FCS Financial: One Hundred Years July 2016 | Page 17

As a result of what they’ve learned from customers through agricultural
seminars and advisory meetings, FCS Financial is preparing to implement a new
system, a portal that will be named My Access Plus, FCS Financial’s highly secure
and easy-to-use virtual branch. The system will offer their customers a single
gateway for accessing many of the services FCS Financial offers. Far beyond online
banking and account management, My Access Plus offers customers a secure
document exchange process and direct access to GrainBridge. As an interactive
system, My Access Plus will make it possible for customers to set alerts regarding
updates in loan information. As new technologies come available, FCS will be able
to add them to My Access Plus without causing technological upheaval for the
customer.
FCS Financial has a long tradition of supporting
the communities in which their member-owners
live, work, and play. Employees at FCS Financial,
echoing the cooperative spirit, are very active
in their communities and the Partners in Doing
program allows them up to eight hours of paid
leave every year to volunteer at the charity of their
choice. Further honoring their contributions to their
communities, in May 2014 FCS Financial launched
Each year, FCS Financial donates to the five food
banks in the service area. Shown here are Don
the Boost Your Impact initiative, which provides
Schmidt, Cheryl Crudup, Wendy Howell, and Jo Heider
matching funds, one time per year, to an employee’s
of the Harrisonville office presenting the check to
Cindy Isabel (left) of Harvesters Food Bank.
donation to a non-profit organization.
The Shaping Rural Missouri grant program
supports youth organizations like 4-H and FFA by presenting
classroom programs and other activities. Most recently, FCS
Financial distributed $24,000 in Shaping Rural Missouri grants
to forty-nine FFA and 4-H groups who will use the grants for
community betterment projects. The students plan the projects,
manage the finances, and execute the plan. Closely related to the
grant program is the Youth in Ag Funding program launched in
Brittni Lacey from the Joplin office spent
2014 to give students an opportunity to experience the process
her Partners in Doing time volunteering at
of budgeting, record keeping, and the importance of honoring
Camp Quality helping children who are
battling cancer.
one’s obligations as a sort of entry-level step to a rewarding and

FCS Financial provides Shaping Rural Missouri grants to 4-H clubs and FFA
chapters each year based on an application process. In 2015, there were thirtyeight who received a $500 grant to complete a community improvement project.
Shown here are the Eager Beaver 4-H Club in Monroe County who teamed up
with the Paris FFA Chapter to landscape Paris Elementary School and Library.

BJ Lucky Shamrocks 4-H Club in Nodaway County
use a Shaping Rural Missouri grant from FCS
Financial to install a fence guard at the ballpark.

15