Meet Breanna: Making a Difference by Being Intentional

At USF Credit Union, Humans in Finance is our special video series celebrating the people who bring care, connection and a personal touch into every member interaction.

Today, we’re spotlighting team member Breanna from our New Tampa branch, who believes in being intentional, listening closely and helping people find their way - whether that means answering a financial question or simply making someone’s day a little better.

Be Intentional

If Breanna had a billboard, she already knows exactly what it would say - “Be intentional.”

It’s more than a phrase to her. It’s a simple reminder to be clear about what she’s doing and why.

“Just be clear and have a purpose of what I want to do, and that’s to help the member,” she says.

That purpose shows up in the way she works with people - especially when they’re not quite sure what they need yet.

Sometimes, You Just Need to Listen

Breanna says one of the most important things she can do for a member is also one of the simplest: listen.

“Just letting the member talk,” she says. “The member will tell you everything.”

Her approach is to listen, ask open-ended questions and uncover what’s really behind the question.

“You just sit there, listen, ask open-ended questions, unpack what they need, and just see what you can uncover.”

That can mean helping someone navigate an auto loan, opening a new account or simply giving them the kind of guidance they’d ask from someone they trust.

One member even put it this way: “If I was your dad, what would you do?”

Breanna knew exactly how to answer.

“If you were my dad, I would tell my dad X, Y, Z.”

For her, it’s not about having all the answers. It’s about helping members feel heard and giving them thoughtful guidance along the way.

What Makes a Good Day

For Breanna, a good day has a few ingredients.

“Whenever everybody’s in a good mood, we’re closing loans, new accounts, hitting our goals and everything, she says”

And when things are going well, there might even be a little celebration.

“We’ll hear the music going and then just have a quick little dance party, she says.”

Those spontaneous dance parties are apparently a regular enough occurrence that you might occasionally catch someone dancing on camera.

They’re also a reflection of something Breanna noticed quickly after joining USF CU : the people around her.

A Team That Feels Like Family

Breanna says  one of the things that has surprised her most is how quickly her team became family.

“Honestly, how well everybody clicks,” she says. “Within this one year, I feel like I’ve known them forever.”

Her teammates check in on each other, look out for one another and step in when someone needs help.

“If the ball drops somewhere else, somebody else is right there behind us picking it up.”

That same feeling extends beyond the branch.

Breanna describes the surrounding business community as close-knit, with local businesses supporting one another, sharing promotions and simply looking out for their neighbors.

“It’s just people helping people.”

Grace When Life Happens

For Breanna, one of the things that makes USF Credit Union different is the way it treats people when life doesn’t go according to plan.

Emergencies happen. Cars break down. People need a little help getting to work or managing an unexpected expense.

“The credit union shows grace,” she says.   “At USF CU, we really show grace for people. We have that heart. We understand life happens. These people are real people, and they need help, and we’re here to help them.”

That philosophy has become one of the things she values most about the organization.

Outside the Branch

When she’s not helping members, Breanna likes to get outside.

She loves Pilates and heads to a studio downtown. And when she wants a little more adventure, she has another option ready to go.

“I have an inflatable paddleboard in my trunk right now.”

Yes, even though she knows there are alligators in some of the lakes.

Her philosophy seems to follow her everywhere: get out there, enjoy yourself and don’t take life too seriously.

She even has a Bible verse tattooed on her back — Proverbs 31:25 — about living with strength and dignity and laughing without fear of the future.

For Breanna, the message is simple:

“Just be yourself. Be strong. Don’t let anything hold you back. Just laugh and smile. Have a good day.”

For Breanna, helping people starts with being present, listening closely and having a purpose behind what you do.

And sometimes, it ends with a happy member, a closed loan, a team celebration - and maybe a quick dance party in the office.

Better Banking for All starts with people like Breanna.

Here’s how you can join the family