by Emily Hechler FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (June 26, 2026) – Alltru Credit Union, a leading Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) serving the Greater St. Louis region, is proud to announce that five employees have earned certification through the University of Lending. Alltru’s Hazelwood Member Experience Manager Aumbrey Evans, Employee Development Manager Emily Howes, Wentzville Member Experience Manager Breanna Fornachon, Lending Team Leader III Amanda Thornton, and Lending Coordinator III Sandi Totterer earned University of Lending certification.
The training provides participants with practical ideas and strategies they can bring back to their credit unions. The training helps employees maximize their potential, improve loan yields, develop new member services, and gain the tools needed to better serve members. The program also covers advanced credit report analysis, hidden lending risks, and emerging trends in credit scoring and reporting.
As a CDFI, Alltru’s mission is to provide accessible banking and lending solutions to underserved communities, including individuals who have faced barriers to traditional banking. To further this mission, Alltru offers free credit reviews for members and nonmembers to help identify realistic and achievable ways to improve their credit. The credit union’s relationship lending philosophy focuses on understanding each person’s unique circumstances rather than relying solely on a credit score.
“Completing the University of Lending helps us identify ways we can lend to our members when other financial institutions won’t give them a chance,” said Emily Howes, Employee Development Manager at Alltru Credit Union. “Relationship lending means looking beyond a credit score to understand each member’s unique story and needs. This training empowers our team to seek out those opportunities so we can meet our members where they are and help them build a stronger financial future.”
The University of Lending is a training program by Lending Solutions Consulting. For 30 years, the University of Lending has helped credit unions grow through stronger lending decisions while remaining true to the credit union philosophy of people helping people.
For more information about Alltru Credit Union, visit https://alltrucu.org/.
About Alltru Credit Union
Alltru Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1968 as District 837 Credit Union by the International Association of Machinist Union members employed by McDonnell Douglas in North County St. Louis. Alltru is full-service Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) whose mission is to improve the financial well-being of its members. With over 40,500 members and more than $380 million in assets, Alltru has provided members with a full line of dependable financial products and services for 58 years. For more information about Alltru Credit Union, visit https://alltrucu.org/.
Not a credit union member? Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, or worships within St. Charles county, St. Louis county, or the City of St. Louis. Open an account today.
Media Contact:
Laura Woods – Vice President of Brand and Product Strategy (636) 916-8303; lwoods@alltrucu.org