PBN Best Places to Work 2020
LARGE COMPANIES 1. Navigant Credit Union
Employees in R.I.: 323
CEO and President Gary Furtado
AT NAVIGANT CREDIT UNION, everything starts with a great culture. Whether it be hiring, team-building or staff retention, Navigant is committed to fully supporting employee well-being. The Smithfield-based credit union strongly believes that a positive experience for its team translates into them providing an equally exceptional experience for credit union members.
“Our culture is unique because we truly care as much about our employees as we do about our customers [and] members,” Navigant CEO and President Gary Furtado said. “We really view everyone on the team as family. It’s important that we provide our team with a supportive and flexible place to work, a work-life balance that allows them to prioritize what’s important to them, and benefits that make it attractive for them to stay. It’s just as important that we communicate our mission and we all work together to achieve it.”
Navigant provides banking services to its members – who range from high school students to retirees – through a network of physical branch locations, a national ATM network and digital tools. Many small- to medium-sized businesses rely on the credit union to help them gain access to the capital they need for growth, as well as the financial tools to operate day to day.
The credit union has written more than 1,300 U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program loans, totaling over $90 million to local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic – placing it in the top 20 PPP loan producers in the country among credit unions. Navigant also opened two new Warwick branch offices recently, merged the Kent County Memorial Hospital Federal Credit Union into Navigant and re-launched its indirect lending program, which has significantly increased auto loan production.
Navigant is very generous in recognizing the employees who help make this progress possible. Each year at its annual employee meeting, Navigant recognizes employees in several ways, including a Years of Service award starting at five years, Peer Awards and the LUCI award – a trophy and note that anyone can receive at any time for performing one of the company’s core values of leadership, unity, caring or integrity.
Furtado also hosts anniversary breakfasts at Navigant’s corporate center each year.
The credit union also selects monthly president’s award winners for employees who go above and beyond their everyday job responsibilities. Furtado personally calls each award winner and takes them out to lunch.
Nearly all employees participate in some form of company-offered programming, from cookouts to community volunteering, and holiday parties to free gym access in the corporate center.
“Team-building is so important, and we believe that if we all do our best, no matter your role, that together we set Navigant Credit Union apart,” said Lynn Martin, a retail trainer. “When we have our employee meeting, we always have a fun theme and take this opportunity to spread everyone out so that we have the chance to enjoy time and catch up with co-workers that we may not get to see often.”
It’s not just employees purely participating; they are also driving the process and having a voice in what Navigant does.
“We give all employees the opportunity to drive change,” Furtado said. “Whenever we have a project that needs to be executed, it is accomplished through a project-management process that involves a cross section of the organization. We are mindful that people have their own jobs to do, so we try and not have the same people on multiple projects. This way, many people can work on a team.”
For Furtado, who has 42 years’ experience in the industry, it’s easy to remain passionate about the work Navigant does and the impact that work has on people’s lives.
“Whether it is a high school student’s first checking account and debit card or it’s giving a young family the opportunity to purchase their first home – our work is incredibly important in our members’ lives,” Furtado said. “I work with such great people. They are dedicated to our members and the communities we serve.”
