Prattville Chamber hosts monthly luncheon sponsored by Guardian Credit Union

Malia Riggs

Elmore Autauga News

The Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their July Luncheon sponsored by Guardian Credit Union at the Marriott Legends, Wednesday afternoon.

The Luncheon had speakers including CEO of Guardian Credit Union, Heath Harrell, who spoke on topics regarding supporting the community in which Guardian serves, financial literacy and education as well as building meaningful relationships.

Also during the Luncheon, the Autauga Education Foundation had its first day of “Stuff the Bus” event for Autauga County Schools.

Guardian Credit Union was founded in 1958 and has been a part of the Prattville Chamber since 1988, serving Prattville and the River Region.

“We appreciate your dedication and partnership to the Chamber for over the past 25 years,” Chairman of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce Lisa Miller said.

Guardian has 16 different branches that span throughout 14 counties, Harrell confirmed. Harrell stated that he has come from a long line of CEOs of credit unions as both his parents were in the industry in Chilton County.

“Since the merger in 2010, we’ve really focused a lot on just internal development, growing ourselves, and building those connections. It all started with, let’s just do the right thing and let’s just take care of people. As we really started developing some of this, and really focused on taking care of people, we wanted to empower our team to just be able to do what’s needed, just do something for people,” Harrell said.

Some of the steps they have taken to empower their team have been to provide different resources and different avenues to be able to take care of their customers. In a community like Prattville, customers are part of the same community.

“We have an amazing team and amazing branches. It’s a really special place. We’re in banking, that is what we do and while banking matters, we try and be just a little different,” Harrell said.

In attendance to the Luncheon was members of Guardian Credit Union, board members of the Autauga Education Foundaton, members of the Prattville Chamber and members of the community.