tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70939673947107573862024-03-13T01:39:40.211-07:00What Happened to Priority One Credit Union?How Abuses Led to the Decline of a Once Promising Credit UnionJohn Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-61145516599600815232016-04-17T20:40:00.000-07:002020-04-19T18:26:24.404-07:00Eluded by the Obvious<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was a time Priority One Credit Union's tagline was, <b>"You are Our First Priority" </b>and for years, the credit union proved that members indeed were important, valued and respected. That of course all changed starting on January 1, 2007, when President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. entered into a brutal campaign to try and erase all memory of the accomplishments, products and services created under his predecessor, William E. Harris. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the first two years of his appointment, the President divided his time splurging on purchasing what would prove to be a failed and expense phone system, on the hiring of a COO who would help him target, abuse and drive out imaginary enemy employees, and strolling throughout the main branch in South Pasadena, California, boasting about unevidenced accomplishments and his plans that would thrust the credit union into the forefront and above all other credit unions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In late </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2009, he was overcome by a need to rewrite the credit union's mission statement and tagline. To assist in his efforts, he inducted the assistance of then COO, Beatrice Walker, and then Training and Education Manager, Robert West. The Training and Education Manager anxiously accepted the task of rewriting the mission statement and tagline, possibly gleeful over the fact that this would provide an opportunity to prove that he is a clever and accomplished writer versus one mired in frustration. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr. West delivered a brand new mission statement which boasted that Priority One is a <i>financial fitness center</i> possessing the ability to help both members and employees "win with money." The loss of more than $22 million during the years of 2007 through 2012 proved Priority One is no financial fitness center and the more than 5 year freeze on employee salaries proves that Priority One is quite incapable of helping anyone win with money. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What few people knew is that in 2009, the mission statement and tagline became a real problem for the President and as some of his managers would reveal, he had admitted that due to the amount of complaints from members citing poor member service, he needed to amend the statement that members are Priority One's first priority. At his admittance, the credit union could no longer live up to the assurance to members that they are important and a priority. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A NEW LAWSUIT</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The President's Vivid Imagination</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Rewriting History</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last year, one female and two male, legally blind people filed a lawsuit against the credit union alleging Priority One failed to provide accommodations for the visually impaired that would have facilitated access to one of the credit union's ATM's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, President Wiggington could not refrain from telling some of his staff that the complaint was yet another attempt to extort money from the credit union, labeling it frivolous and declaring it would be quickly dismissed by the court. To keep things in context, the President is still reeling from the state's Superior Court decision disallowing the credit union's counter-lawsuit against its former external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad. The rejection of the that complaint not only disgraced Priority One and it's insurance carrier and bond company, CUMIS Insurance Society, and thwarted recovering the $980,000 paid out by CUMIS against the credit union's claim filed after it was discovered more than $1 million in cash had been embezzled from the credit union's Los Angeles branch during the years of 2010 through 2012.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nowadays, President Wiggington's record of contributions in bettering the credit union and the prospect of creating a memorable and positive legacy, lie in shambles. In the credit union's more than 80-year history, Priority One has never suffered the onslaught of lawsuits as it has under President Wiggington. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The President's cries of frivolous lawsuits and his slandering of plaintiffs are always dispelled each time the credit union, through its attorneys, offer to settle the complaints outside of court. The fact that the lawsuits are actually scheduled for trial attests that the complaints possess veracity </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is not the first time the President asserts a lawsuit is frivolous and describes the intent of a plaintiff as try and extort money from the troubled credit union. The President's most recent statements are just another futile effort to try to save face though we don't believe he has much face left to save. Past instances when he declared a frivolous lawsuit had been filed include:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Year: 2010</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Plaintiff: Burbank Branch Manager</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Complaint: Age and race discrimination</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Resolution: The credit union voluntarily requested settlement negotiations</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Year: 2011</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Plaintiff: Business Development Represenative</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Complaint: Harassment, retaliation, defamation of character, same-sex sexual harassment</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Resolution: The credit union voluntarily requested settlement negotations</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">in cavalier and confided to some of his staff that the lawsuit was </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"frivolous" in nature and that Priority One's attorneys would be quick to diffuse</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and have the complaint dismissed by the court. This is what he also said in 2010, when the credit union received notice it was being sued by the former Burbank Branch Manager and he also said this in 2011, when the credit union was sued by a former business development representative and of course, he again said this in 2012, when the credit union was sued by a former FSR and the former Valencia Branch Manager and by a now former member. He also aid this in 2014 when the credit union was sued by a former automobile broker, Auto Alliance, and when it was again sued by its former external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad. In almost every case, the lawsuits were settled though the lawsuit filed by the car broker will be tried later this year and as we reported last month, the lawsuit filed by the former external auditor has been voluntarily been by the auditor though with a clause allowing them to refile the lawsuit at some undisclosed time in the future. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In January, the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">credit union filed a response to the allegedly frivolous lawsuit but the court has decided it poses sufficient merit to proceed to court. </span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">< item>
< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-9063818699078422712016-04-01T00:30:00.000-07:002016-04-15T01:10:34.790-07:00The April Fools Edition<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">As we've done at the start of each new year, we took time away from the blog. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">During our absence we did observe that things seemed uncharacteristically quiet at Priority One Credit Union with nothing publicly said about the lawsuit filed by the credit union and its insurance carrier and bond company, CUMIS Insurance Society, against former external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad nor was anything disclosed about the lawsuit filed by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad against the credit union. The seeming quietude was completely out of character particularly when one consider that CUMIS' lawsuit and that of Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad, were scheduled to go to trial this past January. As the last nine years 7 years have taught us, when things are unusually quiet at Priority One Credit Union it is because something is sorely awry. As it turned out, we were correct and at the start of 2016 it is apparent that this is a new year with the same issues plaguing a credit union that has been brought to the point of ruin by it's dishonest and incompetent President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., and the corrupt and useless Board of Directors. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 20px;"><b>A "NEW" BUT TIRED FACADE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">In November 2015, there were murmurings at the main branch in South Pasadena, California, that the Board of Directors had gown weary at the number of lawsuits filed against the credit union by former employees, members, by a formerly contracted automobile broker and by the credit union's former external auditor. In fact, the Board allegedly had become concerned by the immense amounts spent on "legal" since 2010. The amount spent on attorneys each year has </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">quadrupled since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President on January 1, 2007. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Another concern has been the incidences of internal thefts all occurring at the Los Angeles branch and have included the theft of more than $60,000 by a former receptionist in 2009 and more recently, the theft of more than $1 million <i>in cash </i>discovered in February 2013 and allegedly embezzled by former AVP, Lynnette Fortson. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">In late 2015, the Board was also informed by the credit union's attorneys and consultants that over the past nine (9) years, the credit union's public image and reputation had suffered as a result of the illegal and unethical acts committed by the grossly incompetent President. Furthermore, he had been continually protected and allowed to escape retribution by corrupt Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">The </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Board was also informed that the Board's four Directors had historically proven they are subservient to Mrs. Harris-Brooks, allowing her to implement agendas that had proven harmful to the credit union, both as a business and employer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">The Board and Supervisory Committee were also informed that the thefts occurring at the Los Angeles branch suggested that neither governing body was monitoring the credit union's security protocols and ensuring these are being implemented by all employees on a daily basis. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Earlier this year, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks and President Wiggington made a feeble effort to dispel the impression that the Board is comprised of ineffective and unethical Directors. And so, Mrs. Harris-Brooks allegedly amended the credit union's by-laws and added two new Directors which increases the number of Directors from five (5) to seven (7). </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Prior to </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">January 1, 2007, the date the Board appointed Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. President, the Board consisted of seven (7) Directors but the President and Board Chair had in recent years reduced the number of Directors to five (5) because according to President Wiggington, he and the Board Chair needed to Directors who were willing to support the changes he and Board Chair hoped to make and that would serve to make Priority One a larger, more financially prosperous credit union. What he should have said is that he and the Board Chair needed Directors who are pliable to the whims of this dishonest duo. This year, two new Directors were added to the Board- </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "tahoma" , "geneva" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Tyree Jackson and Art Now. The Board now consists of 6 Black Directors and 1 Latin Director. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">In late January the NCUA published </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;">the credit union's Financial Performance Report showed that the credit union's asset size had increased slightly and President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was quick to point out that Priority One is experiencing, in his opinion, a resurgence in new business and growing. Of course, the credit union's asset size remains approximately </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">$14 million less than what it was on January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began his notorious appointment as President. Furthermore, since mid-October 2010, Priority One was forced to divest itself of six branches so it could remain solvent and in business. Less is sometimes more though in the case of Priority One, less always serves as a testament to the business failures of the chronically inept President. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Holiday Toy Drive</span></b></h2>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2px;">On December 8, 2015, the credit union and the South Pasadena Chamber co-hosted a Holiday Party/Toy Drive at the credit union's main branch in South Pasadena. The affair was certainly quieter than that conducted in 2014. There were less attendees, less carousing under the mistletoe and less alcohol consumption. Notably missing was the presence of children. Here are some photos of the event. </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b>Charles R. Wiggington., Sr. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b>Rodger Smock, EVP</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><b>A photo of the rather spartan open bar</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>[Photos Courtesy of Pasadena Now]</b></span></div>
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<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Mystery of the Vanishing Lawsuits</span></b></h2>
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So who embezzled more than $1 million in cash? </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The credit union's quieter persona during the past four months is purely superficial. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In February 2013, President Wiggington ordered the closure of the Los Angeles branch and posting of a notice on the branch's doors informing visitors to the location that the office was closed due to a "power failure." The closure was a not-so-clever ruse by the President to try to deter attention that the branch was closed during which the internal auditor, Diane Huffman, reviewed branch records. When the branch reopened, former Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, called the South Pasadena branch and violating the credit union's policy governing confidentiality, informed her friend and subordinate, Credit Resolutions Supervisor, Alex ("Alejandra") Suarez, that the auditor discovered that large amounts of money had been stolen from the Los Angeles branch's vault by AVP, Lynette Fortson. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ms. Boutte threatened the staff of the Los Angeles branch with immediate termination if it was discovered that they had communicated with Ms. Fortson during or after working hours. Yes, the threat was illegal, but Mrs. Boutte was known to be a totalitarian. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the weeks which followed discovery of the thefts, the President would infrequently refer to the incident stating that the credit union knew who stole the money and that Ms. Fortson would be arrested, indicted, tried, and eventually prosecuted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In March 2015, the following article regarding the incident, was published by the CU Times:</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">$1M Vault Pinch Hits Priority One</span><span style="font-size: 31pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">By <a href="http://www.cutimes.com/author/david-morrison"><span style="text-decoration: none;">David Morrison</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">March 07, 2015 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">A long-time employee
of the $146 million <a href="file:///F:/dmorrison/2015/March/39%20Year%20Employee%20Takes%20Priority%20One%20for%20$1%20million">Priority One Credit Union</a> allegedly stole more
than $1 million, according to a legal complaint filed by the <a href="http://www.cutimes.com/2014/08/27/credit-union-was-a-den-of-thieves-honolulu-fbi">CUMIS Insurance Society</a> against the credit
union’s former accounting firm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The complaint alleged
the credit union’s manager of its Los Angeles branch, <b>Pearl Lynnette Fortson, </b>began to remove cash from the branch’s vault
<u>in late 2010 and allegedly falsified daily reports to hide loss.<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fortson was hired by
the credit union on Aug. 1, 1974, the complaint said, and Priority One fired
her on Feb. 26, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The complaint said the
credit union discovered the embezzlement in February 2013 and <u>claimed that
other people may have been involved</u>. CUMIS said it <u>reported
Fortson to law enforcement, but did not say how law enforcement had responded</u>.
The credit union had not yet responded to calls for information on the Fortson
case and CUNA Mutual said it had no further information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Priority One filed a
dishonest employee loss claim with CUMIS, for which the insurer paid just a
little more than <b>$980,000</b> after the
credit union’s deductible, and settled the claim. <u>CUMIS then sued Turner,
Warren, Hwang and Conrad Accountancy</u>, the Burbank, Calif., firm that had
audited Priority One’s books since 2008.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">CUMIS <b>charged the accounting firm with negligence
in its auditing the credit union’s books and operations.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Defendant TWHC knew or should have known that
Fortson was employed at the Priority One Los Angeles County Branch and that one
of her duties was to perform reconciliations for that branch,”</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> CUMIS argued in its complaint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Defendant TWHC knew or should have known that
Fortson maintained <u>singular control over the vault and vault balancing
sheets</u> for Priority One’s Los Angeles Branch,” CUMIS added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">“If defendants had ever opened the vault,
counted the vault cash, reconciled the counted vault cash to the general ledger
account or reviewed the balancing sheets prepared by Fortson during the course
of their reconciliation of cash accounts, the fraud and embezzlement scheme
would have been discovered by defendants,”</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> CUMIS added.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Turner Warren referred
calls about the case to its attorney, Randall Dean of the Los Angeles firm of
Chapman, Glucksman, Dean, Roeb and Barger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Dean declined to
comment at length on the case but said the firm considered it entirely without
merit, adding that Turner Warren planned to fight it at trial in June of this
year. He also noted that Priority One had not brought the suit and had
not expressed any disappointment with the firm's actions.<span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Source: <a href="http://www.cutimes.com/2015/03/07/1m-vault-pinch-hits-priority-one">CU Times Article</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In CUMIS lawsuit, the actual date when the series of thefts began is stated as occurring in "early or late 2010." Could CUMIS have been more uncertain? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following key points were made by the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CUMIS to the CU Times reporter:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The embezzlement was discovered in February 2013, approximately three years after the robberies began. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ms. Fortson was reported to law enforcement which is not synonymous with being arrested. </span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.4pt;">Priority One filed a dishonest employee loss claim with CUMIS in the amount of approximately $1 million but after paying a deductible, CUMIS paid "a little more than</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.4pt;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.4pt;">$980,000." </b></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.4pt;">CUMIS sued Priority One's external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad, because of negligent auditing which did not meet state mandated auditing standards. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.4pt;">CUMIS insisted that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad "should have known that" that Ms. Fortson was responsible for performing branch reconciliations.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 14.4pt;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad "should have known that" Ms. Fortson maintained "singular control over the vault and vault balancing sheets" for the Los Angeles branch. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad never "opened the vault, counted vault cash, reconciled the counted vault cash to the general ledger account or reviewed the balancing sheets" for if they had, "the fraud and embezzlement scheme would have been discovered"by the external auditor. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2px;">CUMIS was sufficiently confident that they apparently had no qualms providing some information to the CU Times reporter. And apparently, former Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, and President Wiggington were absolutely certain that Ms. Fortson had absconded with more than $1 million in cash and that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad had failed to do their due diligence and as a result, breached its agreement entered into with the credit union. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2px;">With the certainty that CUMIS and the credit union knew for a fact who was responsible for the thefts, it came as no small surprise that on <b>December 16, 2015</b>, CUMIS' attorney filed a <b>Motion to Dismiss</b> with prejudice, the lawsuit filed against the alleged embezzler, Lynnette Fortson. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"><b>So what about CUMIS' statements to the CU Times or the disclosures verbalized by Mrs. Boutte and the President?</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">So why would CUMIS file a motion to dismiss when it was they who revealed to the CU Times that Pearl Lynnette Fortson absconded with more than $1 million? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.2px;">Ms. Fortson proved to be more clever and even shrewder than the credit union's and CUMIS' attorneys. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">Following the filing of CUMIS' lawsuit against Ms. Fortson, responded and moving quickly, filed for bankruptcy. Clearly, she understood that if she were tried and found guilty, the court could order restitution. However, if she could be granted bankruptcy, then she could not be ordered to pay restitution. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BANKRUPTCY REPORT</span></b></h2>
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Pearl Lynnette Fortson</span></h2>
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<dl class="dl-horizontal" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<dt style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #222222; float: left; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.42857; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 5px; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 105px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Case:</span></dt>
<dd style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 1.42857; margin-left: 120px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2:14-bk-24370-WB</span></dd>
<dt style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #222222; float: left; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.42857; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 5px; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 105px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CH:</span></dt>
<dd style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 1.42857; margin-left: 120px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7</span></dd>
<dt style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #222222; float: left; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.42857; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 5px; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 105px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Filed:</span></dt>
<dd style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 1.42857; margin-left: 120px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">July 29, 2014</span></dd>
<dt style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #222222; float: left; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.42857; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 5px; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 105px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Discharged:</span></dt>
<dd style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 1.42857; margin-left: 120px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">November 17, 2014</span></dd>
<dt style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #222222; float: left; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.42857; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 5px; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 105px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Address:</span></dt>
<dd style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857; margin-left: 120px; padding-top: 5px;"><br /></dd>
<dt style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #222222; float: left; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.42857; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 5px; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 105px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">URL:</span></dt>
<dd style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857; margin-left: 120px; padding-top: 5px;"><a href="http://www.bankruptreport.com/ca/inglewood/fortson-pearl-lynnette" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.bankruptreport.com/ca/inglewood/fortson-pearl-lynnette</span></a></dd>
<dt style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: left; color: #222222; float: left; font-weight: 600; line-height: 1.42857; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 5px; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; width: 105px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bankruptcy:</span></dt>
<dd style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 1.42857; margin-left: 120px; padding-top: 5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Filed</span></dd></dl>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">What President Wiggington, the credit union's Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee and CUMIS have always avoided explaining is how more than $1 million in cash were embezzled over an approximate 24-month period without the President Wiggington, the Board of Directors, the Supervisory Committee, a COO, a CLO, a CFO, the Accounting Department, the internal and external auditor ever noticing any of several thefts. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Furthermore, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad were contracted to usually perform an end-of-year audit. Wasn't anyone other than Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad auditing credit union branch records? This is highly unlikely. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">What's more, CUMIS told the CU Times reporter that Ms. Fortson had "singular control" over vault cash and vault balance sheets. How is it possible that she possessed singular control? Credit Union dictates double-custody when branch vaults are entered. And how did she physically remove thousands of dollars in cash, each time she allegedly removed money from the vault without anyone in the branch ever noticing? Aren't their cameras located just outside the vault? </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">CUMIS also told the reporter that Ms. Fortson may have had accomplices but to date, no verification of this has ever emerged. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Additionally, there are no records </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">any action being taken against Ms. Fortson, including a record that she was ever arrested. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE MOTION TO DISMISS</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hXLhKtB0dQC54dlRFlpz_zSiCQKrffG4YTojfjNuvE5nMjIcS85_1MwCNySO-uNHYmtvurptaXxBSvVZpW10WNAqRaoFWSuVSbbgEUk5segh5lPVA4vlhalgIQTrzaa18X3WmNV0IkmN/s1600/1+Dismissal+032416+Fortson+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hXLhKtB0dQC54dlRFlpz_zSiCQKrffG4YTojfjNuvE5nMjIcS85_1MwCNySO-uNHYmtvurptaXxBSvVZpW10WNAqRaoFWSuVSbbgEUk5segh5lPVA4vlhalgIQTrzaa18X3WmNV0IkmN/s640/1+Dismissal+032416+Fortson+2.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is a copy of the proof of service (delivery) submitted to the court by CUMIS' attorneys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">The December 16, 2015 Request for Entry of Dismissal was filed with </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">prejudice</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;"> for the all actions originally filed against Ms. Fortson. </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">"With Prejudice" </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.4px;">means the lawsuit filed against Ms. Fortson is permanently being closed and no other action can ever be filed against her on the same claim. According to the sate of California, three possible reasons for requesting dismissal of a case with prejudice are:</span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The case was settled and the amount agreed upon was fully paid. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The defendant named in the case is not the right person or business. <o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The case has already been heard and decided upon before – for example, in another court.</span></li>
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.2px; text-align: left;"><b>“Defendant TWHC knew or should have known that Fortson maintained singular control over the vault and vault balancing sheets for Priority One’s Los Angeles Branch,” - </b>CUMIS, CU Times, </i></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.1;">$1M Vault Pinch Hits Priority One, David Morrison, March 7, 2015</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2015, CUMIS showed no qualms in accusing Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad of negligence and of indirectly, allowing the thefts of more than $1 million in cash to go unnoticed. Despite their public statements denouncing the external auditor, on </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">December 15, 2015, CUMIS" attorneys filed another Motion to Dismiss, this time withdrawing the lawsuit filed against external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang. The external auditor in turn, filed a motion to dismiss their lawsuit filed against Priority One Credit Union. However, unlike the motion filed to dismiss the lawsuit against Lynnette Fortson, the motions filed by CUMIS and Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad were filed </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">with prejudice</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. What this means is that they may refile their lawsuits at anytime in the future suggesting the motions were not the result of entering into settlement agreements. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what happens next? Is there another suspect in this case who may have absconded with the $1 million? And will CUMIS continue its relationship with the credit union? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After all, this is a credit union who under President Wiggington has been the subject of internal thefts and losses incurred as a result of its failure to adhere to its own security protocols. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Last year we reported that President Wiggington had put his home in Echo Park/Silverlake up for sale. This is the same residence that he boasted about in years past including declaring that the property had been appraised to be worth more than $1 million, that it housed an extensive and valuable art collection and a large and impressive "tuxedo collection." The home is 982 square feet in size prompting us to wonder, where does he store his amazing collections. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">His decision to sell his home followed an attempted robbery of his residence. A friend of his family informed us that he allegedly boasted to neighbors a</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">bout the home's luxuriant trappings and it would seem, someone believed his far-fetched concoctions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As shown below, the home has now been on the market for more than 163 days which is a very long time for a home to remain unsold. Evidently, the President is experiencing as much difficulty in selling his home as he did trying to convince the court that the theft of $1 million at the credit union was the fault of shoddy auditing practices. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If anyone is interested, give his real estate agent a call. Maybe he'll negotiate a reduced selling price. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2013, President Wiggington and now former AVP, Yvonne Boutte, disclosed that evidence gathered by the credit union</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'s internal and external auditors revealed that a large amount of money had been embezzled from the Los Angeles branch by former AVP, Lynnette Fortson. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In fact, these two paragons of leadership and professional acumen declared that the evidence against Ms. Fortson was so telling and condemning that it would eventually result in her conviction. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2015, CUMIS Insurance Society told the CU Times that more than $1 million in cash had been embezzled from the vault of the Los Angeles branch's vault by Ms. Fortson. They also told the publication that the credit union's external auditor, T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">urner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad failed to audit vault cash and vault balance sheets which impeded the discovery of disparities that would have revealed the thefts perpetrated by Ms. Fortson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In spite of the allegedly vast horde of evidence gathered against Ms. Fortson and the fact that she allegedly stole more than $1 million in cash, last year, on December 16, 2015, CUMIS' attorney filed a motion seeking dismissal without prejudice of the lawsuit filed against Ms. Fortson. So what does the motion say about CUMIS' competency as an insurance and bond company or that of it's "specialists"?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What we also find peculiar is that even though she was publicly accused of stealing more than $1 million and terminated as a result of the theft, Ms. Fortson has never filed a lawsuit against Priority One Credit Union or CUMIS citing defamation or wrongful termination? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is also strange that CUMIS also filed a motion to dismiss their lawsuit filed against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad when they clearly made statements to the CU Times that the accounting firm been grossly negligent in auditing Priority One's records. It doesn't appear that the dismissals were the result of settlements entered into by CUMIS and Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad as the dismissals were submitted without prejudice which means the lawsuits can be refiled at sometime in the future. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And why was the evidence provided by CUMIS to the credit union and used to file a counter-lawsuit against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad so imbued with issues that the court could not allow the lawsuit to proceed to trial? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lastly, why is it that neither the credit union or CUMIS have ever explained how a series of thefts could occur over an approximate 24-month period without being discovered by President Wiggington, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the Board of Directors, the Supervisory Committee, a COO, a CLO, a CFO, the Accounting Department, the internal and the external auditors? On a related note, in the years before Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President, the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Supervisory Committee would periodically visit all branches and count vault cash. Why did was this practice stopped? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the past 7 years we've reported about the incompetence and unethical proclivities of the President, the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Committee. Under Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. there has been a series of blunders all borne out of his refusal and those of the Board and Supervisory Committee to ensure security protocols are monitored and performed by all employees. It would seem that the the dull officers just don't comprehend that security measures were developed to ensure the protection of member and credit union assets. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So how much has Priority One Credit Union spent on litigating the lawsuits involving the theft of more than $1 million in cash? And why would CUMIS pay the $1 million claim filed by the credit union knowing that Priority One has a well-documented history of security breaches all borne out of the President's refusal to abide to security measures?</span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com89tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-38245706167225735352016-03-10T19:07:00.000-08:002016-03-29T11:32:16.700-07:00<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">WE WILL BE BACK ON</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">APRIL 1, 2016</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">WITH THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">PRIORITY ONE CREDIT UNION, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">ITS PRESIDENT, ITS BOARD &</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">ITS MANY LAWSUITS. </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">SEE YOU THEN</span></b></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-19331102645886986702015-12-05T20:25:00.000-08:002015-12-10T21:49:13.618-08:00Does Character Matter, Part 2 of 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>DEPLETION</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Priority One Credit Union's Financial Performance Report for the quarter ending on <b>September 30, 2015</b> is now available at www.ncua.gov and in spite of the President's insistence, business isn't improving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Late last year President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. somberly stated that <b>"people don't understand the reason I closed branches is to make profit." </b>He of course never took the time to explain how closing branches which eliminates convenience serves to generate profit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2008, 2009, and 2010 ended in the negative for the once prosperous credit union and in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and in 2014, the President was forced to close branches to ensure net capital remained well above 6% so that the credit union could remain in open and in business. Despite the losses and it's continuing financial struggles, the President has been awarded annual raises all approved by the Board of Directors and it's Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We know of no other credit union whose President has caused losses amounting in the millions of dollars, who has been found guilty of sexual harassment and who has provoked the filing of more than seven lawsuits since 2010, who remains employed and is granted annual wage increases. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What's more, since 2009, the credit union has had a salary freeze in place that only affects the salaries of non-exempt personnel. As we've often reported, often brutal cut-backs implemented by President Wiggington specifically target employee salaries and benefits and never affect the salaries paid to the executive sector. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So much how much is the credit union industry's most embarrassing President being paid? As we've done every year since 2010, we are again publishing excerpts from the credit union's most recent Form 990 Form IRS filing. The latest form is for the year 2013 and provides insight into the practices of the Board of Directors who under it's Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, has evidently established a policy for rewarding incompetence and over the past eight years, used credit union funds like their own personal piggy bank. Here are the excerpts from the latest filing: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Form 990 IRS Filing</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In 2013, now former Vice President of Project Management, Yvonne Boutte, was
paid </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">$91,538</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">. Mrs. Boutte was a polarizing presence and during her
years of employment, was abusive to staff, was an instigator and vicious
gossip, and frequently slandered employees and other officers. In 2012, she
provoked a member who filed a lawsuit against the credit union accusing the
credit union of publishing confidential information about her credit union
automobile loan and her person. Because of the nature of the disclosures, the
information could only have been published by either Mrs. Boutte or one of her
staff in the Credit Resolutions Department. Evidently, her abhorrent behaviors
and lackluster performance were inconsequential to the Board who authorized
that she be paid in excess of $90,000 a year. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Can anyone name one thing
Mrs. Boutte did during her seven (7) year stay that resolved some of the
problems created by the President and resulted in increased business? </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Charles R. Wiggington,
Sr. was paid <b>$164,484</b> in 2013 even though he has caused losses
of net income in excess of <b>$20 million</b> since being appointed
President on January 1, 2007. His horrendous personal behaviors including
having been found guilty of sexually harassing a former employee speak as much
to his character as they do to the egregious proclivities of the entire
Board. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">AVP, Patricia Loiacano,
was paid <b>$91,565</b> in 2013. Though actually knowledgeable about
real estate and consumer loan processes, she will go along with abuses
perpetrated by the management sector. In 2007, she was informed by a Loan
Processor that the DMV Specialist had obtained permission from the AVP of
Lending, Aaron Cavazos, to forge member signatures on Power of Attorney forms
where loan processors had failed to obtain signatures while funding automobile
loans. At the time, Mrs. Loiacano replied, <b>"There's nothing I can
do because it came from Aaron."</b> In 2010, she was appointed AVP of
Compliance by Beatrice Walker. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Saeid Raad, the former
CFO, was terminated in 2013 but before leaving, was paid <b>$150,451</b>.
It was while Mr. Raad was CFO that more than $1 million in cash were stolen
from the Los Angeles branch. We wonder if his departure is related to the
discovery of the theft? </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Executive Vice
President, Rodger Smock, was paid <b>$120,286</b> in 2013. It's
nothing less than incredulous that the worst Director over Human Resources and
the man who intentionally violated state and federal laws for several years and
who refused to enforce credit union policies when violated by the President and
his lackeys, would be paid what is an astronomical amount. <b>Can anyone
name anything Rodger Smock has contributed to the betterment of the credit
union? And the answer isn't that he used to cut out coupons and pass them
out to staff. </b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 115%;">We would be very interested in reviewing the loan
documents for some of the officers who obtained loans from the credit union.
The board approves loan applications for officers of the credit union which may
not be illegal but is a conflict of interest. We are particularly curious to
know if each of the officers satisfied the same credit union's eligibility
requirements non-employees are expected to comply to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As shown above., the credit union also provided the following responses to inquiries set in the form which we've retyped below: </span></div>
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<ul>
<li><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Members have rights to elect the members of the governing body. Members also received a share of the organization's profits in the form of cash dividends." </b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Members have he right to elect one or more members of the organization's governing body, whether periodically as vacancies arise, or otherwise." </b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>"</b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Members have the right to approve the governing body's election and removal of members of the governing body, as well as other matters that are subject to the approval of members as they occur." </b></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The statements are superficially true but the fact is, in </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2009 and again in 2010, Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks and her accomplice, President Wiggington, disrupted the electoral process in an effort to keep new officers from being elected to the either the Board of Directors or Supervisory Committee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under California state law, credit union's must inform members in good-standing of the impending election and extend an invitation that if they'd like, they can nominate themselves to vie for a seat on either the Board of Directors or Supervisory Committee. Mrs. Harris-Brooks and Mr. Wiggington intentionally only chose to publish the mandated notices in the Winter newsletter which was only mailed to members who have a checking account and excluding the large sector of members who only have a savings account. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The two wanted to maker certain that none of the Directors or Supervisors were displaced because the two governing bodies are comprised of ineffective and ignorant officers who are subservient to Mrs. Harris-Brooks' every whim. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They might have gotten away with their plot had we not exposed. Our exposure of what they had done forced the credit union to hold a "second" annual election which resulted in having to reprint ballots, letters, and the cost of postage to all active members in good standing. The financial impact their ploy had upon the credit union was inconsequential to the two corrupt officers who freely use credit union monies as if they were their own. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please note the credit union has new accounts- <a href="http://www.richardscpas.com/">Richards and Associates</a>. We certainly hope the credit union doesn't sue them at some point in the future as they've done with Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large; text-align: center;">SHRINKAGE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though it now more than eight years since Priority One Credit Union began it's ascent towards failure, President Wiggington has avoided a complete shut down of the organization by closing branches, implementing what is now a five year wage freeze that only impacts non-exempt staff salaries, and reduced marketing and business development budgets.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His reductions have come at a heavy cost, compromising convenience, quality member service and ruination of the credit union's public reputation. But no other person has contributed more to financial losses than has the incompetent President's wasted spending. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2007, he refused to resolve issues affecting the conversion of Inland Counties Postal Credit Union member account records into Priority One's network. Though he could have responded immediately but enacting steps that would have immediately implemented remedial measures to all Inland Counties Postal Credit Union accounts, he instead ordered that the member service department only respond to members who actually took the time to call the credit union. His slothful response forced the credit union to spend $100,000 obtaining services from Experian' to monitor member credit reports for one-year, at no cost to members. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later in 2007, he refusal to abide to security protocols resulted in the mailing of ballots in envelopes on whose exterior were printed member account and social security numbers. His error forced the credit union to spend more than $80,000 in remedial measures.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2008, he spent credit union monies purchasing a $600,000 technically flawed phone system. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2008, the President was placed on paid suspension and during the six-weeks which followed, an investigation took place to determine if he had sexually harassed a former employee. The evidence which was eventually provided to the credit union by EXTTI, Inc. proved he had indeed violated federal law but Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, chose to reinstate the President and literally squash the evidence. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In mid-2008, he borrowed $20 million from the credit union's line-of-credit, forcing the credit union to pay between $30,000 to $50,000 per month in interest alone, over the next two years.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2009, he hired his friend, Beatrice Walker, to serve as the credit union's first COO and to help him flush out the blogger, bloggers and confederates of the blogger who he said were trying to force the failure of the credit union. After paying her approximately $100,000 a year, in 2011, he fired Ms. Walker only 25-months after she had begun working for the credit union. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also in 2009, the President and Board authorized the spending of more than $30,000 to procure the services of Lillestrand and Associates. Though the owner, Loren Lillestrand visited the South Pasadena several times during which he met with employees, none of the information he gathered that was to be used to improve how the operation was ever utilized. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Immediately after terminating Ms. Walker in July 2011, he hired Cindy Garvin to serve as Director of Lending. Her starting salary approximated $70,000 but within four months, he promoted her COO, increased her salary and gave her authority to manage the operations over the credit union's Airport, Burbank, Los Angeles, South Pasadena and Van Nuys Branches. Ms. Garvin was touted by AVP, Rodger Smock as an expert in loan development, business development and marketing but at the end of 2013, she too was fired. </span></div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div>
<ul><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<li style="text-align: left;">Between the years of 2010 through 2014, Priority One spent more than $500,000 on legal expenses though majority of which was defending itself against lawsuits filed by four former employees and one member whose confidential account information was published on the Internet by an officer of the credit union. </li>
</span></ul>
<ul><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<li style="text-align: left;">In February of 2012, the President opened the Santa Clarita branch and on January 2014, closed its doors. </li>
</span></ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;">EVIDENCE</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The
credit union's Quarterly Financial Performance Report ("FPR") for the
quarter ending September 31, 2015, reports the organization's net
asset size as </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: '', sans-serif, '', serif;">$153,072,823</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">. On January 1, 2007, the date Charles R.
Wiggington,Sr. began his appointment to President, Priority One's asset size
was <b>$172,250,649</b>. and the credit union boasted seven branches
versus the remaining three it operates. And though the amount of net assets
lost since 2007 has often fluctuated, currently the credit union's net assets
are</span><span style="color: red; font-family: '', sans-serif, '', serif;"> <b>-$19,177,826 </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">less than they were on January 1,
2007.</span><span style="color: red; font-family: '', sans-serif, '', serif;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In 2014, the President
complained that he is often criticized for closing branches but that what
people don't understand is that the closures were intended to increase profits.
No, the closures were intended to reduce spending and raise net capital. Of
course, we invite President Wiggington to explain who reducing the credit
union's presence in the communities it is chartered to serve, how compromised
service and subpar marketing translate into profit. In December 2015, Priority
One no longer has a presence in all of Riverside County, in all of the Santa
Clarita Valley and in most of the San Fernando Valley. So how is it's physical
absence within it's own territories intended to produce profit?</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ANOTHER WIGGINGTON BLUNDER</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In November 2011, the President </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">gloated over the impending opening of the credit union's newest branch in the Santa Clarita Valley. The structure that would house the new branch was constructed at the request of then </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Post Master, Ralph Tapia but the President instead, spread rumors that he negotiated a deal in which the postal service agreed to pay for building the location. He also </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">boasted that using his keen negotiating skills, the postal service agreed to only charge the credit union $1.00 per year to lease the space. It would have been an admirable accomplishment if any of it were true. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The branch was built at the request of then Santa Clarita Post Master, Ralph Tapia. It was his way of showing his gratitude for a credit union he sincerely care about. What's more, in November 2011, the cocky and dull President stated that the branch would be opened quietly and without fanfare because in his words, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"People are going to want to become members so we don't need to advertise." </b>He </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">was wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2013, the credit union was contacted by the office of the new Post Master of Santa Clarita who informed a review of their records revealed the credit union was only paying $1.00 per year to lease the structure built by the post office and that the amount would be increased to the market rate. The news was sufficient to prompt AVP, Rodger Smock, into ask, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"What is the post office doing to us?"</b> We don't understand why Mr. Smock was so upset. If the President was the amazing negotiator he declared he was, then why didn't he contact the office of the Post Master and renegotiate reducing the amount of the lease?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In <b>January 2014</b>, the credit union permanently closed the doors to the Santa Clarita branch. According to the President, <b>"no one visits the place." </b> Maybe the location might have had succeeded if the President had chosen to advertise its location. Or maybe, if had chosen to open a location in downtown Valencia versus the unpopulated northern fringes of the Santa Clarita Valley. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE REPORT</span></b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Financial Performance Report for the quarter ending September 31, 2015, also references losses under "other reserves" in the amount of` </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">-$139,613</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> though no explanation what the "other reserves" pertains to.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under Allowance for Loan & Lease (Losses) the credit union reports </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a negative -</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;">$700,000</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. So did the credit union not set aside sufficient allowance to cover loan losses?</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Membership growth was below the industry average and reported at a negative</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"> -3.02%</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span></li>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">President Wiggington
has made a career of lying, including creating a fraudulent impressions of
Priority One's real financial performance. If you visit the credit union's
website, you'll find that he has hidden, to date, the 2014 Annual Report.
Currently, the 2013 Annual Report continues to appear on the website. In 2009,
he attempted a similar antic when he refused to post the credit union's Monthly
Income Statements and finally conceded after two complaints were filed with the
state's Department of Financial Institutions. In business, sometimes<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>"less is more"</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>but at Priority One,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>"less is always
less." </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The credit union's FPR can be viewed at </span><a href="http://fpr.ncua.gov/OnlineFPR.aspx?cu_number=" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>NCUA.gov</b></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> using charter number, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">60024.</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>LEGAL WOES</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inarguably, since
Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President of the once successful credit
union, Priority One Credit Union has found itself inundated in lawsuits, a phenomena
that didn't exist prior to his appointment to President. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would
also be naive to deny or ignore the correlation between his appointment to
President, the ineptitude and corruption of the Board of Directors and the
ignorance of the Supervisory Committee; and the lawsuits filed by former
employees, members, vendors and contracted consultants against the credit
union. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late
June, CUMIS Insurance Society provided Priority One findings compiled by one of
its analysts, which allegedly found that the credit union's external auditor,
Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad ("TWHC") performed annual audits
which violated mandated auditing standards. The specific timeframe which audits
took place were between "early" or "late" 2010 through
2012. TWHC's failure had the following two-fold effect upon the credit union:</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TWHC failed to detect any of the many thefts occurring during the years of 2010-2012; and</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The faulty audits created an opportunity for a former AVP to abscond with more than $1 million in cash from the vault of the Los Angeles branch. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TWHC was first contracted by Priority One Credit Union in 2008. Apparently, any audits performed in 2008 and 2009 were completed compliant to mandated auditing standards. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to CUMIS' lawsuit, TWHC is solely responsible for the theft of more than $1 million yet for some inexplicable reason neither the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">President, the CFO, two COO's, the credit union's internal auditor, the Board of Directors, the Supervisory Committee, and the entire Account Department never realized money was being stolen from the credit union. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's one think to level allegations of wrong doing against another party, but can CUMIS prove it? </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Using the information provided to it by CUMIS, Priority One filed a cross-complaint accusing TWHC of negligence and contractual violations. The credit union's attorney, John C. Steele, filed a motion requesting the court allow that Priority One sue it's former auditor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Priority One had little choice but to file its lawsuit. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CUMIS paid more than $980,000 against the $1 million claim filed by the credit union in 2014. CUMIS wants to recuperate it's money. Though CUMIS' has taken action against Pearl Lynnette Fortson, the AVP who allegedly embezzled the cash from the Los Angeles branch but Ms. Fortson </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">has filed bankruptcy and if approved by the bankruptcy court, may escape having to pay restitution if she's found guilty of embezzlement. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The credit union's lawsuit would serve to strengthen CUMIS's complaint. More importantly, CUMIS has to win to recuperate the money paid to the Priority One'. And Priority One needs to do everything it can to ensure CUMIS wins its lawsuits or their policy with their carrier could be canceled. If canceled and if the credit union is unable to contract the services of a new carrier, Priority One would be unable to continue it's operation. It's a catch 22 for Priority One and the potential ramifications to its business are nothing less than astounding.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>LEGAL HURDLE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As reported over the last several months, Priority One Credit Union is currently involved in several lawsuits. And though the lawsuit filed by CUMIS against Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad is scheduled to start on January 25, 2015, it hasn't been without having to scale large numbers of motions filed both by CUMIS, TWHC and the credit union. The motions are really nothing more than a costly means by which to obtain clarification, delineate perimeters, and determine what evidence and testimonies will and will not be allowed by the court. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the latest episode of the on going saga, CUMIS filed a lengthy motion which is hoping is attempting to block the admissibility of testimony by an alleged TWHC expert. CUMIS alleges the expert is unqualified to provide rebuttal testimony and the testimony was not submitted within the timeframe specified under law. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On November 2, 2015, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad responded to allegations filed CUMIS, asking the court disallow testimony by an expert who would testify on behalf of TWHC. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shown below is is
TWHC's response to CUMIS' allegations which apparently asked the court to deny
the external auditor to deny expert testimony of a "Mr. Sacher"
because the report was: </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not submitted on time; and</span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr. Sacher is unqualified to provide expert testimony on the matter. </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOt_SKoLrlMs7vjd0S3cNjRd5_m70aQI5ck_RWflWMXaWMEnfDEERuVvwYBwixNaF4S-xakuLZSetq1mLcjz70C0gaPuWdEz-5ZN66D2sgjeK1Id1UCnarsV5fxDP4_9Fz0a-NGjkPsuH/s1600/TWHC+Exerpt+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="475" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOt_SKoLrlMs7vjd0S3cNjRd5_m70aQI5ck_RWflWMXaWMEnfDEERuVvwYBwixNaF4S-xakuLZSetq1mLcjz70C0gaPuWdEz-5ZN66D2sgjeK1Id1UCnarsV5fxDP4_9Fz0a-NGjkPsuH/s640/TWHC+Exerpt+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TWHC responded by contending that CUMIS' that "expert reports" are not required to be created within a legally specified time frame. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TWHC is also requesting additional time to amend the motion to conform to Mr. Sacher's capacity as an expert so the report is deemed acceptable to the court. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TWHC clarifies that the expert, Mr. Sacher, will be providing rebuttal testimony to CUMIS' allegations against TWHC and that CUMIS has been in possession of the expert's opinions since June 24, 2015, long before the court trial is scheduled to start on January 25, 2015. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CUMIS' attorney contacted TWHC and informed them that the expert, Mr. Sacher's opinion were intended to rebut CUMIS' finding and was informed that the intent of Mr. Sacher's testimony was to rebut CUMIS' allegations. Furthermore, on June 24, 2015, TWHC provided CUMIS Mr. Sacher's opinion which mean that CUMIS knew the expert would be providing testimony rebutting CUMIS' allegations. </span></div>
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TWHC concludes by asking the court to impose sanctions against CUMIS whose allegations were unfounded and unsupported by law. It appears CUMIS either didn't comprehend the facts or intentionally filed a motion possibly gambling on the hope the court would decide TWHC expert's testimony would not be allowed. TWHC in response asks for sanctions to be leveled against CUMIS. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On November 5, 2005, the court issued an order scheduling a Motion for Leave to Amend Expert Designation and Request for Sanctions which is scheduled to take place on December 7, 2015. </span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">iNsANitY</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Over the
years, two oft the most often asked questions are how has Charles R.
