Meet Nettie: From Gardening to Helping Members Find Calm

At USF Credit Union, Humans of Finance is our storytelling series celebrating the people who bring care, calm, and a personal touch into every member interaction - often in ways that never show up on a statement, but are felt in moments that matter.

Today, we’re spotlighting USF CU Universal Service Representative Nettie - someone who helps members steady themselves in stressful moments, and who finds her own reset in the quiet work of growing things from the ground up.

A Break Away in the Garden

For Nettie, balance starts outside.

“I garden, I try to grow vegetables - when I’m successful I grow sunflowers and roses,” she says. “Just playing in the dirt is my break away.”

Her garden, by her own description, is always a work in progress - a little wild, a little imperfect, and completely alive.

“It’s a mess… it will be a screensaver,” she laughs. “I’ll take a picture of it when I’m done. Right now I’ve got Mexican sunflowers in one spot… but I’m maturing. I’ve got plants down below which will shade and grow beautifully. But right now it looks like a piece of work in the making.”

That same patience - letting things grow into their shape over time - shows up in how she approaches her work too.

What Puts a Pep in Her Step

At USF CU, Nettie works with the fraud team helping rebuild accounts for members whose accounts have been compromised.

“Things I’m working on… people I’m working with,” she says. “I help our fraud team build new accounts for accounts that were compromised. So I’ve got those people that are feeling uneasy, and I help them feel more stable and more in control. Just people helping people.”

It’s not just process work - it’s emotional repair work. Helping someone regain confidence after a moment of uncertainty.

Advice She Gives Members

When it comes to fraud, Nettie doesn’t hesitate.

“If somebody calls you out of the blue and says your account’s been compromised… hang up and call me directly,” she says.

Her guidance is simple but firm: never trust urgency from a stranger - even when it sounds convincing.

“The fraudsters are getting really good and very convincing,” she explains. “So I tell everybody to hang up and call back directly. You can’t go by the information they give you… they can make themselves sound very real.”

Her rule of thumb is consistency over urgency - verify the source, not the story.

What a Good Day Looks Like

For Nettie, success is measured in small financial wins that add up to real relief.

“A good day is helping members save money on their loan payments,” she says. “Being able to give them a better interest rate than what they’re at currently… helping them save money with credit card balances.”

It’s practical impact, grounded in everyday life.

The Simple Philosophy She Lives By

At the core of everything, Nettie keeps it simple.

“Just be nice,” she says. “You never know what anybody’s going through. We’re all going through hard times, challenging times.”

That mindset carries through both her member interactions and her approach to the culture she values most.

“I like how USF Credit Union puts members first,” she adds. “If it doesn’t make sense, then why are we doing this? We want what’s best for the members and what’s best for the employees.”

If Nettie Had a Billboard…

It wouldn’t try to impress you.

It would simply say:

“Be Kind - just be kind.”

If you’re looking for a place where people help others rebuild confidence, protect what matters, and still find time to grow something beautiful on the side - you’ll find it at USF CU.

Better Banking for All starts with people like Nettie.