GTE Financial, Launch FCU and Velocity Community CU adopt HomeAdvantage program to boost mortgage volumes and serve members’ home-buying needs 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., May 14, 2018— To better serve their members and to give themselves a marketing advantage in a booming housing market, three new Florida credit unions have adopted HomeAdvantage®, the turnkey real estate program from CU Realty Services. Now more than 1.3 million credit union members across the Sunshine State have access to the online real estate tools and support they need to buy and sell their homes, including online property listings, recent sales data, neighborhood demographics, a network of reputable real estate agents and Cash Rewards at closing.  

CU Realty Services, the largest real estate CUSO in the U.S., has quickly expanded its presence in Florida over the last five years, now partnering with a total of 12 credit unions. The three newest credit unions to implement the program in Florida are:

• GTE Financial Credit Union (Tampa)—260,000 members, $1.98 billion in assets
• Launch Federal Credit Union (Merritt Island)—64,600 members, $750 million in assets
• Velocity Community Credit Union (Palm Beach Gardens)—22,000 members, $335 million in assets

For the credit union, HomeAdvantage delivers a lead generation and nurturing system that helps CUs engage with more home-buying members and close more loans. The program was designed to help CUs strategically identify members considering a purchase transaction and stay engaged throughout their entire home-buying journey.

The program offers a variety of online real estate content that attracts potential buyers and sellers, as well as a network of preferred real estate agents. When members use a real estate agent in the HomeAdvantage network, they qualify to earn HomeAdvantage Cash Rewards—a cash-back benefit equal to 20 percent of the agent’s commission. Cash Rewards deliver an average of $1,570 in savings per transaction. Members can use this money toward closing costs or they can take it as cash back after closing.

About CU Realty Services, LLC

CU Realty Services provides real estate services to credit unions across the nation, helping them increase their purchase mortgage business. Launched in 2001, the CUSO has worked with more than 100 credit unions and mortgage CUSOs nationwide to offer its turnkey real estate program, HomeAdvantage. Through the program, credit union members can search for homes, research neighborhoods, calculate costs of homeownership, connect to experienced real estate agents, and earn HomeAdvantage Cash Rewards. By offering this program to members, credit unions are able to attract, identify and engage more home buyers, and consequently close more loans. To learn more, visit www.curealty.com.

About GTE Financial

GTE Financial is a not‐for‐profit financial cooperative with more than $1.98 billion in assets and 22 Community Financial Centers located throughout West Central Florida. Chartered in 1935, GTE Financial is locally owned and operated in the Tampa Bay area and serves more than 260,000 individuals and businesses. The credit union continuously fundraises to give back to the community. In 2017, it donated more than $477,000, all raised by GTE employees through donations and activities. More information on GTE Financial can be found at https://www.gtefinancial.org/.

About Launch Federal Credit Union

Launch Federal Credit Union was officially chartered in April of 1963, and since then we’ve been providing quality financial products and exceptional service to our members for more than 50 years. We look forward to helping you go beyond to reach your financial goals. Stop by any of our conveniently located branches to open your savings and checking account, and learn about the many products and services Launch Federal Credit Union has that could help save you time and money. Launch Federal Credit Union offers many online and electronic services so that you can access your money anywhere, any time. But for those who prefer face-to-face service, our doors are always open. Together we can find the right account, services, and loans to help you Go Beyond. To learn more, visit https://www.launchfcu.com/.

About Velocity Community Credit Union

We are a progressive, full service financial institution that is passionate about helping its members. As a not-for-profit co-op, our dedicated employees can concentrate on providing superior service to our members to meet all of their financial needs. Chartered in 1958 to serve the financial needs of the employees and immediate family members of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft, the philosophy of the “Founding Directors” was to promote thrift and provide loans at reasonable and competitive rates. Renamed Velocity Community Credit Union, we opened our doors to the entire community. Now everyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers or attends school in Palm Beach County, FL, can become a member. To learn more, visit https://www.velocitycommunity.org/home/home.