Wiggington, Sr. remained President and why hasn't the Board of Directors been
voted out by members? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;">There is
more than sufficient documentation, i.e. employee complaints, investigative
reports, lawsuits, etc., proving the President's ruination of the once thriving
credit union. What the obtuse Board is to dense to comprehend is that the
President's business decisions, personal immersion in outrageous scandals, and
his disdain for maintaining relations with the membership have all adversely
impacted the credit union's ability to obtain new business. Subsequently and to
remain open, the credit union is now dependent upon expense reductions. These
are unimportant factors that Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, has chosen
to ignore. Her mandate is to ensure the inept President remains employed and
she has freely utilized credit union resources to hire expensive attorneys who
are paid to concoct defenses designed to help the President escape retribution
for his egregious acts. In spite of the President's history of failures, Mrs.
Harris-Brooks has deemed her abuses of authority prudent and necessary to
ensure to President remains employed and paid a salary exceeding $160,000. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;">The credit
union's current legal troubles involving the theft of more $1 million in cash
from the vault of the Los Angeles branch were all completely avoidable. The
credit union is hoping CUMIS wins its case otherwise it could adversely impact
its ability to retain the services of it's the bond company. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;">And
though CUMIS would like the court to believe that alleged subpar audits
resulted in the thefts perpetrated at the Los Angeles branch, it is logically
impossible to do so. CUMIS has to prove that audits conducted by Turner,
Warren, Hwang and Conrad during the years of 2010 through 2012 failed to
identify any of the cash thefts allegedly perpetrated by a now former
AVP. However, from a layman's point-of-view, there is something more
than a little unreasonable about CUMIS' allegations. </span></div>
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The embezzler had to walk out of
the Los Angeles branch with tens of thousands of dollars each month, over what
CUMIS identifies as a 24-month period. How did the thief do so without
the President, a CFO, two COO's, the Board of Directors, the Supervisory
Committee, the Accounting Department and employees of the Los Angeles ever
noticing a single theft? How could one solitary employee enter the Los
Angeles vault without being observed and leave with either hand, satchel or a
box full of cash during each visit? It is just logistically impossible. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;">The
thefts allegedly committed by an AVP were discovered in February 2013 by Diane
Huffman, the credit union's Internal Auditor. Shortly afterwards, Priority One
hired Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad to confirm Ms. Huffman's findings. Not
long after this, the credit union transferred Mrs. Loiacano from overseeing
Compliance and transferred her back to overseeing the Consumer and Real Estate
Loan Departments. Why was she transferred? Was it that while overseeing
Compliance she failed to ensure policies governing security had been
consistently enforced? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;">Has
anyone noticed that Priority One has refused, to date, to disclose how the
thefts were perpetrated? What is the President and the Board hiding? </span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;">We're
certain every credit union would like to know how this could have been done so
that they can instill measures to ensure this doesn't happen to them</b><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;">. We
suspect that the reason Priority One's officers have remained unusually hushed
about this matter is because the methods used to abscond with the money were so
simplistic, so absurd and so phenomenally ludicrous that they are trying to
avoid public ridicule. Either that or someone within the executive sector knew
that the thefts were occurring or might even have been involved in the thefts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; text-align: center;">As for
CUMIS, we hope they have prepared a hefty arsenal of indisputable
evidence that will prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that Turner, Warren,
Hwang and Conrad, an industry respected company, is responsible for the thefts
perpetrated by one of the credit union's officers. And we can't wait to hear
testimony from the Supervisory Committee and its Chair, Cornelia Simmons, the
robotic officer who year by year assures members that her committee's reviews
have proven that the credit union's security is in place and functioning at
optimum. This will be a wonderful opportunity to witness the caliber of
executives, Directors and Supervisors representing the credit union. </span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com149tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-52210216042542356612015-11-07T18:39:00.001-08:002015-11-08T01:30:10.616-08:00Does Character Matter?, Part 1 of 2 <div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Under a Microscope</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You may have noticed that some of our earliest posts are being republished. The reason for this is because we've initiated a review to primarily correct formatting issues that occurred when we changed publishing platforms in 2013. At no fault of our own, some of the posts could not be simply updated and required being republished. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our review </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">provided an opportunity to reread information we published over the past six years. One unexpected result is having re-discovered incidents that we'd forgotten about and realizing the accuracy of some of our earliest warnings about what might happen if Priority One Credit Union's President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s behaviors and abuses were not reined in. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We've also re-discovered that from the date he became President on January 1, 2007, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. chose to intentionally neglect security protocols designed to protect credit union and member assets. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is this disdain for protocol that we believe culminated in a series of vault thefts of cash at the Los Angeles branch during the years of 2010 through 2012, which totaled more than $1 million</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having spent days and many hours rereading our posts left us even more perplexed as to why the Board of Directors and actually, it's Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, has fought so fervently to ensure Charles R. Wiggington. Sr. remains President and CEO. What is also evident is that the theft of $1 million in cash would never have occurred had the Supervisory Committee under leadership of its Chair, Cornelia Simmons, chosen to carryout their assigned responsibilities. The thefts were avoidable and though CUMIS, the insurance carrier, has filed a lawsuit accusing the external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad of negligent auditing practices that they allege, caused the thefts to go unnoticed, the fact is, if Priority One Credit Union had ensured all security protocols were being performed, the thefts would have been discovered early on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What CUMIS and Priority One hope a court will believe is that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad, who were contracted to perform annual audits, failed to discover that thefts were being perpetrated, allegedly, by a single AVP. What they hope to avoid is the responsibility the credit union had to ensure all security protocols were in place and being performed; and draw attention away from the fact that the Supervisory Committee, the Board of Directors, the President, two former COO's, the CFO, and the Accounting Department never noticed a discrepancy between the Los Angeles branch's vault records the Accounting Department's records. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The credit union has remained unusually quiet about the AVP, who allegedly absconded with $1 million in cash. If security measures were being practiced, then how could one woman enter the vault each week over a 24-month period, and abscond with more than $1 million. We're certain other credit unions would like to know how this was done so that they can implement measures that would deter this from occurring at their organizations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And what has happened with the case against Pearl Lynnette Fortson, the AVP, who allegedly and single-handedly perpetrated the theft of more than $1 million without being observed by any of the tellers, FSR's or receptionist assigned to the Los Angeles branch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A search of the Superior Court's records show that her bankruptcy filings continues under review. We've yet to find anything indicated that she's being prosecuted or that she was ever arrested. CUMIS has clearly not demonstrated the level of aggressiveness shown against the external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad who they hold responsible for the thefts despite the conspicuous fact that the external auditor was not involved in the perpetration of any of the thefts that occurred during the years of 2010 through 2012; nor was the external auditor responsible for ensuring security protocols were being maintained. At present, the former AVP is scheduled to attend a status conference regarding her bankruptcy filing. The conference will take place on January 28, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in department 58 at the Superior Court of Los Angeles, California to </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to the credit union and CUMIS' statement to a reporter, the thefts were carefully camouflaged by Ms. Fortson who allegedly altered the vault's ledger. So does Priority One accept in faith the accuracy of everything that is entered into vault ledgers without conducting verification procedures? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In reviewing past posts, we've rediscovered that during the May 2009 Annual Meeting, the President stated that he was reducing </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">spending, "streamling", and "working smarter." His chronic failures and a series of large thefts occurring at the Los Angeles branch suggest that he knows nothing about "working smarter" and his alleged expense reductions have come at a cost to the workforce who continue to be subjected to a more than five-year wage freeze and who are rarely promoted while the President's so-called efforts are designed not to affect the salaries and benefits paid to credit union executives. Currently, the President continues to receive more than $150,000 per year plus annual bonuses. At Priority One Credit Union, the incompetent Board of Directors rewards incompetency and dishonesty and has gone out of its way to ensure that the man who was found guilty of sexual harassment in 2008, remains President and CEO.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>PERSECUTION</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our recent review of past posts has rediscovered a large amount of information regarding past incidents occurring in the years since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President. Some of the incidents relate directly to Priority One Credit Union's </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">security protocols and reveal that since January 1, 2007, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">President Wiggington has often refused to abide to credit union policies created to ensure the safety of assets and other incidents reveal the abuses perpetrated against employees who discovered that some of the credit union's officers had not adhered to required state and federal protocols and standards. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following account occurred at Priority One Credit Union's Van Nuys branch in 2007, the same year Charles R. Wiggington. Sr. began his appointment as President. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The account consists of several incidents involving a new hired Branch Manager who was to oversee management of the Van Nuys branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the time the Branch Manager was hired, AVP, Rodger Smock, who is also the Director of Human Resources, issued fliers to all employees announcing the hiring of the new Branch Manager and descried him as a highly experienced and knowledgeable officer who would contribute to the success of the Van Nuys branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, the highly competent manager would soon become a victim of President Wiggington's treacherous political system. What the following account reveals is that President Wiggington does not tolerate anyone who discovers that he and his staff have violated the credit union's own policies and state and federal laws laws. What the account also shows is that at Priority One Credit Union, dishonesty and incompetence are awarded and even protected as we witnessed in 2008, when evidence that the President sexually harassed a former employee, was squashed by the Board of Directors and the President's employment, retained. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is the account: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Spider's Lair, Part 1, </b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">February 25, 2009</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In February 2007, Priority One Credit Union hired D. Centeno to replace former Van Nuys Branch Manager, Sylvia Perez, who had been promoted to Assistant Vice President ("AVP") and transferred to the Burbank branch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Director of Human Resources, AVP, Rodger Smock, produced and distributed fliers to all branches announcing the hiring of Mr. Centeno who according to Mr. Smock, possessed extensive banking experience and qualities which the credit union believed would contribute to increasing new business throughout the San Fernando Valley. Those who came to know Mr. Centeno described him as the consummate professional, possessing tremendous knowledge of banking procedures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under Priority One's procedures and policies, all new managers and before they can begin working at their assigned branch, must </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">attend classes conducted at the main branch in South Pasadena. The classes orientate managers to the credit union's philosophy, mission, policies and procedures. Because of training, Mr. Centeno did not report to work at the Van Nuys branch for approximately 2 weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Mr. Centeno did finally report to the Van Nuys branch, he almost immediately experienced difficulties with the branches two most senior employees, Neelam Verma, the Assistant Branch Manager, and Lillian Valladares, an FSR. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The relationship between Mr. Centeno and the two employees grew strained when he discovered they were not following state mandated banking procedures and violating state law. What's more, they were leaving the credit union vulnerable to potential losses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr. Centeno also discovered that Mrs. Valladares was arbitrarily reversing NSF fees without first obtaining authorization from her supervisor. He also discovered that Mrs. Valladares had frequently failed to review mandated ATM and NSF reports. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The two employees contacted Mrs. Perez who they had worked under for several years, and accused Mr. Centeno of being unduly difficult. Mrs. Perez grew irate because the issues Mr. Centeno discovered were all attributable to her. While serving as Branch Manager, she never taught her staff proper, state-mandated procedures. What's more, she had allowed them to violate credit union banking policies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After Mrs. Valladares and Mrs. Verma complained to Mrs. Perez, the AVP drove to the Van Nuys office and during her meeting with Mr. Centeno, informed him that</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> "the knowledge your brought from your former corporate environment will not be tolerated." </i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fueled by anger and we suspect, a fear that the credit union would discover that she failed to implement to provide her staff with the proper training and knowledge needed to carryout their assigned responsibilities. Mrs. Perez next launched a scathing attack against Mr. Centeno, fabricating accusations which disparaged his abilities and which AVP, Rodger Smock, allowed her to use in sealing Mr. Centeno's ouster. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. Perez has established a well-earned reputation for having little self-control. She is known to be hyper, nervous, emotionally volatile, aggressive, impatient and highly vindictive. She also likes to declare that she is highly religious bit her alleged religiosity is not attested to by her behaviors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite the irrational response by Mrs. Valladares and Mrs. Verman, Mr. Centeno tried to resolve the differences with the two women but they refused, remaining uncooperative with their new supervisor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr. Centeno contacted Mrs. Perez and asked if she could schedule to meet with him, Mrs. Valladares, and Mrs. Verma in what he described as an effort to resolve the personnel problems he was experiencing. He also asked if the President and Mr. Smock could be present. Mrs. Perez told him she would contact the President and Mr. Smock and would call him back with a date and time when they could all meet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following day, Mrs. Perez called Mr. Centeno and advised him that the meeting he requested would take place at the main branch in South Pasadena on June 18, 2007.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On June 18, 2007, Mr. Centeno arrived at the South Pasadena branch and asked to go to the office of Rodger Smock. When he arrived in Mr. Smock's office, only Sylvia Perez was present. Mr. Centeno was informed that the President, Mrs. Valladares and Mrs. Verma were unable to attend. Mr. Centeno was informed by Mr. Smock that it had been decided by President Wiggington to end his employment immediately. He was handed a Warning Notice containing a list of allegations lodged against him by the credit union. This included an accusation that he failed to issue a performance evaluation in a timely manner for an employee named Lourdes. The notice, written by Mrs. Perez, stated that the evaluation was submitted 4 weeks late. On May 12, 2007, Mr. Perez allegedly ordered Mr. Centeno to produce a performance evaluation. The evaluation was completed on June 5, 2007, which is less than 4 weeks and thus not late. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What's more, Mr. Centeno had been employed by the credit union for more than 90-days and under the credit union's procedures, he was to have received a performance evaluation no later than the 90th day of his employment. Obviously, Mrs. Perez was late and violated the same policy she was enforcing. What's more, Rodger Smock allowed Mrs. Perez to document allegations that were clearly untrue and failed to address Mrs. Perez's own violation. In a memorandum dated, January 8, 2008, issued by Vice President of Operations, Rodger Smock, and issued to "All Members of management and Staff", he stated: </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All performance reviews must be completed within a reasonable time frame following the end of the review period. Reasonable time frame is defined as 1-2 </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">pay periods following the end of the review date. Completed is defined as performance review has been discussed, signed and original sent to Human </span></b><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Resources (copy should be given to respective employee).</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr. Centeno did not violate the credit union's policy though Mrs. Perez clearly failed to complete her evaluation of Mr. Centeno in a timely manner. Furthermore, the credit union's own records prove that many managers issue performance evaluations long after the 4-week timeframe has passed. Records show that often, evaluations are completed six to twelve months after they are due. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. Perez's Warning Notice also accused Mr. Centeno of failing to respond in a timely manner to a complaint filed by a member who alleged her $200 deposit had never been credited to her checking account. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The complaint was filed immediately after Mr. Centeno was hired and while he was in training in South Pasadena. He could not have been aware of the member's complaint. What's more, the complaint should have been responded to by either the Assistant Branch Manager, Neelam Verma, or AVP, Sylvia Perez. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. Perez purposely alleged a violation of policy that Mr. Centeno never committed. What's more, Mr. Smock chose not to address the apparent distortions of facts presented by Mrs. Perez and suggesting that he was involved in a plot to terminate Mr. Centeno. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is not the first time the President and his cronies have conducted a sham meeting to persecute employees. The plot forged against Mr. Centeno is typical of President Wiggington's mode of administration which resorts to the use of unscrupulous and unethical tactics intended to disparage and wound employee reputations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">President Wiggington has stripped away the dignity that once characterized the credit union and has transformed its former business environment into a soap opera saturated with intrigue and far flung backstabbing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Following Mr. Centeno's departure, an audit of the Van Nuys branch disclosed that Assistant Branch Manager, Neelam Verma approved five loans, all of which became delinquent and were referred to collections and some which were eventually, charged-off. The total amount of losses incurred from the bad loans approved by Mrs. Verma, approximated $45,000. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Its important to remember that Mrs. Verma had been trained by AVP, Sylvia Perez, in the years while Mrs. Perez served as Branch Manager of the Van Nuys office. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. Verma was assigned high loan limits by then Vice President of Operations, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. It was Mr. Wiggington who never ordered training to Mrs. Verma so that she could understand the principles governing loan processing. Not only was she not trained to process loans, there was nothing in her experience or training that qualified her to serve as a Loan Officer. The loans she approved were not properly screened to determine risk factors for each loan applicant. Furthermore, Mrs. Verma failed to perform federally-mandated processes as required under the Patriot Act.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the problems with the loans approved by Mrs. Verma were discovered, President Wiggington and AVP, Aaron Cavazos, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">drove to the Van Nuys branch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though the mistake was Mrs. Verma's, the President found a scapegoat in a temporary employee named A. Gant. Mrs. Verma reviewed the loan applications and then ordered A. Gant to fund the loans. Because he was a temporary employee, his experience in loan funding was extremely limited. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nonetheless, President Wiggington informed A. Gant that he was being terminated for funding "bad loans." Mrs. Verma was stripped of her title but retained her employment without a reduction in pay. What is also peculiar is that A. Gant was not an employee of the credit union. He was employed by Stivers Staffing whose offices are located in Pasadena, California and temporarily assigned to Priority One Credit Union. Subsequently, he was not employed by Priority One, yet President Wiggington informed him that he was being terminated when the correct procedure would have been to inform Mr. Gant's actual employers- Stivers Staffing, that his assignment was being ended immediately.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE FORMER BURBANK BRANCH MANAGER</span></b></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not surprisingly, Mrs. Verma wasn't the only officer of the credit union who despite little or no training in loan processing, was assigned exorbitant approval rights by Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. Like the incident involving Mrs. Verma, the following incident involves a series of approved loans which quickly became delinquent and were all eventually,charged-off.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2009, then Burbank Branch Manager, Linda Nisely, approved 4 automobile loans. Within a few months, the loans were deferred to Credit Resolutions. The department failed to procure the delinquent payments, forcing the credit union to charge-off the unpaid loans. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The loans were issued to a man who visited the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the Burbank branch and informed Mrs. Nisely that he was the owner of a San Fernando Valley dealership and wanted to obtain loan funding for some automobiles. Mrs. Nisely may have seen a wonderful opportunity to clinch a fast sale that would probably impress President Wiggington and so, she approved the loans. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the weeks that passed, neither Mrs. Nisely, the Loan Department and eventually, Credit Resolutions, experienced any success in reaching the member at the telephone numbers he provided when he funded the loans. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Exasperated, Mrs. Nisely drove to the dealership but to her shock and dismay, discovered that the business address the member provided was to a business renting postal mail boxes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As in the case of Mrs. Verma, it was President Wiggington who authorized Mrs. Nisely loan limits. He never verified if she was qualified to make loan decisions but nonetheless, provided her with limits that should never have been given to her. His failure to train her, to test her abilities and knowledge and any other measures needed to ensure she was fully qualified to review and approve loan applications contributed to the incidence to even more losses to a credit union that since 2007, has lost millions of dollars in Net Income and lost more than 50% of its branches. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a side note, Mrs. Nisely was terminated in 2010, allegedly because the credit union was being forced to reduce spending. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">October 2010, Mrs. Nisely filed a lawsuit against the credit union in which she alleged she had been subjected to age and race discrimination. She was one of the few White employees at Priority One. At the time, the credit union's attorneys of <a href="https://rhopc.com/">Richardson, Harman and Obe</a>r, informed their client that Mrs. Nisely's case had no merit. The attorneys and credit union began amassing a list of employees who would testify in court that Mrs. Nisely was a racist who hated Latins and who had been insubordinate and refused to participate in business development efforts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The case which allegedly had no merit was settled soon after Mrs. Nisely provided a copy of a letter written to Priority One's Human Resources Department by the former Valencia Branch Manager and described in detail that she had been victimized by then COO, Beatrice Walker, who created a hostile work environment, harassed and sexually harassed the Branch Manager and had even stalked her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What the letter proved is that the entire Board of Directors, President Wiggington, and AVP, Rodger Smock, and Human Resources "clerk", Esmeralda Sandoval, not only failed to investigate the Branch Manager's allegations but allowed a scathing campaign to ensue which eventually forced the Branch Manager's resignation. As a result of the letter, Mrs. Nisely's case was settled and a monetary settlement paid. Mrs. Nisely never called and thanked the Branch Manager for the letter which enabled her victory. </span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com128tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-51843739914359034342015-10-07T14:03:00.000-07:002015-11-08T22:02:25.729-08:00Incongruence<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">BRINGING A BIG </b></h2>
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<b style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">SWORD TO A GUN FIGHT</b></h2>
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</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">This month's post, returns to the subject of Priority One Credit Union's legal entanglements. Currently, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">the credit union is involved in litigating four lawsuits. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first is the lawsuit filed</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">by it's </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">insurance carrier, CUMIS Insurance Society, Inc. which accuses the credit union's former external auditor, </span><a href="https://www.twhc.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad </a><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">("TWHC"), of breach of contract when it performed several annual audits which violated established auditing standards. The breaches allegedly allowed several thefts totaling more than $1 million in cash to go undetected.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">A second lawsuit was filed by TWHC against Priority One Credit Union and a third lawsuit- a counter-suit, was filed earlier this year by the credit union against its former external auditor, TWHC. . </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">A fourth lawsuit was against the credit union in late 2014, by its former contracted automobile broker, Lewis Seiden dba Auto Alliance ("Auto Alliance"). </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we last reported upon </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">the lawsuit filed by Auto Alliance, the credit union had filed a motion requesting dismissal of the Plaintiff's complaint on the basis that the auto broker's allegations lacked merit to justify it's suit. Unfortu</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">nately, for Priority One, the court did disagreed and the credit union will proceed to court to fend off allegations it breached its agreement with the broker. We will elaborate further about the latest action initiated by both the automobile broker and the credit union.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the decades before January 1, 2007, the actual date when Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President, the credit union was never sued by former employees or business associates. The current batch of lawsuits all stem from the decision by the President and Board of Directors to </span></span></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">circumvent credit union policies and state and federal laws. It is these decisions which have forced Priority One to dig deep into its coffers, dredging up monies needed to pay for outrageously expensive litigation. From 2010 through 2013, Priority One paid in excess of $500,000 in legal fees. Employee lawsuits filed between 2010 through 2013 were eventually settled by the credit union to avoid costly and potentially embarrassing court trials. The amount currently being spent on litigation will probably surpass the $500,000 previously spent and brings into question the veracity of Priority One's Mission Statement which declares that the credit union is able </span></span></span><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>"</b></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><b>To help our member-owners and employees achieve financial fitness. We are committed to providing quality products and services that help you win with money" </b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Does anyone really believe that Priority One Credit Union can help member-owners and employees achieve financial fitness when its few profits are being spent on expensive litigation? </span><br />
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<span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b> Business Development </b></span><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Resuscitated</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">In our last post, we revealed that the President in yet another desperate move to acquisition new business, </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">reinstated a former Business Development Representative ("BDR") who has been an employee of the credit union for over 40 years. The President's latest decision is another contradiction of his 2010 initiative which began by </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">placing stringent restrictions on the business development team and decision in 2012, which completely dismantled the business development team until January 15, 2013, when he appointed, Joseph Garcia, to serve as sole BDR for the three-branch credit union. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Despite a well-documented record of failures committed by Mr. Garcia during the years of 2010-2012, the President deemed it prudent to appoint him in charge of the credit union's business development endeavors. The </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">President's decision was also enthusiastically supported by Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, and Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, both of who have continually enabled the President's history of horrendous busines decisions. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As reported last month, it was not until July of this year that the not-so-astute President discovered Mr.Garcia was not visiting businesses whose names were referenced in each of his monthly production reports. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first problem with the President's latest escapade is that it's logistically marred. The credit union's territory extends from the Riverside/San Diego County border and north to the Santa Clarita Valley. Its a large and impressive territory comprised of diverse demographics and despite its vast size, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. has deemed it reasonable to assign a single business development representative to manage the entire territory. Does he really believe a single individual can, without assistance, manage the vast territory? Apparently, he does. The president may be oblivious to the fact that he has spent the last eight years neglecting the credit union's relationship to its members and in particular, its </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">relationship with members who are employed by the </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">United States Postal Service ("USPS"). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. has proven anything its that he is no skilled tactician and that his so-called business decisions are not based on information derived from surveys, focus group assessments, and careful studies of the credit union's marketplaces but rather nothing more than his chronic, unfounded whims. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A NON-PROFIT?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apparently, both the President and Board have forgotten that as a non-profit, Priority One is required to satisfy certain public obligations which includes but is not limited to providing free services that contribute to the betterment of the communities served by the credit union. A search of their website and Facebook page fails to identify anything that the credit union has done to fulfill its social purpose. Evidently, the President who once aspired to turn Priority One into a bank has forgotten that following industry tenets: </span></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Help </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">people of modest means</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Provide loans that are to be used for prudent purpose; and </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Provide free financial education</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what <span style="background-color: white;">positive social impact has </span><span style="background-color: white;">Priority</span><span style="background-color: white;"> One has had upon the </span><span style="background-color: white;">communities</span><span style="background-color: white;"> it serves? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><b><i>MISREPRESENTATION?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's only been a few weeks since Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, accompanied now former Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte, to her desk located in the Credit Resolutions Department and watched while she retrieved her purse and a few possessions before quietly leaving the main branch without bidding adieu to her staff in the Call Center, Member Services, and Teller Departments. It was a quiet departure for a woman who demanded respect and subservience and yet, found it necessary to abuse and disparage staff. A few days following her departure, Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, disclosed that Mrs. Boutte was ill and might be absent for a few weeks. Of course, this proved to be another shame excuse to deter attention from the fact that she was being scrutinized. Almost immediately following her departure, the credit union that has historically been lax about updating its webpage, removed Mrs. Boutte's name, as shown below, from their online list containing executive names and titles. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Former Executive List</u></span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIUDcTSQPzWB-mda8EbRg6tIFMsJzPe-Oz6rPq8r4YnlZ5zpH_dce60SJ0jFlJ3MlxYj3t2TO8z7CyLL8Qe_iJsaIdbmbhfxJEf-3iuIkgR7n5kZI8yN7xF0T7plMyNyOJrMlWOtELisP/s1600/Yvonne+Boutte+100415+Old.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheIUDcTSQPzWB-mda8EbRg6tIFMsJzPe-Oz6rPq8r4YnlZ5zpH_dce60SJ0jFlJ3MlxYj3t2TO8z7CyLL8Qe_iJsaIdbmbhfxJEf-3iuIkgR7n5kZI8yN7xF0T7plMyNyOJrMlWOtELisP/s400/Yvonne+Boutte+100415+Old.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b> <u>Current Executive List</u></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2V1NLcvqxnFKcX3-ojfETM76gc2aL41li6bigVqVmUusk2U2C9eotffUtGVKcWpOWn0PYTMK9WSr2XzwA8grGZsvkgFmOstHMIx6ydoqsA1sutXGGFQZMqa3ugOcVnWH7eAa03lFCFr-/s1600/Yvonne+Boutte+100415+NEW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2V1NLcvqxnFKcX3-ojfETM76gc2aL41li6bigVqVmUusk2U2C9eotffUtGVKcWpOWn0PYTMK9WSr2XzwA8grGZsvkgFmOstHMIx6ydoqsA1sutXGGFQZMqa3ugOcVnWH7eAa03lFCFr-/s400/Yvonne+Boutte+100415+NEW.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "arial";"><a href="https://www.priorityonecu.org/membership/management.php" target="_blank">Management List </a></span><span style="color: red;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Its been a long while since we've conducted a search of Mrs. Boutte's name on the Internet, but we were curious to see if she might have moved quickly to amend any of her online biographies. Visiting her LinkedIn account, we discovered that she suffers from the same need exhibited by both President Wiggington and Vice President Smock, to exaggerate her work history. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Source: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/yvonne-boutte/8/b89/42a"><span style="color: blue;">Yvonne Boutte's LinkedIn Account</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte took some poetic liberties when creating her biography. Though she correctly states she was hir</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ed to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"create an in-house collections team"</b>, she is less than forthright when she states she wrote procedures. Her procedures were never ratified by the Board of Directors subsequently reducing her so-called procedures to mere notes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She also states her responsibilities included, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>"handling Card Services and the DMV function."</b> We're completely at a loss to understand what she means by "handling." Mrs. Boutte did not perform Card Services Department procedures merely because she did not possess the ability to do so. The department which is actually a single desk., has an experienced Card Services Specialist. On a side note, in 2010, Mrs. Boutte ordered that the Card Services Specialist assist the collections department, a decision which is as absurd as anything concocted by President Wiggington, himself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte also oversaw DMV procedures though she was in no way a DMV Specialist. Furthermore, in 2009, the credit union ceased to have a DMV desk after Mrs. Boutte convinced then COO, Beatice Walker, that the DMV Specialist should be laid-off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte also attributes her purported successes to her </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"strong and effective leadership skills."</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> The fact is, Mrs. Boutte was a polarizing presence at the credit union. She was known to be rude to employees and some members and like President Wiggington, she was a chronic violator of the credit union's policies. In 2012, she bullied a member who lodged a complaint with Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks and which accused the credit union of publishing information about her credit union automobile loan and disparaging statements about her person, on the Internet. The compliant was delegated to the President who then delegated it to Mrs. Boutte. Mrs. Boutte chose to be aggressive over prudent and impartial, provoking the member into filing a lawsuit which was later settled by the credit union. Evidently, Mrs. Boutte has a distorted view of what constitutes strong or effective leadership. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THE PLAN THAT COULDN'T FAIL</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Webpage Page as it appeared in 2010 -</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In early 2010, then COO, Beatrice Walker, launched an aggressive campaign, promoting her expertise as a Chief Operations Officer. She promised the Board of Directors and its Board Chair, the easily pliable, Diedra Harris-Brooks, convincing them that she would reduce spending and create profitable new streams of income. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hired on June 1, 2009, she spent much of her first three months of employment pandering to the Board and succeeding in bolling over Mrs. Harris-Brooks who literally granted Ms. Walker Carte' Blanche to implement whatever changes she deemed necessary to reverse the multitude of problems created by President Wiggington which had caused the credit union to lose its ability to generate the level of new business enjoyed prior to January 1, 2007, the date he began his appointment as President. . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the many changes she made by Ms. Walker was introducing Auto Alliance to the credit union. Though Priority One had a long-time and highly successful relationship with Mike Martinez the owner of Universal Leasing and Sales, Ms. Walker issued an order to the Loan Department staff, advising them to refer all members seeking to purchase an automobile to Auto Alliance. Furthermore, President Wiggington distanced himself from Universal Auto Leasing and Sales, became aloof and unfriendly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To aid success of Auto Alliance, Ms. Walker ordered placement of a desk in the Loan Department </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">where a representative from Auto Alliance would sit and meet with members who were approved for an automobile loan. The plan might have worked had the consumer loan department staff not continued referring members to Universal Auto Sales. What's more, President Wiggington made no effort to ensure the staff was referring members to Auto Alliance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By mid-2010, Ms. Walker's relationship with the Board had deteriorated to the point that she began publicly describing the Directors as "uneducated" and "ignorant." </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In July 2011, Ms. Walker was terminated and within a few weeks, Auto Alliance's representative vacated his desk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">- Website Page as it appears in</span><span style="color: white;"> </span><a href="https://priorityonecu.org/loans/autoresources/" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">2015</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> -</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>"MAN IS NOT WHAT HE THINKS HE IS, HE IS WHAT HE HIDES"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>- ANDRE' MALRAUX -</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On June 24, 2015, Priority One's attorney, John C. Steele, filed a motion requesting the court's approval which would allow the credit union to join CUMIS Insurance Society, Inc.'s lawsuit, however and as usual, litigation has not been without incident. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Priority One's attorney had previously filed a motion requesting dismissal of the lawsuit filed by Lewis Seiden dba Auto Alliance but the court deemed the Plaintiff's allegations possessed sufficient grounds to proceed to trial. With the credit union's first course of action having failed, on </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">September 26, 2015, their attorney filed a </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lato" , "arial";"><b>Stipulation and Protective Order- Confidential Designation Only</b>. The order seeks an order by the court to prohibit the publication of any documents deemed and labeled "confidential". </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial"; text-align: justify;">The
defendant and plaintiff have apparently comet to an agreement that it is
crucial to protect the confidentiality of certain documents that may contain
sensitive information such as trade secrets and financial data which is not
intended for viewing by the general public or competitors and which may be of a
proprietary nature. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The filing of the motion is not unusual but it comes only a few weeks after we learned that President Wiggington expressed concern that documents presented during the upcoming trial could find their way to the Internet and adversely impact his very public reputation. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Frankly, at this point, the President should have moved beyond being embarrassed. Since 2007, evidence was exposed that he sexually harassed a female employee and that while serving as Vice President of Operations, he ordered repossession of a BMW, his favorite car, and transferred ownership to himself without paying a cent for the vehicle. There are also the multitude of allegations documented in complaints filed by former employees and one former member, describing egregious violations of state and federal laws perpetrated by and under President Wiggington. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though the attorney's for the Plaintiff and Defendant have signed the motion, we can't ignore the fact that the motion was filed just a few weeks </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">after President Wiggington expressed concerns that documents presented in court could find their way to the Internet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The lawsuit filed by Auto Alliance also names Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. a defendant. This, by the way, is the second time since 2013, that the President has been named a defendant. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first incident occurred in the lawsuit filed by the last Branch Manager of the now defunct Valencia office. At the time, the plaintiff accused Human Resources and President Wiggington of allowing her state and federal rights to be violated when they knowingly allowed her to be harassed, sexually harassed, retaliated against, and stalked by former COO, Beatrice Walker. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2013, the President </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">spent an inordinate amount of time walking about the South Pasadena office, divulging confidential information about each of the lawsuits filed by former employees and boasting that three settlements entered into by the credit union were so insignificant in amount that they were inconsequential to the declining credit union. At the time, his breeches of confidentiality even prompted the credit union's attorney to issue a warning to Board Chair., Diedra Harris-Brooks, urging that the President desist from verbalizing information about cases that had been settled and about those which remained in litigation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During litigation of the lawsuit filed by the Valencia Branch Manager, the credit union's attorney contacted the Plaintiff's attorney by telephone and informed her that if President Wiggington's name was not removed as a Defendant from the lawsuit, he would file a motion excusing the President from testifying because he was suffering from cancer and was undergoing arduous medical treatments. Evidently, the President has since made an almost full recovery immediately following removal of his name.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Apparently, in 2015 things have changed for President Wiggington. It appears he will be unable to use his former illness as an excuse to escape from testifying. What's more, he's become extremely concerned about guarding the confidentiality of certain documents that will be presented during the trial. Though we understand that it is important to protect sensitive information from being viewed by the public, we can't ignore the fact that the President recently expressed concern about stopping the disclosure of certain information that could adversely impact his reputation and which could reveal things about his character and about his mode of administration. And though on some level we can empathize with the President's concerns, the fact is this is a ruthless man who has over the past 8 years violated policies and laws with no concern for the consequences this could have upon the credit union and its ability to conduct business. The President should be concerned by the upcoming trials and in particular, the lawsuit filed by Auto Alliance which names him a defendant. He will be unable to hide behind the Board of Directors and its Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, and though the motion to protect the publication of certain documents, the motion does not cover all documents that might be presented and produced during the trial. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"><span style="background-color: white;">Hiding information isn't new for President Wiggington. Here are two </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">instances in which he has purposely withheld information from public viewing:</span><br />
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">In 2010, he ordered that members not be provided copies of Priority One's Monthly Balance Sheet/Income Statements though state law stipulates that the reports must be provided to active members who request copies of these. His directive remains in effect today. </span></li>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">This year, he and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, decided to stop publication of the credit union's annual report on Priority One's website. </span></li>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"><span style="background-color: white;">The President has always hoped people would accept his verbalized assurances and disclosures about the credit union's financial standing, at face value. Unfortunately, his statements have continually been challenged by the credit union's own financial statements including its </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">quarterly Financial Performance Reports filed with the National Credit Union Association. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial";"><span style="background-color: white;">Another fact is that anyone attending any of the trials the credit union is currently involved in, will have an opportunity to hear testimonies and observe the presentation of evidence that will finally reveal how Priority One chooses to do business. Though their is no arguing that President Wiggington is a man who chooses to orchestrate his activities in the darkest recesses of the credit union, far from prying eyes, a trial will provide transparency and </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">provide a wonderful opportunity to bring into the light the President's methodologies. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial";">President Wiggington may soon discover that the motion signed by the plaintiff and defendant will not serve to stop testimonies from being heard in court. Will Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. forge a story that exonerates him from all wrong doing and which serves to convince a jury that Priority One acted responsibly and wholly honestly in their dealings with Auto Alliance? </span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">< item>
< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com83tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-30377409017405664012015-09-06T21:40:00.001-07:002015-10-11T20:43:08.317-07:00The Liar's Club<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>PHONY AS A<span style="color: blue;"> $10 BILL</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqbP56StXRW15kWF-4Pqqocp6Qv-4qjpTBqcKip_PWwu8nmmd8I1dZXsFZbG92w5GQIwSlqkGHyOITFPjxzh5yjqTVZa-AvZT21uh-tW_WzJkIfaglbyqOdKEiXBxTpAQWu5v-OOuDIj9/s1600/Counterfeit+082315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqbP56StXRW15kWF-4Pqqocp6Qv-4qjpTBqcKip_PWwu8nmmd8I1dZXsFZbG92w5GQIwSlqkGHyOITFPjxzh5yjqTVZa-AvZT21uh-tW_WzJkIfaglbyqOdKEiXBxTpAQWu5v-OOuDIj9/s400/Counterfeit+082315.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's probably few people that would deny that Priority One Credit Union's President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., is a man embedded in the superfluous. Over the years, he has spent an inordinate amount of time and credit union funds on hiring consultants who are paid to create facades that hide the effects of his abysmal performance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were reminded of this in early August when a reader of this blog accused us of publishing inaccurate information about the date when President Wiggington was first appointed President and CEO of the then successful and growing credit union. The reader pointed out that many of the President's online biographies, CV's and resumes state that he began his appointment on </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">March 1992</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and not </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">January 1, 2007.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, The latter, is the date we have alluded during the past 6 years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A search on the Internet revealed that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. does in fact state he began ins appointment in March 1992 which is clearly inconsistent with the date we've often provided. So did we err? If we did, that's a discrepancy of 15 years. Or has Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. provided inaccurate information about himself? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Its unlikely that President Wiggington would forget the day he became President and certainly, how could he fail to differentiate between 1992 and 2007? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">VISUALCV.COM</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As shown below, on VISUALCV.com, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. does indeed state taht he began his appointment in March of 1992. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The date provided by President Wiggington</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">is <u>incorrect</u>. Actually, the incorrect date constitutes fraud. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5t_bXDuxuK5a1LiVlDCJLbieje0FYI_1EaiBJadKh-Ba47QF1iAZnHjjYpWuFoHKzbxgp6mWuRlhcdlYdIUAwdgb-t9xnuGwr1bcuy6P0oVo_7oFlnI7WL-GVxJuIR-nXqemVIsyaYXg6/s1600/1+CRW+Start+Date.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5t_bXDuxuK5a1LiVlDCJLbieje0FYI_1EaiBJadKh-Ba47QF1iAZnHjjYpWuFoHKzbxgp6mWuRlhcdlYdIUAwdgb-t9xnuGwr1bcuy6P0oVo_7oFlnI7WL-GVxJuIR-nXqemVIsyaYXg6/s400/1+CRW+Start+Date.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.visualcv.com/charlesrwiggingtonsr" target="_blank"><b>Source: https://www.visualcv.com/charlesrwiggingtonsr</b></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">its easy enough to prove that Charles. R. Wiggington, Sr. was not appointed President in 1992. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In October 2006, Priority One’s no longer existent Marketing
Department sent out the following invitation to employees, vendors, Directors,
