preferred Checking—an account that rewards members for everyday banking activities—for example. Once simple monthly qualifications are met, members earn 5.12% APY on balances up to $20,000 and then .25% APY on anything over. “We’re really proud of this product,” said Goad. “This could add up to an extra $1,000 in our members’ pockets each year—now, if that’s not an opportunity to multiply good, I’m not sure what is.”

Ultimately, the goal is simple. “Be great stewards and deliver a member experience that’s simple, secure, and ‘wow,’” says Goad. “Get that right, and we get to serve—really serve the people who trust us. That’s what it means to be a ‘Multiplier for Good.’ And at Dow Credit Union, it’s more than just our mission statement—it’s the everyday standard.”

APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Rates subject to change. Preferred Checking is a free, variable-rate account with no minimum balance that pays the Preferred Rate on balances up to $20,000 when Qualifying Activities are met during the Monthly Qualification Cycle. Balances over $20,000 and all balances during cycles when qualifications aren’t met earn the Classic Rate. Qualifying Activities to earn the Preferred Rate, you must each month: (1) make at least 15 debit card purchases, (2) receive at least $900 in qualifying direct deposits, (3) sign in to online or mobile banking at least once, and (4) be enrolled in paperless delivery for all statements, tax forms, and notices. See Credit Union for details. Membership required. Insured by NCUA.

Prepress: As Seen In Forbes and Fortune Magazine October 2025 Edition