April has been yet another busy month here at Element 22 Commercial Group! We are excited to formally announce our newest collaboration with Tru Treasury, another Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) that is sure to benefit your credit union!
“Element 22 Commercial Group and multiple credit unions based out of Northern Michigan have collaborated to fund the purchase and renovation of the Pleasant Valley Resort. Located in Arcadia, Michigan, the 1.5-acre resort includes a 6-unit motel, 4 cabins, a 3-bedroom house and a new barndominium. The borrower will be adding a pickleball court and putting/chipping green, in addition to an assortment of other new amenities that will surely appeal to future guests. The loan participants include Filer Credit Union as the lead Lender, along with TBA Credit Union, Traverse Catholic Federal Credit Union, and Forest Area Federal Credit Union. This $1.24 Million loan will be serviced by Element 22 Commercial Group, a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) that serves as a commercial lending arm for credit unions and banks.”
“There are so many moving pieces with projects of this size. At Element 22 Commercial Group, we pride ourselves in connecting those dots for the members and the financial institutions, to make the process as seamless as possible,” says Michael Shane Lester, a Senior Commercial Credit Analyst at Element 22 Commercial Group, and the primary underwriter for this loan. “I am grateful to have played a part in facilitating this project and look forward to many more in the future.”
“This collaboration brings Tru Treasury’s specialized knowledge in treasury services together with Element 22’s end-to-end business lending capabilities—including underwriting, servicing, loan participations, and more. Credit unions can now extend their support beyond the lending conversation and into the daily financial operations of their business members, driving long-term engagement and loyalty.”
“Element 22 Commercial Group, a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO) that offers a comprehensive realm of business lending services, is teaming up with Tru Treasury, a leading provider of treasury management solutions. This strategic alliance brings together two experts in their respective fields, creating a powerful opportunity for credit unions to deepen relationships with business members and compete more effectively in the commercial banking space. Together, Element 22 and Tru Treasury are delivering a solution that connects the dots between commercial lending and treasury management—giving financial institutions the tools they need to grow business relationships beyond the loan.”
“Pat Chisholm, President of Greystone Pickleball Club remarks “We are so excited for our project in Auburn Hills. Pickleball is such a communal, social sport where people can spend quality time together. Our development team, operations team and equity partners are all family and friends, and it is fitting that we have Security Credit Union as our project lender and Element 22 as the Loan Servicer and Participant aggregator. We have been treated like family by Element 22 from the onset and are so happy to have them involved with us as we start this venture.”
“We are excited to expand our ability to assist our existing and new customers with the opportunity to enhance their existing Member Business Lending or commercial deposit product suite,” comments Kenneth Leonard, Co-founder & CEO of Element 22 Commercial Group. “With Innovative Business Solutions’ deposit expertise and Element 22’s proficiency in business lending, we will be able to support our clients’ goals of maximizing their commercial deposits and growing their commercial lending portfolio.”
“Element 22 Commercial Group and Innovative Business Solutions recently finalized their collaboration with the goal of making business services the most efficient and member-focused as possible. Both organizations are Credit Union Service Organizations (CUSOs) that provide entirely customized solutions tailored specifically towards each Credit Union’s business services needs. This new alliance will provide Credit Unions with the resources to streamline their business services program, while growing and retaining business members.”
Also featured on Chief Financial Credit Union’s blog, “This financing of this project was made possible by the collaboration of multiple financial institutions, business consultants and Credit Union Service Organizations (CUSOs) across the state of Michigan and the nation, including Blue Ox Credit Union, Chief Financial Credit Union, CU Evolution, Connects Federal Credit Union, Forest Area Federal Credit Union, Great Lakes Commercial Finance, Honor Credit Union, Independence Business Consulting, Michigan Business Connection, Land of Lincoln Credit Union, Public Service Credit Union, Safe Harbor Credit Union, Security Credit Union, TBA Credit Union and Traverse Catholic Federal Credit Union.”
“Element 22 Commercial Group has successfully coordinated the financing for a major pickleball facility in Eastern Michigan. The Greystone Pickleball Club, LLC project, which spans 4.9 acres, will feature 18 courts within a 60,000 square-foot indoor space. This facility will cater to players of all levels, offering amenities for play, learning, and socializing.”
“It has been a great pleasure working with Independence Business Consulting, Security Credit Union, Great Lakes Commercial Finance, Greystone Pickleball Club and the 12 other financial institution participants that helped bring this project together,” comments Kenneth Leonard, CEO of Element 22 Commercial Group. “It is through this collaboration that we are able to assist our credit union and bank clients on these types of projects.”
Read more about how Element 22 Commercial Group coordinated the financing of Michigan’s largest indoor Pickleball Club. This exciting project was made possible through a collaborative effort involving multiple financial institutions & Credit Unions, Credit Union Service Organizations (CUSOs), and business consultants across Michigan.
Kenny sits down with Michigan Credit Union League CEO Patty Corkery on this week’s episode of Credit Unions, Coffee and Conversation. They discuss the general state of lending, including rising interest rates, how Element 22 helps credit unions with business lending and more. If you are looking to get to know more about Element 22 Commercial Group as a whole and the services we offer, this episode is a very easy and great listen.
Honor Credit Union is a part of a major new strategic partnership that has been developed with Element 22 Commercial Group, along with ten other credit union investors.
Element 22 recently finalized its partnership with those ten credit union investors, making the transition to a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO).
“I had a great opportunity to sit down with CU Solutions Group Compliance Cares to discuss the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). We had the interview a few days ago and have since learned some new things we didn’t know at the time of the interview, so be sure to check the latest SBA FAQs for the most current info.
You can check out the interview here. You do have to register, but it is free to do so.
PORTAGE – Kenneth Leonard and Ryan Reffitt originally set out to provide small banks and credit unions across Michigan with underwriting and other support services for writing business loans.
As they traveled the state pitching Element 22 Commercial Group LLC, several interested credit unions raised another idea. They suggested becoming equity investors and transitioning Element 22 into a CUSO, or Credit Union Service Organization.