Supervisors, and associates in the credit union industry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As shown above, the invitation was to attend the retirement dinner for then <b>President</b> and <b>CEO, William E. Harris</b>. The party was held at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California on the evening of <b>Saturday, November 11, 2006</b>. <u>Yes, the event was conducted in 2006, proving Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. could not have been President on any date <i><b>prior to January 1, 2007</b></i></u></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>. </u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Amongst the many guests who attended the retirement party on November 11, 2006, were then Vice President of Human Resources, Rodger Smock; and Board Chairperson, Diedra Harris-Brooks. The three not only attended the party but each spoke briefly, providing tributes to then President William E. Harris. Furthermore, prior to January 1, 2007, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was the Vice President of Operations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">D</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">espite having been present and spoken at the November 2006 retirement party, in 2012, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. embellished his employment history and chose to reference March 1992 as the date he was first appointed President. The image of the above-shown invitation dispels that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was President of the credit union in <b>1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, or 2006. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One might also have thought that Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, and/or Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, would have taken a moment to remind the dishonest President </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that lying negatively impacts the integrity of member trust in the organization and asked that he remove the fraudulent reference from his biography, but evidently neither was ethically motivated to do so. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why would Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. wish to publish an inaccurate record of his employment while at Priority One Credit Union and if he could provide a fraudulent account of his time at Priority One, can we trust any of the information provided about his employment prior to his arrival at the credit union? The only plausible though not rational reason for exaggerating his employment history is to embellish it. But why? Isn't he satisfied with the real record of his employment? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Historically, President Wiggington has wasted years and tens of thousands of dollars trying to create campaigns that present a fraudulent portrayal of the credit union's real performance. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When called to testify in court, can we expect Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. to tell the truth or will he again gush out concoctions intended to escape accountability for failing to enforce security protocols which have resulted in internal thefts committed by now former employees? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, if one to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">gives Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. the benefit of the doubt, then the reference to March 1992, currently found in his biographies, CV's and resumes, might merely be the result of chronic forgetfulness? If so, then this points to a larger, more serious issue. If he suffers from an inability to remember things, could this be the reason why in 2009, a former receptionist of the Los Angeles branch succeeded in embezzling $60,000? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Could a possible state of forgetfulness also be the reason why in 2010, a married couple withdrew $100,000 from a HELOC checking account that should have been closed months earlier? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And lastly, could a case of chronic forgetfulness be the reason why during the years of 2010 through 2012, an AVP found an opportunity to allegedly embezzle more than $1 million in cash from the Los Angeles branch's vault? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President and Executive Vice President's biographies, CV's and resumes which are strewn about the Internet were the brainchild of consultants hired in mid-2012. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time, Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, became frantic about repairing the credit union's horrendous public reputation. The consultants performed a generic analysis of the credit union which included mailing questionnaires to past and present employees and members which asked for suggestions on how to improve business. Predictably, there were few responses to the queries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The assessment of Priority One's internal and external performance led the consultants to conclude that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One needed a new, revamped, more colorful webpage. At the time, the President boasted that the new, more user friendly interface would simplify locating information about what the credit union offers and expedite applying for loans. As time would prove, the new webpage had no effect upon improving sales.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The consultants also informed the President and Board Chair that it would benefit the credit union if the President's and Executive Vice President's work histories were published on the Internet. These would serve to show the competency of the credit union's leadership which would in turn elicit confidence in members and potential members. And so, the over-saturation of the work histories was begun and the President, the Executive Vice President, and the Board of Directors awaited for business to improve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its important to note that the biographies, CV's and resumes were all reviewed by Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock. Since January 1, 2007, it is Mr. Smock who reviews the President's addresses to members which were once published monthly in the no longer existent newsletters. It is also Mr. Smock who composed and/or reviewed the addresses for nominees and incumbents who vied for one of the seats on the Board of Directors or Supervisory Committee during Priority One's annual election. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like the President's exaggerated biography, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the Executive Vice President's record of his employment and education contained references that no one at the credit union had heard of prior to 2012. In his biographies, Rodger D. Smock stated he studied business and marketing while </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">attending the University of Cincinnati during the mid-1960's. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This came as an utter surprise to many employees and to several former officers of the credit union, none of who had ever known he studied either business or marketing. In fact, in the years prior to 2007, he periodically disclosed he studied psychology while at the university. What's more, during depositions conducted in 2013, he affirmed he studied psychology. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His alleged studies in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">business and marketing are not attested to by anything he did while overseeing Priority One's <u>marketing committee</u> during the years of 2008 through 2009. During that period he <u>assisted</u> in composing articles for the newsletter and with the help of the credit union's contracted publishing company (versus </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">marketing consultants</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">), he assisted in writing copy and selecting graphics for planned promotions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His so-called education in marketing seemed limited to advertising which is not synonymous with marketing. Additionally, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">if</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> he studied marketing in the mid-1960's, then by 2008, when he temporarily took over marketing, Rodger Smock would have been more than a little out-of-touch with current marketing methodologies. He also never achieved </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">success or industry recognition achieved by the Marketing Director who for years, oversaw marketing until January 1, 2007, the date when Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. bludgeoned the marketing department out of existence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evidently, the revamped webpage and the President's and Executive Vice President's mass published biographies, CV's and resumes, had absolutely no positive impact upon business and in the end, their efforts amount to just more abuses of credit union resources, all sanctioned by the Board of Directors and its always ignorant Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This month, we've decided to focus on recent events occurring at Priority One Credit Union, all of which affirm that this is an organization juggling an immense number of problems that are not consigned to litigation. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will resume our reporting on the credit union's numerous lawsuits in next month's post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The incidents we are reporting about, all contrast sharply to the concoctions continually gushed forth by President Wiggington which always insist that business is wonderful and growing and that his plans for the credit union are proceeding as planned. As we've often written, if his plans are proceeding according to a plan he forged, then failure must be his ultimate goal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>INDICATOR OF FAILURE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This past August, long-time employee and Consumer Loan Officer, Georgina Duenas resigned after more than 15 years of employment. Her resignation allowed the credit union to further reduce spending on her salary and medical and retirement benefits, all which contribute to the credit union's efforts to maintain net capital well above the dreaded 6%. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What makes Ms. Duenas' departure noteworthy are statements she made about the credit union just after submitting her notice of resignation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior to leaving, she took two weeks of vacation time to go and work with her future employer, just to determine if the work was compatible and apparently, it was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following submission of her notice of resignation, she confided to co-workers that she had grown weary of the credit union which she said offered no career development. She also complained that she had grown tired of working for low wages and working under a five-year freeze, implemented by President Wiggington in mid-2010. At the time, he said the freeze was temporary and would be lifted as soon as business picked up. His alleged short-term fix which is on its 5th year serves as yet more evidence that the credit union's financial standing is faring poorly and that rumors of declining business are evidently true. As of September 2015, their is nothing to indicate the freeze will be lifted at any time in the foreseeable future. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a long-time member of both the Consumer and Real Estate Departments, Mrs. Duenas expressed tremendous dissatisfaction with the credit union's current mandates, which requires all employees of the Consumer Loan Department to aggressively try and acquire new business. The problem with the mandate is that members whose loan applications have been approved, refuse to follow through and obtain funding. As we've reported in previous posts, under President Wiggington, sales trump service. The crux of Priority One's inability to acquire new business is directly tied to its public reputation and poor quality member service. Many members whose loans have been approved, eventually go to other credit unions to obtain funding they seek. As the old adage says, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink it."</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>The President's remedies, all enacted in 2010, are now contributing to growing employee dissatisfaction with their employer and undermining the ability to reverse the multitude of problems introduced by Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.., in the years following his appointment to President. The "temporary" wage freeze, his gauge treatment of members, his inability to create marketing strategies, and insipid product offerings are all contributing to the credit union's ongoing decline. Furthermore, to retain net capital above 6%, President Wiggington has caused the credit union to become addictively reliant upon expense reductions as key to its continued survival. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. . </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">LOAN DEVELOPMENT</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Wiggington may have proven to be quite incapable of developing strategies that produce real profit, but what he lacks in imagination and competency is over-compensated with by his adamant need to camouflage the credit union's lagging performance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In early 2008, the President and Board became concerned by the radical decline in business. Initially,. the blame was placed on the AVP of Lending who was only reporting to work 2 or 3 hours per day and when at work, performing duties for his second source of employment at Century 21 Realty in Alhambra, California. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, decided the credit union would borrow $20 million from it's line-of-credit. The loan would be used to increase the amount of the credit union's net income on paper. The impetus for borrowing the money was again, purely superficial and immensely dishonest. Over the next two years, the credit union would pay out $30,000 to $33,000 per month, in interest. hardly the type of prudent planning that should be entered into by a credit union that is in dire need of new business and from an organization that touts itself as a <i>financial fitness center.</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">December 31, 2009, and despite having borrowed $20 million, Priority One ended the year with more than $5 million in losses. This had never occurred under any other of Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s predecessors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February 2010, the credit union issued its Income Statement/Balance Sheet which reported profits in excess of $200,000 for the month of January 2010. <b>So how could a credit union that ended 2009 deeply immersed in the RED, generate more than $200,000 in profit during the month of January 2010, which is traditionally the second slowest month of the year?</b> As it turned out, the credit union never generated profit during the month of January. The President and then COO, Beatrice Walker, transferred monies from one of the credit union's general ledgers and applied them to the month of January 2010, all to create the appearance of profit. Later that year, on December 31, 2010, the credit union reported losses in excess of $500,000. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this year, the President changed one of the Loan Department's procedures. Under credit union policy, approved loans remain active and eligible for funding for a total of 30-days. After 30-days, they are no longer active and cannot be funded. If a member wishes to fund that loan, a new credit report will be ordered to determine if the member's credit history has undergone any changes. The procedure is designed to protect the credit union and it also protects a member who might not be able to afford obtaining a loan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new procedures allows an approved loan to remain actively in the credit union's database even after the 30-day period has expired. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only reason the President would implement this change is to create the impression that Priority One is doing brisk business and has lots of approved loans on file. As Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. has proven time and time again, he is not a man daunted by reasonableness of policies or laws. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, this current violation of loan policy is but one in a long list of abuses perpetrated by the adversarial President. For years, he boasted that Priority One's membership approximated 30,000 members but as we reported in our last post, earlier this year, Employee Services Director, Robert West, authored an article for <a href="https://gohigherup.com/category/success-story/"><b>HigherUp</b></a> in which he stated that the credit union's membership approximates 26,000 members. Like the reference in his employment history, President Wiggington is again exaggerating the truth. We have to point out that at the time he was appointed President, membership approximated 32,000 which means that over the past 8 years, Priority One has lost approximately 8,000 members. Inarguably, this is another indicator to failure. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">ANOTHER WIGGINGTON KNOCK-OFF</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we reported a few weeks ago, Priority One's sole Business Development Representative, Joseph Garcia, resigned and left the credit union for new employment. Before leaving, Mr. Garcia composed a farewell message of sorts, bidding employees adieu, however, recent disclosures originating from the South Pasadena office reveal that Mr. Garcia's departure may not have been either amicable or voluntary. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Mr. Garcia's stay while at Priority One was both peculiar and initially, propelled by favoritism. In 2010, he was transferred to the South Pasadena branch using the pretext that he was to serve as interim Call Center Supervisor until a permanent supervisor was hired. Less than three weeks later, Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, posted a message on the Intranet announcing that Mr. Garcia had been selected to be the new <i>permanent </i>Call Center Supervisor. Over the next three months, his patron, COO, Beatrice Walker, would promote him to the post of Credit Manager, and Real Estate and Consumer Loan Department Manager. He held all the titles to his different positions for just a few months before these were gradually but consistently transferred to other people. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to his inability to learn procedures, by June 2010, he was stripped of his titles of Credit Manager and Real Estate Loan Department manager. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By November 2010, his former alliance with COO, Beatrice Walker, had deteriorated and the two stopped speaking to one another. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2011, he was stripped of his title of Consumer Loan Department Manager and instead, assigned to oversee the Member Services Department. He held the position for a few weeks before being returned to the Consumer Loan Department but a few weeks later, with the help of a Branch Manager, he left the credit union on a medical leave of absence, alleging work-related stress. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In July 2011, COO, Beatrice Walker was fired and Mr. Garcia returned to work just a few weeks later. However, upon his return, he was told he was being demoted to the post of Assistant Loan Manager and would have to report to the newly hired Chief Lending Officer, Cindy Garvin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, Mr. Garcia entered into an aggressive self-promotion campaign, wooing President Wiggington and easily convincing him that if he was given authority over business development he could not only force employees to bring in large amounts of new business but he would target and remove anyone he viewed an enemy to President Wiggington's authority. The President ignored Mr. Garcia's well-documented record of failures and promoted Mr. Garcia to AVP of Sales and Business Development. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Garcia and Ms. Garvin assigned every employee monthly sales quotas that they must meet or be suspended or terminated. In 2012, the two entered into an aggressive campaign to cajole employees to meet their quotas but their campaign spawned widespread cheating amongst many employees who falsified their sales quotas. Employees who didn't cheat but who couldn't meet their quotas, were issued written warnings. Employees who were unable to achieve their assigned quotas for a consecutive two month period were promptly terminated. The strong-arm tactics implemented by Mr. Garcia failed to increase sales and increased employee dissension. In late October 2011, Mr. Garcia fled the credit union on a second medical leave of absence. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Mr. Garcia returned to work on January 15, 2013, and was promptly informed that he was being demoted and would from hereon serve as the credit union's sole business development representative. Unfortunately, as in all his prior positions, he was never able to attain his assigned $150,000 monthly quota but despite his history of failures, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. chose to retain him on payroll with full benefits. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, during his time as Business Development Representative he could never attain his monthly sales quote of $150,000. Despite his history of failures, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. chose to retain Mr. Garcia on payroll. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">And so Mr. Garcia remained on payroll though never able to fulfill his responsibilities in a satisfactory manner. A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">pproximately, two months ago, the President contacted one of the credit union's SEG's and asked if they were pleased with Mr. Garcia's services. The President was informed that Mr. Garcia had never visited the company. A review of Mr. Garcia's monthly reports revealed that he had reported visiting the company. The President ordered Mr. Garcia's termination. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">As we've reported for years, members had complained for years, alleging Mr. Garcia never returned their calls, never advised them of the determination regarding their requests for loans and would not keep appointments. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Despite the numerous complaints, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. and Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, found it prudent to retain Mr. Garcia. The fact that they chose to retain Mr. Garcia on payroll is a contradiction of the President's chronic insistence that spending must be streamlined. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">We have one question. How could Mr. Garcia be terminated for violating credit union policy when he falsified his monthly reports and President Wiggington retain his employment after a long and well-documented history of violating policies and breaking state and federal laws?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">. </span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtL0-wE_Rw1nY3VTWpNzDKpPxlUOHy99Nviu6zf7IDU_jMhsko_ae-VNf3h69llL4ONkPzqoSPNlbcSUhWlN0Rz3KIPfywOaUoQfqm4FnO_MdE1ARIYFR1eTkIGoCfKkB9YVD8IazA2Dr/s1600/1+Squart.JPG" /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE RETURN OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>BUT IS IT TOO LATE?</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The departure of Joseph Garcia has left the credit union without any business development representatives to visit the communities served by the credit union. Of course, in view of the fact that Mr. Garcia was rarely or not visiting all together, the communities served by the credit union, his departure is inconsequential to business. And though Priority One's territories extend south into all of Riverside County and north into the Santa Clarita Valley, the fact is, Priority One has been financially unable to send representatives into those territories or to maintain a presence in most of the regions it serves. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, COO, Beatrice Walker often boasted to Branch Managers that she possessed the ability to bring in more business than the entire business development team combined. At the time, the team consisted of 5 full-time employees. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Walker easily convinced the pliable Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, that the business development team was overpaid and ineffective. She also convinced Mrs. Harris-Brooks that if allowed to implement changes without interference of either President Wiggington or Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, she could easily resolve the credit union's business development and service issues. Upon receiving permission from Mrs. Harris-Brooks, Ms. Walker quickly implemented the following changes, promising these would induce growth, create profit and enhance member service:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Installation of a new call center in the South Pasadena branch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dismantling the Business Development team</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Introduction of a payday-styled loan</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Introducing courtesy pay (costly overdraft protection)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remodeling of the entire South Pasadena branch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remodeling of the Burbank branch; and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Promotion of Joseph Garcia to the positions of Call Center Supervisor, Credit Manager, Consumer Loan and Real Estate Loan Manager</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With exception of Courtesy Pay, Ms. Walker's newly introduced streams of income proved quite unprofitable. With regards to Courtesy Pay, the credit union obtained profits from charging exorbitant fees the use of overdraft protection. Courtesy Pay is not new or unique and was not the brainchild of Ms. Walker but it was the one factor which impelled Priority One's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">metamorphosis from credit union to that of a traditional bank. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Walker's failures, personal behaviors and her insubordination to the President, Executive Vice President and the Board of Directors were sufficient to warrant her termination in July 2011. Contrary to her boasting, Ms. Walker provide as incapable as President Wiggington and Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, in formulating a single strategy that would propel business forward. In fact the only person she apparently had the ability to sell anything to was Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, who without reservation, bought into everything promised by Ms. Walker. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late 2012, President Wiggington officially dismantled the Business Development team just as he had dismantled the once successful and industry recognized, Marketing Department </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only did he bring an end of the team's visits to the communities served by the credit union but at the time, Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, disclosed that the credit union could no longer afford to send representatives to chamber luncheons or to participate in community sponsored events.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, President Wiggington revealed that it has become imperative the credit union regain a foothold in the communities it is supposed to serve. His reasons are not so much driven by a need to create ties with the communities but rather to try and acquire new business. As part of his newest enterprise, the President has ordered reinstatement of a former senior business development representative who in 2012, was ordered to work in the Call Center. The employee who has been employed by Priority One for more than 40-years, had over many decades, built strong, lasting relationships with employees of the United States Postal Service and SEG's but for some inexplicable reason, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. chose to take the successful representative who had an actual documented record of success and replace him with Joseph Garcia who had an actual well-documented record of chronic failures. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One could spend hours trying to discern the reasoning behind the President's many empty and ineffective decisions but does his attempts to resurrect business development come a little too late? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2007, the President ordered reduced efforts by the business development team to try and acquire new business from employees of the United States Postal Service. At the time, he ordered greater focus placed on SEG development, a segment of the credit union's business which had never brought in much business. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Similarly, in 2007, he ordered cessation of all season loans developed by his predecessor, William E. Harris. Though the loans had proven one of the credit union's most successful products, the President declared that he did not wish to offer anything created by his predecessor. In 2014, President Wiggington ordered reinstatement of season loans. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, scoffed at the overall importance employees of the postal sector upon Priority One's business yet in 2015, the credit union is resurrecting efforts to regain its former relationship with members who are also employees of the United States Postal Service.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The success of the credit union's current efforts is contingent on so many factors not the least of which is that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is a president who has no understanding of the importance of member relations and whose administration is characterized by deception, illegal acts, and scandals. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtL0-wE_Rw1nY3VTWpNzDKpPxlUOHy99Nviu6zf7IDU_jMhsko_ae-VNf3h69llL4ONkPzqoSPNlbcSUhWlN0Rz3KIPfywOaUoQfqm4FnO_MdE1ARIYFR1eTkIGoCfKkB9YVD8IazA2Dr/s1600/1+Squart.JPG" /></div>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">ANOTHER UNEXPLAINED CLOSURE</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February 2012, the Los Angeles branch closed for three days. At the time, President Wiggington issued a notice to employees on the credit union's Intranet and posted notices on the branch's doors, disclosing that the office was closed due to a power outage. As time would prove, the "excuse" was a lie an another of Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. greatest fumbles. There was no power outage. Though the office was closed, members and employees of the Los Angeles Postal Distribution Center, the facility housing the branch, reported seeing lights on in the office and employees working at their computers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In March 2012, employees of the Los Angeles branch began reporting that the branch was closed during which Internal Auditor, Diane Huffman, audited that office's records. Ms. Huffman's finding that money had been stolen from the vault of the Los Angeles branch, resulted in the termination of AVP, Lynnette Pearl Fortson, who was accused of stealing money. Ms. Fortson's termination was divulged by employees of the Credit Resolutions Department, some of who were informed of the theft by Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte, who had been reassigned to the Los Angeles branch during the months of January through April 2014. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Earlier this month, members visiting the Los Angeles and South Pasadena branches reported that both offices were closed. This time, President Wiggington did not post a notice on the credit union's Intranet nor did he order placement of a notice on the doors of either branch. Employees arriving at both branch's were surprised and wondered how long the branches would remain closed. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Employees of both offices were told that the credit union's network had sustained technical issues that caused the closures, however, the Van Nuys branch which shares the same network as the Los Angeles and South Pasadena branches, was conspicuously unaffected. So how is this possible? It's not. As we've often reported since 2009, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. may be an obsessive liar but he is also an inept one. </span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtL0-wE_Rw1nY3VTWpNzDKpPxlUOHy99Nviu6zf7IDU_jMhsko_ae-VNf3h69llL4ONkPzqoSPNlbcSUhWlN0Rz3KIPfywOaUoQfqm4FnO_MdE1ARIYFR1eTkIGoCfKkB9YVD8IazA2Dr/s1600/1+Squart.JPG" /></div>
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</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A VICE PRESIDENT BITES THE DUST</b></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the month of August, notorious Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte, left the credit union. Allegedly, Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, disclosed that she was ill and would be gone for awhile, however, she did return momentarily and was observed re-entering her office with Mr. Smock and afterwards, quietly departing the credit union. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A notice was posted the following day simply stating she was no longer an employee of the credit union. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Boutte's departure is significant despite the efforts by President Wiggington, Sr. to keep her adieu as quite as possible and even with Rodger Smock's divulgence that Ms. Boutte was ill. She was evidently well enough to return to the credit union to be escorted to her office where she picked up some belongings while her other personal property was packed by her friend and subordinate, Ms. Alex Suarez. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've received a few messages from readers that asked if she was being terminated for the theft of $1 million in cash taken from the vault of the Los Angeles branch during the period of 2010 through 2012. We doubt it. Ms. Boutte was not appointed Vice President of Operations until after Cindy Garvin was terminated in December 2012. The robberies occurred prior to her appointment and though we know that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. has developed a well-founded reputation for targeting scapegoats to suffer the consequences for his blunders, it would be inconceivable to try and attribute the losses to Ms. Boutte for a period in time when she clearly wasn't overseeing operations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, her departure comes immediately following closure of the Los Angeles and South Pasadena branches which were not opened earlier this month, due to an alleged network issue. The excuse seems like another Wiggington ploy to deter attention away from something far more telling, like another audit of the credit union's records. The excuse of a network issue is too similar to President Wiggington's 2012 excuse that the Los Angeles branch was closed due to a power outage that never occurred. And as stated previously, if the closures were in fact due to a network problem then why did the Van Nuys office remain open? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte was hired in 2008 to head the credit union's collection department known as Credit Resolutions. For years, the credit union depended on an a paid contractor to perform collection proceedings but in 2008, the President chose to create an in-house collections department, ending Priority One's agreement with the outside contractor. The contractor was informed by then AVP of Lending, Patricia Loiacano, that Priority One would not be renewing its agreement with the long-time contractor. However, </span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Boutte arrived at Priority One before the actual agreement between the credit union and its contracted collector was actually in effect. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following departure of the contractor, Mrs. Boutte brought in three collection agents that she had supervised under a previous employer. The women immediately became known for being aloof and unfriendly. They created a their own clique and segregated themselves from other employees. They also became known for their constant gossiping and whispering. Inarguably, Mrs. Boutte's was fostering development of a divisive culture within the working environment and one neither President Wiggington or Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, took issue with. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In October 2009, Mrs. Boutte began what would be a short-lived "friendship" with then newly hired COO, Beatrice Walker. From 2009 through mid-2010, the women would meet, in what they believed to be secretively, in the parking lot located under the credit union's South Pasadena branch and in the alleyways and streets located around the branch, and gossip about staff and the President. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte became a part of Ms. Walker's three-person clique and along with Joseph Garcia the tree plotted their eventual displacement of President Wiggington. Inadvertently aiding their plan, was Board Chair, Diedra Harris Brooks, who began transferring much of the President's authority to Ms. Walker. Unfortunately, Ms. Walker's caustic personality caused the disbandment of her clique and Mrs. Boutte soon became one of the COO's most avid critics. The day after Ms. Walker was terminated, Mrs. Boutte asked members of her staff if she thought the Board might name her Ms. Walker's successor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte also established a well-deserved reputation of being disrespectful to employees and speaking to them in a condescending manner. She had no problem belittling staff or showing preferential treatment to those she favored. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She also chronically violated the credit union's policy governing confidentiality, discussing the credit union's most confidential information loudly, in the collections department. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2012, it was she who informed Alex Suarez, that money had again been stolen from the Los Angeles vault and it was she again who said the money had been stolen by AVP, Pearl Lynnette Fortson. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In mid-2012, she or someone on her immediate staff, published highly confidential account and personal information about a member, on the Internet. When she was ordered to squash versus resolve, the member's allegations that the disclosures were a violation of the Privacy Act, Mrs. Boutte tried to subdue the member, but her coercive tactics ricocheted and the member, a law student, filed a lawsuit which the credit union settled quickly. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte was confident if not arrogant enough, to often boast about her alleged expertise as a strategist but in her oversight over the Member Services, Credit Resolutions, Teller, and Call Center departments she contributed absolutely nothing that led to actual physical expansion of the credit union or which generated profit. Mrs. Boutte's talk was louder than her walk and in the end, she succumbed to the same demise met by so many who served President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtL0-wE_Rw1nY3VTWpNzDKpPxlUOHy99Nviu6zf7IDU_jMhsko_ae-VNf3h69llL4ONkPzqoSPNlbcSUhWlN0Rz3KIPfywOaUoQfqm4FnO_MdE1ARIYFR1eTkIGoCfKkB9YVD8IazA2Dr/s1600/1+Squart.JPG" /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">LITIGATION: THE NEW NORM</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />August fared no better for Priority One whose attorney went to court to argue why his client should be allowed to cross-sue Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad. Despite the facade President Wiggington has chosen to use, he evidently has confided with some of his staff that he doesn't want to have to go to court. Of course, unless he manipulates the law as he did in 2013, when he found the opportunity to use his then medical cancer treatments as an excuse by which to obtain excemption from a lawsuit that named his Defendant.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the lawsuit filed against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad is only one of several lawsuits. Here is a summary of the current lawsuits filed both against and by Priority One:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I.</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TURNER, WARREN, HWANG, CONRAD</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">vs</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">PRIORITY ONE CREDIT UNION</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Case:</b> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">EC063303</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Type: </b><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Other Contract (General Jurisdiction)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5Lzixwz-TB6mRV4_JHWQnDYG8nn765W7Knu38Tq0KRrLyVYoPP_bBUJnDUU1oIyvXliKMnxPGbz-xq4AhVwKm5g9PdZQoi_9-SwwpilEC7KVji5ONSV94VntS_5R-4WZJXVANzqfz0fu/s1600/TWHC+vs+POCU+081415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: red;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5Lzixwz-TB6mRV4_JHWQnDYG8nn765W7Knu38Tq0KRrLyVYoPP_bBUJnDUU1oIyvXliKMnxPGbz-xq4AhVwKm5g9PdZQoi_9-SwwpilEC7KVji5ONSV94VntS_5R-4WZJXVANzqfz0fu/s640/TWHC+vs+POCU+081415.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>II.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CUMIS</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">vs</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">PEARLY LYNNETTE FORTSON</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Case: </b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">BC542611</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Type:</b> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">Other Intentional Tort-notPI/WD/PD (General Jurisdiction)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>III.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">CUMIS INSURANCE SOCIETY INC</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">TURNER WARREN HWANG CONRAD</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">PRIORITY ONE CREDIT UNION </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"><b>Case:</b> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">BC563815</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will report further in next month's post about the credit union's current legal problems and in particular, about the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lawsuit filed in 2014 by Lewis Seiden, the owner of Auto Alliance, one of the credit union's formerly contracted automobile brokers. </span><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we last reported about the former automobile broker's lawsuit, Priority One's attorney had filed a motion seeking dismissal of Lewis Seiden's lawsuit on the basis that Mr. Seiden's allegations did not constitute a breach of contract and were in essence, unfounded. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Plaintiff responded to each of the credit union's reasons seeking dismissal and the court determined there is a sound basis for the Plaintiff's complaint alleging Priority One breached its agreement with the automobile broker and so, the case will now proceed to court. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, have spent immense amounts of credit union funds and hours, on campaigns intended to beautify the credit union's abhorrent public reputation. In 2012, they listened to consultants </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">who suggested infusing the Internet with images of the President's and Executive Vice President's biographies, CV's and resumes. At the time, the goal, to draw member interest in the products and services offered by Priority One, but the expensive efforts missed their target. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have no reason to believe the consultants ever suggested the officers falsify their employment histories but the opportunity to create an embellished online persona may have been too great a temptation to Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., a president who spent years distorting the truth. U</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nfortunately, the President repeatedly opts for superficiality over substance and though he repeatedly fails to achieve his unrealistic objectives, he continues to resort to the use of the same old expensive tactics. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union's B</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">oard of Directors have aided Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. but gamblng credit union resources on failed and costly campaigns </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">designed to deter attention away from the credit union's decline, embarrassing scandals, illegal acts, and their bungling business decisions. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no amount of </span><a href="http://priorityonecu.blogspot.com/2009/06/burning-bridges-spending-spending.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SPENDING</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> that can succeed in cloaking the harrowing record of abuse and mismanagement amassed under President Wiggington and the Board. The efforts to hide his failures and undisciplined personal behaviors have all been sanctioned by the Board of Directors and funded by the credit union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, we have to wait patiently for the outcome of the many lawsuits being litigated by the credit union. It's important to note that from 2</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">010 through 2013, Priority One spent more than $500,000 on legal expenses. That amount of spending on litigation was astronomical for a credit union that once spent $20,000 to $22,000 annually on attorneys. It was also financially draining to a credit union's whose business is in decline and whose overhead is above the industry average.* Despite the immense increase in spending during 2010 through 2013, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the President and now former Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte, arrogantly boasted the amounts paid out in settlements to Plaintiffs were paltry and meaningless to the organization. They might not have donned such a cavalier attitude had they been forced to pay the settlements from own personal funds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the immense amount of money previously spent on litigation is being overshadowed by the amount which has been spent since April 2014. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the court determines that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad are innocent of the allegations brought against it by CUMIS, then that outcome will serve as an indictment against Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. and his executive staff and will prove that they failed to ensure the credit union's security protocols were being maintained and due to their negligence, enabled one individual, to walk out with more than $1 million in cash from the vault of the Los Angeles branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the years of 1992 through December 31, 2006, the years proceeding the appointment of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. to President</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Priority One physically grew in size, in the amount of its net income, and in the size of its membership. Its then competent and respected President structured mergers absorbing other credit unions and expanded Priority One's territories. It was a golden age and one that quickly unraveled starting on January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington,Sr. was appointed President. If one is seeking evidence of the credit union's decline, then one only need look at the three remaining branches, the amount of the credit union's net income, the amount of lawsuits that have been filed since Charles r. Wiggington, Sr. became President, and the inability of the executive sector to reverse the multitude of problems ushered into existence under President Wiggington- a man whose reality requires fabricating embellishments about himself. </span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com143tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-32859440062598014082015-07-29T03:12:00.000-07:002015-08-10T00:20:00.042-07:00Defining What's Normal, Part 3 of 3<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">During the month of July, Priority One Credit Union's attorney filed yet another motion, this time contesting the reasons filed by Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad seeking the dismissal of the credit union's counter-lawsuit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The trial of the lawsuit filed by CUMIS, accusing Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad of breaching its agreements with Priority One Credit Union during the years of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, has not yet begun. Presently, Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad and Priority One Credit Union remain locked in litigation as Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad seeks dismissal of the counter-complaint filed by Priority One this past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Additionally, the court has not yet made a decision regarding the motion filed by Priority One's attorney, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">John C. Steele, requesting consolidation of the lawsuits filed by CUMIS; Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad; and the cross-complaint filed by the credit union. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In the meantime, the bankruptcy filing by former AVP, Lynnette Fortson, who is accused of stealing $1 million in cash from the vault of the Los Angeles branch, remains in review. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If litigation seems chaotic, it's because it is. Nowadays, Priority One is characterized more by its legal entanglements than for business. This change in standing began in the years following January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began his appointment as President. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Despite the onslaught of lawsuits filed by and against the credit union, this past May, President Wiggington entered into yet another of his verbally and completely fictitious campaigns declaring that business is good and improving. The problem with the President's periodic proclamations is that they're never true and constitute pure conjecture. He could lend tremendous credibility to his statements if he would support them with actual documentation but he doesn't because these sporadic efforts to save face are untrue. Unfortunately, for the disastrous President, the credit union's quarterly Financial Performance Report ("FPR") and monthly income statements/Balance Sheets all omit anything that could be interpreted as a resurgence in business. What's more, as members and readers of this blog may have discovered, President Wiggington has yet to release copies of the 2014 annual report which for years, was distributed to attendees of the annual meeting conducted each May 27th at the South Pasadena branch. What's more, if you'll visit the credit union's website, you'll note that the President has not allowed publication of the report. HIs censorship and control of the credit union's reports suggest that President Wiggington has much to hide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The President's efforts to paint a rosy picture of Priority One's financial standing and performance was aided during the month of May, when Robert West, the Director of Employee Services composed an online review praising </span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://gohigherup.com/category/workforce-automation/" target="_blank">HigherUp's, Rocket Solution</a>. Rocket Solution is an analytical program. According to Mr. West, Rocket Solution has helped the Human Resources Department's refine its processes and extrapolates employee data which is analyzed and used to improve the credit union's bottom line. It is hardly coincidence that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Mr. West's review comes at a time when the credit union is in desperate need for positive publicity though the Director's efforts are typically feeble, obvious and fail to deter attention away from the credit union's all too public reputation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Before presenting excerpts from Mr. West's review, we'd like to revisit some past incidents involving Mr. West which attest to his character and validate whether or not Mr. West has ever contributed to improving the credit union's bottom line, promoted employee morale, or served to impel growth and development of new business. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Over the years, some of our posts have elicited negative comments about Robert West. The Director of Employee Services has been a staple of the credit union for several years though his greatest promotions came via his friend, President Wiggington. In the years before January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President, Mr. West served as the credit union's sole Trainer and later, under President Wiggington, as Manager of Training and Education. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior to 2007, he would periodically describe Priority One as a place where </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"the devil lives." </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A rather harsh and judgmental declaration by an officer of the credit union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2006, he spent months writing a self-help book which was not related in anyway to his position as Trainer though he worked on the book during business hours. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2006 and again in 2007, he was periodically seen by employees and officers, sleeping at his desk. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can read more about <u>some</u> of Mr. West's other antics at </span><a href="http://priorityonecu.blogspot.com/2013/03/an-age-of-deceit-march-post-2013.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Robert West</a><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, President Wiggington asked that Mr. West rewrite the credit union's mission statement. The President stated that the statement composed under his predecessor failed to express his vision for the credit union and its relationship to its members. In 2009, Mr. West's revamped statement was unveiled during the May 2009 Annual Meeting conducted in Pasadena, California. The statement, shown below, was copied from the credit union's Facebook page.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Our mission: "To help our member-owners </span></b></b></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><b><span style="background: white;">and</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="background: white;"> </span></b></span><b><span style="background: white;">employees achieve financial fitness. We are committed to providing quality products and services that help you win with money." </span></b></b></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pocuone/info?tab=page_info" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One Facebook</a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We must point out that the Mission Statement published in 2009, differed slightly from the its current version and included language which promised to show members and employees how to <i style="font-weight: bold;">"win with money." </i>Branch closures, a decline in the amount of net income, and a 5-year wage freeze prompted President Wiggington to amend the statement in early 2014. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">FOOT IN MOUTH</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Though President Wiggington's failures, abuses and violations of state and federal laws are well documented, he has always found an avid and unwavering supporter in Mr. West. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As we've reported in 2010, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">during all-staff meeting conducted at Almansor Court in Alhambra, California, Mr. West stood before a room full of employees and chastised the President's critics, labeling them "haters". During his chastisement, he attempted to elicit pangs of guilt from targeted employees by reading the following verse: </span></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - Romans 12:20</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not surprisingly, his manipulation of Biblical scripture back-fired and served to increase dissension between staff and management. Though he had hoped to subjugate employees using amateur manipulative tactics, following the meeting, most of his audience exclaimed that they did not know what the verse he read meant while others admitted to listening to his spiel. </span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">2008</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">In 2008, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">a member visited the credit union, leaving a baby she was taking care of, locked in her car in the visitor parking lot located at the South Pasadena branch. Though she was advised by employees that the baby was crying the member replied that she would return to her car in a few minutes. Because President Wiggington was away from the branch for the day and because Rodger Smock could not be located, an employee informed Mr. West that a baby had been left locked in a car. He immediately ordered that the police be called. Police arrived and arrested the member while firemen extricated the baby from the automobile. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">The following day, upon being advised of the incident. President Wiggington exploded demanding the names of the employees who called the police. When told that they obtained from Mr. West to call the police, the President threatened each employee with termination should they ever choose to report a member to the police. Mr. West denied ever having instructed the employees to call the police. </span><br />
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<b style="font-size: xx-large; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2010</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In August 2010, then COO, Beatrice Walker, took control over Human Resources. At the time, she revealed she intended to force aged Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, into retirement because in her opinion, he was "lazy" and "overpaid". She also disclosed she intended to terminate Robert West who she described both "unnecessary", "overpaid" and ineffective as a trainer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Because much of his power had been transferred to Ms. Walker by Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, President Wiggington panicked because he knew he would be unable to retain the employment of either Mr. Smock or Mr. West who were the only two ethically pliable supporters of his regime. However, Ms. Walker's plans were derailed when the then Valencia Branch Manager visited the South Pasadena branch and filed a verbal complaint with Esmeralda Sandoval, alleging that Ms. Walker had: </span></div>
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<li>Estranged the Branch Manager from her staff and other Branch Managers</li>
<li>Sexually harassed and stalked her</li>
<li>Created a hostile working environment; and </li>
<li>Subjected the Branch Managers to different standards than those set for other managers</li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In September 2010, the President and Mr. Smock drove to the Valencia branch to inform the Manager that her branch was scheduled to close at the end of October 2010. After advising her of the impending closure, he asked her to elaborate on her complaint against Ms. Walker. At the end of the meeting, he turned to Mr. Smock and said he was going to remove Ms. Walker from oversight of the Human Resources Department. President Wiggington also informed the Branch Manager that he would offer her a post as Assistant Branch Manager at the Burbank office though her salary would be reduced "slightly." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three days later, the president issued a notice on the credit union's Intranet announcing that Robert West would not serve as Director over Human Resources despite the conspicuous fact Mr. West was wholly unqualified to head the department. The reason why Mr. West was placed over Human Resources is quite absurd. At the time, Rodger Smock, the Director informed the President that he did not want any involvement in the Valencia Branch Manager's complaint. He felt that his involvement could provoke Ms. Walker who he knew was planning to terminate him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. West was appointed Director and given the responsibility to handle the complaint against Ms. Walker. Mr. West's ineptitude was quickly revealed because he continually had to confer with Mr. Smock to learn how to proceed with the complaint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of September 2010, the Branch Manager was called on her credit union cell phone by then Human Resources "clerk", Esmeralda Sandoval and advised that she had eight (8) hours in which to either accept the credit union's offer to work in the Burbank office in the capacity of Assistant Branch Manager or accept the credit union's severance package. At the end of the day, the Branch Manger called Ms. Sandoval and told her she would accept the severance package. Ms. Sandoval informed the Branch Manager that the credit union would require a letter stating her decision. The Manager submitted a letter to Ms. Sandoval, via email. The letter disclosed that she would accept the severance package and that her final date of employment would be October 31, 2010. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several days later, Ms. Sandoval called the Branch Manager and informed her that she would have to work until November 15, 2010, to be eligible for the severance package. The Branch Manager reminded Ms. Sandoval that she had never stated that her final day of work would be November 15, 2015. Ms. Sandoval at first lied and said she had provided the Branch Manager with the date, however, Ms. Sandoval's dishonesty was proven when the emails sent to the Branch Manager regarding the matter all omitted a required last day of employment. The Branch Manager was afterwards contacted by Robert West who told her she must either work until November 15, 2010 or forfeit her severance package. The Branch Manager responded by sending Mr. West the following letter:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. West conferred with the President and Ms. Walker, who in turn contacted Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks. Mrs. Brooks contacted the credit union attorney and it was decided that credit union due to its own negligence, must provide the Branch Manager with the severance package that had been offered by the careless, Esmeralda Sandoval. Following the decision to reinstate the offer, Mr. West returned to his role as trainer and Mr. Smock resumed his capacity as Director over Human Resources. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;">Mr. West Writes a Review</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly Priority One is <u>not</u> providing member's convenience, efficiency or financial services that are so affordable that they did not entice approximately 4,000 members to retain membership. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now as you read Mr. West's review, not that he fails to draw a correlation of how <b>HigherUp's</b> Rocket Solution will provide Priority One's Human Resources Department "new business insights. The fact that Human Resources is now allegedly "working faster and more strategically to improve the company's bottom line" is unaccompanied by actual evidence, like the credit union's own reports proving that Priority One's bottom line has been improved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Mr. West's review is permeated by a whining tone, describing his personal frustrations as he tried to juggle the use of three different programs with each requiring the use of its own password. We certainly feel for Mr. West and the terrible plight he must have undergone. We'd like to address some of the statements contained in his review. </span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On January 1, 2007, Priority One's membership approximated 30,000. Eight years after Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President, membership has dropped to approximately 26,000. That's a loss of 4,000 members over an 8 year period. </span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Prior to January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President, the credit union employed more than 150 full-time employees and only periodically hired temporary staff. </span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Prior to January 1, 2007, Priority One the following branches:</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Worldway Branch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Los Angeles </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Van Nuys Branch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Valencia Branch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">South Pasadena Branch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Redlands Branch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Riverside Branch</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">On the day Charles R. Wiggington began serving as President, the Marina Del Rey branch had already closed because the postal service intended to use the space occupied by that office. O</span><span style="text-align: justify;">ther branch closures and openings, ordered by President Wiggington include:</span></span></div>
