With Summer Solstice quickly approaching, Breakwater has been enjoying summer vibes and community events that make life in the Keweenaw shine. This past weekend, we celebrated the 66th Anniversary of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge by participating in Bridgefest activities. As we look ahead, we are excited to join our community in celebrating the summer season by continuing to support the events, traditions, and gatherings that bring our communities together.
Join us Wednesday, June 24, from 11AM-1PM for our annual Member Cookout at Breakwater! We’ll be handing out free Vollwerth’s Hot Dogs & Brats to all community members, and our members will have the opportunity to enter their name for a chance to win one of our many exciting prizes.
Adult prizes include an RTIC cooler, Sayen’s Interior Detailing package, gift cards for Erickson’s Feed, Seed, & Pet Supply, a Soundcore speaker, hammock, and YETI drinkware. Youth prizes include gift cards for KC Bonkers and Respawn Laser Tag, Hydro Flask water bottles, and a tree swing.
We’ll also have activities for kids, including face painting, coloring, and more family-friendly fun throughout the event. So, stop by and join in the fun!
We are committed to supporting our members and community by providing financial education and resources that empower individuals and families to achieve their financial goals. Our goal is to meet our community where they are and create meaningful opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn and grow. As we carry the momentum of Financial Literacy Month into the summer season, check out some of the ways we’re continuing to make an impact in our communities.
We kicked off June by presenting at the final Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn of the season. Our presentation focused on fraud, its impact on small and mid-sized businesses, and the internal controls organizations can implement to help prevent fraud before it occurs.
In today’s ever-evolving digital world, scammers have become increasingly sophisticated, often impersonating trusted individuals, creating a sense of urgency, and pressuring victims to act quickly. That’s why it’s important for businesses to pause and verify suspicious or unexpected requests before taking action.
Simple safeguards such as requiring dual approval for payments, separating responsibilities across roles, monitoring accounts regularly, and setting up account alerts can go a long way in reducing fraud risk. Ongoing employee training is equally important, helping staff recognize red flags and protect both themselves and their organizations from the financial and emotional impacts of fraud.
We wrapped up the Lunch & Learn with a fun game of Business Fraud Jeopardy, where attendees put their knowledge to the test for a chance to win prizes. The event sparked meaningful conversations about fraud prevention and reinforced the idea that the best defense against fraud is a proactive one.
Breakwater was excited to attend VetFest for the first time this June. The event connects local veterans with organizations and resources that support their everyday needs and well-being.
At our booth, we shared financial literacy resources and information about common scams targeting veterans, helping attendees protect themselves from fraud and make informed financial decisions. We also offered free educational books about credit, supporting our ongoing commitment to empowering individuals through financial education.
It was great to connect with so many veterans, families, and community organizations dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of those who served.
We look forward to attending this valuable event again next year!
Breakwater is excited to have been invited back for a second summer to provide Upward Bound students with hands-on financial education during Michigan Tech’s Summer Youth Programs.
Last year’s workshops focused on real-world budgeting skills designed to help students navigate life after high school with confidence. This year’s workshop will continue to highlight the importance of budgeting while also exploring topics such as establishing and building credit, investing for the future, and avoiding financial pitfalls. Our goal is to help prepare students for life after high school by equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed financial decisions.
We’ve found that financial education is most effective when learners can actively engage with the material. In keeping with the spirit of Summer Youth Programs, our Upward Bound session will incorporate interactive games and activities designed to make learning financial concepts fun and memorable.
Financial education is just one way we support our members and community. We also continue to invest in products and services that help members take control of their financial future. Check out our featured products and services to learn more about some of the new tools and resources available to our members.
Breakwater is excited to announce that My Financial Health is now available to members in Online Banking and the Breakwater Mobile App. With this new feature, members can stay informed, protect their identity, and take a proactive approach to their financial wellness through credit monitoring, identity protection, and personalized financial insights, all in one place.
My Financial Health offers two plans for our members. The Basic (Free) version allows members to view their Transunion FICO 9 Credit Score, provides basic dark web monitoring, personal information monitoring, and a consolidated view of your subscriptions. The Premium Plan includes all the Basic features, plus useful features like social security number monitoring, change of address alerts, removal of personal information from data broker sites, identity theft insurance, and more!
Read more about the features My Financial Health offers and access our FAQ section.
Go!Whether you’re heading off to college, finishing your degree, or looking to refinance existing student loan debt, Breakwater is here to help. Through our new partnership with CU Student Choice, Breakwater members have access to responsible, credit union-funded student loan and refinance options.
Benefits include competitive fixed and variable rates, flexible repayment options, multi-year approval for in-school loans with a single application,* and a 0.25% rate reduction for enrolling in automatic payments during repayment.
As your local credit union, we are committed to supporting students throughout their educational journey because empowering our members to achieve their goals is at the heart of everything we do.
*Subject to annual review and credit qualification. Must meet school Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
Read more about the options available to you through our CU Student Choice program or apply online!
Go!Breakwater is dedicated to positively impacting the communities we serve, and our employee volunteer program is one of the many ways we bring that commitment to life.
As of June 15, we are excited to announce that we are already over halfway toward reaching this year’s volunteer goal. Through their volunteer efforts, Breakwater employees have supported more than fifteen different causes this year, including organizations such as 31 Backpacks, the Copper Country Humane Society, the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home, the UP Regional Blood Center, and Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, as well as numerous local events and community initiatives.
After exceeding our volunteer target in 2025, the incredible engagement and dedication of our employees inspired us to raise the bar for 2026 by increasing our annual volunteer goal by 50%. This year, our team is working toward a collective goal of 252 volunteer hours, with each employee eligible to contribute up to 12 volunteer hours annually toward this goal. Employees are encouraged to volunteer beyond those 12 hours, though additional hours are not included in the goal calculation in an effort to encourage volunteerism across our entire team.
We are incredibly proud of our team’s commitment to giving back and look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in the communities we serve throughout the remainder of the year.
If your organization or event is seeking volunteers, we encourage you to reach out to marketing@breakwaterfcu.org. While we can’t guarantee participation in every opportunity, we are always happy to share volunteer opportunities with our employees that align with their interests and availability.
As we conclude this newsletter, we want to express our gratitude to our community for voting Breakwater as the Best Credit Union in the Copper Country in the Daily Mining Gazette Readers’ Choice Awards. This recognition is especially meaningful to us because it comes directly from the members and communities we connect with through service, education, and community involvement all year long.
We believe strong communities are built on meaningful relationships, and as your local credit union since 1952, we remain dedicated to positively impacting those we serve by building lifelong relationships, one member at a time. Thank you for trusting Breakwater to be your financial partner. We look forward to another summer of learning, connecting, and giving back together.
Want to receive our monthly newsletters straight to your inbox? Subscribe below!
Subscribe Here