President's Message

With Memorial Day weekend now behind us, the unofficial beginning to summer has arrived. I hope many of you were able to enjoy this time with friends and family, celebrating the holiday and reflecting on the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedom.

Memorial Day also presents an opportunity to consider how we can better support the military community. That, of course, is at the heart of Navy Federal’s mission.

In May, the credit union hosted and participated in various events at our campuses, branches, and in locations across the country as part of our recognition of Military Appreciation Month.

At our headquarters in Vienna, VA, Navy Federal welcomed Congressman Gerry Connolly—who represents the surrounding region in the U.S. House—as he joined many of our team members volunteering their time to make paracords for deployed servicemen and women. Throughout the month, Navy Federal staff created 13,000 units of the “550 Paracord”—named after the parachute cords that can sustain weights of up to 550 pounds—to be distributed to U.S. military members across the globe and quickly put into practical use.

The event took place in partnership with Operation Gratitude, which since its founding in 2003, has sent more than 4 million care packages to boost the morale and resilience of U.S. military servicemembers stationed abroad.

In total, Navy Federal team members dedicated 2,300 volunteer hours throughout the month, also creating thousands of notes of appreciation for military personnel and contributing in countless other small but significant ways.

Although not contained to Military Appreciation Month, I also want to remind you that Navy Federal’s Personal Finance Management (PFM) team is here to provide support along your financial journey. I am proud of the work this team does to promote financial wellbeing and understanding as it serves upward of 15,000 Navy Federal families per month. You can schedule time to speak with a PFM team member by visiting this link.

In addition, Navy Federal’s online support center, MakingCents, includes financial education assets ranging from investment and retirement planning tools to budgeting calculators, while our online Mortgage Learning Center features a number of resources designed to help our members navigate the home-buying process.

When it comes to buying a home in this market, we are committed to creating paths to homeownership wherever possible. Often thought of as the cornerstone of the American dream, homeownership is about more than four walls and a roof. The American dream is about what this space represents. Safety. Comfort. Security. Sovereignty.

Every member of our armed services has sacrificed something in defense of these ideals—as have their children, spouses, and parents. And we believe passionately in our continued responsibility to help our members achieve their own American dream—whatever that may be. As always, thank you for placing your trust in Navy Federal.