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Redlands Branch closes September 2010</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Valencia Branch closes October 2010</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Riverside Branch closes April 2011</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Santa Clarita Branch opens February 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Airport Branch closes December 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Santa Clarita branch closes January 2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From an economic and budgetary point-of-view, Priority One's opening and closing of branches over the last eight years constitutes poor, actually, horrendous planning and was both fiscally irresponsible and detrimental to the credit union's bottom line. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the implementation of HigherUp's analytical program is intended to improve Priority One's bottom-line than one has to ask why was Priority One's net income increasing annually under President Wiggington's predecessor and why has it dropped by more than $18 million since January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began serving as President? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We extracted the following information from <a href="http://ncua.org/">NCUA.org</a>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The current Board of Directors along with President Wiggington have proven they possess an undisciplined proclivity for spending and wasting <span style="text-align: justify;">credit union funds. This is partially attested to by the fact that currently, Human Resources employs three officers when prior to January 1, 2007, the department was wholly under management of then Vice President of Human Resources, Rodger Smock. Nowadays, the small and insignificant credit union is staffed by Mr. Smock, Mr. West and Employee Services Manager, Esmeralda Sandoval.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Mr. West, he was <b>"<i><span style="text-align: left;">frustrated with our old systems, which were time-consuming and difficult to manage. To get to even the most basic employee information, I had to access three different vendors’ systems with multiple passwords and complex authentication. And none of the systems could talk to each other. If I wanted to access and combine data from our different payroll, benefits,</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://gohigherup.com/talent-retention-and-the-economic-value/" style="text-align: left;" title=" Talent Retention and the Economic Value of Employees: SMBs Need to Start Thinking Analytics"><span style="border: 0in none windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">applicant tracking</span></a><span style="text-align: left;">, and time and attendance systems – I was out of luck.”</span></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course Mr. West was frustrated. . He holds a position which he is ill qualified to serve in. In 2011, he was appointed to serve as Director of Human Resources without possessing any experience, an education, or skills in anything related to Human Resources. His appointment was not motivated by either his qualifications or need. Mr. West was appointed as a result of cronyism. It is his "friendship" and blind loyalty to the President that has secured his continued employment. He is clearly dispensable and wholly unnecessary to the credit union's deteriorating infrastructure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apparently, the "Director" of Employee Services is easily frustrated. It is not uncommon for employees of many companies to use more than one program to process their work and certainly having to use more than one password is neither challenging or frustrating unless of course, you're Mr. West. We also don't understand how Human Resources, a department staffed by three officers, can't seem to handle managing Priority One's three remaining branches and a staff which Mr. West wrote, employs 50 full-time employees and 14 part-time employees What would Mr. West have done had he worked in the department prior to January 1, 2007, when the credit union had many branches and employed more than 150 full-time employees. Maybe the problem is that Robert West doesn't possess the skills needed to multi-task or he lacks the ability to expertly prioritize. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Sources:</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> <a href="https://gohigherup.com/higherup-is-now-my-hr-assistant-priority-one-credit-union-payroll-analytics-hr-analytics-data-workforce-management-workforce-automation/">https://gohigherup.com/higherup-is-now-my-hr-assistant-priority-one-credit-union-payroll-analytics-hr-analytics-data-workforce-management-workforce-automation/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">*</span><a href="https://gohigherup.com/rocket/" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">https://gohigherup.com/rocket/</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THE TRIAL THAT WOULDN'T START</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the month of June, Priority One's attorney, John C. Steele, filed a motion refuting Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad's reasons asking the court to dismiss Priority One's counter-lawsuit against their former external auditor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The long list of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pre-trial conferences clearly indicates that Priority One's legal expenses in 2015, must be astronomical adding to the more than $500,000 spent on litigation during the years of 2010-2013. Nowadays, Priority One is defined by its unending legal problems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're recently wondered about the abilities of CUMIS' officers to make sound decisions as their alliance to Priority One Credit Union is not only illogical, it seems a horrendous business decision and gamble. That said, last month one of our readers posted the following comment which aptly and in great detail, describes the reason why CUMIS may be suing Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad and what may occur should CUMIS lose its lawsuit:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>June 24, 2005</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>L<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;">ook ... I don't see Wiggington lasting 12 months.</span></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>Some points & issues to clarify. CUMIS (the insurance & bonding company) paid the claim for dishonesty... that's the insurance they provide. For paying the claim, the CU gives the bonding company the 'right of subrogation' .... this means it gives the insurance company the right to go after the individual(s) that were responsible for the loss.</b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>By extension, the insurance company is trying to minimize its losses by looking at other potential sources for getting their money back. Assuming the responsible person(s) do not have $1,000,000 anymore they will simultaneously look elsewhere.</b></span></i></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>So, they are looking for 'Big Pockets'....one of which is TWHC CPA firm. The Board & Wiggington were pointing their fingers at TWHC for not discovering the defalcation and the 'embezzler'for dishonesty.</b></span></i></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>In reality they should being pointing at themselves in the mirror. They are the problem.</b></span></i></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>It's going to get real messy when public filings start coming through.</b></span></i></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><b><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;">In addition, it is very possible that Wiggington will then be placed on CUMIS' "BLACK LIST" of non-insurable risks. Each employee or official of a federally insured financial institution has to be "bondable". Wiggington's record will become more public and other policyholders (credit unions) will see the risk that the insurance company is continuing to insure.....they are the ones paying Wiggington's claims.... they will want that to cease.</span></i></b></span></i></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #202020; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>Wiggington will get the dreaded letter & phone call in the next year, for sure & he's gone. A week or two before official notification to Wiggy, the Feds and State Examiners will all converge on the credit union ..... don't you think they will count every penny?</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS provided a report in which their "expert" asserts that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad have failed to adhere to established auditing practices in the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. It appears, CUMIS is attempting to strengthen its position buy inducting the participation of the credit union whose counter-lawsuit will serve to further impugn Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad's public reputation and abilities. What is interesting is that without the findings of CUMIS' expert, Priority One may never have realized that their former external auditor had allegedly violated auditing practices. As usual, the bad folks at Priority One Credit Union seemed oblivious of the integrity of work being performed by their external auditor. It's this same lackadaisical problem that may have resulted in the theft of more than $60,000 in 2009, perpetrated by a former receptionist; and the 2010-2012 thefts totaling more than $1 million in cash, allegedly absconded by a now former AVP. Something is sorely amiss at Priority One. Its Supervisory Committee have proven themselves incapable of protecting credit union assets. The President and the people who oversaw operations* during the years of 2009 through 2012 have evidently failed to ensure the protection of Priority One's assets and have proven quite incapable of protecting Member funds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>*2007-June 2009: Operations was managed by EVP, Rodger Smock</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>June 2009-July 2011: Operations was overseen by COO, Beatrice Walker</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>July 2011-December 2012: Operations was overseen by CLO, Cindy Garvin</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>January 2013-Present: Yvonne Boutte currently serves as VP of Operations</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">In David Morrison's article, </span><b style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.cutimes.com/2015/03/07/1m-vault-pinch-hits-priority-one"><span style="color: #073763;">"$1M Vault Pinch Hits Priority One"</span></a> </b><span style="text-align: justify;">which appeared in the </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2px; text-align: justify;">March 07, 2015 publication of the CU Times, the author states that in their lawsuit, </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2px; text-align: justify;">CUMIS accuses Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad of negligence in auditing the credit union's financial records and that they <i>"should have known that [Lynette] Fortson [the AVP] was employed at the Los Angeles County Branch and that one of her duties was to perform reconciliation for that branch." </i>CUMIS also told the reporter that </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad <i>"</i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: ff-meta-serif-web-pro, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><i>had never opened the vault, counted the vault cash, reconciled the counted vault cash to the general ledger account or reviewed the balancing sheets prepared by Fortson during the course of their reconciliation of cash accounts" </i>and if they had, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad would have discovered the "fraud and embezzlement scheme." </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We recently spoke to a former officer of the credit union who informed us that in the years before Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President, the Supervisory Committee regularly visited branches to count vault cash. The end of this practice by the Supervisory Committee seems part of a common phenomena occurring at the credit union. In 2007, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., refused to review a batch of sample ballots which if he had, he might have noticed that member social security and account numbers were printed on the front exterior side of the the envelopes. At the time, he refused to review these because in his words, "I'm President, I don't do that!" The fact that in 2009, the credit union employed an internal auditor and COO proved insufficient to discover that a receptionist was pillaging funds from member accounts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to the length of Attorney John C. Steele's response, we are only publishing the more relevant points of his rebuttal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the first reference in the long record of documents filed with Superior Court that finally provide more specific detail about the thefts which occurred at the Los Angeles branch during the years of 2010 through 2012. As we've disclosed in previous posts, CUMIS has stated in its initial filing that the thefts began either in "early" or "late" 2010. We find it odd that following an extensive investigation by its "experts" that they could not pin point a more specific or actual date when the internal robberies began prompting us to wonder if the amount of thefts exceed the $1,005,000 CUMIS concludes was stolen. More importantly, did the robberies begin prior to 2010 and possibly on a date before Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad were hired. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad were hired to conduct an extensive audit of the Los Angeles branch's records. At the time, the audit was reported <u>after</u> a member complained that money had been taken from her more than $11,000 IRA leaving a balance of less than $5,000. The audit proved that more than $60,000 were embezzled by a former receptionist who pillaged member accounts and with the assistance of friends and family, withdrew embezzled funds from an ATM located in the city of Long Beach, California. During the audit, then AVP, Lynnette Fortson sat alongside <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/terry-nabors/34/511/508" target="_blank">Terry Nabors</a>, the auditor from Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad. She remained in the office with him for the three weeks during which he audited her office's records. President Wiggington was well aware that she forced her inclusion in the audit but was apparently unconcerned by its inappropriateness. Why would the AVP deem it necessary to sit alongside the auditor if she, herself, was not auditing records? We are suspicious of her motivation for remaining in the office with Mr. Nabors during the three weeks in which he reviewed records. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attorney Steele states that on December 5, 2014, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad sued Priority One's refusal to pay the outstanding balance of $68,299.79 due for the report created by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad from their March 2013 investigation of the Los Angeles branch's records. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cross-complaint filed by Priority One Credit Union not only contests payment of the unpaid balance which Attorney Steele has described as "ridiculous" but sues Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad for providing inaccurate reports to the credit union for the years of 2008 through 2013. It should be deemed nothing less than outstanding and in Mr. Steele's words, "ridiculous", that Priority One Credit Union never realized that the reports provided to it by Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad were inaccurate and produced out-of-compliance with established auditing protocols. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, Attorney Steele states that Priority One was unaware of the alleged negligence committed by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad until April 24, 2015, when they received a report produced by CUMIS' "expert" and which asserted numerous alleged violations committed by the credit union's external auditor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad are innocent until proven guilty. Subsequently, Mr. Steele's statement that the external auditor "failed to comply with the terms of its contracts for years" constitutes a mere allegation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attorney Steele, declares that Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad's lawsuit against Priority One for its failure to pay $68,299.76 due the external auditor failed to "acknowledge" or mention, that it served as Priority One's external auditor from 2008 through 2013, during which it provided year-end audits. If Attorney Steele is inferring that Turner., Warren, Hwang and Conrad purposely avoided disclosing this fact, it seems irrelevant since they are demanding payment from the credit union for services rendered in March 2013 and no other year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attorney Steele continues, stating that The $168,299.79 initially charged by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad is nothing less than "ridiculous"? Is there any documented evidence showing that Priority One contested the charge in 2013, 2014 or at the start of 2015? Evidently, Priority One did not find the charge ridiculous, otherwise why did they pay $100,000 of the total amount due to Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Attorney Steele admits in his filing that Priority One was ignorant of the alleged violations committed by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad until on or about <b>April 24, 2015 </b>when they received a report provided to them by CUMIS' "expert" whose investigation showed that the report produced from the external auditor's <b>February 2013</b>, investigation was so poorly written that it had to be rewritten by attorneys so it could be submitted to CUMIS along with Priority One's claim for $1 million.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> What seems odd is that during the 26 months which transpired between February 2013, the month when Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad conducted its audit; and April 24, 2015, the date when the credit union received CUMIS' report documenting the allegations against the external auditor, that Priority One's President, its Board of Directors, and its Supervisory Committee never realized that Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad allegedly provided inaccurate end-of-year reports for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and for the report provided in 2013. <b>So when is Priority One held responsible to ensuring that information they receive is verified to be correct? And why didn't Priority One ever realize that any of the numerous reports provided to them by their external auditor contained erroneous information? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And why did Priority One refuse to pay the outstanding balance due to Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad in 2013, 2014, and part of 2015 if they didn't know about the external auditor's alleged violations until April 24, 2015? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Could it be that Priority One refused to pay the bill because they are unable to?</b> In 2010, now former CFO, Saed Raad, instructed his staff in the Accounting Department not to pay vendor bills for at least 3 to 4 weeks after these are received. Priority One is a credit union whose coffers have been heavily taxed by expenditures that are unrelated to business inc</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">luding more than $500,000 spent on legal fees during the years of 2010 through 2014. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Steele places entire blame on the external auditor because of their failure to perform audits compliant to its contracted obligations but the fact remains that no one at the credit union- not the self-proclaimed financially savvy President, the Board of Directors or the Supervisory Committee ever took note that any of the end-of-year reports provided to them contained egregious violations of the agreements ratified between the external auditor and the credit union.<b> So when is Priority One deemed responsible for the years of failures committed by its President and two governing bodies? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attorney Steele's argument is that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad's did not perform annual audits commensurate with the terms of the agreements entered into with the credit union. He alleges that as a result of this, Priority One was forced to rehire Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad who conducted an investigation of the Los Angeles branch's records in March of 2013. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attorney Steele's key points in his conclusion are:</span></div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad failed to adhere to the terms of their agreement entered into with Priority One Credit Union</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He accuses Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad of filing a motion whose focus is the date when the embezzlement took place</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad allegedly breached their agreements and provided inaccurate reports to the credit union in the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. </span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad "actively concealed its breach of contract"; and</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a result of their alleged concealment, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One could not have known prior to April 2015, that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad had violated its agreements with the credit union</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Attorney Steele will have to prove that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad purposely concealed the breaches they are how accused of committing. He is accusing the external auditor of knowingly if not intentionally, violating its agreements entered into with Priority One in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Are we then to believe that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad, a company with an impressive portfolio of credit union industry clients. would single out Priority One, a credit union with a horrendous public reputation and led by a President whose horrendous performance is marred by numerous failures, abuses of authority, egregious violations of state and federal laws, and last but not least, a well documented record of numerous security breaches of which the $1 million theft is but one?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fact is, under Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., internal thievery on a massive scale has become common place at Priority One Credit Union. So how did one AVP enter the Los Angeles branch vault, unaccompanied and in defiance
to double-custody and in violation of the credit union’s security protocols and
over a 24-month period, steal more than $1 million<b>?</b> It’s mind-boggling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: left;"><b>CONCLUSION</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There isn't any evidence presented by either side that might allow us to guess who could potentially win their lawsuit. CUMIS hopes the court will find Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad guilty of violating it's agreements with Priority One and of conducting audits that proved subpar and out of compliance with standard auditing procedures. They are also requesting the court order Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad to pay $1 million plus any other fees the court deems appropriate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What CUMIS and the credit union are not alluding to in their complaints is that during the thefts occurred, Priority One had </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a President, a Board of Directors, a Supervisory Committee, an Accounting Department and three different offices who oversaw operations, yet inexplicably all failed to realize cash was being taken from the vault of the Los Angeles branch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS and Priority One make reference to Lynnette Fortson, the former AVP accused of embezzling $1 million in cash but we've yet to discover how she was able to enter a branch vault by herself and in defiance of credit union banking policy which stipulates double-custody when entering the vault; and how she was able to walk out with $1 million in cash over an approximate 24-month period. The fact she succeeded in perpetrating embezzlement on such a grand scale points to failure on the part of the credit union and its alleged security protocols designed to protect credit union assets. No matter how much CUMIS may wish to hold Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad accountable for the theft of $1 million, the fact is, the external auditor had no involvement in the physical removal of cash.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One should be held accountable for failing to detect any of the thefts. Based on their attorney's disclosures, Priority One </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">relied solely on a single year-end report provided by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad to assess the effectiveness of its own security. Apparently, Priority One never verified the evidence used by the external auditor to arrive at the conclusions contained in their reports for the years 2008 through 2012. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the past 8-years, the credit union's Supervisory Committee has remained unusually quiet though each year, Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons signs a mundane address written by Rodger Smock and published in the annual report, which repetitiously assures readers that the committee has determined that Priority One is in compliance to all applicable laws and that in her committee's opinion, all is well. In retrospect, since 2009 Ms. Simmons' statements have been proven to be untrue. Ms. Simmons' 2009 address assured readers that the credit union was operating safely yet in that same year, a receptionist absconded with more than $60,000 from the Los Angeles branch. The credit union's current defense indicates that the Supervisory Committee is trying to divert attention away from themselves and placing the entire records of thefts during the period of 2010 through 2012, on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In another matter, in 2014 President Wiggington ordered omission of all references to legal expenses from the credit union's monthly income statement. In 2015, he's ordered that the credit union's 2014 Annual Report not be distributed. His actions suggest he is trying to hide those records that serve to prove Priority One's actual performance versus the tales he loves to tell that allude to non-existent success. Periodically, officers like Robert West try and deter attention away from the credit union's awful public reputation, legal problems, and chronic internal issues. Mr. West's efforts always fail to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">allay attention from the well-documented fact that since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President, business remains in decline and that lawsuits have been filed each year since 2010, against the once respected credit union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, we will have to await the results of a trial which will hopefully and finally bring to light the gross incompetence of Priority One's worst and most embarrassing President. For those who are interested, the trial between CUMIS and Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad; and if approved, Priority One's cross-complaint, is slated to take place at Superior Court in Los Angeles on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">August 24, 2015. </span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com272tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-35800055452867430652015-06-22T02:45:00.000-07:002015-06-23T13:06:14.952-07:00Defining What's Normal, Part 2 of 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it comes to resolving it's internal problems, nothing is ever simple at Priority One Credit Union in South Pasadena, California. During the month of June 2015, the credit union's attorney, John C. Steele of the Law Offices of Les Zieve in Irvine, California, filed a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Notice of Motion and Motion to Consolidate" </i>["the Notice"] seeking consolidation of the lawsuits filed by Priority One's insurance carrier, CUMIS, and the lawsuit filed by its former external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwa</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ng, and Conrad. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reasons for requesting consolidation is that the two lawsuits possess certain similarities including use of the same witnesses and documented evidence. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under leadership of President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., the number of lawsuits filed against and by the credit union have skyrocketed since his appointment on January 1, 2007. Lawsuits </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">accusing Priority One of violating state and federal laws started in October 2010 when the former Branch Manager of the no longer existent Burbank office, accused the credit union of age and race discrimination. Over the three years that followed filing of that lawsuit, three other employees filed </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">lawsuits alleging they were subject to sexual harassment, same-sex sexual harassment, retaliation, race discrimination, defamation of character and creation of a hostile working environment. The lawsuits were all voluntarily settled by the credit union with each Plaintiff signing an agreement that contained a disclaimer which declared that each settlement payment should not be construed as an admittance of wrong doing. In actuality, a settlement payments is an admittance that evidence possessed by a Plaintiff could result in an adverse judgment to the credit union. Furthermore, issuing a settlement payment avoids a potentially costly and embarrassing court trial and creation of a public record of the accusations, testimonies and final judgment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Despite the payment of settlements, in 2013, President Wiggington and Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte, boasted that the amount of each settlement were paltry and inconsequential to the credit union revealing once again, that Priority One's horrendous leadership have absolutely no concept of the detrimental impact lawsuits have upon a business. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2013, an officer of the Credit Union and more than likely, a member of the Credit Resolutions Department, posted comments about a Member and her then delinquent loan, throughout the Internet. The Member sued the Credit Union and within fix months, her complaint was voluntarily settled by Priority One. The settlement included:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing off her remaining unpaid loan balance</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Removal of all adverse references from her credit union</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Issuance of a letter signed by President Wiggington admitting that someone disparaged the Member but denying he authorized the violation of the Privacy Act; and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paying the Member a settlement in the amount of a</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">lmost $20,000 to avoid a costly and potentially embarrassing court trial.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To provide some understanding of the complexities involved in each of the current lawsuits, we are now providing summaries of all pre-trial meetings so far conducted. Remember, none of the lawsuits have actually proceeded to trial. <span style="color: blue;">It is also important to note that on June 4, 2015, Priority One's attorney filed a counter-complaint against the credit union's former external auditor, </span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>CUMIS VS TWHC</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Case Number BC541935</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>06/09/2015</b> Proof of Service</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>06/09/2015</b> Order (GRANTING MOTION TO ADMIT ATTORNEY PRO HAC VICE )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Court</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/15/2015</b> Declaration of Diligence (Deposition Subpoena Served on Cynthia Villamin )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Pltf/Petnr</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/15/2015</b> Motion in Limine (for an Order Excluding Any Expert Report by Defendants' Witness Michael J. Sacher, CPA; P's & A's; Declaration of Patrick J. Collins in Support thereof; [Proposed] Order thereon)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/12/2015</b> Notice of Ruling</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/04/2015</b> Statement-Case Management</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/01/2015</b> Receipt ( jury fees $150 )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/01/2015</b> Statement-Case Management</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>04/29/2015</b> Statement-Case Management</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>04/17/2015</b> Declaration of Diligence</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>04/14/2015</b> Notice of Change of Address</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>04/14/2015</b> Notice (OF STATUS CONFERENCE RE: RELATED CASES AND CONT CMC )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>04/08/2015</b> Motion (TO ADMIT ATTORNEY PRO HAC VICE )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>03/13/2015</b> Notice of Ruling</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>01/16/2015</b> Order (RE EX PARTE OF 01/16/15 )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Court</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>01/16/2015</b> Ex-Parte Application (DEFENDANT'S EX PARTE )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>01/08/2015</b> Notice-Related Cases</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>10/01/2014</b> Stipulation and Order</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Court</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>08/18/2014</b> Notice of Association of Attorneys</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>08/18/2014</b> Notice of Ruling</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>07/18/2014</b> Notice of Motion (TO ADMIT ATTORNEYS PRO HAC VICE )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>06/13/2014</b> Cross-complaint</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Cross-Complainant</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>06/13/2014</b> Summons Filed</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Cross-Complainant</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/30/2014</b> Statement-Case Management</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/30/2014</b> Statement-Case Management</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/20/2014</b> Proof of Service</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/16/2014</b> Answer</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/02/2014</b> Proof of Service</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>04/23/2014</b> Notice-Case Management Conference</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Clerk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>04/07/2014</b> Complaint</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff/Petitioner</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">TWHC VS PRIORITY ONE CREDIT UNION</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Case Number EC063303</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">07/01/2015</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> at 10:00 am in department 71 at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Motion for Leave</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>08/18/2015</b> at 10:00 am in department 71 at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Status Conference(& R/C BC541935)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>08/24/2015</b> at 10:00 am in department 71 at 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Status Conference(& R/C BC541935)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="contentSubHeading" style="background-color: white; font-weight: bold; line-height: 21px; margin: 8px 0px 6px;">Documents Filed </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">(Filing dates listed in descending order)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>06/04/2015</b> Motion for Leave</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>06/04/2015</b> Motion</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/06/2015</b> at 10:00 am in Department 71, Suzanne G. Bruguera, Presiding</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Status Conference (RE RELATED CASE AND CONT'D CMCFROM 04/06/15) - <b>Completed</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/11/2015</b> at 10:30 am in Department 71, Suzanne G. Bruguera, Presiding</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Telephonic Conference (& REL'D BC541935) - <b>Completed</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>04/14/2015</b> Notice of Status Conference filed (RE RELATED CASES AND CONT CMC )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>04/06/2015</b> at 09:30 am in Department 71, Suzanne G. Bruguera, Presiding</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conference-Case Management - <b>No Appearance</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>03/06/2015</b> at 03:30 pm in Department 71, Suzanne G. Bruguera, Presiding</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nunc Pro Tunc Order - <b>Completed</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>03/16/2015</b> Notice of Ruling</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant/Respondent</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>02/27/2015</b> Notice-Case Management Conference</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>02/02/2015</b> Answer (TO COMPLAINT )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Defendant</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>01/09/2015</b> Proof of Service (OF SUMMONS, COMPLAINT, CIVIL CASE COVER SHEET, CIVIL CASE COVER SHEET ADDENDUM AND STATEMENT OF LOCATION, NOTICE OF ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE RE FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH TRIAL COURT DELAY REDUCTION ACT...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12/24/2014</b> Notice (OF RELATED CASE (BC541935 )</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12/24/2014</b> Proof of Svc of Summons & Co./Ptn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Attorney for Plaintiff</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12/05/2014</b> Notice-Case Management Conference</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filed by Clerk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12/05/2014</b> OSC-Failure to File Proof of Serv</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12/05/2014</b> Complaint filed-Summons Issued</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12/05/2014</b> Summons Filed</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lawsuits filed by (1) CUMIS against Turner, Warren, Hwang and (2) the lawsuit filed by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad against Priority One Credit Union and (3) now, the lawsuit (cross-complaint) filed by Priority One Credit Union against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad have absolutely nothing to do with proving who physically walked out of the Los Angeles branch during the years of 2010-2012 with $1 million in cash in their possession. This prompts us to wonder what has happened to CUMIS' initial complaint file against accused embezzler, Pearl Lynnette Fortson? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Historically, Ms. Fortson like every executive of Priority One Credit Union, was a mediocre Branch Manager and later, an even more mediocre AVP. However, her limitations aside, she apparently was a mastermind of no small stature when she inconspicuously and almost invisibly, walked out of the Los Angeles branch with more than $1 million in cash.</span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fact that she did so without </span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">detection by any of the Credit Union's overpaid officers, the evidently comatose Supervisory Committee and the brain dead Board of Directors is amazing. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS is exerting </span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tremendous effort to build a case around Turner</span></span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Warren, Hwang and Conrad's alleged violation of established auditing standards which resulted in subpar reports provided to the Supervisory Committee who afterwards, compiled erroneous assessments of Priority One's actual financial performance and its internal security protocols. This is at least, what CUMIS hopes a jury will believe. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Certainly CUMIS is desperate to recuperate the monies paid to Priority One against the Credit Union's $1 million claim yet doesn't it seem at all peculiar that CUMIS is placing blame on Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad who had absolutely nothing to do with the physical removal of more than $1 million in cash from the Los Angeles branch. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is status of Ms. Fortson's case:</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">CUMIS VS PEARL LYNNETTE FORTSON</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Case Number BC542611</span></b></span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a declaration filed on December 11, 2014, CUMIS' attorney, David R. Bence, states that during an August 1, 2014 hearing, he informed the court that Ms. Fortson had filed for bankruptcy protection. At the time, the court scheduled a bankruptcy status meeting for October 30, 2014. </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On October 3, 2014, Mr. Bence appeared in court and disclosed that his client, CUMIS, was preparing to file an Adversary Complaint. At the time, the Court set a bankruptcy conference for July 30, 2015, however, Mr. Bence later claimed that he never received a notice from the court advising him that the conference had been rescheduled to December 8, 2014.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A status conference has now been scheduled to take place on August 5, 2015 at Superior Court in Los Angeles. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Fortson's filing for bankruptcy protection is actually quite clever. If approved, she will not have to pay restitution for the money she allegedly embezzled. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The elephant in the room for Priority One which </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Board of Directors, the Supervisory Committee and President Wiggington are not referring to, is the vast amounts being spent on attorneys and the adverse impact the costs to litigate are having upon the credit union's financial resources. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">During the years of 2010 through 2013 Priority One's annual spending on legal skyrocketed from approximately $20,000 to $22,000 spent in the years while William E. Harris served as President and CEO, to an unprecedented more than $120,000 (per year). </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frustrated with our periodic publication of the Credit Union's legal expenditures, in 2014, President Wiggington ordered removal of the credit union's monthly and annual legal expenses from its Income Statement/Balance Sheet. President Wiggington's efforts to hide the amount spent on "legal" is hardly necessary to gauge its effect upon the Credit Union's financial performance. Since 2008, President Wiggington has exacted tremendous effort to ensure Net Capital remains well above 6%. This meant closing branches, implementing a company-wide wage freeze that affected everyone but the executive sector. He also reduced spending on marketing, advertising and business development and ceased almost all together, the credit union's involvement in community and chamber sponsored events. The end result has been a continual struggle to try and garner new business and members. The credit union's efforts have been continually been undermined by growing disinterest by Members and potential Members in the financial products offered by the credit union coupled by a large number of account closures. The failure to generate consistent high profits have also impacted the Credit Union's ability to pay its bills. As Bankrate.com has reported each year since 2011, Priority One's suffers from "above normal overhead."</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is clear that Priority One's high legal expenses which increased to a total of more than $500,000 during the years of 2010-2013, are heavily taxing the credit union. The added expenditures pay for attorneys who work frantically to fabricate defenses that are intended to help Priority One escape retribution for the failures, abuses and negligible behaviors committed by the President, the Board of Directors, and the Supervisory Committee.</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">But First......</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to the over 40-pages of legal documents filed by the Credit Union on June 4, 2015, we will have to continue our reporting about the lawsuits over the next 1 or two publications. However, at this time we'd like to report on other events occurring at Priority One that are not related to the lawsuits. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">RAISES FOR <u>SOME</u> EMPLOYEES</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union announced during its April 2015 all staff meeting that following a more than four (4) year wage freeze, there would be a PARTIAL lifting of the company's four-year wage freeze. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be accurate, the four-year freeze never affected every single employee of the credit union. The wage freeze was officially introduced in late 2010 by President Wiggington and then COO, Beatrice Walker. The reason why the freeze was implemented is that Priority One was not obtaining the level of new business needed to offset its expenditures. At the time, net capital had dropped to 6.8% and the DFI informed the President that he needed to raise net capital, suggesting he streamline operations including, close branches that were not operating at optimum. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite implementation of the freeze, at the end of 2010, the President received a bonus from the Board of Directors and in the years since 2010, has received annual bonuses and raises. His failures, illegal acts and immersion in scandals were evidently inconsequential to the Board of Directors and the loss of more than $20 million in net income and the filing of numerous lawsuits were of absolutely no consequence to his continue stay as Priority One's worst President and CEO in its more than 87 year history.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The partial lifting of the freeze should not be construed as an indicator that business has improved. The credit union remains in a financial slump and as we saw in 2014 and 2015, he continues to hide the organization's annual reports. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>In 2010, we witnessed a similar incident. In February 2010, President Wiggington and then COO, Beatrice Walker, spread rumors that Priority One had generated profits during the month of January. As evidence to profit, the Income Statement/Balance Sheet for the month of January 2010 showed profits in excess of $100,000. The claims to profit seemed suspicious because the credit union ended 2009 more than $5 million in the negative. By March 2010, a representative of the Accounting Department revealed that the President and Ms. Walker transferred monies from one of the credit union's general ledgers and reported the "borrowed" money as profits where no profit had occurred. The year ended with income more than $500,000 in the negative. </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>FINALLY, THE DEPARTURE OF JOSEPH GARCIA</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joseph Garcia, the man who was once known as former COO, Bea Walker's number one confidant and who over a two-year period was promoted from Call Center Supervisor to Consumer and Real Estate Loan Department Manager, Credit Manager and later demoted to Consumer Loan Manager and demoted again to Assistant Consumer Loan Manager and promoted to AVP of Sales and Business Development and finally, demoted to Business Development Representative and who failed at every position he held, has finally department the credit union on his own volition. He won't be missed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, Mr. Garcia provided false testimonies to the President which facilitated the expulsion of several employees the President, then COO, Beatrice Walker, and Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, labeled enemies of their regime. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By early 2011, Mr. Garcia's relationship with his former benefactor, Beatrice Walker, had deteriorated and having discovered that she had targeted him for termination, the cowardly Mr. Garcia fled the credit union on a medical leave alleging he was suffering from stress. </span><br />
While on medical leave, Ms. Walker was terminated and Mr. Garcia returned to work shortly thereafter.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He spent the next two months, wooing the President and by November 2011, the obtuse Mr. Wiggington promoted Mr. Garcia to Vice President of Sales and Business Development. Mr. Garcia promised he would "force" employees to perform or they would suffer termination. With then Chief Loan Officer, Cindy Garvin, the two developed quotas for every employee and on February 2, 2012, launched their new program. Over the next eight months, Mr. Garcia and Ms. Garvin orchestrated the termination of many new and long-time employees for failing to attain their quotas. By October 2012, it was obvious that Mr. Garcia's strategies had all failed. Frustrated, Ms. Garvin threatened to terminate him and he again, fled the credit union on yet another medical leave of absence again alleging work induced stress. In December 2012, Ms. Garvin was terminated and Mr. Garcia returned to work in January though upon his return, he was advised that he was being demoted to the post of Priority One's one and only Business Development Representative. At the time, he was assigned a monthly quota of $150,000. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the next two years Mr. Garcia never attained his quota. His highest number of loans funded for a single month approximated $30,000. Despite his gross failures, the President exempted him from the credit union's policy which explicitly stated employees who failed to attain their quotas during a consecutive two-month period would be terminated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the next two years, Mr. Garcia became another useless fixture of the credit union, contributing absolutely nothing to the betterment of the company. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the weeks preceding his May departure, Mr. Garcia was sent to work at the Van Nuys branch in the position of interim Branch manager. While there, he complained that his employer was forcing him to drive each day from his residence in Montclair to Van Nuys and that he had grown weary of being taken advantage of. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before being unceremoniously terminated in July 2011, then COO, Beatrice Walker, used to boast that if you wanted to force an employee to resign, all you had to do was transfer the, to a branch that was located furthest from their home. Mr. Garcia, the man who was a polarizing presence in the credit union and who was responsible for the termination of dozens of employees in 2012, and who failed in every capacity he served in, fell victim to Bea Walker's infamous ploy, finally driven out by President Wiggington.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A NEW CFO? NOT EXACTLY</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What do you get when you can no longer afford to hire a CFO? You hire a Controller. Of course a CFO is not synonymous with being a Controller though President Wiggington is hoping to force a change in what defines the responsibilities of a Controller. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2014, the President revealed that he and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, and Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, agreed that when a new CFO was hired to replace former CFO, Saeid Raad, that no announcement would be posted by the credit union. Their reasoning was that they didn't want the information to find its way to the Internet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2014, the credit union hired a Controller to fill the position vacated by Saeid Raad. However, the position to hire a Controller versus a CFO, was economics. The fact is, Priority One could no longer afford to pay a salary of $140,000 or more, to a new CFO. So they opted for a more economical alternative. The Controller is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simona Hollins who prior to her arrival at Priority One, worked for SH Account Services and obtained an MBA in Accounting from the University of Phoenix. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not the first time Priority One has had a Controller. After the departure of CFO, Manny Gaitmaitan, at the end of 2009, the President convinced the Board of Directors that he could promote then Accounting Supervisor, Jennifer Kelly, to the post of Controller and that she would be able to perform most of the responsibilities once performed by Mr. Gaitmaitan. Ms. Kelly proved that a Controller is not a CFO and her stint as Controller was short-lived. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlike her predecessor, Mr. Raad, who was introduced to the Credit Union through his then friend, COO, Beatrice Walker, Ms. Hollins does not appear to have a business association with either the President or members of his executive sector. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlike Mr. Raad who was introduced to the credit union by his former friend and associate, Beatrice Walker, Ms. Hollins does not appear to have been hired as a result of cronyism. Hopefully, she won't compromise ethics and like Mr. Raad, choose to manipulate the credit union's financial reporting practices. </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">THE WILD WEST</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Due to the amount of documentation filed by CUMIS, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad and more recently, by Priority One Credit Union's attorney, we will only provide a small portion of the documents proving the reasons why the various Plaintiffs have filed complaints against one another. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">On June 4,2015, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">John C. Steele, attorney for the credit union filed the notice seeking consolidation accompanied by a counter-complaint filed by his client and alleging breaches of contract by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad during each year (2008-2013) when the outside auditor provided reports based on audits that were conducted out-of-compliance to established and mandated auditing standards. Mr. Steels begins by presenting the facts underlying the lawsuits brought be each party.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>II. Statement of Facts</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One entered into a business relationship with Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad on March 31, 2008 and which continued until March 31, 2013. In February 2013, an audit of the Los Angeles branch's records revealed that more than $1 million in cash had been embezzled by Pearl Lynnette Fortson who CUMIS identifies as the Branch Manager of that office. The thefts occurred over a two-year period, 2010-2012, and began either in "early" or "late" 2010 and continued through 2012. In their lawsuit, CUMIS makes the following statements:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Fortson embezzled the money by herself or with accomplices.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thefts began either in “early” or “late” 2010 and continued through 2012.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February 2013, on the date she was terminated, Ms. Fortson served in the capacity of Branch Manager of the Los Angeles office.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As shown below, some of the statements contained in CUMIS' lawsuit are inaccurate and tinged with uncertainty:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Did Ms. Fortson steal more than $1 million in cash during the years of 2010 through 2012 by herself and without assistance or was she aided by an accomplice(s)?</b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why couldn't CUMIS' experts obtain a more precise date when the thefts occur. Did these begin in "early" 2010 or "late" 2010?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS identifies Ms. Fortson as the Branch Manager of the Los Angeles branch on the date she was terminated but M</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s. Fortson was actually an AVP and had not been a Branch Manager since 2007.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Discrepancies with information seem to be a chronic problem with anything related to Priority One. At times, the discrepancies are intentional, such as when President Wiggington chooses to manipulate reporting. In regards to the Notice filed on April 4, 2015, CUMIS states it reviewed the evidence provided by Priority One Credit Union regarding the theft of more than $1 million from the Los Angeles branch's vault. CUMIS' review concluded that Priority One's "<b>employee dishonesty claim" </b>possessed sufficient merit justifying payment of the claim. CUMIS paid the $1,005,376.00 claim minus the $25,000 deductible for a total of $980,055.10.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following payment of the claim, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS next entered into a settlement agreement with Priority One which allowed CUMIS to seek recovery of the monies paid against the credit union's claim. Legal ease aside, this should not be construed to mean that CUMIS filed a lawsuit on behalf of the credit union but that they are trying to recuperate every penny paid against the claim in addition to any other awards the court may deem appropriate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Based on the information contained in the Notice, its now clear that on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">April 24, 2014, the date CUMIS filed its lawsuit against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad, they had not gathered the evidence needed to prove their allegations against the external auditor. The inaccuracies and uncertainties we've described suggest that CUMIS filed their lawsuit to ensure filing occurred within the statute of limitations allotted under law. By doing so, CUMIS could amend their complaint at a later date. What's more, the Notice which was filed on June 4, 2015, slightly more than one year after CUMIS filed its lawsuit, reveals that one of CUMIS' "experts" founded enough additional evidence of wrong doing allegedly perpetrated by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad allowing Priority One to file a counter-complaint against their former external auditor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though there is nothing illegal about CUMIS' actions, the Notice suggests that the insurance carrier is quite desperate to recuperate the monies paid against Priority One's claim. Their desperation is sufficient that they were able, after one year, to provide Priority One Credit Union information that allowed the credit union to file a counter-complaint. If we didn't know better, we might think that CUMIS is trying to bombard Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad with as many complaints and allegations of wrong doing to sway a jury to issue a judgment in their favor.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.66px;">Specifically, CUMIS accuses Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad of:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px;">Failing to perform annual financial statement audits of the credit union "in compliance with professional standards governing:</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px;">CPA auditors</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.66px;">Violating the terms of its agreements with Priority One for each year from 2008 through 2013</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">AND CONRAD'S CA</span></b><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">SE</span></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One's attorney, John C. Steele, takes a moment to over emphasize that on "December 5, 2014- <i>eight months </i>after CUMIS filed its Complaint- TWHC filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court (Case No. ECO63303), seeking a money judgment against Priority One for Priority One's failure to pay $68,299.79 in alleged monies owned to TWHC for the post-embezzlement investigation and preparation of a report." Mr. Steele's caddy tone is not lost on us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He continues, stating that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad seeks payment of $68,299.79 which the credit union failed to pay for services rendered. Doesn't it serve as a poor example when a credit union- a financial entity, that claims to be a "financial fitness center", refuses to pay its debts?</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Mr. Steele, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad's lawsuit accuses Priority One of breaching </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the agreement entered into with Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad seek <i>q</i></span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">uantum meruit </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which simply means they seek "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 1.2; text-align: left;">a reasonable sum of money" to pay for services rendered and work completed at the request of the Credit Union.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: lighter; line-height: 1.2; text-align: left;">Lastly, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad ask the court for any </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">amount due on open book account. </span></li>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Priority One </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Credit Union's Cross-Complaint</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The disclosures made by Priority One's attorney, seems to indicates that since the thefts were discovered in February 2013, the credit union has remained in a stupor completely oblivious to the alleged failures committed by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad and only realized in April 2015 that the reports provided to them in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 were immersed in deficiencies. Clearly Priority One remains lost in a fog and like their inability to protect credit union and Member assets, it seems that they are quite oblivious to the validity of the records they utilize in forecasting the Credit Union's future performance or in assessing the effectiveness of its security protocols. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">FACTS</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">CUMIS has accused Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad of negligible auditing practices. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">CUMIS alleges that if it weren't for these negligible practices, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad would have noticed the thefts allegedly perpetrated by former AVP, Lynnette Fortson, which would have brought and end to the thefts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though the subject of auditing standards is important to ensure reports provided to the Credit Union are accurate for the purpose of developing projections and assessments, the FACT remains, <span style="text-align: justify;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad had absolutely no involvement in the physical removal of cash from the Los Angeles branch. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">According to the cross-complaint filed earlier this month by Priority One Credit Union, shoddily compiled reports produced by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad were provided to the Credit Unions for the years 2008 through 2013. As a result, the Supervisory Committee created erroneous assessments based on the information provided by the external auditor. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So why didn't Priority One's internal security protocols ever identify a single theft allegedly perpetrated by the former AVP?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Why didn't the Accounting Department which oversees cash sent to and received from all branches never identify a single discrepancy?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Why didn't the Credit Union's Vice President of Compliance ensure that all branches were carrying out banking procedures pursuant to state and federal mandates and credit union policy? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Why didn't the Supervisory Committee perform its due diligence and personally conduct its own audits of branch cash? Is it customary for the Supervisory Committee to rely solely on the reports provided by external auditors or do they take the initiative to verify the accuracy of the information they're provided? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">How did the AVP transport more than $1 million in cash from the Los Angeles vault without ever being observed by branch personnel? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">What exactly does President Wiggington do to ensure security protocols are being performed by branch staffs? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">How does Priority One's Vice President of Operations ensure that security measures are maintained and when necessary, amended? </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS' case is hardly cut and dry. In Aprill 2015, it's "expert", Stuart Harden, declared that Priority One's $1 million claim ("employee dishonesty claim") possessed sufficient merit for issuance of payment. He also provided the information the credit union used to file its counter-complaint earlier this month. However, CUMIS has historically paid other claims which point to negligence on the part of the credit union to ensure credit union and Member assets are well protected. Two other incidents include:</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">2009: </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">An audit performed by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad revealed that more than $60,000 were stolen by a former receptionist of the Los Angeles branch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2010:</b> A married couple, knowingly withdrew more than $100,000 from their HELOC checking account even though the term of the HELOC had expired. When asked to repay the monies, the couple refused. CUMIS' investigator interviewed current and former employees of the Real Estate Loan Department who all confirmed the Credit Union was at times negligent about closing HELOCs. Despite the admittance of negligence, CUMIS paid the claim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With regards to the latest claim filed by the Credit Union, CUMIS paid </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$980,055.10 against the Credit Union's claim of $1,005,376.00. CUMIS' decision to pay the credit union's claims is enigmatic since the question of the effectiveness of Priority One's security protocols should be scrutinized and further investigated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The credit union's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">refusal to pay the money owed Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad for services rendered following discovery in February 2013, that former AVP, Pearl Lynnette Fortson, embezzled more than $1 million, would not be the first time the organization drags its perennial feet to pay it debts. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">In 2010, then CFO, Saeid Raad, instructed the Accounting Department to withhold issuing payment on all invoices for at least 4 weeks after they were received by the Credit Union. He also ordered that employee reimbursements be paid out once per month which created a financial hardship to many of the Credit Union's low paid staff. His reason for withholding payments was because Priority One Credit Union did not have sufficient money budgeted to pay its expenses. Despite strained finances, President Wiggington would continue to insist over the next four years that business was great and the Credit Union., experiencing a financial resurgence. His statements were utterly untrue. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">And though Priority One is using the allegations against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad to refuse issuing payment to its former external auditor, we believe that the refusal to pay is related to the Credit Union's strained finances and its continually looming overhead which does not abate because of Priority One's floundering business development efforts. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>There was a time, when the Supervisory Committee used to frequently visit each of Priority One's branch's and physically counted money in the vaults for the express purpose of ensuring cash balanced with the amounts of cash recorded in vault ledgers. Since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President and since both Cornelia Simmons became the committee's Chairperson, the practice that ensured safety, has been discarded. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What's more, under Ms. Simmons, the committee does not meet on a monthly basis as it did when William E. Harris Was President. We believe the committee's minutes should be subpoenaed to prove how often they meet, what topics are discussed during their meetings, and which of the credit union's security measures have been reviewed and which which have been updated and amended. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though we intend to continue our dissection of the more than 40 page Notice submitted by Priority One's attorney in our next publication, we'd like to briefly describe Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad's responses to each of the accusations leveled by CUMIS in their complaint filed with the Superior Court of California. Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad provided a total of twenty-six Affirmative Defenses in their reply. Not surprisingly, the external auditor denies every one of CUMIS' ' accusations.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">DEFENSE SUMMARY</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad declares that in their lawsuit, CUMIS fails to provide evidence proving the external auditor committed professional negligence and that they breached the agreements entered into with Priority One Credit Union. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">What's more, they describe CUMIS' allegations as “uncertain, vague, and ambiguous” and add that as subrogee of the credit union, CUMIS </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">does not possess the “legal capacity” in the state of California, to file a lawsuit against their firm. CUMIS is also accused of delaying filing of their lawsuit and in doing so, caused detriment to the auditing firm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad further assert that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Priority One Credit Union’s conduct created the opportunity which enabled the theft of more than $1 million from the Los Angeles branch and accuses the credit union of “Unclean hands”, a legal term which brings into question the ethical conduct of the infamous and scandal ridden credit union, its managing officers, and two governing bodies, i.e., the Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Additionally, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad states that the theft of more than $1 million was the result of acts committed by unnamed "others" and not their firm. So who are these "others" who allegedly committed acts including dispensing advice which created the opportunity for the theft of more than $1 million? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The persons, departments or governing bodies which may include:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Wiggington</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Former CFO, Saeid Raad</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three COO's: Beatrice Walker (2010-2011); Cindy Garvin (2011-2012); and Yvonne Boutte (2012-Present)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vice President of Compliance, Patricia Loiacano</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, and the Board of Directors</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons, and the Supervisory Committee</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Accounting Department</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The credit union's internal auditor</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any other external consultants and/or auditors</span></li>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">DID SOMEONE SAY, </span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">"PAST NEGLIGENCE"?</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">We recently came across the following 2007 article which we were previously unaware of. The article reminds us of the many security problems that have plagued Priority One since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr was appointed President. The lawsuits currently in litigation are the culmination of the President's inability to review the credit union's internal controls and introduce changes to resolve deficiencies found in Priority One's policies and procedures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source:<span style="color: white;"> </span><a href="http://cuinnovators.com/blog/topics/member-service/"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">http://cuinnovators.com/blog/topics/member-service/</span></b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Yellow </b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">M and M</b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nowadays, Priority One' is best defined by its legal problems. The lawsuits filed each and every year since 2010 have exposed the unethical and abusive behaviors of President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. and what seems to be his disdain for laws, policies and structure created to protect the credit union's assets. This same contempt towards rules is echoed by the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee who have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars since 2007, ensuring President Wiggington remains in power. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">counter-complaint filed on June 4, 2015, by the credit union can reasonably be viewed as yet another attempt by Priority One's leadership to escape accountability for their failures to ensure security protocols were being practiced and to find a scapegoat who will be held culpable for the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$1 million in cash from the Los Angeles branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With tremendous assistance by its insurance carrier, CUMIS, Priority One is now targeting its former external auditor, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad and holding them responsible for the theft of more than $1 million <i>in cash </i>despite the fact CUMIS concluded that the credit union's security protocols were being maintained at the time the thefts occurred. So how did the credit union's allegedly well designed and effective security measures fail to identify or thwart the thefts that transpired during the years of 2010-2012? </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only did the credit union's security protocols fail to deter the thefts of cash from the vault but in 2009, these same protocols failed to detect numerous internal thefts totaling more than $60,000 and perpetrated by a receptionist of the Los Angeles branch.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And once again, these same protocols failed to stop a married couple of withdrawing more than $100,000 from a HELOC checking account whose term had expired. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The big question remains as to how a single employee, with or without assistance by an accomplice(s), could physically remove more than $1 million in cash from the Los Angeles branch's vault without detection by the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supervisory Committee, the Board of Directors, three COO's, the Vice President of Compliance, and President Wiggington? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The idea that several thefts occurred without detection brings into scrutiny the effectiveness of Priority One's policies and procedures designed to allegedly protect credit union and Member assets. We'd certainly like anyone from CUMIS to explain how they determined that Priority One's security implements are functioning at optimum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we've reported over the past six years, Priority One's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">executive sector and its Directors and Supervisors are gross incompetents, ignorant about the credit union's internal procedures that they allegedly are qualified to oversee. We hope Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad's attorney will ask those important questions that will prove the competency or incompetency of the members of the credit union's two governing bodies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was first appointed President, he was given a wonderful opportunity to lead the then growing credit union in a manner that b</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">efits a President of a Credit Union. Instead the inept officer chose to demonstrate his </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">contempt towards laws and policies, ignoring what was beneficial to the Credit Union and seeking anything and everything needed to placate his bloated ego. Instead, the obstreperous and childish President chose to don all the dignity of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Y</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ellow M and M and becoming the physical personification of everything that is counter-productive and or that is good for any business. </span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com219tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-25626424071230293072015-05-15T15:15:00.000-07:002015-06-14T21:21:22.446-07:00Defining What's Normal, Part 1 of 3<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Nowadays at Priority One Credit Union, headquartered in South Pasadena, California, "business as normal" has been displaced by fending off lawsuits. Its important to note that this dynamic did not exist </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">at anytime during the 81 years preceding January 1, 2007, the date </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began serving as President and CEO of what was then a successful and growing Credit Union. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Three lawsuits Priority One is currently litigating differ dramatically from those filed and voluntarily settled by the Credit Union during the years of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">2010 through 2013. Those cases filed by four former employees and one Member, alleged violations of the Privacy Act, sexual </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">harassment, same-sex sexual harassment, age discrimination, race discrimination, retaliation, and creation of a hostile work environment. The Credit Union paid out monies to avoid costly and potentially embarrassing court trials that would have produced documented records of abuses committed by the Credit Union's highest officers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Two of the current batch of lawsuits, all filed in 2014, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;">accuse the Credit Union and its President of various contractual related breaches while a third, filed by </span>CUMIS<span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;">, the Credit Union's insurance carrier, accuses the Credit Union's external auditors, </span><a href="https://www.twhc.com/" style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;">Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad</a><span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;"> of acting negligibly and failing to perform audits in compliance to established auditing standards. </span>CUMIS<span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;"> also asserts that Turner, Warren, </span>Hwang<span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;">, and Conrad provided the Supervisory Committee erroneous information which in turn, compromised the integrity of the committee's annual performance assessments. CUMIS insists that the failures perpetrated by </span><span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;">Turner, Warren, </span>Hwang<span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;">, and Conrad included not identifying thefts, perpetrated by Pearl Lynnette Fortson, a former AVP assigned to the Los Angeles branch, resulting in the theft of more than $1 million in cash from that branch's vault. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As might be expected, </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">CUMIS' allegations circumvent all reference to the Credit Union's and more specifically, the Supervisory Committee's responsibility to safeguard Credit Union and Member assets. Superficially, CUMIS' accusations seem absurd, eliciting questions about the actual theft and why so much responsibility is being placed on Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad. Some of our questions are:</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">How could Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad be held accountable for the physical removal of $1 million in cash from the Los </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Angeles Branch's safe when the Credit Union's Accounting Department, the Chief Operations Officer, and the Supervisory Committee are responsible for all records documenting money sent to and received from the Credit Union's branches. ?</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Why is CUMIS holding Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad responsible for thefts which occurred prior to their audit of the Los Angeles branch's ledgers? </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial;">Turner, Warren, Hwang an Conrad were hired by the Credit Union to perform audits. The Supervisory Committee and President, delegated instructions to the firm as what records were to be audited. Did the instructions they provided include a request to audit vault cash and general ledgers located at the Los Angeles branch? </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a few weeks, the Credit Union will serve as a witness in CUMIS' lawsuit. The Credit Union will also be a defendant in a lawsuit filed Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad and in another lawsuit filed by Auto Alliance, one of Priority One's contracted automobile brokers. . Because the President is named a defendant, he will </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">finally have to appear in court and provide testimony concerning the Credit Union's internal controls and answer questions which will almost certainly scrutinize his abilities as President and CEO and possibly even touch upon his ethics. However, we wouldn't be surprised if he stages excuses to try and avoid or prolong, having to, participate in litigation. In the past the wily but cowardly President took refuge behind Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, who freely approved spending Credit Union monies to hire </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">overpaid and unscrupulous attorneys and useless consultants to create bogus defenses concoct fictitious facades that tried in earnest to depict the President as a victim, incapable of the atrocities described in lawsuits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A TREK DOWN <span style="color: red;">MEMORY LANE</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2013, a lawsuit was filed by a former Branch Manager, which cited egregious acts committed by and under President Wiggington, former COO, Beatrice Walker, and the entire Human Resources Department. President Wiggington was named a defendant but his attorney at the time, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul F. Schimley, of </span><a href="http://rhopc.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Richardson, Harmon and Ober</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> contacted the plaintiff's attorney and told her that if she didn't remove President Wiggington's name as a defendant in the lawsuit, he would have to file a motion with the court informing them that the President was suffering from cancer and undergoing medical treatments that he said would force postponement of the lawsuit for months and possibly years. . </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">CUMIS VS TWHC</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Euaj8C_zgoKNlxFJUfqXOrCwKbW27ZYBHtNoRLRaQzlZHQQ4u51dRzLCW7iM-Ln3TI00h2VA-yr4cxN1UFVuUdkOz49YRa8a-OVzOI-UlKBJkNUb31CT1wQc80hjdYXoLhFTTDbsYFWT/s1600/Boxing+Match.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Euaj8C_zgoKNlxFJUfqXOrCwKbW27ZYBHtNoRLRaQzlZHQQ4u51dRzLCW7iM-Ln3TI00h2VA-yr4cxN1UFVuUdkOz49YRa8a-OVzOI-UlKBJkNUb31CT1wQc80hjdYXoLhFTTDbsYFWT/s320/Boxing+Match.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We;'re intrigued by CUMIS' lawsuit. Though Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad did not perpetrate the actual theft of $1 million in cash from the Los Angeles branch's safe, it is their competency, expertise and reputation will will be dissected in court and which ultimately is a threat to their reputation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS' investigation concluded that Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad are responsible for failing to detect any of the individual thefts during audits conducted in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Due to their gross oversight, eventually the thefts would amount to more than $1 million in cash. In their lawsuit, CUMIS alleges </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">malpractice, a type of violation most often associated with lawsuits filed against attorneys and physicians. Oddly, CUMIS fails to cite an exact date when the thefts started, merely stating that they began </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in "early" or "late" 2010 and continued through the end of 2012. Why couldn't they provide a more specific date when the thefts occurred? Shouldn't they have merely stated that "the thefts began sometime in 2010?" </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who is Turner, Warren,</span>Hwang<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and Conrad? </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We visited Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad's webpage and discovered that in 2013, a peer review </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was performed by <a href="http://www.cbdpcpas.com/">Caldwell, Becker, Dervin, Petrick and Company, LLP</a>. and In a letter dated June 30, 2013, and written to shareholders, Caldwell Becker, Dervin, Petrick and Company concluded: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"In our opinion, the system of quality control for accounting and auditing practice.... for the year ending June 30, 2013, has been suitably designed and completed to provide the firm with reasonable assurance of performing and reporting in conformity with applicable professional standards in all material respects" and concluding, Turner Warren Hwang an Conrad ACE has received a peer review rating of <i>pass</i>."</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please note that the letter is dated <b><i>only </i></b>four months after the theft of $1 million was discovered by the Credit Union. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad's website also contains the following overview of services they offer clients: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TWHC's financial institutions practice provides a complete suite of services to credit unions of all sizes. Our credit union clients range from over $10 million to over $10 billion in assets. Our staff knows credit unions well. While the national firms we compete with call themselves specialists and the partner may have five or six credit union clients, our partners have in excess of 25 to 30 credit union clients each. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have a strong foundation built on our credit union practice. Our partners have worked for or with credit unions for over 20 years. We did not stumble onto credit unions or use them as filler time. We are dedicated to credit unions and have been from he beginning which is why we are ranked among the top five services providers to credit unions in the U.S. and are number one collectively in the states west of Arizona. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Source: </span><a href="https://www.twhc.com/about-twhc/peer-review/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">https://www.twhc.com/about-twhc/peer-review/</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to the length of CUMIS' lawsuit, we have decided to publish excerpts of only those allegations and statements we deem most important.</span> </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As "</span>subrogee<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">", </span>CUMIS<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> has assumed the legal right to try and collect the monies paid out against the claim filed by the Credit Union. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Former AVP, Pearl Lynnett Fortson, allegedly embezzled "at least $1,000,000" in cash, to wit, the amount was more than $1 million. <b>She accomplished the thefts by allegedly "falsifying 'Daily Recaps", but how could the </b>AVP<b>, with or without accomplices, embezzle more than $1 million without detection by the Credit Union? Why did Priority One's internal controls designed to protect Credit Union assets fail to detect the thefts?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the years of 2010 through 2012, Ms. Fortson's direct supervisors were COO, Beatrice Walker and later, CLO, Cindy Garvin, and finally, current Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte. Over an approximate twenty-four period, why didn't any of the three overpaid and evidently, unqualified executives ever notice any of the several incidents during which money was embezzled? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad's attorney may have told a reporter of the CU Times that Priority One never "expressed" disappointment with the services and decisions made by his client but the Credit Union's Supervisory Committee and CUMIS found sufficient evidence to conclude that Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad violated laws and provided fraudulent data that in turn caused the Supervisory Committee to derive erroneous conclusions about the Credit Union's actual performance. Since the Supervisory Committee is a governing body of Priority One Credit Union and because CUMIS' is the subrogee </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>of the Credit Union, it appears Priority One was indeed, extremely disappointed with Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad's "actions</b>." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under #19, CUMIS states that Priority One's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supervisory Committee is appointed by the Credit Union's Board of Directors and "tasked with the responsibility of obtaining an audit of the Credit Union's financials using an independent external auditor. <b>But is the report provided from an "independent audit" the only source used by the Supervisory Committee to assess the Credit Union's performance and to gauge its ability to protect Member and Credit Union assets. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under #29, above, CUMIS states that during the years of 2011-2012, the Supervisory Committee was the recipient of Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad's reports which provided findings obtained from audits; and similarly, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, </span>Hwang<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and Conrad "expected" the Supervisory Committee to "rely on the thoroughness, accuracy, integrity, independence and overall professional caliber of audits it performed. <b>Wouldn't it seem reasonable that a firm providing services to numerous Credit Union's and whose peer review cites an adherence to industry standards, make every effort to ensure the information provided to the Supervisory Committee was accurate and obtained from a thorough review of Priority One's records? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many past employees of the Credit Union can testify that documentation presented to auditors was always first reviewed by Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, who was seen pulling out documents he did not wish presented to auditors. His censorship was intended to obstruct the disclosure of any information which could reveal breaches in procedure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS has chosen to accuse </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, </span>Hwang<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and Conrad of violating professional auditing and ethical standards and alleges the firm failed to properly examine Credit Union "books, records, and general ledgers." We expect the accounting firm to provide more than statements from the Credit Union that supports their accusations including providing lists of what documents the President and Supervisory Committee ordered to be included in any number of audits. Because as CUMIS asserts, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad were hired by the Credit Union and paid to perform a service, was the accounting and auditing firm ever instructed not to audit certain credit union records? Ultimately, it was the Credit Union who retained full control over what should and what should not be audited. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's seems more than a tad hypocritical that since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President on January 1, 2007, that the Credit Union has been sued several times and accused of egregious violations of state and federal laws, yet CUMIS and the Credit Union have no problem leveling accusations impugning the accounting and auditing firm and accusing them of violating <b>"their professional auditing and ethical standards by failing to ever review or test the cash accounts at" </b>the Los Angeles Branch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In December 2009, then CFO, Manny Gaitmaitan, resigned but before leaving, confided to some members of his staff that he </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">had been ostracized by President </span>Wiggington<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">; COO, Beatrice Walker; and then Senior Vice President, Rodger Smock, for his refusal to manipulate financial reporting." We hope that CUMIS is prepared to address questions regarding the Credit Union's reporting practices. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late 2009, TWHC conducted a three-week audit at the Los Angeles Branch and found that more than $60,000 had been stolen by a former receptionist. During the entire three-week audit conducted in a back office at the branch, AVP, Lynnette Fortson sat alongside auditor, Terry Nabors, while he examined Member and branch records.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> At the time, we found her inclusion in the audit both a conflict of interest and inappropriate but President Wiggington took absolutely no issue with her involvement. <b>Could it be she sat alongside the auditor because she was concerned that he might uncover incidents that would reveal she was involved in the thefts of money? </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS accuses Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad of failing to count vault cash. Had they counted vault cash and reconciled those amounts with what was recorded in the vault's general ledger or reviewed the balancing sheets prepared by AVP, Fortson, they would have discovered the "fraud and embezzlement" committed by the AVP. <b>Priority One has an internal auditor- Diane Huffman who should have been sent to each of the Credit Union's three remaining branches to audit records and count vault cash. Why wan't this done? And what about the responsibility the President, the COO, and the Accounting Department have to reconcile ledgers, balance sheets and cash records? </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS chose to pay out more than $980,000 against the $1 million claim filed by the Credit Union in 2013. We assume they agreed to pay the claim because their investigation proved that the Credit Union following all security protocols, yet this was the second large theft to occur at the Los Angeles Branch within a three-year period. </span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How did the Credit Union respond following the discovery in 2009, that a former receptionist absconded with more than $60,000 from the Los Angeles branch?</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What changes did Priority One introduce to its security procedures following discovery that more than $60,000 had been stolen by a former receptionist? </span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have to question CUMIS' wisdom. Why didn't the insurance company provide a more exact date when the theft of $1 million in cash began? According to their complaint, the thefts started either in "early" or "late 2010". Why not just state that the thefts began sometime in 2010? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hope Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad have retained records showing what they were asked to audit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS requests the courts order Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad to pay damages and all costs spent to file and litigate the lawsuit and any additional monetary relief deemed just and proper by the court. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his article, Strong Internal
Controls Reduce Employee Dishonesty, dated August 20, 2014, T<a href="http://news.cuna.org/authors/310-theran-colwell/articles" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">heran Colwell</span></a><span style="background-color: white;"> writes:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 17.35pt;">When a credit union catches an
employee embezzling funds or committing other fraud, it must investigate and
implement procedures to close the security breach."</span></b></span><br />
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Again, what changes did the Credit Union introduce following the discovery that more than $60,000 had been stolen by a former receptionist sometime in early 2009?<br />
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More importantly, why did the changes the Credit Union should have introduced fail to deter the series of thefts that started in "early" or "late" 2010 and continued, unnoticed, through late 2012?<br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.1333332061768px;">In his article, Mr. Colwell also states: </span></span></div>
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<li><b style="line-height: 17.35pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lead from the top
with a written policy</span></span></b></li>
<li><b style="line-height: 17.35pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Create a system of
checks and balances, including a clear segregation of duties</span></span></b></li>
<li><b style="line-height: 17.35pt;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Review cash-handling
procedures and refresh staff training</span></span></b></li>
</ul>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.35pt;"><b>Source:</b> </span><a href="http://news.cuna.org/articles/39429-strong-internal-controls-reduce-employee-dishonesty" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.35pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.35pt;"><span style="line-height: 17.35pt;">http://news.</span></span>cuna<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.35pt;"><span style="line-height: 17.35pt;">.org/articles/39429-strong-internal-controls-reduce-employee-</span></span>dishonesty</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTX6nhKQflVHAT_msftoa8H1z_mp_BQK7zlah7j7idwku7olnO40jIoyPnVQNfojs1u884G6rR8c3ThLjCLcrkAHP-AUA0yndQijuieTT5M3rbevap3wgNJ37rTfCso4qo5oyj2k0zYdXm/s1600/1+Squart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTX6nhKQflVHAT_msftoa8H1z_mp_BQK7zlah7j7idwku7olnO40jIoyPnVQNfojs1u884G6rR8c3ThLjCLcrkAHP-AUA0yndQijuieTT5M3rbevap3wgNJ37rTfCso4qo5oyj2k0zYdXm/s1600/1+Squart.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">REVISITING </span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">THE </span></b><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2013</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE'S ADDRESS </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are once again revisiting the Supervisory Committee's address which appeared int he 2013 Annual Report. The report was first distributed to attendees of the Annual Meeting which took place at Priority One's main branch in South Pasadena, California on May 27, 2014. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eSx2zuZgTx3_mIXmwEO4Q7d1cVwZe_AWUITTaAuFenVYpAFXtKDVVuI_h-dhi_DdIET5meQm3BV_o1mHP281bMlph_c2xP74bsS8uDGQI-Vw-E1on-ENjI7DtPSX4Cyjziw2yO0mOpev/s1600/2013+Annual+Report+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3eSx2zuZgTx3_mIXmwEO4Q7d1cVwZe_AWUITTaAuFenVYpAFXtKDVVuI_h-dhi_DdIET5meQm3BV_o1mHP281bMlph_c2xP74bsS8uDGQI-Vw-E1on-ENjI7DtPSX4Cyjziw2yO0mOpev/s640/2013+Annual+Report+1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Supervisory Committee's Chair composed her address in 2014, approximately one year after Priority One discovered the theft of $1 million from the Los Angeles branch's vault. And though the series of thefts took place during the years of 2010 through 2012, the Supervisory Chair included the name of Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad in her address published in the 2013 Annual Report which was first distributed on May 27, 2014. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why would Ms. Simmons make reference to the firm if she knew that CUMIS had concluded that Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad had been remiss in their audits and allegedly caused the Credit Union to lose $1 million in cash? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In her address, Ms. Simmons states, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The Supervisory Committee has the responsibility of overseeing the internal and external auditors of the Credit Union", </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">adding, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"T</b><b>he external audit firm of Turner, Warren, Hwang & Conrad Certified Public Accountants and Consultants conducts a comprehensive annual financial audit with verification of member accounts each year." </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three conspicuous facts standout:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#1: </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February 2013, Priority One's Internal Auditor discovered that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">$1 million had been embezzled from the Los Angeles Branch's vault. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>#2: </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">CUMIS filed its lawsuit against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad in April 2014. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>#3: </b></span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Simmons address to Members was published in the annual report first distributed in May 2014, one month after CUMIS filed its lawsuit. </span></span><b style="text-align: justify;"> </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've also reviewed several of the Credit Union's annual reports for the years preceding 2013 and f</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ailed to locate a single address signed by Ms. Simmons and which alludes to Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad or any other external auditing firm hired by Priority One. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why did Ms. Simmons reference </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad's name in the 2013 Annual Report? Ms. Simmons is clearly stating that her Committee relies on whatever findings are provided by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad. Is her disclosure a feeble and all too transparent attempt to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">free the Supervisory Committee of all culpability in the theft of $1 million?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One may be a state-chartered Credit Union but its assets are federally insured by the NCUA. We obtained the follow</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ing excerpt </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cornell University Law School's Legal Information Institute, describing the role of a credit union's Supervisory Committee. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>12 CFR 715.3- General Responsibilities of the Supervisory Committee</b></span><br />
<h1 style="background: white; margin: 2.25pt 0in 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">§ 715.3 General Responsibilities of the Supervisory Committee</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">(a) Basic. The Supervisory Committee is responsible for ensuring that the Board of Directors and management of the Credit Union-</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">(1) Meet required reporting objectives; and </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">(2) Establish practices and procedures sufficient to safeguard member assets.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">(b) Specific. To carry the responsibilities set forth in paragraph of this section, the Supervisory Committee must determine whether:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(1) <b>Internal controls are established and and effectively maintained</b> to achieve the credit union's financial reporting objectives which must be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Supervisory audit, verification of Member accounts and additional responsiblities. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(2) <b>The Credit Union's accounting records and financial reports are promptly prepared and accurately reflect operations and results: </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(3) The relevant plans, policies, and control procedures are established by the Board of Directors are properly administered; and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(4) <b>Polices and control procedures are sufficient to safeguard against error, conflict of interest, selfing dealing and fraud. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS' lawsuit places responsibility for the theft of $1 million on Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad even though it is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the Supervisory Committee who is ultimately responsible for the implementation of internal controls that effectively protect Credit Union and Member assets. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what corrective measures did the Supervisory Committee implement in response to the 2009 theft of more than $60,000 perpetrated at the Los Angeles branch by a former receptionist? </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why did the Credit Union's internal controls fail to identify any of several thefts perpetrated over the years of 2010 through 2012? </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And how often does the Supervisory Committee convene and what records can they provide of the topics discussed during each meeting and the actions taken to improve Priority One's internal controls? </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a side note, it's important to note in 2008, Cornelia Simmons </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">along with </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Board Directors, Diedra Harris-Brooks; O. Glen Saffold; and Thomas Gathers, voted and won reinstatement of President Wiggington despite overwhelming evidence that he sexually harassed a former employee and following urging by the investigator that the President be terminated. .These attest to her ethics and ability to hone decisions based on a fair and impartial assessment of evidence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Supervisors like the Directors, are ignorant and unable to carryout their state-mandated duties. They and the Directors de</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">pend on the President to interpret financial data contained in the Credit Union's financial reports. <b>Does this at all seem like a conflict of interest and immensely inappropriate?</b> It's time the Supervisors and Directors were administered tests to gauge </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">their competency. A</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nd one has to wonder, why procedures developed and/or approved by the Supervisory Committee have continually failed to protect assets administered by the Los Angeles branch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It doesn't take an expert or even an in depth study of Priority One's monthly, quarterly, and annual reports to realize that this Credit Union's issues run deep and are terribly awry. What should be seen as perplexing is that the President, his executive and managerial staff, the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Committee are all apparently so out of touch that they can't understand the relationship that exists between internal conflicts, security breaches, abuses of authority, dishonest business practices, and the Credit Union's struggle to acquire new business and membership.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS Insurance is hoping to that their accusations against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad will possess sufficient merit and be so compelling that a a jury (which they've requested) will issue a judgment in their favor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, CUMIS will have to contend with questions about the Credit Union's subpar security procedures which failed to stop the theft of $60,000 in 2009 and the theft of $1 million in cash during the years of 2010 through 2012. The looming question we have is how could the Credit Union's allegedly well-developed security procedures fail so miserably? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a record of <u>some</u> lawsuits filed against or involving Priority One since October 2010? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lawsuits filed by four former employees during the years of 2010 through 2013, alleged sexual harassment, same-sex sexual harassment, retaliation, age discrimination, and creation of a hostile working environment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. The filing of a lawsuit in 2012 by a former Member which accused the Credit Union of violating the Privacy Act.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. The 2014 filing of a lawsuit by Alliance Auto, one of Priority One's contracted automobile brokers, alleging a breach in contract. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. The 2014 lawsuit filed by CUMIS against Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad and alleging it is the accounting firm's satisfactorily perform its duties compliant to established standards resulted in the loss of $1 million in cash stolen by a former AVP. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. The 2014 filing of a lawsuit by Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad against Priority One Credit Union.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lawsuits are all symptoms of a bigger, more serious problem afflicting Priority One and indicative of why the once successful Credit Union is nowadays a smaller, no longer competitive, and disliked Credit Union. The internal turmoil saturating the Credit Union explains in part, why Priority One was forced to close 6 of 9 branches during the period of 2010 through 2014. The Credit Union has spent years, desperately raising its net capital all for the mere purpose of retaining their operation. In 2008, its net capital dropped down to almost 6% and at the time, both the DFI an NCUA informed the President that he had better find an immediate means by which to reduce expenses and raise capital. His closures, however, could not stave-off the continued decline in net income which dropped by approximately $22 million since January 1, 2007.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President </span>Wiggington's<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> business failures are exacerbated by his personal conduct which has been appalling and embarrassing. In 2008, an investigation proved he sexually harassed a former employee though fortunately for the President, his ally, Board Chair, </span>Diedra<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Harris-Brooks, ignored and suppressed the evidence and led two other Directors and Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons, to vote for his reinstatement despite the fact the investigator urged his termination. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, a victory in court will be gotten by the attorney who presents the most convincing argument. For CUMIS, this isn't a slam dunk as they have chosen to continue a business relationship with an organization led by a notorious President and corrupt Board of Directors and evidently, ineffective Supervisory Committee. On the other hand, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad chose to enter into and maintain a business relationship with the infamous Credit Union and as of May 2015, their well-earned reputation in the industry is at stake. </span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com198tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-14769802835676857292015-03-29T20:29:00.001-07:002015-04-21T21:46:25.363-07:00HOW DOES ONE STEAL $1 MILLION?<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhxbYYBgmtOjhI2cBEuTMYOq9cRjB0jzUHo_f8UC2vHDYWbzn9A4Xs3Q018KO9OuI5zoFetncvsUp3zJrlOQpyEsyPS8gNw0nq1oe16Y9dAnnsxq94Zz_TzgCvxiGmMEejDN8Ed0MXgSb/s1600/Lines+Drawn+041915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhxbYYBgmtOjhI2cBEuTMYOq9cRjB0jzUHo_f8UC2vHDYWbzn9A4Xs3Q018KO9OuI5zoFetncvsUp3zJrlOQpyEsyPS8gNw0nq1oe16Y9dAnnsxq94Zz_TzgCvxiGmMEejDN8Ed0MXgSb/s1600/Lines+Drawn+041915.JPG" height="135" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without question, the theft of $1 million in cash allegedly perpetrated by a former Assistant Vice President ("AVP") assigned to Priority One Credit Union's Los Angeles branch during the years of 2010 through 2012, has left many pondering how that amount of money could have been taken without anyone noticing the theft. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2014, CUMIS paid a claim in the amount of $880,000 against the $1 million claim filed by the Credit Union. Shortly afterwards, CUMIS filed a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">criminal report with police authorities, against the AVP who allegedly committed the crime and filed a lawsuit against the Credit Union's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">accounting and auditing firm, </span><a href="https://www.twhc.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Turner Warner Hwang and Conrad AC </span></b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">("TWHC") who they allege, failed to identify the thefts during audits conducted of the Los Angeles branch's records during the months prior to February 2013. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be fair, it was TWHC discovered the theft of more than $60,000 during an audit conducted in late 2009 and early 2010 audit of the Los Angeles branch's records. The firm concluded the theft had been pe</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rpetrated by a former receptionist who was later prosecuted but never incarcerated nor ordered to repay the monies she'd stolen. The theft of more than $60,000 should have prompted the Credit Union's Supervisory Committee and Board of Directors to evaluate its internal security procedures and introduce immediate improvements to avoid incidence of future internal thefts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late 2012, President Wiggington </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">informed COO, Yvonne </span>Boutte<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, that she would be temporarily reassigned to the Los Angeles branch to observe the performance of </span>AVP<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Pearl Lynette </span>Fortson<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and that office's staff. At the time, Ms. </span>Boutte<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> informed employees of the Credit Resolutions and Member Services Departments that there were issues involving Ms. </span>Fortson's<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> management of that branch and numerous complaints by Members, describing that office's staff as "rude" and "lazy." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2013, Mrs. Boutte reported to the Los Angeles branch and soon there after, informed her staff in South Pasadena that Ms. Fortson left on a personal leave of absence because "she didn't want to be there [at the branch] while I'm here." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February 2013, internal auditor, Diane Huffman arrived at the branch and immediately, notices were posted by Mrs. Boutte on the branch's doors informing visitors that the office was closed due to a "power outage." President Wiggington also ordered that the same notice be posted on the Credit Union's Intranet. At the time, Members contacted the South Pasadena branch and informed employees of the Call Center and Member Services Department that if there was a power outage at the Los Angeles branch, then why were the lights inside the office on and why were employees working at their desks? Because the Los Angeles branch is located within the Los Angeles Postal Distribution Center "LAPDC"], we </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">contacted the LAPDC's administrative and maintenance departments and were told no power outages had been reported for any part of the complex including the space occupied by the Los Angeles branch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks later, Mrs. Boutte informed her staff that AVP, Pearl Lynnette Fortson had been fired after Ms. Huffman's audit disclosed that the AVP embezzled money. Mrs. Boutte also threatened termination to any employee of the Los Angeles branch who chose to communicate with Ms. Fortson. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the President and Board Chair decided not to report the crime to police in their effort to avoid unwanted publicity of yet another illegal act committed under President Wiggington. And so, the Credit Union filed its claim with CUMIS and decided to avoid any discussion concerning the theft. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS, however, was not privy to the President and Board Chair's plan. CUMIS paid out $980,000 against the claim filed by the Credit Union. They also filed criminal charges against the former AVP and filed a lawsuit against the Credit Union's accounting and auditing firm, Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad ("TWHC") for allegedly failing to identity the thefts during audits conducted prior to February 2013, of the Los Angeles branch's records. During an interview with the CU Times, TWHC's attorney stated the Credit Union never filed a lawsuit or complaint against his client. Is the attorney naive? Evidently, the basis for CUMIS' lawsuit against TWHC is based on statements made by Priority One's President and some of his staff. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unquestionably, Priority One's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President, its Board of Directors, its Supervisory Committee, it's COO, it's EVP, it's in-house auditor and the entire Accounting Department all failed to notice thefts which took place during the period of late 2010 through 2012. Inarguably, the Credit Union's officers and the Accounting Department each failed to ensure the Credit Union's security protocols were both maintained and deemed effective. S</span></b><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ubsequently, one has to wonder why CUMIS thought paying Priority One's claim for $1 million (minus the deductible) was a prudent and sound business decision. </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The theft of more than $1 million serves as yet more evidence to the state of buffoonery characterizing the manner President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. chooses to manage the now small and insignificant Credit Union. For years, President Wiggington boasted about his his above-average intellect and keen prowess as a strategist though the theft of more than $1 million in cash proves that his self-exalting exclamations were nothing more than outlandish bragging by a man whose self-proclamations appear to be nothing more than a transparent ploy to hide </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his far flung ineptitude. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what can we expect next? </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BUT FIRST....</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On March 17th, just one day after publishing our last post, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became a follower of this blog or any other blog published on blogger.com. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He obviously didn't realize that Google issues notices each time a person <i><u>with a Google</u></i> account requests to become a follower of this blog. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We of course welcome Mr. Wiggington hoping he'll chime in, providing clarification about the reasons underlying some of his decisions, answering questions and verifying with evidence, some of the subjects we write about. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All we ask is he use his real name when posting on this blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>"Charles Wiggington is now following your blog"</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: xx-large;">A REASON TO STEAL $1 MILLION</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why did the former AVP allegedly steal $1 million? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To attribute the theft </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to mere greed is too simplistic. What is all too clear is that she never encountered a single obstacle during the 24-months the Credit Union alleges she perpetrated the theft. This is not only phenomenal but serves as another amazing testament to the gross ineptitude of President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., the Board of Directors and the Supervisory Committee. Were the President, Directors and Supervisor asleep during the 24-months the thefts allegedly took place? Ms. Fortson, unlike </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner Warren Hwang and Conrad AC, has not filed a lawsuit against her former employer, but don't construe this to imply she hasn't been busy. In fact, Ms. Fortson has implemented her own strategies intended to minimize the repercussions she may suffer should she ultimately be indicted and convicted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Los Angeles Superior Court records, in 2014, Ms. Fortson was sued by American Express Bank, FSB Inc. ("American Express") for unpaid debts. Ms. Fortson proceeded to court and lost. This might explain why she allegedly stole more than $1 million in cash from Priority One Credit Union. Here is information regarding the lawsuit filed against Ms. Fortson by American Express. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Case Summary</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">AMERICAN EXPRESS BANK vs Pearl L Fortson</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Case No. YC069680</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Parties to the Lawsuit</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plaintiff: American Express Bank FSB, American Express Centurion BankParties involved in the case were:</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plaintiff's Attorney: Michael M. Lina</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Defendant: Lynnette Fortson aka Pearl L. Fortson, Pearl Lynnet Fortson aka Pearl Lynnette Fortson</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summation of actions occurring during litigation of the lawsuit:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Fortson was served on 3/11/14.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On 5/05/14, a default judgment was entered by the court against Pearl L. Fortson aka Pearl Lynnett Fortson aka Pearl Lynnette Fortson aka Lynnette Fortson</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On 5/27/14, a dismissal of part of the case against Ms. Fortson</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On 6/30/14, a default judgment was ordered by the court for American Express Bank and Ms. Fortson was ordered to pay the Plaintiff <b>$32,495.95 </b>in damages and an additional <b>$500</b> in costs.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Fortson, the former Branch Manager and later AVP, of the Los Angeles branch and now defunct, Airport branch, certainly had a hefty number of aliases. The only other time we've found a similar case is Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks who is aka Diedra Harris, Diedra Brooks, Diedra E. Harris-Brooks, Diedra E. Harris, Diedra E. Brooks, and Diedra Elaine Brooks. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly, Ms. Fortson was in debt. However, if she stole $1 million to pay her debts, then she took far more than she actually needed. </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Following the filing of CUMIS' lawsuit and criminal charges, Ms. Fortson moved quickly to raise defensive measures. The theft of $1 million constitutes a federal offense punishable by either probation and/or prison time and if the court chooses, an order to pay restitution. Based on the judgment issued against Ms. Fortson in 2014 and for all intents and purposes, she did not have the money to pay the debt due to American Express Bank. This is of course true, if you believe she didn't steal $1 million from Priority One Credit Union. However, it is unlikely that if she stole the money that she would have deposited in a bank or credit union account. She might also have avoided conspicuous splurging on luxuries. Ms. Fortson is probably well aware that her spending will be meticulously dissected by CUMIS' attorney. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We recently obtained the following additional information revealing some of Ms. Fortson's strategizing:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Case Summary</b></span></div>
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">CUMIS INSURANCE SOCIETY</span></b></div>
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">PEARL LYNETTE PORTSON (FORTSON)</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Case Number:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> BC542611</span></b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Plaintiff is CUMIS Insurance Society, Inc.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Plaintiff's attorney is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David R. Bence. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Defendant is Pearl Lynette Fortson</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Fortson responded to the judgment by filing bankruptcy. Though bankruptcy will not help avoid criminal prosecution, if granted, if could help avoid restitution that might be ordered by the state and would free her from repaying the monies due to American Express Bank. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A hearing is scheduled on August 5, 2015 which will take place in Department 58 at Superior Court in downtown Los Angeles located at 111 N. Hill Street, Los Angeles, California 90012. The purpose of the case is to address Ms. Fortson's bankruptcy filing. The parties involved in the lawsuit are:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a Declaration Re-Order to Show Cause, filed by CUMIS' attorney on December 11, 2014, Attorney, David R. Bence, informs the court that during a case conference conducted on August 1, 2014, he was informed that Ms. Fortson had filed for bankruptcy protection. At the time, the court scheduled a bankruptcy status conference for October 30, 2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On October 30, 2014, the attorney appeared at the status conference during which he informed the court that his client, CUMIS, was going to file an <b>Adversary Complaint </b>whose purpose was to obtain a judgment from the court denying Ms. Fortson's bankruptcy filing and thus enforce a potential future judgment ordering that the former AVP repay whatever monies she may be found guilty of embezzling. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evidently, CUMIS is exacting its muscle to fight and defeat any effort by Ms. Fortson to avoid any potential restitution that may be ordered by the court. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the following filing by CUMIS' legal counsel, David R. Bence, the attorney informs the court that he never received notification that a July 30, 2015 bankruptcy status conference had been rescheduled by the court and took place on December 8, 2014. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following is a copy of the notice issued on January 9, 2015, by the Superior Court of California to CUMIS Insurance informing them that bankruptcy status conference is now scheduled to take place on August 5, 2015. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each year over the past five years, we've published excerpts from Priority One's 990 IRS filing which have consistently shown that despite his long list of failures, each year, President Wiggington's salary continues to increase. Usually, salary increases are awarded for a job well-done but why would Priority One Credit Union's Board of Directors under leadership of Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks deem his abhorrent and failed performance worthy of an annual increase in salary? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The latest available filing is for 2013 and unlike the filings submitted by the Credit Union in previous years, the 2013 filing omits the salaries of several of the Credit Union's top officers including </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, COO, Yvonne Boutte, and Vice President of Lending, Patricia Loiacano. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As referenced below, in 2013 Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was paid <b><span style="color: blue;">$164,484</span></b>. The amount may not be astounding compared to the salaries paid to CEO's of other companies but it is an immense amount paid to a man whose failures caused the closure of six (6) of the Credit Union's nine (9) branches during the period of 2010 through 2014. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is also an immense amount when one considers that under his leadership, the Credit Union's Net Income dropped by more than $20 million.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was also found guilty of sexual harassment in 2008 and due to his violation of state and federal laws the Credit Union was sued by four (4) former employees and one Member. The Credit Union moved quickly to settle each complaint though after issuing payment, the President boasted that the amount of the settlements paid out were inconsequential to the failing Credit Union. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its also interesting that many in his staff have not received salary increases for more than four (4) years.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>HOW DO YOU STEAL $1 MILLION WITHOUT BEING NOTICED?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is highly possible that the person stealing $1 million from Priority One's Los Angeles branch will be prosecuted and possibly ordered to repay the stolen funds, but a bigger issue plaguing the Credit Union is its failure to protect Credit Union's assets. This is not the first time thefts have occurred and evidently, the thefts have not been sufficient motivation for Priority One's President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. and the Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee to develop and implement <i>effective </i>measures that succeed in reducing or all together eliminating internal thievery.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stealing $1 million occurred during an approximate twenty-four (24) month period. According to the Credit Union, the thefts began at the end of 2010 and probably continued through the end of 2012. An audit conducted in February 2013 by the Credit Union's in-house auditor revealed the theft which was attributed to the AVP who had been assigned to the Los Angeles branch and who was an employee of the Credit Union for approximately 40 years. So has the credit union audited that branch's records for the years prior to 2010? The Los Angels office was also the site of the theft of $60,000 embezzled by a former receptionist. That theft was discovered months after being perpetrated during an audit conducted by Turner, Hwang, Conrad, and Turner, the same firm currently being sued by CUMIS. Years earlier, a large number of Travelers Cheques were stolen from that office. An employee was never found and soon afterwards, the Credit Union ceased selling Travelers Cheques.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union's Accounting Department monitors money provided and received from branches. So why didn't the department ever notice discrepancies in the reports provided by the Los Angeles branch? Ultimately, however, it is the overpaid President and the ignorant Board of Directors and evidently, equally inept Supervisory Committee that is responsible for the safety of Credit Union assets. Despite this fact, the President has over the past eight (8) years avoided accountability for his failures, finding protection in his patron, Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's more, each year, Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons, publishes her address in the Annual Report assuring readers that her committee has once again found that all is safe and well at a credit union bombarded by thefts, losses, and violations of state and federal laws. Is Ms. Simmons' so out-of-touch or so immersed in denial that she can't differentiate between what defines a sound running Credit Union and one subjected to an abhorrent state of management? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following address signed by Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons, and appeared in the Credit Union's 2013 Annual Report, inappropriately titled,<b style="font-style: italic;"> "Maintaining Forward Progress". </b>The statements made by Ms. Simmons were written only four (4) months after an audit revealed the theft of $1 million allegedly stolen by an AVP.<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the past five years, </span>CUMIS<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> ignored the filing of four (4) lawsuits by former employees and one lawsuit filed by a former Member, opting instead to maintain its relationship with the troubled Credit Union. We know this because </span>CUMIS' representatives<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> called some of the Plaintiffs who filed lawsuits to inquire about why they were suing Priority One Credit Union. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in 2010, CUMIS conducted an investigation of a claim filed by Priority One for monies taken by </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">two married Members who withdrew all the money from their HELOC after the date the loan was scheduled to be closed. The reason the Members succeeded in withdrawing the funds is because the staff in Priority One's Real Estate Department failed to close the loan leaving it open and vulnerable to the dishonest couple. During the investigation, CUMIS' investigator contacted former employees once assigned to the Real Estate Department to ask if the failure to close HELOC's on their scheduled dates was a frequent occurrence. The employee told CUMIS' investigator that the failure to close HELOC's on their scheduled ending date, was not uncommon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its also suspicious that following the 2010 disclosure that more than $60,000 had been stolen by the former receptionist of the Los Angeles branch, that President Wiggington, Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, then AVP, Beatrice Walker, and EVP, Rodger Smock, decided that they would not file a criminal report with police authorities in an effort to avoid adverse publicity to the waning credit union. However, the police were contacted after the incident was first reported in this blog and only after former Board Director, Janice Irving, demanded the former receptionist be prosecuted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2013, Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the President decided not to call the police for fear the theft could result in more adverse publicity and cause Members to lose confidence in the Credit Union's ability to protect their assets. However, what they did not expect was that CUMIS would not only file a complaint with police authority but would initiate legal action against the former AVP and against the Credit Union's accounting firm, Turner Warren Hwang Conrad AC. We can't comprehend why police authorities were not contacted following findings that $1 million ha been stolen. The refusal by the Credit Union to initiate legal action against the AVP has caused us to wonder, what is it that the President and Board Chair are hiding? </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the years (2010-2012) the thefts occurred, Priority One had three Chief Operations Officers in place. The first was Beatrice "Bea" Walker during whose infamous stay the theft of $60,000 embezzled by a former receptionist of the Los Angeles branch was discovered. Based on the Credit Union's own disclosures, the thefts which would ultimately amount to $1 million began in late 2010 while Ms. Walker remained COO. However, Ms. Walker was terminated in July 2011 after her efforts to oust the President failed and after the Board discovered that she had described them as uneducated and unqualified to serve as Directors.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The second COO was the equally notorious, Cindy Garvin. Ms. Garvin began her employment in August 2011 under much fanfare initiated by Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, who proclaimed her expertise in real estate and consumer lending, marketing and business development. She was terminated at the end of 2012 for failure to perform her duties and only after the President discovered that she described the President as incompetent and ignorant. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Currently, the infamous Yvonne Boutte serves as Vice President of Operations. Ms. Boutte has no prior experience as a COO. Her former capacity was overseeing the credit union's collections department. In 2012, she attempted to subjugate a Member into submission and provoked a lawsuit which was quickly settled by the Credit Union for approximately $20,000. It is also Mrs. Boutte who in March 2012, disclosed the reason why the AVP was terminated and revealed that more than $1 million in cash had been stolen from the Los Angeles branch's vault. She not only violated laws governing confidentiality, she also defamed the former AVP.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/priorityonecu"><b>https://twitter.com/priorityonecu</b></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One Credit Union may not be any Member's </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Financial Fitness Center</b></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and it may not know how to help any Member or employee </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Win with Money</i>,</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> but its security measures are sufficiently lax and ineffective to allow opportunities for some employees to succe</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ssfully abscond with Credit Union and Member funds. If the former AVP is indicted, tried and convicted, she could be incarcerated. And if her bankruptcy filing is approved, it could help her avoid having to pay any ordered restitution. However, none of this explains how a single individual could steal more than $1</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> million in cash without </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the President, Executive Vice President, the Accounting Department, the Board of Directors or the Supervisory Committee ever noticing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've no doubt that the Credit Union's ability (or inability) to protect Credit Union and Member assets will be a subject of debate in the lawsuit filed by CUMIS against </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner Warren Hwang and Conrad AC; and in the lawsuit filed by Turner Warren Hwang Conrad against Priority One Credit Union. And expect the President, the Board Chair and other officers of the Credit Union to scramble and concoct stories which may help them escape accountability for the blunders they alone committed. </span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com102tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-29086474789403153102015-03-16T03:17:00.002-07:002015-03-19T09:37:10.855-07:00Oops, They Did It Again<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2015 may prove to be the most embarrassing year experienced by Priority One Credit Union in South Pasadena, California since January 1, 2007, the date when Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President and CEO of the once successful Credit Union.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've been away for a few weeks, though during our absence, one astute reader of this blog, posted the following comment:<span style="text-align: justify;">:</span></span></div>
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<b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chief Jay Strongbow<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>said...</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John, Did you see the article on Priority One in the on-line edition of Credit Union Times today about the $1 million theft and accompanying lawsuit? Any more insight on it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">March 9, 2015 at 11:32 AM</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The article the reader alludes to was written by <a href="http://www.cutimes.com/2015/03/07/1m-vault-pinch-hits-priority-one"><span style="color: blue;">David Morrison</span></a> and appears in the March 7, 2015 edition of the CU Times. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Morrison wrote that a former, long-time employee of Priority One Credit Union, embezzled more than $1 million from the Los Angeles branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In March 2013, we reported that then AVP, Lynnette Fortson ("Pearl Lynnette Fortson") left the Credit Union abruptly, after more than forty (40) years of service. Her sudden departure surprised many employees, resulting in myriad of rumors alleging she resigned, she was terminated, and she was laid off Her departure also prompted complaints from many employees of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Los Angeles Postal Distribution Center ["LAPDC"], the facility where the Credit Union's Los Angeles branch is located. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Within a few days following Ms. Fortson's departure, Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte, revealed to some staff members in South Pasadena and at the Los Angeles branches, that Ms. Fortson had been terminated for stealing money. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2013 and prior to Ms. Fortson's termination, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte told some of her staff at the South Pasadena branch that she would be temporarily relocating to the Los Angeles branch during which she would conduct an investigation in response to mounting Member complaints alleging </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">abusive treatment by the staff in the Los Angeles branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February 2013, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte revealed that Ms. Fortson left the Credit Union on a personal leave of absence because she allegedly did not wish to be present during Mrs. Boutte's investigation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, at the end of February, in-house auditor, </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/diane-huffman/14/9a7/36a" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Diane Huffman</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, arrived at the Los Angeles branch where she conducted a three day investigation of that office's records. At the time, the President and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks perpetrated a hoax to try and hide the fact an audit was being conducted. On the day Ms. Huffman arrived, Mrs. Boutte posted a notice on the Los Angeles branch's doors, informing Members and visitors that the Branch was closed due to a power outage. The Credit Union posted the same message on their Facebook and webpages. As usual, the lie perpetrated by the President and Board Chair, was exposed. Members began reporting that though the Branch was closed due to a power outage, the lights in the branch remained on and employees could be seen working at their desks. At the time, we contacted the LAPDC to inquire about the outage, but we were told there were no reported outages for any part of the vast postal complex which includes the Los Angeles Branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President and Board Chair's simplistic and juvenile lie was also proven to be a lie when Mrs. Boutte warned the staff at the Los Angeles Branch that they were prohibited from ever speaking to Ms. Fortson. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In reading comments posted in response to our previous blog publication, that a few supporters of the President seem ignorant about the latest predicament the Credit Union finds itself embroiled in. What's more, the theft of $1 million is not the first internal theft to occur at the Los Angeles Branch. In late 2009 and early 2010, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.twhc.com/">Turner, Hwang, and Conrad AC</a> </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">conducted an audit and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">discovered that more than $60,000 had been embezzled by a former receptionist assigned to the Los Angeles branch. This latest incident serves to <b>again </b>bring into question the ability of the Credit Union and its deficient Board of Directors, to protect Credit Union and Member assets. All indicators suggest that Priority One's security protocols are either outdated, ineffective, or not being practiced by executive and non-executive personnel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President on January 1, 2007, the Credit Union has often found itself immersed in embarrassing scandals. Not only have many of the President's actions proven detrimental to the Credit Union but his immense ineptitude and illegal activities have been well protected by the Board of Directors. Since 2007, the Board has done everything in its power to ensure evidence of the President's abuses and illegal acts is suppressed. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To ensure the President escapes retribution, the Board Chair and President have used Priority One's monies as their own personal piggy bank, hiring attorneys who fabricated defenses impugning the character of former employees and one Member victimized by President Wiggington and the Credit Union's unethical Human Resources Department. The evidence proves that under Mrs. Harris-Brooks, the Board has failed to:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Set policies that ensure growth, development and the
protection of Credit Union and Member Assets. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Made certain the Credit Union maintains a sound
financial condition.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Established and maintained channels of communication
that inform Members about services and products the Credit Union offers that
will enhance and improve a person’s financial well-being.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ensured executive officers achieve
goals and objectives</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Provided truthful and undistorted information to Members during the Credit Union's annual meeting concerning the credit union's actual financial state.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And though internal thefts have been a problem plaguing the Los Angeles branch, they represent a betrayal of the confidence Members should have in the Credit Union's ability to protect their assets. Other illegal and unethical acts committed by the President include:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ordering repossession of an automobile that was
subject to collection proceedings, though the Member had signed a repayment
plan which would have allowed him to retain his BMW and become current. The
President who only buys BMW’s, ordered the vehicle repossessed. He transferred
ownership to himself and documented fictitious documents to create the appearance
the vehicle had been sold at auction. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008, President Wiggington was found to have committed
sexual harassment yet the Board spent thousands of dollars squashing the
evidence.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009 through 2011, former COO, Beatrice
Walker, made numerous personal purchases which she was reimbursed for including
buying a $5000 laptop. She also had workman hired to install new carpeting at
the South Pasadena branch, deliver and install left over carpeting at her home
in the Santa Clarita Valley. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From 2010 through 2013, the Credit Union was
sued by four (4) former employees and one now former Member, all who alleged
violations of Federal law committed by President Wiggington, by former COO,
Beatrice Walker, and by Human Resources which is under management of Executive
Vice President, Rodger Smock. The cases were settled by the Credit Union in an effort to avoid what would have been
nasty and embarrassing court trials.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the article authored by David Morrison which appeared in CU Times on March 7, 2015:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">$1M Vault Pinch Hits Priority One</span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">By David Morrison, March 7, 2015</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A long-time employee of the $146 million <a href="file:///F:/dmorrison/2015/March/39%20Year%20Employee%20Takes%20Priority%20One%20for%20$1%20million" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #155675;">Priority One Credit Union</a> allegedly stole more than<b> $1 million</b>, according to <b>a legal complaint</b> filed by the <a href="http://www.cutimes.com/2014/08/27/credit-union-was-a-den-of-thieves-honolulu-fbi" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; color: #155675;">CUMIS Insurance Society</a> against the credit union’s former accounting firm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The complaint alleged the credit union’s manager of its Los Angeles branch, <b>Pearl Lynette Fortson</b>, began to remove cash from the branch’s vault in late 2010 and allegedly falsified daily reports to hide loss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fortson was hired by the credit union on Aug. 1, 1974, the complaint said, and Priority One fired her on Feb. 26, 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The complaint said the credit union discovered the embezzlement in February 2013 and claimed that other people may have been involved. <b>CUMIS said it reported Fortson to law enforcement</b>, but did not say how law enforcement had responded. The credit union had not yet responded to calls for information on the Fortson case and CUNA Mutual said it had no further information.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One filed a dishonest employee loss claim with CUMIS, for which the insurer paid just a little more than $980,000 after the credit union’s deductible, and settled the claim. CUMIS then sued <b>Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad Accountancy, the Burbank, Calif., firm that had audited Priority One’s books since 2008.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>CUMIS charged the accounting firm with negligence in its auditing the credit union’s books and operations.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“Defendant TWHC knew or should have known that Fortson was employed at the Priority One Los Angeles County Branch and that one of her duties was to perform reconciliations for that branch,” </b>CUMIS argued in its complaint.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“Defendant TWHC knew or should have known that Fortson maintained singular control over the vault and vault balancing sheets for Priority One’s Los Angeles Branch,” </b>CUMIS added.<b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“If defendants had ever opened the vault, counted the vault cash, reconciled the counted vault cash to the general ledger account or reviewed the balancing sheets prepared by Fortson during the course of their reconciliation of cash accounts, the fraud and embezzlement scheme would have been discovered by defendants,”</b> CUMIS added.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turner Warren referred calls about the case to its attorney, Randall Dean of the Los Angeles firm of Chapman, Glucksman, Dean, Roeb and Barger. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dean declined to comment at length on the case but said the firm considered it entirely without merit, adding that Turner Warren planned to fight it at trial in June of this year. <b>He also noted that Priority One had not brought the suit and had not expressed any disappointment with the firm's actions.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="http://www.cutimes.com/2015/03/07/1m-vault-pinch-hits-priority-one"><span style="color: blue;">CUTimes Article</span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad's attorney concedes that Priority One didn't file a lawsuit against his client nor ever expressed dissatisfaction with any work performed by its auditors. </b>Clearly, President Wiggington's defenders, have ignorantly declared that the Credit Union filed the lawsuit against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad when it is CUMIS who filed the lawsuit. . </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following the filing of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS' complaint, </span><a href="https://www.twhc.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Turner Warren Hwang and Conrad AC</span></a> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> responded and on December 5, 2014, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">filed a lawsuit against Priority One Credit Union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In their complaint, CUMIS accuses the auditing firm of failing to identify thefts occurring at the Los Angeles branch, during their 2009/2010 audit. We hope that CUMIS has sufficient evidence needed to prove their allegations. The audit of Los Angeles Branch's records specifically reviewed documentation handed to the auditors by AVP, Pearl Lynette Fortson. Did she provide all documentation including those records that might have proven her duplicity in embezzlement of Credit Union funds? There is also the matter about the President's re</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sponsibility to ensure all security protocols are in place and being practiced by all staff Members. And aren't the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Board of Directors and the Supervisory Committee responsible for ensuring all policies are being adhered to by every employee of the Credit Union? Couple this with the fact that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">prior to the 2009/2010 audit, a former receptionist absconded with more than $60,000 suggesting that neither the President or the two governing bodies performed their due diligence. We believe CUMIS is placing its hope and focus on the alleged failure by the auditing firm to identify the theft of $1 million by the then AVP of the Los Angeles branch though ultimately and as CUMIS knows, the responsibility to police its own records is the Credit Union.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2010, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the Board, the President and then COO, Beatrice Walker, agreed they would not report the former receptionist to authorities in an effort to avoid public disclosure of the theft. Of course, within weeks following our expose' of the theft, the Board was forced to contact police authorities and the former receptionist was indicted and eventually convicted though she only received probation for the theft she perpetrated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CUMIS has leveled accusations against Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad which means they have the burden of proving their assertions. Can CUMIS prove beyond a reasonable doubt that at the time of their 2009/2010 audit, Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad were presented with a real general ledger and real balance sheets that contained evidence the AVP had absconded with $1 million? During that audit, Ms. Fortson </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">provided auditors the documents they eventually reviewed. <b>Does this at all seem like a conflict of interest?</b> We also have to believe that if Ms. Fortson perpetrated a crime that she would have done everything in her power to cover up the evidence. We certainly hope CUMIS won't try to deter attention away from the President, the Board, and the Supervisory Committee and from the fact that it was Ms. Fortson who had complete control over vault cash, general ledgers and balance sheets belonging to the Los Angeles branch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another fact is that CUMIS is well aware of every lawsuit filed against the Credit Union by four former employees during the years of 2010 through 2013 and they are also aware that President Wiggington was found guilty of sexual harassment in 2008. Despite these well recorded incidents it was CUMIS who decided to maintain relations with the Credit Union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's more, in 2010, an auditor from CUMIS discovered that the Credit Union had at times failed to close checking accounts belonging to Members who were granted HELOC's. In 2010, a couple withdrew the money for the HELOC after the date the account should have been closed and CUMIS, paid the claim filed by the Credit Union. At some point one has to ask why knowing what they do about President Wiggington and the Credit Union's abuses and negligible acts, would they continue a working relationship with what is probably the industry's biggest pariah? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the summary of the lawsuit filed by </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="https://www.twhc.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Turner Warren Hwang and Conrad AC</span></a>: </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Case #EC063303</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Plaintiff: Turner Warrne Hwang and Conrad Account VS Priority One CU</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Filing Date: 12/05/14</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Case Type: Other Contract (General Jurisdiction)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Status: Pending</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Future Hearings</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>05/04/2015 at 08:30 am in department B at 300 East Olive, Burbank, CA 91502</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Conference-Case Management</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Parties</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Chapman, Gluckman and Dean- Attorney for the Plaintiff</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>John C. Steele- Attorney for the Defendant</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Priority One Credit Union- <span style="color: blue;">Defendent</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad- Plaintiff</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Documents Filed (Filing dates listed in Descending Order)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>02/02/215 Answer (to Complaint)</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Filed by Attorney for Defendent</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>01/09/2015 Proof of Service (of Summons, Complaint, Civil Case Cover Sheet, Civil Case Cover Sheet Addendum and Statement of Location. Notice of Order to Show Cause Re: Failure to Complay with Trial Court Delay Reduction Act filed by Attorney for the Plaintiff</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the month of December 2014, Ms. Fortson called former employees of the Credit Union and stated she hired an attorney who she explained, was conducting an investigation to acquire evidence that her reputation had been slandered by the Credit Union. Though we do believe her reputation was slandered by Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, who in March 2013 revealed the reasons why Ms. Fortson was termimated, we believe her obtainment of an attorney is to defend her against the police report filed by CUMIS which accuses Ms. Fortson of perpetrating fraud. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On March 15, 2015, comments were posted in response to our previous past congratulating the President and Board for suing Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad. Unfortunately, the President's supporters are either ignorant of the fact or intentionally trying to distort what actually transpired. <b>What we wonder is if the comments are being posted at the request of the President or based on disclosures made by the President. Is Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. telling people that Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad are guilty of negligence for not having identified the thefts allegedly perpetrated by the former AVP during audits of the Los Angeles branch's records? If true, then he has slandered Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad and may be placing Priority One in yet another legally precarious position. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inarguably, Priority One never had any intent of reporting the AVP to police authorities but they and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, may not have thought that following their investigation of the incident, CUMIS would contact police authorities and file a lawsuit against the accounting/auditing firm. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no doubt that this latest legal </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">entanglement will force the Board to again dig deep into the Credit Union's coffers to pay for expensive attorneys and litigation. Since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President, the Board has made it a habit of pillaging the Credit Union's monies to cover-up negligible and illegal acts that only occurred due to the Board's inability to fulfill its appointed responsibilities which includes ensuring the well-being of the Credit Union. This latest scandal to rock the Credit Union again reveals that this Board is unconcerned with the safety and well-being of Credit Union and Member assets.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We could probably devote several posts to the subject of Turner, Warren, Hwang, and Conrad's and CUMIS' decision to enter into and maintain relations with Priority One and its notorious President. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most ethically managed companies might avoid establishing any relationship with a company whose recent history is marred by abuses of authority, violations of state and federal laws, and saturated by acts of overt negligence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We actually hope the auditing firm wins despite our belief they compromised ethics when choosing to do business with the Credit Union. For CUMIS to win their lawsuit requires they prove the auditing firm failed to identify the theft of $1 million during its 2009/2010 audit and possibly any audits of the Los Angeles branch's records that may have been conducted by the accouting firm in 2011 and 2012. We can't imagine how CUMIS intends to explain how during the 2009/2010 audit of the Los Angeles offices records discovered more than $60,000 embezzled by a former receptionist but missed evidence proving the theft of $1 million. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">CUMIS may also have to prove that at the time of their audit(s), Turner, Warrne, Hwang, and Conrad were provided genuine records by Ms. Fortson. As stated previously, it seems a conflict of interest that when thefts were being investigated, Ms. Fortson was present while auditors perused records. Furthermore, it was she who provided them the documentation they audited.What's more, how was the auditing firm able to find evidence $60,000 were stolen by a former receptionist but missed all together, evidence of a theft of $1 million allegedly perpetrated by Ms. Fortson? Something seems awry and we believe CUMIS needs to provide something substantial that doesn't leave the impression they are trying to aid the Credit Union to escape accountability for its failure to ensure security measures were in place and being performed on a daily basis. At the moment, it appears that CUMIS' lawsuit is using Turner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad as a scapegoat in their effort to recuperate the $980,000 paid </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">against the claim filed by the Credit Union.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is important to note that the Credit Union only became aware of thefts perpetrated at the Los Angeles branch, <b>AFTER </b>Members complained money was missing from their accounts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, where is the Supervisory Committee? They are responsible for ensuring Credit Union and Member assets remain safe and protected. Since we began publishing in 2009, the committee comprised of Board Chair, Cornelia Simmons; Anna Smith the Secretary; Hazel-Brown-Harvey; Lorenzo Ford; and I.D. Williams has remained invisible though each </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">year, attendees of the Annual Meeting are subjected to Cornelia Simmons' scripted and boring assurances that everything is running well at Priority One Credit Union and never alluding to the thefts plaguing the Los Angeles branch. Its about time the supervisors were ousted and replaced with people who actually understand the purpose of their role on the committee. . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, we can all be assured that the destructive dynamic which has left Member accounts vulnerable to theft, remains soundly in place at Priority One Credit Union. </span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com136tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-90016890980135325782015-02-01T21:35:00.000-08:002015-02-04T12:10:54.086-08:00A History of Failures, Part 4 of 4<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the surface, 2014 appeared to be just another uneventful and unsuccessful year for Priority One Credit Union in South Pasadena, California. Business remained stagnant as the Credit Union continued experiencing tremendous difficulties trying to draw Member interest to their products and services. Relationships with Members fared poorly with ties to their once largest member sector- employees of the United States Postal Service, continuing to weaken. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Complaints citing poor service continued to escalate for the unpopular Credit Union while the President continued to insist that sales take precedence above all else, including service. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlike previous years which were saturated with scandals, this year was marred by only one incident which surfaced during the last half of the year and involved a scheme designed by </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.; Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte; and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Credit Resolutions Supervisor, Alex Suarez. The </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">offensive tactic involved the creation of Facebook accounts, using the fictitious names and photographs of attractive young women. Ms. Suarez's staff were ordered to send "friend requests" from the bogus Facebook accounts to Members whose Credit Union accounts were the subject of collection proceedings. Members unwittingly accepting an invitation, were promptly sent a message to their Facebook account, informing them of their past due balances and demanding they remit payment, immediately. The tactic served as a reminder of the disdain Priority One's current management team has for Members in addition to the fact that the creation of fraudulent accounts were a violation of Facebook policy. The incident might never have come to light had the arrogant Ms. Suarez not chosen to boast about it to employees of the South Pasadena branch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surprisingly, few people knew that during 2014 the Credit Union's unraveling relationship with two businesses culminated in the filing of two separate lawsuits. grew strained. One business, a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">former business associate automobile broker,<b> </b></span><a href="http://www.autoalliance.net/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Auto Alliance</b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, introduced to the Credit Union in early 2010 by then COO, Beatrice "Bea" Walker and with approval of President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. The second lawsuit was filed by the Credit Union's own contracted </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">accounting and auditing firm,<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span><span style="color: purple;"><a href="https://www.twhc.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Turner, Warren, Hwang & Conrad A</b>C</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The lawsuits signal a new low for the Credit Union whose public image lies in tatters due to the horrendous decisions and acts committed by the President over the past seven years and the protection allotted him by the ignorant and inept, Board of Directors. Since January 1, 2007, President Wiggington's often injurious acts have laid waste to the Credit Union's once strong relationship to Members and business associates. <b>The lawsuits remind us that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is a man who doesn't play or know how to play nice and who has no concept of how to make or keep friends. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In this post, we will only focus on the lawsuit filed by <b><a href="http://www.autoalliance.net/">Auto Alliance</a> </b>and we will report about the lawsuit filed by <a href="https://www.twhc.com/"><b>T</b></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="https://www.twhc.com/">urner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad AC</a> </b>in next month's post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Auto Alliance's lawsuit names Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. a Defendant. This is certainly not the first time the obnoxious President has been named a Defendant. In 2012, in a lawsuit filed by the former Valencia Branch Manager President Wiggington was accused of allowing his COO, the notorious, Beatrice "Bea" Walker to abuse, sexually harass, stalk, and retaliate against the Branch Manager. The Branch Manager had tried to bring an end to Ms. Walker's merciless attacks, reporting allegations of same-sex sexual harassment and numerous other violations of State and Federal law to President Wiggington; EVP, Rodger Smock; and then Human Resources "clerk", Esmeralda Sandoval. The three not only refused to intercede and stop Ms. Walker but at the direction of Boad Chairperson, Diedra Harris-Brooks, tooks steps to squash and even invalidate the egregious allegations brought against the horrendous COO. At the time, the lawsuit was filed, the Credit Union hired the services of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">attorney, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul F. Schimley, of<b> </b></span><a href="http://rhopc.com/professionals/paul-f-schimley/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Richardson, Harman, Ober PC.</b></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>.</b> In forging a defense, Mr. Schimley accused the Plaintiff of lying. He promised that she would have to spend weekends attending depositions and even contacted her new employer, informing them that their newly hired executive had filed a lawsuit against her former employer. Of course, in hammering out a defense to exonerate his client, the bottom-feeder showed no qualms in creating duress for Mr. Wiggington and Ms. Walker's victim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The attorney went further. He contacted the Plaintiff's attorney and informed her that his client, President Wiggington, was suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy and was too ill to participate in litigation. He warned that if his client's name was not removed from the lawsuit, that he would have no choice but to file a motion informing the court about his client's health, which would result in postponements that would ultimately drag out litigation indefinitely. The Plaintiff agreed to remove the President's name as a Defendant though retaining the right to re-introduce his name if his health improved. The President's attorney used a simple manipulative ploy intended to frustrate the Plaintiff and her legal counsel. It amounted to nothing more than a rudimentary strategy at an elementary level. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coincidentally, the President's alleged terminal illness had little effect on his behaviors. He continued to drive to and from the South Pasadena branch each day and took 2 to 3 hour lunches, something you would not think a terminally ill person would be able to do. He would also spend hours per day, strolling through the South Pasadena branch gossiping about staff, telling people about the treatments he was undergoing, complain about his son and wife an spew out boring stories about his cars, superior intellect and view of life in general. It certainly didn't sound like he was ill, much less terminally ill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nowadays, the President works a three-day week. He continues to take extended lunches, spends lots of time on personal calls using his company cellular, and walks about the South Pasadena branch pestering people who are actually working. We can't but wonder if his present legal team will try and force removal of the President's name from the lawsuit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Auto Alliance's complaint asserts that the auto broker entered into an agreement with the Credit Union in early 2010 at which time they would serve in the capacity of sole vehicle broker. The Plaintiff alleges that not only did the President rescind on his contractual assurance that the broker would be the Credit Union's sole automobile broker but as a result, the Plaintiff suffered financial losses. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the demurrer, a long twenty-three page response to the Plaintiff's allegations the Credit Union's current attorneys, Frances O'Meara, Wendell F. Hall, and Jenny L. Burke of <a href="http://www.thompsoncoe.com/"><b>Thompson Coe and O'Meara, LLP</b></a>, rebut every one of the Plaintiff's allegations, asserting that the accusations are groundless and unaccompanied by evidence. In the end, the long drawn out reply is generic in content, almost identical to responses filed in the past in response to numerous other lawsuits. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As shown below, the response issued by Priority One's attorneys to the lawsuit, states that the Plaintiff's allegations are in essence, unfounded. What they may be hoping to do is obtain a motion from the court to dismiss the complaint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One's attorney's state the Plaintiff supposedly entered into an agreement with Priority One Credit Union that promised to make Auto Alliance their exclusive auto broker but contending that the Plaintiff failed to provide a copy of the agreement in accompaniment of its complaint. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Plaintiff also alleges the President conspired against Auto Alliance and diverted business to other automobile brokers who provided the President with "bribes". For years, employees working closely with Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. before and after he was appointed President, alleged he was t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he recipient of kick-backs paid by Justice Auto Sales, a dealership and broker whose owner was also a close friend of the President. That dealership eventually made off with $80,000 paid to the owner for vehicles purchased from his company and financed by the Credit Union. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President is also alleged to have received monies from Associated Management, the Credit Union's former collection agent*. In fact, it was the collection agent who repossessed a BMW from a Member and handed it to the President without an exchange of money. The President, a fan of BMW's, transferred ownership of the vehicle to himself. How coincidental that the current lawsuit, filed by Auto Alliance, alleges "bribes" paid to President Wiggington. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*<i class="text-muted" rel="altName" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; text-align: start;">Associated Management Company Inc, </i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; text-align: start;">150 East Meda Avenue # 100, </span><span itemprop="addressLocality" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; text-align: start;">Glendora</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; text-align: start;">,</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; text-align: start;"> </span><span itemprop="addressRegion" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; text-align: start;">CA</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; text-align: start;"> </span><span itemprop="postalCode" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.2; text-align: start;">91741, </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.2; text-align: start;">(626) 335-4000</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one believes the defense raised by the Credit Union's attorneys, the Plaintiff has no evidence to support his contentions against the President and Credit Union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The events that actually occurred in 2010 are quite different than the "story" President Wiggington has currently provided his attorneys. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, one can choose to believe the concoctions of a proven sexual harasser whose abuses led to the filing of five lawsuits during the years of 2010 through 2012 and ended with the Credit Union paying out settlements or one can choose to look at the facts, exercising logic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late 2009, then COO, Beatrice Walker, met with the President; EVP, Rodger Smock; and Board Chairperson, Diedra Harris-Brooks. At the time, she informed them that though the Credit Union had successfully utilized the services of a single automobile broker- <a href="http://www.universalcarleasing.com/index.htm"><b>Universal Leasing and Auto Sales</b></a><b>,</b> for many years, she could guarantee more business and increased profits if the Credit Union would instead use the services of her friends at <b><a href="http://www.autoalliance.net/">Auto Alliance</a>.</b> Mrs. Harris-Brooks agreed. And though Auto Alliance had not yet been contracted, the President prematurely ordered the Consumer Loan Department not to refer Members who were hoping to purchase an automobile, to <b><a href="http://www.universalcarleasing.com/index.htm">Universal Auto Leasing and Sales</a>.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we've reported over the past 5 years, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is not a great tactician. Actually, he's not even a mediocre strategist. As is always be the case with anything the President hopes to do, his plan to displace one automobile broker with another would never quite pan out. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, <a href="http://www.thewest79streetfunkjazzband.com/"><b>George Woods</b></a>, a Business Development Representative assigned to the no longer existent Burbank branch, was attempting to forge an agreement between <b><a href="http://www.wholesaleinvestmentsinc.com/">Wholesale Investments, Inc</a>.,</b> another vehicle Broker, and the Credit Union. That broker enthusiastically signed an agreement and like Auto Alliance, spent its own money on advertising which promoted the Credit Union. Though the Broker entered into an agreement with Priority One Credit Union, the President began ignoring the newly inducted broker prompting complaints lodged with Mr. Woods. Now one has to wonder, why would a Credit Union that had a long-time automobile broker (Universal Leasing and Sales) and was planning on entering into an agreement with Auto Alliance, contract the services of Wholesale Investments? It may seem illogical but it is characteristic of the way Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. does business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the start of 2010, Auto Alliance became the Credit Union's premiere automobile broker. COO, Beatrice Walker, even created a space and assigned a desk within the Loan Department in South Pasadena, where a representative of Auto Alliance would sit during business hours and meet with Members who had either just been approved for an automobile loan or Members wanting the services of a vehicle broker to purchase a car. By the way, a desk had never been offered or set aside of Universal Leasing and Sales even though they had worked with Priority One for many years. During this period, both the President and Mrs. Walker ordered Consumer Loan staff to only recommend Auto Alliance. The staff, however, were loyal to Universal Leasing and Sales and informed the owner, Mr. Michael Martinez, of the President's orders though Mr. Martinez had already realized he was being provided less referrals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In March 2010, the Credit Union conducted one of its all-staff meetings, which took place at <a href="http://almansorcourt.com/"><b>Almansor Court </b></a>in Alhambra, California. During the gathering, COO, Beatrice Walker, stood at the podium and spoke about Auto Alliance and how the broker was helping the Credit Union creating new business and providing superior service. There was no mention of Universal Leasing and Sales or Wholesale Investments, Inc. However, Auto Alliance's relationship with Priority One would come to an abrupt end in 2011. In July 2011, the President obtained authorization to terminate COO, Beatrice Walker, who had been hired as the Credit Union's first COO on June 1, 2009. During her brief stay at the Credit Union Ms. Walker's strategies allegedly designed to create new business and infuse profit into the Credit Union had chronically failed. Rumors of her sexuality had caused ripples in her once powerful relationship to Board Chair, Diedra Harris Brooks, but ultimately, it was her defiance and criticisms of the Board of Directors and what she referred to as their "lack of education" and her very public aspirations to displace President Wiggington, which ultimately sealed her fate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks following Ms. Walker's quiet though humiliating ouster, the President suddenly ended the Credit Union's relationship with Auto Alliance, ordering the broker to vacate its desk in the Loan Department. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nowadays the small, poorly performing and no longer competitive Credit Union promotes three different vehicle brokers on its <a href="https://priorityonecu.org/loans/autoresources/">website</a>. Members have a choice of obtaining the services of <b><a href="http://www.universalcarleasing.com/index.htm">Universal Auto Leasing and Sales</a>, <a href="http://www.wholesaleinvestmentsinc.com/ContactUs.aspx">Wholesale Investments</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.directsalesandlease.com/index.asp">Direct Auto Sales and Leases</a>.</b> If it seems like overkill, that's because it is. We find it more than a little unusual that Priority One is simultaneously promoting three automobile brokers. Why? We suspect that President knew that Auto Alliance might file a lawsuit against the Credit Union. By keeping the names of three automobile brokers on its website, the Credit Union creates the impression that it offers Members a variety of brokers to chose versus offering the services of a single broker, despite the practice seems more than a little unusual and rather illogical. </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We suggest that someone ask Universal Leasing and Sales owner, Michael Martinez, if he was aware the President was trying to severe the Credit Union's relationship with the broker back in 2010.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Former COO, Beatrice Walker, should be subpoenaed to explain what were the terms- written and verbal, presented to Auto Alliance. Was the broker ever told that he would be the Credit Union's sole automobile broker?</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Employees of the Consumer Loan Department- both past and present, who were employed by the Credit Union during late 2009 and early 2010, should be subpoenaed and asked if they were ever instructed to cease promoting Universal Auto Leasing and Sales and begin promoting Auto Alliance. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Employees- past and present, of the Business Development team who were employed during the period beginning in late 2009 through early 2010, should also be subpoenaed and asked if they were ever instructed to start promoting Auto Alliance and stop promoting Universal Leasing and Sales. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From 2011 through 2013, Priority One spent more than $500,000 on legal fees, most of which went to hiring overpaid and often, unethical attorneys, who spun defenses intended to deflect attention from the allegations leveled against the Credit Union and instead, attack the character of each Plaintiff. How much <b>CREDIT UNION MONEY</b> will Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, and the Board of Directors authorize spent in defending the President and Credit Union against the allegations filed by Auto Alliance and the firm of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.twhc.com/">T</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.twhc.com/">urner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad AC</a>? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: blue;">Where is the Newsletter and Their ATMs?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last November, a reader of this blog posted the following comment:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I went to Priority One's website and noticed they removed their newsletter page. They're also closing three ATM's- <b>Santa Clarita</b>, <b>Victorville</b>, and the one located at the postal facility on <b>Lincoln Avenue in Pasadena</b>. More than a year ago, they posted on the web that they were going to introduce a <b>VISA Credit Card</b> but there's nothing. They duplicated a message twice. They still show a message that the Airport Branch is closing on<b> December 13, </b><b>2013</b>."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We thank the reader for taking the time to write. We visited the Credit Union's webpage and discovered they were absolutely correct on all points. Last November, the Credit Union removed the page which once displayed PDF copies of its quarterly newsletters, from itas webpage, though removal of the page came almost one year since the Credit Union last published a newsletter. The demise of the tedious and uninteresting publication is not in itself shocking but coupled with the closure of six branches and elimination of numerous ATMs, the end of the quarterly publication serves as more evidence that Priority One is a Credit Union in decline, despite the insistence of President Wiggington that closing branches somehow increases the potential for profit. Of course this doesn't make sense since he's also eliminated the Credit Union's ability to provide service and without service that meets the needs and expectations of the Membership, Priority One's ability to generate profit is almost impossible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As of January 2015, Priority One no longer...</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Participates in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">community and chamber events</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is unable to create effective and cutting edge marketing strategies</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Able to advertise at an effective level</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Able to afford a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Business Development Department</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Able to provide quality service; and </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is no longer competative</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore and as reported her often, its Net Income has declined by more than <b>$22 million </b>since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President on January 1, 2007.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite the evidence proving Priority One's performance continues to falter, the President has not stopped from insisting that Priority One is every Member's and Employee's <b>"Financial Fitness Center"</b>, able to help them <b>"Win with Money." </b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">ATM LOCATIONS</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. The LANDC</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ATM located at the Los Angeles National Distribution Center (LANDC) was often utilized by postal employees at that facility. Before Charles R. Wiggington., Sr. became President, the ATM was maintained by an in-house ATM Specialist, who ensured the popular ATM remained fully operational. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union also maintained an office on the second floor of the facility. In early 2010, the post office created a wonderful and attractive space for the Credit Union on the first floor, between the post office's gift shop and cafeteria. However, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. had no interest in maintaining a relationship with postal employees of the facility and refused to install a computer in the office, that linked to the Credit Union's network. Subsequently, Members of the credit union could not be provided their account balances or make payments to their loans or transfer monies between their accounts. By 2012, the office was not being utilized except by then AVP of Sales and Business Development, Joseph Garcia, who had been ordered by then CLO, Cindy Garvin, to "hit the streets" in search of new business. Not being sales savvy, Mr. Garcia spent his days napping in the office and avoiding the prying eyes of the CLO. Nowadays, the office lies abandoned. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. PASADENA - USPS RETAIL STORE LOBBY</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union once strong relationship with the Postal Service's Pasadena Retail Store is clearly a thing of the past. The elimination of the ATM at the Pasadena location testifie again, to the rapid deterioration of the Credit Union's once strong relationship with its most loyal sector. The ATM ceased operation on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11/18/14. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. SANTA CLARITA POSTAL PROCESSING PLANT</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a notice issued by the Credit Union on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">November 13, 2014, the ATM located in the Santa Clarita Processing Plant was "temporarily unavailable" pending upgrades slated to be completed by December 2, 2014. We've no news that the ATM is back online. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. </span><span style="text-align: center;">VICTORVILLE</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2013, the Credit Union posted a message on its website announcing the temporary unavailability of their ATM in Victorville. Last month, the Credit Union amended its message, announcing the Victorville ATM <b>"is no longer available." </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its more than a little peculiar that the ATM was temporarily closed down for a period of many months. Can't the Credit Union afford to maintain of what the 2013 Annual Report described as its "fleet" of ATMs? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We think Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. should acquaint himself with what defines temporary versus permanent. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>MORE INDELIBLE SIGNS OF FAILURE</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>What Account Promotions?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Source: <a href="https://priorityonecu.org/accounts/promotions/">https://priorityonecu.org/accounts/promotions/</a></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue;">Conclusion</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began 2014 boasting, as he does every year, that business was improving and even concocted a story rationalizing that he intentionally closed down 6 out of 9 branches as part of a formula that would increase profit. So where is the fabulous profit he said would be reaped as a result of branch closures? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2014, while sitting in the employee lounge room located inside the South Pasadena branch, he blurted out that he contacted the FBI who were investigating two former employees who were, without authorization, selling Credit Union owned property. The rumor came to a sudden end when his statements were published on the Internet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What the President never mentioned throughout all of 2014 is that Priority One was sued twice during the year by two unrelated businesses. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One lawsuit, filed by a former automobile broker and the second, by the Credit Union's contracted accounting and auditing firm. How peculiar that a lawsuit was filed by the accounting and auditing company when for years, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">boasted that the accountants and auditors at </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.twhc.com/"><b>T</b></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.twhc.com/"><b>urner, Warren, Hwang and Conrad AC</b></a> were his "friends" and "buddies. So what could have severed his <b>"friendship"</b> with the firm? Or is this another case of the delusional President misunderstanding what things constitute business and which constitute friendship?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The allegations contained in the lawsuit filed by Auto Alliance echo similar accusations and rumors about many of the unethical activities the President has immersed himself in over the years. The attorneys currently defending the Credit Union are merely creating a defense based on the story told to them by the President though unfortunately, there are sufficient witnesses who can attest that Auto Alliance was introduced to Priority One in 2010 by then COO, Beatrice Walker, and that she and President Wiggington intended to make the car broker, the Credit Union's sole automobile broker. This would have required the elimination of Universal Leasing and Sales, the Credit Union's only and long-time vehicle broker. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Unfortunately, for the Auto Alliance, their stay at the Credit Union was contingent upon the continued employment of COO, Beatrice Walker. Subsequently, after Ms. Walker was ungraciously expelled from the Credit Union in July 2011, so was the auto broker who the President had no further need of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Wiggington's legal entanglements have come at a heavy cost to business, to Members and to employees. Despite proving he is the Credit Union's greatest liability, the all Black Board has spent immense amounts of Credit Union monies on protecting the President. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the complaint is not dismissed by the court, expect the matter settled with some sort of financial compensation paid to the former automobile broker though in this particular case, the cost will be hefty and probably paid from the Credit Union's insurance. In the meantime, continue expecting the Board to remove all stops ensuring the President remains well protected behind sham defenses and contrived stories that have no resemblance to the truth. And finally, ask yourselves,<b> "Why would a three-branch Credit Union need to promote three separately owned automobile brokers?"</b></span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">< item>
< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com91tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-47855792357479816042014-12-07T21:25:00.003-08:002015-11-29T22:18:03.876-08:00A History of Failures, 3 of 4<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>THE SAME <span style="color: red;">OLD</span> <span style="color: blue;">SONG</span> AND <span style="color: blue;">DANCE</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />As is usual throughout the Credit Union industry, business is beginning to slow down at Priority One Credit Union and will continue to do so until the end of January 2015, when it will gradually increase. Though this has been a common phenomena at the Credit Union for many decades, the failure of President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. to introduce strategies that might have amassed profit throughout 2014, only serves to add to Priority One's ongoing financial burdens. The failures incurred in 2014 only mirror those which have become the norm at the Credit Union since he began serving as President on January 1, 2007. Prior to his appointment, Priority One was a thriving and growing organization that flourished under the competent leadership of his predecessors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On January 1, 2007, the President inherited an organization whose net worth exceeded $172 million and which possessed nine (9) branches. Also, at the end of 2006, Priority One experienced a substantial increase of its net worth and physical size as a result of a merger with Inland Counties Federal Credit Union in Riverside County, California. The acquisition of Riverside County provided the Credit Union a vast new resources which under a competent President, would have enabled the Credit Union to promote its name and products in a territory exceeding 7000 square miles in size and a means by which to acquire potentially unlimited numbers of new members.</span><br />
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Regrettably, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. would bring an abrupt end to Priority One's expansion and due to what appears to be a complete lack of motivation and incompetence, fail year after year, to develop strategies designed to market the Credit Union's name and products.One cause to the Credit Union's unraveling might be cited in a January 2007 statement, in which the President boasted, <b>"My AVP's will bring in the business while I just sit back." </b>His expensive and unqualified AVP sector failed to cultivate business within their assigned region at a level which would have amassed profit, promoted growth, and enabled to the Credit Union to offset its overhead. Despite their failure, President Wiggington continued to languish comfortably in his office, spending a typical work day playing on the Internet, talking on his company paid cellular for hours each day conversing to his aunt, uncle and wife and leaving the office for 2 1/2 to 3 hours each day for lunch. The Credit Union founded in 1926 began to quickly unravel which the apathetic and unqualified Board of Directors under leadership of its Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, donned an apathetic stance, watching the hard of the President's predecessors buckle under the incompetence of its horrendous President and his bumbling staff. </span><br />
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On January 4, 2007, the President promised to introduce state-of-the-art technologies that would thrust Priority One into the 22nd century and enable it to rival larger, richer Credit Union. That year, he spent Credit Union monies purchasing an updated version of Outlook Mail and a $600,000 telephone system which he chose without consulting his executive staff and whose subsequent technical problems would force the Credit Union to spend huge amounts in repair costs over the next seven (7) years. </span><br />
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But President Wiggington's failures could never have been enabled were it not for the Board of Directors and more specifically, its Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks. Under her tutelage, the Credit Union has hemorrhaged losses totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. It was she who in late 2006, led her confederates in deciding that Charles R. Wiggington was the best, most qualified person to succeed former President, William E. Harris. Immediately following the Board's announcement that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. would be the next President, Directors, Thomas Gathers, O. Glen Saffold, and Janice Irving disclosed they selected Mr. Wiggington because what the Credit Union needed most was a <b>"Black president"</b> while Mrs. Harris-Brooks would assert he'd been selected from amongst a group of better qualified candidates because of Mr. Wiggington's "past" experience at Bank of America. Inarguably, neither his skin color or banking experience proved beneficial in leading the rapidly shrinking Credit Union. </span><br />
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Without question, the Board ignored competence, a tangible record of proven accomplishments, ethics, and character as factors in selecting Mr. Wiggington. In the end, it is the Board of Directors who enabled ruination of the once robust Credit Union.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">HIS </span><span style="color: #660000;">REALITY</span><span style="color: blue;"> IS MORE THAN JUST A </span><span style="color: red;">LITTLE</span><span style="color: #274e13;"> </span><span style="color: blue;">DIFFERENT THAN </span><span style="color: #660000;">EVERYONE</span><span style="color: blue;"> ELSE'S!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We're not proponents of lying but if you're going to lie, make sure know one knows the truth. Over the years, Charles R. Wiggingon, Sr. has proven an insatiable propensity for fabricating stories which alter <i style="font-weight: bold;">his </i>personal history and serve to embellish who he is and what he's done. His stories </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">about his sexual escapades, his above-average intellect, his accomplishments while employed by Bank of America, and his boasting about his palatial estate and fleet of BMW's. Unfortunately for President Wiggington, his embellishments have often been proven to be untrue, reducing his verbalizations to mere conjecture from a man who may be dissatisfied by how his life turned out. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recently, while perusing the Internet, we happened upon several of the President's biographies and noticed he has subtly altered his employment history by omitting all references that he </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">once served as Priority One's Vice President of Operations during the years of 1992 though the 1996. His omission constitutes fraud. It is important to note that his biographies were created by consultants who merely documented the information they were provided by the President and his Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock. Before the biographies were published, someone at the Credit Union had to proofread the drafts to ensure they were correct. Evidently, the President hopes that omitting his role as Vice President of Operations will somehow serve to enhance his employment history while at Priority One Credit Union. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is one of the biographies and resumes we located during our search. We've segmented it for the purposes of our review. The biography and resume can be viewed at </span><a href="https://www.resume.com/charlesrwiggingtonsr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">https://www.resume.com/charlesrwiggingtonsr</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.</b></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Executive Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., holds more than 35 years of experience in the savings and loans industry, holding NUMEROUS l<u>eadership positions </u>with banking institutions, credit unions, and other financial services firms throughout his career. Presently, Charles R. Wiggington serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Priority One Credit Union <u>which he joined in 1992</u>. Leading HIS company, Mr. Wiggington presides over all of Priority One's operations, providing directorship over investments, budgeting, loan portfolio management, and other administrative matters. </span></b></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>President Wiggington was hired in 1992 as Vice President of Operations but as stated previously, was not promoted to President until January 1, 2007. The omission implies he was hired in 1992 in he capacity of Vice President of Operations, which is wholly untrue. The Credit Union is Member-Owned and not owned by Mr. Wiggington dispelling any suggestion that the organization is "his." </i></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">#2<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Prior to joining Priority One, Mr. Wiggington served as Vice
President of Operations at Security Pacific National Bank. He served the
company for nearly a decade, <span style="color: #660000;">directing branch operations such as losses,
maximum profitability, audits, expense control, staffing development and
circulation, and customer relations.</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is incredible that an allegedly accomplished Officer like President Wiggington with extensive experience in operations is the same person who caused Priority one to lose six (6) of its nine (9) branches during the years of October 2010 through January 2014. The former Vice of Operations at Security Pacific National Bank seemed impotent in implementing the Credit Union's security protocols in 2007, when he allowed the mailing of ballots to Members on whose exterior were printed Member social security and Credit Union account numbers. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He again seemed completely helpless and incapable of reining in his own behaviors and was found guilty of sexual harassment during a 2008 investigation conducted by <a href="http://extti.com/" target="_blank">EXTTI, Inc. </a></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While serving in the capacity of Vice President of Operations at Priority One Credit Union, Mr. Wiggington could not control his emotions and urges and approved a more than $30,000 automobile loan to a Member whose FICO score was 518 and whose credit report referenced a bankruptcy, unpaid accounts, and charge-offs. </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While serving as Vice President of Operations at Priority One Credit Union he also assigned lending approval rights to the Valencia Branch Manager. She would subsequently approve several loans that all became delinquent and subject to collection proceedings. At the time, the Mr. Wiggington exclaimed, <b>"If I go down, I'm taking her with me." </b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Audits conducted in late 2009 and in 2013, revealed internal thefts committed by branch personnel though the thefts were not discovered as a result of the Credit Union's security protocols but reported by Members who discovered the thefts. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Conspicuously, note that there is no reference to his accomplishments while employed by Security Pacific National Bank. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">#3</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Additionally, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., has held other executive roles of
varying degrees since 1977</u>, <span style="color: #660000;">accumulating vast expertise</span> in managing
savings and loans operations. After leaving Bank of America in 1979,
where he held a position as a Teller, Mr. Wiggington joined California Federal
Savings and Loans, serving the company as Senior Savings Officer. At California
Federal Savings and Loans, Mr. Wiggington o<span style="color: #660000;">versaw the company's savings
department, responsible for department reports, wire transfers, second trust
deed note collections, and general ledger balances.</span> He then joined Allstate
Savings and Loans in 1982, acting as Branch Manager. There, Mr. Wiggington
<span style="color: #660000;">presided over all operations within the company's savings branch, including
branch losses, expense control, business development, security, and budget
attainment.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The President of course, offers nothing tangible to quantify his alleged past experience, however, if we gauge his vast expertise solely on his performance as President of Priority One Credit Union, we'd have to conclude that his biography is just another far-fetched concoction intended to create the impression of competency which he clearly doesn't possess. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Note:</b> California Federal Savings and Loans and
Allstate Savings and Loan, no longer exist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">#4</span></b></div>
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A graduate of California State University, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., holds a
Bachelor of Arts in History. An active member of his local community, Mr.
Wiggington has served as <span style="color: red;">Board Treasurer of the Silverlake Neighborhood Council</span>
and as a volunteer basketball coach for the Los Angeles City Parks and
Recreation Center.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The President's degree is in Afro-American studies though what he learned about Afro-American culture was never utilized in creating ties with the large Afro-American membership. The President has also not served as the Board Treasurer of the Silverlake Neighborhood Council for many years before his biographies were published across the Internet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Resume</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also published alongside his biography, is the President's resume in which he states he has served as President and CEO of Priority One, "which he joined in 1992." It may be subtle, but his reference is yet another lie. He was hired in 1992 as Vice President of Operations. He held the position for the next 15 years until he was promoted to President in 2007. So why does he omit all reference to the fact he was the Vice President of Operations? Poor Charles Wiggington, he's never met a truth he couldn't distort. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><b>#5- </b></span><b style="text-align: justify;">Objectives</b></span><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Serves as President and Chief Executive Office of Priority One
Credit Union, which he joined in 1992.</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The objective in a person's resume defines the type of position a candidate is seeking in a new position and serves to elucidate their personal goal in seeking employment. Evidently, expensive consultants paid for with Credit Union monies and despite having a highly experienced Executive Vice President (Rodger Smock) on payroll, the President is quite incapable of understanding the purpose of the objective and merely provides us again, with his official title and the year he was hired by the Credit union.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>#6- Education</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">California State
University<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>California State University, South Pasadena, CA</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><b>Graduated: June 1979<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;"><b><span style="color: red;">Grade:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b></span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">President Wiggington fails to provides his GPA. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>#7- Employment History</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">March 1992 –
Present: President/CEO<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Company: Priority One Credit Union<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><b>South Pasadena, CA</b></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><b>Oversees the complete operation of the Credit Union and all branches. Has the
overall responsibilities of financials, investments, loan portfolio, budget,
and operational requirements. Represents the credit union at various
organizations, <u>makes presentations, attends events, etc. Reports to the Board
of Directors making recommendations on operational issues.</u></b></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, there is no reference to the fact he was the Vice President of Operations during the years of 1992 through 2007. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also, the President has not made presentations and certainly has refused to establish relations with Member-Owners. His "recommendations on operational issues" is certainly a point of dispute if only because he has demonstrated tremendous ignorance about operational issues and solutions affecting the Credit Union's operation. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">#8</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>February 1983 –
March 1992: Vice President of Operations</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Company: Security Pacific National Bank</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Los Angeles, CA</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Managed and directed all operations for a full service branch, including branch
losses, maximum branch profitability, audits, completions of all daily cash,
customer relations, expense control employee development and turnover.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">#9</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>July 1982 –
December 1982: Branch Manager<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></div>
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</b>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Company: Allstate Savings and Loan<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></div>
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</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Glendale, CA</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Responsibilities for the savings growth, general and administrative expense
control, branch losses, and maximum branch profitability, business development,
customer relations, employee development and turnover, maintenance, security,
budget attainmen</b>t.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">#10</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>December 1977 –
January 1979: Bank of America</b><span class="apple-converted-space"><b> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Company: Bank of America</b></span></div>
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</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Los Angeles, CA</b></span></div>
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</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Cash handling and balancing, customer satisfaction and service</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>#11- Professional Skills</b></span></div>
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</b></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Customer Service- Expert</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Customer Service issues and problems have plagued the Credit Union since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began serving as President and CEO. His alleged expertise is another lie. Unlike his predecessor, President Wiggington refuses to meet or speak to Members calling his office and has never demonstrated a desire to build and maintain relations with the Credit Union's membership. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>#12 Hobbies & Interests</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Customer Service</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's incredulous that this President would claim to have a hobby and interest in customer service when as mentioned before in this post, for years he's maintained a closed door policy to Members and has made no effort to resolve the Credit Union's chronic member service issues. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The President's alteration of his actual employment history is intended to embellish his employment and supposed expertise. However, his claims to expertise in operations, leadership and customer service are laid waste by the horrendous internal issues plaguing Priority One's operations and member service. What's more, his inference is that he's been President of the Credit Union since 1992, which constitutes yet another lie from a man who has no desire to conduct himself in a manner that is ethical or responsible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Source:
<a href="https://www.resume.com/charlesrwiggingtonsr">https://www.resume.com/charlesrwiggingtonsr</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">HIDING</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"I never said anything to her." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., July 15, 2008</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If we've learned anything from some of the President's outlandish acts, its that when exposed, he scurries hides behind the Board of Directors, Human Resources aka Employee Services, and/or behind expensive attorneys. Through the years, his protectors have produced a myriad of lies and excuses intended to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">exonerate the President of all wrong doing. When the President chose to violate policy and laws, it was ultimately his staff who suffered most.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2008, the Credit Union's attorney, William Adler, of <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.24;"><i><a href="http://swmllp.com/">Styskal, Wiese and Melchione</a></i>, located in Glendale, California, received a letter from a former employee of Priority One, informing them that she had been victimized by </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.24;">Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. who for a few years, subjected her to unwelcome salacious comments in addition to inappropriate touching. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The attorney met with the Board of Directors and informed them that an investigation must be conducted during which President Wiggington would be placed on suspension. A meeting was convened with the President who was informed of the accusations and who was told he was being placed on suspension though Mrs. Harris-Brooks told him he would be suspended with pay. Historically, all employees placed on suspension are not paid during the days they are on suspension. It is important to also note that there has never been exceptions to this, either before or after President Wiggington's suspension. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the President's </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">approximate eight (8) week suspension, a detective who is also an attorney from </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://extti.com/" target="_blank">EXTTI. Inc.</a>, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">interviewed numerous employee witnesses who allegedly witnessed the President's inappropriate sexualized statements and actions to a former employee. At the conclusion of his investigation, the investigator met with the Board to present his findings. However, even before the meeting took place, Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, had determined herself to ignore the evidence and reinstate President Wiggington irrelevant of the findings. She extended an invitation to Directors, O. Glen Saffold and Thomas Gathers and Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons. The Directors and Supervisory Chair were loyal to Mrs. Harris-Brooks and as the event would prove, would concede to her efforts to ignore and squash the evidence and exact every effort to ensure the President was reinstated quietly and without further incident. Unfortunately for Mrs. Harris-Brooks, her effort would not proceed quite as smoothly as she planned. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The day before the meeting, uninvited Director, Janice Irving was contacted and informed that Mrs. Harris-Brooks had scheduled a meeting in South Pasadena to hear the evidence gathered by the investigator but had purposely not invited either Mrs. Irving or Director, Joe Marchica. Mrs. Irving contacted Mr. Marchica and the two showed up at the meeting just prior to its start. Mrs. Harris-Brooks was discombobulated by their appearance and tried to convince them that th meeting was not sufficiently important to warrant attendance of all the Directors. Of course, Mrs. Harris-Brooks excuse was absurd and very much a la Wiggington in style. Mrs. Harris-Brooks' effort failed and Mrs. Irving and Mr. Marchica not only listened to the evidence gathered by the investigator but were the two dissenting votes who wanted the President terminated for sexual harassment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks, O. Glen Saffold, Thomas Gathers, and Cornelia Simmons ignored the evidence proving Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. had indeed sexually harassed an employee as witnessed by more than four (4) employees. The decision by Mrs. Harris-Brooks and her confederates to reinstate the President proved they had no concern over the well-being and safety of employees, over the reputation of the Credit Union as a business and employer,. and clearly had no interest in the potential legal implications and legal costs that were spent during the investigation and that might again be spent should another similar incident again occur. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the meeting, Mrs. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Irving contacted an employee of the South Pasadena branch and revealed that Mrs. Harris-Brooks and her allies ignored the evidence presented by the investigator and disregarded the investigator's recommendation they terminate the President, voting instead for his reinstatement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And though it was Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. who was found guilty of verbalized sexual comments to a former employees and of occasionally squeezing her knees and thighs, it was the entire staff who would be subjected to remedial efforts that should have been solely directed to President Wiggington. After all, in its more than eighty (80) year history, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., the President and CEO, was the only person ever accused and found guilty of sexual harassment. Mrs. Harris-Brooks mailed letters to the VICTIM and the President, advising each that sexual harassment as defined under federal law, never occurred. Mrs. Harris-Brooks also disclosed that the VICTIM had participated and encouraged the President's sexualized verbalizations and behaviors and that some of the witnesses had interpreted the sexualized exchanges as nothing more than inappropriate jesting. Mrs. Harris-Brooks' intent was to invalidate an illegal act and reduce it to nothing more than a series of acts grounded in humor. Mrs. Harris-Brooks further victimized the former employee and tried earnestly to reduce the then fifty-some year old President's statements to the employee- <b style="line-height: 1.24;">"I'm gonna whip your ass", </b><b style="line-height: 1.24;">"you need a good whipping"</b><span style="line-height: 1.24;">and </span><b style="line-height: 1.24;">"I'm gonna sop you up like gravy" </b><span style="line-height: 1.24;">to playful exchanges. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 1.24;">Here is a copy of the letter, written by the VICTIM and sent to attorney, William Adler, and which would be the catalyst for the subsequent investigation:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is a copy of the letter sent by the Board Chair to President Wiggington, disclosing the Board's findings:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the first page, Mrs. Harris-Brooks states, <b>“Based on the facts available to us w</b><b>e have concluded that numerous exchanges occurred between you and [the former employee] during the course of her employment at the Credit Union. Behavior during this time included EXCHANGES initiated by BOTH YOU AND <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="color: black;">[the former</span> <span style="color: black;">employee]</span> </a>and [the former employee] also alleged that an improper GESTURE and COMMENT was made by you at an office holiday party…”</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Based on the facts available to us?" Is Mrs. Harris-Brooks stating that there were facts not presented to the Board? Mrs. Harris-Brooks lied in her politically-fueled response. During the investigation, several employees attested that during a pre-Christmas party conducted at </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Charlie’s Trio in South Pasadena, California, the President, in the presence of several employees, ordered the employee to walk to where he sat so he could "whip your ass." He also told her, "You know you want it." All employees witnessing the incident, told the investigator that the employee never responded to the President, remaining quietly seated with co-workers. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks continued:</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“GIVEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, WE <u>DO NOT BELIEVE</u> THE NATURE OF THE EXCHANGE RISES TO THE LEVEL OF AN UNLAWFUL, HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The problem with Mrs. Harris-Brooks is that the Board’s conclusion relied upon their “understanding of the circumstances.” Mrs. Harris-Brooks' personal prime directive is to ensure that there are no changes impacting the Board who are completely loyal to her agendas. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2007, Mrs. Harris-Brooks retaliated against the only White Board Director, chastising him for delivering an anonymous letter mailed to his residence and which exposed a then AVP of abusing her checking account privileges. The result of an investigation would later prove the AVP had knowingly kited using checking accounts held at three (3) different institutions, including Priority One Credit Union. Mrs. Harris-Brooks told the Director that he should have instead, submitted the letter to the Board so that they could resolve the accusations against the AVP. Mrs. Harris-Brooks had deluded herself into believing she possesses the intellect, knowledge of federal laws, and ethics needed to investigate a federal offense. We believe that if she had been given the letter, the federal offense would have been quickly squashed, just as she squashed the investigator’s findings which proved Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. sexually harassed a former employee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Continuing, Mrs. Harris Brooks admits the sexualized comments and unsolicited physical touching were <b>“not consistent with the Credit Union’s standards of conduct”</b> but based her actions and that of the Board, insufficient to warrant the President's termination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A few weeks after the President was reinstated, a meeting was conducted at the main branch in South Pasadena, California, which all employees were required to attend. The meeting- a seminar about sexual harassment was conducted by an officer of EXTTI, Inc. Just prior to the start of the meeting, Mrs. Harris-brooks in her typical controlling manner, walked through the Loan Department, where the meeting took place, and ordered all employee to sit directly in front of the podium while she, the Board and the President, sat at the back of the room, behind employees. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the meeting, employees were informed about what constitutes sexual harassment and were instructed to report incidents they believe are sexual harassment to their Human Resources, to the Board Chair or the Supervisory Committee Chair. The absurdity of the recommendations doesn't elude us. It was Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, who is also the Director of Human Resources, who told the investigator that he was present during the party and other incidents when the President made inappropriate sexualized statements and that in his opinion, the President and the employee were "joking around." Furthermore, it was Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the Supervisory Committee Chair who voted for the President's reinstatement. So why then, would any employee report suspected incidents of sexual harassment to either Human Resources, the Board Chair, or Supervisory Committee Chair? Due to the ethical make-up of the Human Resources Department and the Board and Supervisory Committee's Chairs, we instead </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>recommend employees contact the Department of Fair Employment and Housing should they believe they are the victims of sexual harassment. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.84px;">On page two of her letter to the President, Mrs. Harris-Brooks states, </span><b style="line-height: 19.84px; text-align: center;">".... be mindful regarding the level of familiarity of that dialogue." </b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.84px;">It's incredible that the then 53 year old President had to be reminded that he must be "mindful" of what he says. Over the years, its is Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. who has most violated Credit Union policies and state and federal laws. He has proven he cannot control his verbalizations, even about highly confidential and inappropriate subjects. His violations have often placed Priority One in legally precarious positions, forcing the hiring of expensive attorneys and consultants who have been paid to fabricate defenses which subvert lawsuits and complaints and avoid what would assuredly be costly and embarrassing court trials. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.84px;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks also states, <b>"...we instruct you to maintain a high standard of professionalism and to take care as possible perceptions inconsistent with OUR standards of conduct and Unlawful Harassment policies in conversations with volunteers, EMPLOYEES and members at the Credit Union." </b>Mrs. Harris-Brooks' letter is nothing more than a means by which to create the appearance the Board did its due diligence and took action after conducting a fair and impartial investigation. There was nothing wrong with the investigation because it was conducted by an investigator who was both ethical and intelligent however, Mrs. Harris-Brooks' response to the evidence is what turned this case into a travesty and proved that the Board Chair had absolutely no qualms in trying to cover up an offense of federal law. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.8400001525879px;">The following pages are excerpts of documentation provided to all employees attending the 2008 sexual harassment seminar though logically, the only person who should have been present was the Credit Union's sole violator of sexual harassment laws- Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">THE REAL</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since the inception of this blog in January 2009, the President often accused us of victimizing him and described us as jealous employees who wanted to take his job. As is often the case with any of the President's exclamations, his assessment was quite amiss. We don't have a desire to take his position. We never have. We would like, however, to see him replaced by a man or woman who is competent, ethical and committed to seeking the best interests of Members and employees. We don't believe we're being unreasonable though we have no doubt that the childish President would take issue with anything we have to say. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the years of 2007 through 2009, the President boldly violated state and federal laws, subjecting many employees to harassment, retaliation and overt violations of federal law. In 2010, after the Credit Union received its first notice they were being sued by the former Burbank Branch Manager, the President and his herd, hurried to cover-up evidence of wrong doing and even initiated a review of personnel files to remove anything that could be viewed as a violation of federal law. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2007, at the time he was appointed President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed an attractive and well-liked Administrative Assistant to manage all of his clerical needs. The young woman, an Afro-American, was well-liked by staff though the President spent months criticizing her openly to non-management personnel and maligning her reputation and work ethic. The best way to describe his hostile attitude towards her is bullying. After a few months it became apparent that the President seemed jealous of her popularity. On her birthday, employees from all departments left gifts and food atop her desk while on Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s birthday, he received a card from his executive staff. The President also frequently described her "looks", stating that she wasn't what he wanted in an assistant. Evidently, President Wiggington doesn't own a mirror. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During a luncheon for federal retirees, the President complained that his assistant refused to accompany him to weekend events and that he was going to have to do something to "let her know I mean business." Realistically, there was </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">no logical reason for her to accompany him to weekend events. His reason for demanding her presence was merely that he wanted people outside the Credit Union to know he was President of the Credit Union and that he had a "secretary" (actually, administrative assistant). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In late 2009, his personal attacks increased as he berated his assistant to more and more people, including then COO, Beatrice Walker. His attacks were willingly and always aided by Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, who enabled the President's abuses and even assisted in the issuance of written warning to the victimized assistant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In late 2009, the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Executive Vice President provided the President and COO with the names of employees he said were the blogger, bloggers, and confederates of the blogger(s). The President and COO began a plan of attack based solely on Mr. Smock's statements. The witch hunt which followed would result in the expulsion of several employees. During that period, Ms. Walker with the help of President Wiggington and Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">transferred the Administrative Assistant to the reception desk, using the pretext that she would temporarily cross-train with the receptionist who would in turn, train to be the President's assistant. Ms. Walker assured the President and Executive Vice President that isolating the receptionist to the one-person reception desk would bring an end to her leaking of confidential information.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The "temporary" position became a permanent position for the President's former assistant. Furthermore, confidential information originating in the office of the President, found its way to the Internet. And though logistically, it was impossible for the President's former assistant to be involved in the leaks of information, the President and COO continued to insist that she was somehow obtaining information that only the President and COO possessed and leaking it out into the public. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In late 2010, the former Administrative Assistant was called by then Human Resources "clerk", Esmeralda Sandoval, to the office of Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, where she was told that they were "so sorry" but that it had been decided that due to a lack of business, the credit union no longer needed a receptionist. But months earlier, Executive Vice President had assured the former Administrative Assistant that her transfer to the reception desk was in both "temporary" and for the purpose of "cross-training." If this was in fact true, which it was not, then why would they not have laid-off the President's temporary Administrative Assistant? Because Mr. Smock lied. The former Administrative Assistant had been victimized by Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. long before she was sent to work at the reception desk. He had berated her, slandered her and in the end and with the help of Rodger Smock, attributed to her, acts she never committed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The former assistant proved to be another casualty of the delusional President who has somehow convinced himself that he is the only victim at the Credit Union and not the perpetrator of abuses and illegal acts. The former assistant never filed a lawsuit against the Credit Union, the President or the COO despite being subjected to duress, a hostile work environment and having her reputation defamed by the two officers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a side note, the employee who became the President's new receptionist was later terminated for allegedly breaking confidentiality and disclosing to vendors and co-workers that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was suffering from testicular cancer. Her termination seems peculiar when one considers that it was the President who in 2011, told employees of the Accounting, Member Services and Loan Departments that he was suffering from "ball cancer". </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">pArANOiA</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2jDLthPkViSiX9xT43RkV2Ak2bHnsD5qR-QUCHQa02yY61DQvFSM-UZjgg0_IPmHevqTVpMyVfEQWAYmUdZfWQRloJLUpT-reagbh6FPCGbcuZlsdaQlLite-cjSwlKouxSd323zVVOs/s1600/Paranoia+111214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu2jDLthPkViSiX9xT43RkV2Ak2bHnsD5qR-QUCHQa02yY61DQvFSM-UZjgg0_IPmHevqTVpMyVfEQWAYmUdZfWQRloJLUpT-reagbh6FPCGbcuZlsdaQlLite-cjSwlKouxSd323zVVOs/s1600/Paranoia+111214.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since 2007, the President's victimization of employees has been commonplace at the continually shrinking Credit Union. President Wiggington's abuses of staff have always been intended to oust the enemies looming in his imagination and allegedly purposed to improve business. We are still waiting for the improvement in business. The President's other reason for ousting targeted and victimized personnel was to nurture development of a sector of employees who showed blind loyalty to his regime. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In November
2010, we received the following account describing the termination of an
employee which occurred earlier that same year. The employee shared his
experience with a coworker who forwarded the account to us. Though we’ve been
in possession of the email for almost four (4) years, we thought it appropriate
to include it in this our final post for the series, “A History of Failures”
which concludes our expose’ of past acts committed by Priority One Credit
Union’s President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. We thought the incident
appropriate for inclusion in our review. The allegations in this incident are
telling, providing insight into the unethical tactics and practices employed by
Priority One’s most heinous President. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We must point
out, the account also reveals much about the ethics or lack of ethics, of the
Human Resources Department who is staffed by Executive Vice President, Rodger
D. Smock; Director, Robert West; and Manager, Esmeralda Sandoval. Though the
three serve as a liaisons between the Credit Union and its employees, their
actual role, based on their history of enabling President <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As you read
through the account of what allegedly transpired on June 1, 2010, take note of
the tactics employed by the President in his pursuit to expel employees he
deemed enemies to his authority. If he had been ethical and responsible, he
would have compiled actual documented evidence to support his accusations
against the employee. What is also disturbing is that the entire staff of the
Human Resources Department- Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock and his then
assistant, Esmeralda Sandoval, had no qualms enabling the President’s use of
illegal acts to realize his attack on the employee. On a side note, in 2010
through 2012, the President with the help of Mr. Smock and Miss Sandoval,
employed unethical practices to rid the Credit Union of his imagined enemies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE INCIDENT, JUNE 1, 2010</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>John,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I thought
you’d find this story interesting. It happened to one of my co-workers and
maybe you’ll publish it so everyone can see just how dirty and dishonest
Charles Wiggington is. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>I spoke to a
co-worker a few weeks ago and asked him why the credit union laid him off. He
told me he wasn’t laid off. He got accused of downloading gay pornography and
sexually harassing his co-workers. He also got accused of being the blogger or
knowing the blogger and leaking information to you. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>He said that
right after Memorial Day he gets a call on his cell phone from Esmeralda
[Sandoval] but its garbled and he can’t make it out. So he calls Esmeralda and
asks if she could repeat her message because it was garbled. He says she starts
stuttering and gets defensive. She says,
“What do you mean you couldn’t understand?”. ”Why wasn’t it clear to you?” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>He asks her
to please repeat her message. He said she nervously says “You have an HR
meeting at 11 a.m.” He thanks her and hangs up. He said that for weeks he’s
known something is up because certain people at the credit union are behaving
oddly around him including Esmeralda, Rodger Smock., Robert West, and Joseph
Garcia. He said the only reason
employees are called to HR is when they’re going to be fired so he drives to
his office in Burbank and clears out his desk and then drives down to South
Pasadena, California. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>He arrives
outside Rodger Smock’s office at about 10:50 a.m. and greets Esmeralda.
Esmeralda gets up and goes in Rodger’s office but he can hear Rodger tell her
he’s awaiting an important call. She tells him its going to be a few minutes.
He then tells Esmeralda that he’s going to get a cup of water in the lounge
room. She says, “I have to go with you.” Why she needed to accompany him seemed
strange since he is an employee of the credit union but affirms that something
is up. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>After they
return from the lunch room, he sits down and Esmeralda goes back inside
Rodger’s office. He can hear Rodger say that he is on an important call and
can’t attend “the meeting.” She walks to her desk and calls someone. After
hanging up, she asks the employee to follow her. They go to Charles’s office
but the door is closed. She knocks and Charles opens the door. He tells the
employee to come in. Inside the office and sitting a the small conference table
is an Asian man dressed in a suit. The man looks up but stays quiet. Charles
asks the employee to sit down and introduces the man as an investigator. The
man identifies himself as a “forensics investigator” and he says he’s been
scanning the employee’s computer and discovered that he’s been visiting gay
porn sites and printing copies of pictures of naked men. The man opens a manila
folder where there’s what looks like a ream sized stack of photocopies but from
the angle where the employee sits, the images look really dark. The
investigator adds that the employee has also been leaking information to the
blog with the help of his “confederates.” He tells the employee that he’s
committed egregious acts and that he has 24 hours to either shut down the blog
or order the bloggers to shut down the blog. The employees says he tells the
investigator he didn’t know what he was talking about. He also asks the
investigator to let him look through the pile of photos he supposedly copied.
He said the investigator has a hissy fit and yells, “I don’t have to show you
these!” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Turning to
Charles he asks, “And who have I sexually harassed” but the investigator cuts
in saying, “We don’t have to tell you that!” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The employee
responds back saying, “You do because you’re accusing me of downloading porn.
Since I allegedly downloaded I have a right to see your proof. The investigator
closes the manila folder and threatens the employee to either shut down the
blog or he will be taken to federal court. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The
investigator then tells him that he interviewed Joseph Garcia and Esmeralda
Sandoval both who said he was leaking information to the blog. The employee
rarely speaks to either and his work doesn’t require he interact with either
Joseph or Esmeralda, so why would they provide evidently false statements? <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Then Charles
cuts in and tells him that if the employee signs a severance agreement, he’ll
receive severance pay equal to one week of pay for each year of employment with
the credit union. He also says that if the employee doesn’t sign the
agreement, the credit union will deny unemployment
and give bad references to anyone calling the credit union for references. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The employee
turns to the investigator and asks, “What is your name?” He said the
investigator’s face flushed red and he yells, “I don’t have to give you my
name!”<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Charles then
tells the employee, “I don’t care if the blog stays up but I want you to tell
the bloggers to stop calling me a sexual harasser and to remove all references
that call me a sexual harasser. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The
investigator cuts in and says, “Charles, I’m trying to get him to shut down the
blog!” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Charles
responds, “It can stay up I just don’t want to be called a sexual harasser plus
I have 4 other things I want removed.” The employee says again, “I don’t know
what you’re talking about.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The
investigator starts backtracking and says, “You can’t sue me because I’m not an
employee of the credit union.” The employee ignored the investigator at this
point because it was obvious he was hired to lie for Charles and that he was a
coward because he refused to provide his name.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Charles tells
him, “Please tell the bloggers to stop calling me a sexual harasser.” The
employee tells me that it was obvious that what the blog says must be true if
Charles is going to such extremes to make up stories so his name can be taken
off the blog. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Charles then
invites him to go into the branch and tell his co-workers good-bye. Why would
an employee accused of downloading porn, sexually harassing co-workers, and
leaking information be invited to go through the branch to say good-bye to his
co-workers? <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The employee
filed for unemployment. He advised the Department of Employment Development
(“EDD”) that he was fired for allegedly downloading pornography, sexually harassing co-workers, and leaking
confidential information on to this blog. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Days later,
an employee from the EDD contacted the former employee and informed him that
his request for unemployment was being denied because Esmeralda Sandoval
informed the department that he had violated confidentiality, a terminable
offense. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The employee
explains that during his meeting with the President and the forensics
investigator, he was informed he was being terminated for downloading same-sex
pornography, for sexually harassing unnamed co-workers and for breaching
confidentiality but adds that the President offered him a severance package if
he signed an agreement in which he agrees not to seek legal recourse against
the Credit Union.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>He is advised
by the EDD representative that offering a severance agreement to someone who
has violated company policy is highly irregular but she adds she will have to
call Esmeralda Sandoval to ask about the other reasons why the employee was
allegedly terminated. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Later that
same day, the EDD representative calls the former employee and advises him that
when she told Miss Sandoval that he had been terminated for downloading gay
pornography and sexually harassing co-workers, that the Assistant to Rodger
Smock stated, “We don’t know what he’s talking about. Maybe he’s confused a
conversation he had with someone else.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The EDD
representative asks the former employee to fax a copy of the severance
agreement to her office. He does so on the same day. The representative calls Priority One again
but Esmeralda Sandoval never returns her call. The EDD approves the former
employees request for unemployment benefits. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The account
reveals that Charles Wiggington is a man who has no qualms about committing
egregious acts and employing slander as a means by which to realize his illegal
purposes. He concocted a phony and slanderous story with an evidently dishonest
forensics investigator whose services were paid for with Priority One’s funds. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Miss Sandoval
apparently had no hesitation in taking part in the President’s duplicitous and
insidious plot and without hesitation, lied to the EDD representative. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Similarly,
then Loan Department Manager, Joseph Garcia, apparently had no problems
providing fictitious testimony to enable the termination plot hatched by
Beatrice Walker and President Wiggington. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Mr.
Wiggington’s history proves he has a penchant for criminal behaviors. He
concocted a phony story with fraudulent
evidence and later denied having ever accused the employee of downloading
pornography or sexually harassing co-workers. President Wiggington, the entire
Human Resources Department, the former COO and her then confidant, Joseph
Garcia proved that their personal agendas have precedence over ethics, morals
and even the law. The President’s denials remind us of his 2008 denials that he
never sexually harassed a former employee or his 2007 denial that he was
culpable for the mailing debacle which violated the Credit Union’s security
protocols. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>On the day of
the termination, the always cowards and dishonest, Rodger Smock, hid in the
recesses of his office refusing to attend the meeting in the President’s
office. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>But there’s
more. The employee also revealed that while working in South Pasadena, he was
told by co-workers that one of the collection representatives, Alex Suarez, was
always gossiping about him the women’s bathroom, saying she knew he was the
blogger. Alex also told female employees
that her boss, Yvonne Boutte and Bea Walker were “on to him.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>He also
learned from people in the Accounting Department that Charles had said that
they shouldn’t talk about confidential information around the employee because
“he writes everything down.” Now wouldn’t it seem peculiar to see someone from
another department standing or sitting in your department and writing down
everything you’re saying? <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>He is also
learned from a Manager, that it was Rodger Smock who told President Wiggington,
the Board and Beatrice Walker, who he knew were the blogger and bloggers. It was Mr. Smock who single-handedly caused
the victimization of a Member Services clerk, the Marketing Specialist, an
AVP, a Business Development Representative,
the BSA Officer and many others. Of course, being simpletons, the President,
the COO, and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks believed as fact, Mr. Smock’s
statements without demanding he provide evidence. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Also, in
February 2010, the employee attended some conference in Anaheim. The following
day when he returned to work, all his possessions in his desk had been packed
in boxes and thrown on a cart. A temporary employee was sitting at his desk and
he was told that he was being relocated outside of Rodger’s office. Rodger
joking told him, “Now we’ll see if you really work.” I guess Rodger didn’t
realize that the employee would now be able to see if Rodger really worked. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>In late
January 2010, following a Board meeting in the Credit Union’s conference room,
the board walked into the back offices to look at the Call Center which opened
earlier that month. He says that Diedra the board’s Chair walked over to where
he sat working while the remainder of the board huddled several feet behind her
just outside of Yvonne Boutte’s cubicle.
He said Diedra stuttered and couldn’t look at him in the eyes and asked,
“Do you like this desk? I don’t like it. Lets see if we can get you a nice
office somewhere in this branch.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>He thought
her conversation was totally disingenuous and betrayed by her obvious
nervousness. She then told him she would look into getting him a nice office.
He had already heard rumors about him leaking information, about things said
behind his back by Bea Walker, Alex Suarez, Rodger Smock, Robert West and
President Wiggington so Mrs. Harris comments were suspicious and out of
character. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>That same
night, Rodger calls the employee at his cell phone and asks him if he’d like to
be relocated to Burbank instead and says he’ll be given his own private office
where he can work undisturbed and that he will work independent of the Burbank
branch manager and just do the assignments he receives from Bea or himself. He
also says that the employee is not to help the branch manager under any circumstances
and that he is not to do “branch work.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The employee
gladly accepts the post, hoping distancing himself from South Pasadena will
bring an end to the chronic gossip that permeates South Pasadena.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>He goes to
Burbank but once he’s there, he says the Branch Manager is constantly trying to
get him to do her work and even through Rodger said he wasn’t to assist her for
any reason. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>She calls
Rodger and complains and he calls and asks the employee why he’s refusing to
help the Branch Manager. The employee reminds Rodger that he specifically said
that he was not to do branch work or help her.
He said Rodger starts stuttering (always an great indicator that someone
is lying) and Rodger says, “Can’t you at least process loan applications?” He
reminds Rodger that because he no longer works in the Loan Department, he does
not possess loan processor rights. Rodger stutters and tells him he’ll call him
back.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>The Branch
Manager’s harassment begins to escalate and he soon learns that she’s not only
complaining to Rodger but she’s also complaining to Bea Walker. Behind his back, Bea Walker begins to ask the
Branch Manager to keep an eye on his comings and goings. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>His
co-workers in Burbank begin to tell him that the Branch Manager has told him he
is leaking information to the blog and that Charles is having him watched. If
true, why would a branch manager share that information with her subordinate
staff? <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Its also
strange that he left South Pasadena to get away from the gossip and also to
distance himself from “confidential” information Charles believed he was
allegedly documenting but even though he physically distanced himself from the
South Pasadena office, he was still being accused of getting access to
information that would have required he be physically present inside the South
Pasadena branch. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Analysis</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Clearly, finesse is not a quality possessed by either the President or any of his artless executives. The corrupt President hired a dishonest consultant who prostituted himself and created a fictitious record of fraudulent documentation accusing the employee of acts he never committed. The irony is that just two years earlier, in 2008, President Wiggington was found guilty of sexually harassing an employee and for years, it was a well known fact that at South Pasadena, some of the executives would spend their day visiting pornographic websites on their company-issued computers, a fact which was only known about because these paragons of professionalism would openly talk about what they'd seen to their staffs.</span><br />
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And it's also not by sheer luck that the President found willing accomplices in the despicable Esmeralda Sandoval and Joseph Garcia, both who like the consultant, prostituted themselves and provided false testimonies used to solidify the President's bogus case against the employee. The fraudulent case brought against the employee began to crumble when the Employment Development Department contacted Miss Sandoval and asked her to explain why the employee had been accused of downloading pornography and sexually harassing co-workers. Miss Sandoval buckled and denied all knowledge about the allegations and even declared the employee was confused.</span><br />
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Nowadays, after having exhausted numerous positions, all of whose responsibilities he failed to perform satisfactorily, Mr. Garcia serves as the Credit Union's loan Business Development Representative though in almost 24-months, he has failed each and every month to meet his $150,000 monthly quota of funded loans. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
Miss Sandoval refers to herself as a Christian. We urge her to acquaint herself with what the term Christian means and the responsibility which comes with being a proclaimed follower of Christ. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>FAILURE, FAILURE AND MORE FAILURE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is almost mind boggling that after seven (7) years of chronic, unwavering failures, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. remains President and CEO of what is now a three-branch Credit Union. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He continues to receive $150,000 plus for what is apparently leading the Credit Union to extinction. Nowadays, he no longer boasts </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">about how he intends to introduce technologies that will rival those of bigger, richer credit unions nor does he boast about how he will achieve success and growth at levels never achieved by any of his predecessors. He also never mentions that over the past seven (7) years, Priority One's Net Income has declined by approximately $22 million though on occasion he does try to dupe anyone who will listen into believing that the Credit Union's net capital is synonymous with profit obtained from new business and being careful to avoid any reference the drastic and desperate expense reductions he's been forced to introduced in an effort to avoid net capital from dropping anywhere near 6%. </span><br />
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What is equally amazing is how this untalented leader possesses the ability to populate the ranks of his tattered corporate sector with people who are as unethical and incompetent as he is. And despite his insistence that branch closures are part of a well structured plan that is going to spew forth immense amounts of new business, the fact remains, Priority One is a credit union in financial straits. </span><br />
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The President proves that there is a relationship between the Credit Union's decline and his insidious behaviors. Over the years, the President has shown he is no respecter of policies, laws or people. In fact, his defiance to structure and orders speaks of a pronounced disdain for things which ensure compliance to rules and laws. Over the years, he's gushed a myriad of lies exaggerating his abilities, his past employment, his achievements, his sexual escapades, and his defamatory attacks against any person he believed was out to topple his empire. </span><br />
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His style of administration is punctuated by wasted spending, abuses of authority, and deceit. The cumulative effect of his indiscretions have reduced the Credit Union's financial standing, undermined its ability to generate new business at a level needed to offset the amount of its above average overhead and impeded the amassment of profit. His deplorable failures have also allowed the incidence of internal thefts at the Credit Union's Los Angeles branch.</span><br />
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Though as President, he is expected to ensure policies are maintained and enforced, his involvement in sexual harassment, his repossession of an automobile whose ownership he transferred to his name, his approval allowing the collection department to create bogus Facebook accounts as a ploy by which to trap Members who had been referred over to collection proceedings and the multitude of other unethical and illegal acts he's committed, only serves to affirm his vast hypocritical nature. </span><br />
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In an effort to protect his throne, the President has freely employed slander, concocting vicious stories that viciously maligned employee reputations, and with the help of Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, reduced the Credit Union from a business-generating entity to one reliant on expense reductions as a means to its continued survival. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2008, he borrowed $20 million from the the Credit Union's line-of-credit. He immediately afterwards, informed employees that Net Income had increased as a result of new business when the actual reason for the increase was the $20 million the Board authorized him to borrow. </span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2009, he boasted again, that business was increasing yet at the end of the year, the Credit Union sustained more than $5 million in losses.</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2010, he and then COO, Beatrice Walker proclaimed that the Credit Union was on the road to financial recovery. Their declarations were echoed by Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, who during the May 2010 Annual Meeting, attributed the alleged increase in business to the COO and her assistant, Joseph Garcia. Five months later, in October 2010, the Credit Union closed the Redlands and Valencia branches in a desperate effort to increase net income. </span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2011, the Board terminated COO, Beatrice Walker, and in her place, hired Cindy Garvin as the Credit Union's new Lending Director. During the year, the Credit Union closed the Riverside branch bringing an end to Priority One's physical presence in all of Riverside County.</span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2012, the President implemented monthly sales quotas to all employees and from March 2012 through September 2012, terminated a large contingent of employees who failed to meet their assigned quotas during a consecutive two-month period. In November 2012, the President informed employees that Priority One was well on the road to financial recovery pointing to high capital as evidence of increased business. His "story" was a lie. The reason for the increase in capital was unrelated to an increase in new business, but rather drastic expense reductions which served to undermine the Credit Union's ability to develop new business, employ effective marketing, or resolve its many member service related problems. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The President's current documented lie, infers he's been President since 1992 and tries rather ineptly to enhance his dull employment history which is conspicuously devoid of any accomplishments. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The dull President seems incapable of comprehending that it is what one accomplishes that testifies to their abilities, not some embellished, lie ridden biography and resume. Charles Wiggington </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">was hired 1992 in the capacity of Vice President of Operations, a position he maintained until December 31, 2006. There is absolutely no reference to this fact in his online biographies or resumes. From 1992 through the end of 2006, the President of Priority One Credit Union was William E. Harris. It was Mr. Harris who orchestrated numerous mergers which expanded Priority One's presence in Southern California, increased the Credit Union's Net Income, augmented membership, and increased branch locations. Since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President, the Credit Union has lost six of its nine branches, suffered losses in membership, and its Net Income has declined by more than $22 million. </span><br />
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Even President Wiggington's most fantastical creations can't dispel his well documented record of failures whose impact upon business has been almost catastrophic. So when might we expect any of the President's promises of impending success to be realized? We've waited for seven years but have yet to see anything indicating even a slight improvement to the woes caused by the President. And don't expect to see a sudden reversal of the Credit Union's misfortunes over the next 8 weeks. We doubt Senor Wiggington will do anything that will improve business at any time in 2015 and we wouldn't be surprised if he again has to close one of the Credit Union's three remaining branches in order to keep business going, albeit it a pittance of the business that existed before the Board appointed him President. And </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">if history serves as an indicator of anything, its that President Wiggington will probably never reverse the process of deterioration he set in motion on January 1, 2007.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">< item>
< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com167tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-31787580168894665332014-11-09T22:20:00.001-08:002014-11-14T20:58:50.399-08:00A History of Failures, Part 2 of 4<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>AN INESCAPABLE PAST</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As 2014 approaches to its end, the month of October proved to be another lackluster month for Priority One Credit Union in South Pasadena, California. Just as attested to by its monthly performance during the past seven (7) years, there was no evidence again, of an impending avalanche of new business and increased profits as promised by President, Charles R. Wiggington,Sr. just three months ago, when he revealed that that the closure of six (6) branches since October 2010 were part of a carefully executed plan designed to produce a surge in new business and fuel a level of financial and physical growth not witnessed at Priority One since before he became its President on January 1, 2007. For Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., the Credit Union's performance during the month of October 2014, served to further solidify our belief that he is incapable of extricating himself from his well documented legacy of failures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we've reported since January 2009, Pre</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sident Charles R. Wiggngton, Sr.'s maladroit business decisions have forced branch closures and replaced many senior, full-time permanent employees with part-time staff who are not recipients of medical or retirement benefits. His mismanagement of the once successful Credit Union transformed Priority One into a smaller and less successful company heavily reliant upon expense reductions as key to its continued survival. Under his leadership, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Credit Union's relationship with its once largest membership group- employees of the United States Postal Service ["USPS"], has grown tenuous. He also eliminated the Credit Union's once prize-winning Marketing Department in 2007 as part of a frantic effort to reduce spending and prove to his constituents that unlike his successful and respected predecessor, he had a smarter and better way of doing business. He was wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2012, the President eliminated the Credit Union's once successful Business Development team who for years had contributed to the development of new business, helped increase membership and had been pivotal in developing and maintaining relations with the many diverse communities served by Priority One. The team's elimination coupled by the closure of six (6) branches brought an end to the Credit Union's visible presence within much of its vast territory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through the years, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President's horrendous business decisions have been continually enabled by the Board of Directors, however, even his business decisions have been </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">overshadowed by his bizarre and at times, illegal behaviors. During the years of 2010 through 2013, the President's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">inappropriate, unethical and illegal acts have forced the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">spending of more than $5 million in legal fees. These exorbitant legal costs were spent on expensive and oft</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">en unscrupulous attorneys, who scrambled to create defenses built upon aggressive tactics designed to vilify the President's victims and raise a facade the protected Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. from any retribution for his illegal acts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, in rushing to forge settlement agreements with former employees and one Member who sued the Credit Union, the attorneys inadvertently helped produce irrefutable evidence of the President's guilt. After all, if Charles R. Wiggington,. Sr. were truly innocent, then why would the Credit Union offer monetary settlements to what would have been frivolous and unfounded complaints? T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he only thing accomplished by Priority One's attorneys was helping President Wiggington avoid what woiuld most assuredly have been embarrassing and all too telling court trials. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This month's post....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">contains copies of numerous documents supporting our continued contentions against President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. Some of the documents have never been previously published on this blog. We also include </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">financial information recently obtained from the NCUA's website, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">revealing </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One's </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">actual </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">financial performance versus the hyperbole continually being spewed out by President Wiggington and the Board of Directors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We recently noticed that following our September and October posts, that the President has ceased his u</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nabashed and very public campaign, justifying why </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he ordered closure of six (6) branch locations while simultaneously, trying to create and bolster a fictitious image that he is a prudent leader. The biggest deficiency plaguing the President's incessant storytelling is that his often infantile excuses are never accompanied by tangible evidence. His campaign asserted branch closures were designed to jump start new business and promote physical and financial development though conspicuously failing to explain how the elimination of convenient branch locations and member service, are supposed to produce growth. As is often the case with any story fabricated by Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., his insistence of what he says is true lacked logic reducing his "story" to more gibberish from a man who is incapable of telling the truth and who always exacts efforts to escape accountability for this blunders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>But every cloud has its silver lining and when it comes to the deceptive assurances and juvenile excuses made by President Wiggington, it is always wise to demand evidence proving that what he says is indeed true. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>PEARLS TO SWINE</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>IT'S NOT THE SIZE </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>BUT WHAT YOU DO WITH IT</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those unfamiliar with Southern California, Los Angeles County is approximately <b>4,084 square miles </b>in size</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">, including Santa Catalina Island. This poses a logistical problem for Priority One Credit Union whose President has deemed it sufficient to relegate the Credit Union's sprawling territory to a single </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">Business Development Representative ("BDR"). The BDR, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">Joseph Garcia, has held a myriad of managerial titles since his arrival to the South Pasadena in January 2010, though proving quite incapable of carrying out his assigned responsibilities in each of his short-lived capacities. Unfortunately, for the Credit Union, for Members, and for Employees, Mr. Garcia lacks the skills, a proven </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">track record of documented accomplishments, diplomacy, or the savvy needed to create and maintain relationships with the communities found in Priority One's </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">demographically diverse communities.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">While serving as President and CEO, the honorable and ethical, William E. Harris, orchestrated several mergers which increased the size of the Credit Union's territory and added new branches, amassed increased Net Income, and augmented memberships. During the last quarter of 2006, Mr. Harris finalized a merger with Inland Counties Postal Federal Credit Union, acquisitioning all of Riverside County whose physical size is <b>7208 square miles</b>. The addition of Riverside County provided Priority One with the opportunity of developing new business with employees of the United States Postal Service and their families and also their families'. It was an incredible opportunity with seemingly endless possibilities. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, for the Credit Union, the merger was finalized at the end of 2006 and Mr. Harris retired on December 31, 2006. On January 1, 2007, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became the Credit Union's new President and CEO, inheriting the task of developing new business in Los Angeles and Riverside Counties. As history has proven, he was unqualified to do so, in part because unlike his predecessor, he's unmotivated and when he became President, boasted that he would in his words, <b>"Just sit back and let the AVP's do all the work." </b>Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. sincerely believed that all he had to do was lounge without making any effort and that his subordinates would bring in all the business required by the Credit Union to promote growth, accrue profit, and increase membership.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">By April 2007, the disgruntled and slothful President complained, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;"><i><b>"Mr. Harris left me a mess (Riverside County)."</b></i><b> </b>Not so unusually, Mr. Harris never experienced a problem developing new business in the communities served by the Credit Union, but President Wiggington who is chronically unaccountable would fail to enact a single strategy that produced the level of new business required in Riverside County.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">The fact is, President Wiggington was not left a mess. He was provided a wonderful opportunity that he was unqualified to handle. If Riverside had truly been a mess then how does he explain his failure to develop new business in Los Angeles county? In 2007, he arrogantly mocked his predecessor, describing him as "old school" and promised to show "everyone" that he had a <b>"better and smarter way"</b> to do business. Seven years later, we're still waiting. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">If President Wiggington, Sr. possessed a modicum of the competency demonstrated by his predecessor, he might never have resorted to cutting expenses as a primary means by which to keep Priority One's doors open for business. He might also have </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">succeeded in developing new business and establishing relationships with the communities located in the more than <b>7,000 square miles</b> that make up Riverside County</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">. </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">But first.......</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">We intended to limit the subject of President Wiggington's abuses committed before and following his appointment to President to only two posts but due to the amount of information we intend to publish, we've had to add a third post which will be published in December 2014, concluding our series, <b><i>"A History of Failures." </i></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past October 24th, <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">the </span><b style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">NCUA</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> published Priority One Credit Union's quarterly </span><b style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">Financial Performance Report </b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">("FPR") for the quarter ending </span><b style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">September 30, 2014</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">. The disclosures in the report are inconsistent with the President's periodic insistence that business is doing well and on the verge of surging something that has yet to be realized despite more than four (4) years of assurances that at any moment, business might erupt. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the latest FPR, as of S</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">eptember 30, 2014, Priority One's income size totaled </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">$149,491,398</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">. Just for comparison, on January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began his appointment to President, the Credit Union's income size was approximately <b>$172 million</b>. As of September 2014, the Credit Union's net income has decreased by approximately <span style="color: red;"><b>$23 million</b>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">To better gauge Priority One's recent performance, we extracted the following record of its total income size for each quarter from September 2013 through September 30, 2014. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">As referenced above, the Credit Union's Net Income or Net Assets have declined during the quarter ending September 2013 through the quarter ending September 2014 by approximately <b>$1 million. </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">According to its FPR, Priority One's Net Income was </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">$150,479,488 </b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">on September 30, 2013 while on September 30, 2014, Net Income fell to </span></div>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">$149,491,398</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">. This of course brings into scrutiny, the President's explanation that the closure of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">the Redlands and Valencia branches in 2010; closure of the Riverside branch in 2011; closure of the Burbank branch in 2012; closure of the Airport branch in 2013; and closure of the Santa Clarita branch in 2014, were part of a carefully devised strategy that will increase new business and membership and escalate the amounts of the Credit Union's Net Capital aka Net Income and Assets. Based on the disclosures provided in the FPR's its quite clear the President's alleged tactic is failing to achieve its intended purpose. Either that or his so-called plan is nothing more than a ruse designed to cover-up the President's bombastic inability to strategize effectively or intelligently. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">However, if one chooses to ignore the history of well-documented losses resultant from the President's many failed enterprises coupled by his deplorable conduct then yes, one could readily believe that the President's tactic is progressing exactly as planned. Of course, ignoring the evidence would be absurd, yet that is exactly what President Wiggington would like people to do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we've revealed often over the past four (4) years, President Wiggington is unscrupulous and wholly dishonest. A visit to the Credit Union's <span style="color: #222222; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b>Career</b> page<b>*, </b>located on Priority One's s website [<a href="http://www.priorityonecu.org/">http://www.priorityonecu.org</a>] discloses that Priority One is a <b>"$154 million Credit Union" </b>when their own FPR shows they are worth approximately <b>$5 million</b> less then the misinformation contained on their webpage. </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>"Priority One Credit Union, A <u>progressive</u> $154 M [million] credit union...."</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b style="color: #222222;">The Credit Union's own "FACTS" about itself are both erroneous and intentionally misleading. The Credit Union has not been a $154 million organization in more than a year, yet the $154 million reference was added to their webpage this past September 2014. Obviously, the intent of exaggerating the Credit Union's worth is to deceive anyone visiting their webpage.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b>This is not the first time the President has exaggerated the amount of the Credit Union's Net Income. Prior to September 2014 and for a period of a few years, the Credit Union referenced the amount of its Net Income at </b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b><span style="color: blue;">"$175 million"</span></b><b style="color: #222222;">. At the time President Wiggington's predecessor retired, the Credit Union's Net Income approximated </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="color: blue;">$172 </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: blue;">million</span></span></b><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> whereas under Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b style="color: #222222;">the Credit Union's Net Income peaked to approximately </b><b><span style="color: blue;">$180 million</span></b><b style="color: #222222;"> in mid-2008 only after he borrowed </b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">$20 million </span></span></span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">from the Credit Union's line-of-credit. </b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b>Inarguably, C</b></span></span><b style="color: #222222; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">harles R. Wiggington, Sr., Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, and the entire Board of Directors find it impossible to accurately report the amount of the Credit Union's actual Net Income. </span></b></div>
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<b style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">We suggest the President and his cronies also take a moment to familiarize themselves with the definition of the word </span><span style="color: blue;">"progressive."</span><span style="color: #222222;"> Priority One's own reports prove that in 2014, the Credit Union is a smaller and less successful than it was in the years before Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President. The financial losses incurred under the current President during the past seven (7) years prove the Credit Union is NOT progressive. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b>Source:</b> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><a href="https://priorityonecu.org/community/careers/">https://priorityonecu.org/community/careers/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">On December 31, 2006, the date President Wiggington's predecessor retired. the Credit Union's total Net Assets were </span></span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">$172,250,649. </b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">At the end of </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">September 2014, Credit Union's Net Assets totalled </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b>$1</b></span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b>49,491,398</b>, indicating a loss of </span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">$22,759,251 </span>over the past seven years during which Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.served as President and CEO. Not only has Priority One lost more than <b style="color: red;">$20 million </b>but the President finds it necessary to continue exaggerating the amount of the Credit Union's Net Income by approximately <b>$5 million. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: x-large; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b><span style="color: #222222;">So What Does </span><span style="color: blue;">Bankrate.com</span><span style="color: #222222;"> Say?</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">We decided to again visit </span><span style="line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Bankrate.com</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"> as we do from time to time and obtain a record of their most recent assessment of Priority One's actual performance versus the propaganda spewed out by the President.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b>Source:</b> </span></span><a href="http://www.bankrate.com/rates/safe-sound/bank-ratings.aspx?t=cu&i=priority+one&r=&a=&c=&s=California&z=" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;" target="_blank">Bankrate.com (Priority One CU Rating)</a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">For the period ending on June 30, 2014, Bankrate.com issued a three-star rating to Priority One. Three-stars, as shown below, indicate the Credit Union is merely "performing." </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">HIGH CAPITAL</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Bankrate, the Credit Union's three-star rating is attributable to high capital. As we've shown since late 2010, the President's bludgeoning in spending forced closure of six (6) branches, sharply decreased the budgets once spent on prize-wining marketing and advertising and in 2012, resulted in the elimination of the once successful Business Development team. All of this was done to ensure Net Capital grew and remained above 6%. In 2009, auditors informed the President that Net Capital was declining and might soon fall below 6%. It was suggested to him to find ways of reducing expenses including identifying and closing branches that were performing poorly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, prior to 2010, the President and Board realized sales were in decline creating a financial strain to the Credit Union as it struggled, more and more to offset its outgoing expense. The President and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, decided that borrowing $20 million from the Credit Union's line-of-credit would serve to create the impression of growth. Opting for superficiality over substance and results, the money was borrowed, temporarily increasing the amount of the Credit Union's net Income but adding a financial burden in the form of interest on the loan, approximating between $30,000 to $33,000 per month in addition to principle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As shown below, as of June 30, 2014, Priority One's Net Capital remains well above 6%, ensuring the Credit Union remains operational. However, contrary to President Wiggington's disclosures made to employees in November 2011, Net Capital is not synonymous with profit. Nowadays, reducing expenses is needed by the Credit Union to assure it remains in business. Another effect of the Credit Union's addictive need to cut spending is attested to that in 2014, Priority One employs a large contingent of part-time staff who are not recipients of medical or retirement benefits. Ten months ago, in January 2014, the President ordered closure of the Santa Clarita branch in a frantic attempt to fuel an increase of Net Capital. However, what is all too clear is that President Wiggington is incapable of developing strategies the create a consistent flow of profit and attract new business. So will the President close another branch should Net Capital again teeter as it did in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013? And if so, which branch might end up on the chopping block? Will it be the large Los Angeles branch, the small but profit generating Van Nuys branch or the dismal main branch in South Pasadena? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">Unfortunately, for the troubled Credit Union, Bankrate's analysis is not all good news. Yes, capital is high but according to Bankrate, the <b>Return on Assets </b>("ROA"), as shown below,is <b>"Substantially Below Average". </b>Another point of concern to Bankrate is that Priority One's <b>overhead</b> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">is "</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">Significantly Higher Than Average." </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">This is actually the third consecutive year in which Bankrate.com concludes Priority One's <b>"Overhead" </b>is higher than the industry average and cites that this could potentially be problematic and an <u>indicator</u><b> </b>that it could </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;"><b>"lead to financial deterioration."</b> Bankrate concludes buy suggesting initiation of an in depth investigation but don't expect either President Wiggington or Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, to initiate queries as investigations are a threat to these two who have spent the past seven (7) years, exacting tremendous time, effort, and the Credit Union's monies, to conceal the truth about the Credit Union's performance from Members, employees and the public at large. This past May 2014, the President ordered that employees limit mailing out copies of the 2013 Annual Report. His directive remains firmly in place and evidently his fear of further exposure is of deep concern for the chronically inept President. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19.2000007629395px;">As shown below, overhead is in Bankrate's opinion, a serious and potentially detrimental factor that could come to impede the Credit Union's future. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bankrate's Earning Analysis reveals Priority One reported </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"net profit of $367.47 thousand" </b>or an <u>return of average assets </u>("ROA") in the amount of 0.25%". Bankrate adds that in the year preceding June 30, 2014, the Credit Union reported <b>"net profit of $665,131" </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or an </span><u style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">return of average assets </u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">("ROA") in the amount of 0.44%. Obviously, the Credit Union's return on average assets has declined over the past year despite President Wiggington's continuous efforts to create an unevidenced impression the Credit Union's business is progressing forward and upward. <b>ROA's are a primary measurement used in the credit union industry to gauge profitability. In Priority One's case, its ROA is .25% while the industry average is 0.81%.</b> Irrefutably, Priority One's business is doing poorly and falls far below the industry average. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BANKRATE's SUMMARY</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">High capital aside, Priority One's documented performance reveals it is not generating sufficient new business to offset its overhead. This inability by the Credit Union also inhibits amassing profit and promoting physical growth. This doesn't bode well for President Wiggington; Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock; Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte; Vice President of Lending, Patricia Loiacano; and the entire Board of Directors who are all apparently ill-qualified to develop effective strategical planning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">BEAUTY AND </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="color: red;">DA BEAST</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2001, a beautiful Afro-American woman and Member of the Credit Union, visited the Loan Department in Priority One's main branch in South Pasadena, California and applied for a automobile loan in the amount of <b>$31,876</b>. Unfortunately for the Member, who we will refer to as "Patrice", her FICO Score of <b>518</b> and a few adverse credit references in her credit report, disqualified obtaining approval of the loan.<b> The End</b>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As with any incident involving Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., the circumstances in this situation would prove anything but simple. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. happened to be walking through the Loan Department while </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patrice sat at a desk, speaking to a Loan Officer. Seeing the beautiful woman, he made beeline to the officer's desk using the pretext that he wanted to say hello. After greeting the officer, he turned and introduced himself to the Member and handed her his business card, inviting her to call him if she needed his assistance. <b>The Member called Mr. Wiggington. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Patrice called and informed the President that she didn't qualify for a vehicle loan due to her low FICO Score and bankruptcy and charge-offs referenced in her credit report. Mr. Wiggington assured her he would look into the matter. It is important to note that this is a unique even as Mr. Wiggington has for years, refused to speak to members about loan requests which have been denied approval due to adverse credit references. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As shown below, the Member's Experian Fair Isaac Score was 518, indicative of poor credit. Her credit history contained a reference to a past due amount f $20,094. There are also references to a bankruptcy and to a judgment. The latter was issued by the Antelope Municipal Court. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THE APPROVAL</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To ensure the Member understood the terms of the Credit Union's loan agreement she would be required to adhere to, Mrs. Wiggington scheduled a meeting to discuss the agreement and answer any of the Member's questions. The President called the Member and asked her to meet him at </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fat Burgers </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">located at 4070 Marlton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90008. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Asking the Member to meet with him at a hamburger stand was wholly inappropriate and could have created a situation that could potentially result in legal ramifications to the Credit Union though it was quite clear that any such considerations were inconsequential to Mr. Wiggington whose self-indulgences have always taken precedence over the good of the Credit Union. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Wiggington, accompanied by his uncle, arrived at Fat Burgers and waited for the Member to arrive. Mr. Wiggington would later state that when the Member entered </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fat Burger</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, she sauntered across the room causing every man to turn and stare but quickly adding, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Everyone looked at her but she came to us." </b>And before jumping to conclusions, t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he President was not 17 years old on the day the meeting took place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After their meeting, the President returned to the South Pasadena office and approved the request. The Member clearly worked Mr. Wiggington like a pony at a children's birthday party.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24.6400012969971px;">. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24.6400012969971px;">As shown below, the Member received approval for the automobile loan in the amount of <b>$31,876 </b>with an <b>APR of 15.75%</b>. In abusing his authority and deviating from Credit Union directives found in policy, the President also discriminated against all other Members whose FICO Scores were identical or higher than that of this Member but were denied their requests due to a low FICO Score and/or because of adverse credit references in their credit report. So is beauty justified under policy a basis for approving a loan application? Or does Priority One's policy cite attractiveness deemed a justified reason for denying approval of a loan application?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24.6400012969971px;">Since 2010, a growing number of complaints accuse Priority One of having eligibility loan requirements that are too stringent. Evidently, in Patrice's case, no such requirements were enforced. And though we can't comment on the reasonableness of the Credit Union's eligibility requirements, we can on the defiance by Mr. Wiggington to adhere to rules which were reviewed by the Credit Union's attorneys and subsequently ratified by the Board of Directors. Though these were clearly established to protect the Credit Union, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24.6400012969971px;">Charles R. Wiggington., Sr. showed no hesitation to disregard these in the case of a Member whose request should have been denied. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 24.6400012969971px;">So how many Members whose credit reports reference a FICO Score of 518 or higher and whose credit history doesn't reference a bankruptcy found their application for a loan denied?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under <b>Article 8.3, Credit Bureau Score</b>, in Priority One's Loan Policy, it states:</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Credit Union RELIES on the bureau
score developed by Fair Isaac and Companies. This score is known as “FICO” when
ordered through Experian, “Beacon”, through Equifax and “Empirica”, through
Trans Union. Loan officers WILL USE THE SCORE TO DETERMINE RISK ALONG WITH OTHER CRITERIA REVIEWED HEREIN. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Not surprisingly, there isn't a single reference in the Loan Policy written to accommodate attractive women or men.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charles Wiggington's intentional disregard for Loan Policy was due more than a temporary lapse in judgment. Though the Loan Policy was reviewed by Credit Union attorneys and later, ratified by the Board of Directors, Mr. Wiggington's behaviors, actions and verbalizations suggest he may believe he is exempt from complying to the organization's policies which he has historically treated as suggestions. Furthermore, in the case of this Member, he showed absolutely no concern or interest in protecting the Credit Union. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite a FICO Score of 518 and adverse references in the Member's credit report, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. approved the more than $31,000 automobile loan. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not surprisingly, the Member never contacted Mr. Wiggington after obtainment of the loan. The scorned President later told the Loan Officer who funded the loan that the Member</span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Used me. I will never talk to her again." </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be fair, it was Mr. Wiggington who acted unethically when he disregarded the Credit Union's Loan Policy. He alone approved the Members application for an automobile loan. Furthermore, his decision to approve the loan application was unrelated to business and just a means by which to ingratiate himself to her. The Member never violated Credit Union policies and she never compromised herself. Her role in this incident, was purely manipulative and once she obtained what she wanted she immediately terminated her business relationship with the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">obnoxious, policy-breaking Officer. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Source: </b><i><a href="http://priorityonecu.blogspot.com/2009/02/best-and-most-beautiful-things-in-world.html" target="_blank">Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave, When First We Practice to Deceive, Monday, February 9, 2009</a></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, a then 101 year-old Member-Owner named Carrie Willis Williams, contacted Priority One's Member Service Department to request closure of her Credit Union accounts. Ms. Williams was no longer able to care for herself and decided to move out-of-state with her niece. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When she called the Member Services Department, the Member discovered to her dismay that monies had been siphoned from one of her accounts by her caregiver, Delores Gleaton, without the knowledge or authorization of the Member. The withdrawals had taken place in Las Vegas which Ms. Gleaton had visited for the purpose of gambling. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When then COO, Beatrice Walker, and President Wiggington were advised of the incident, the two refused to return Ms. Williams' monies from her accounts. Not only did they refuse to mail her a check for the money contained in her account, they also refused to return all monies that were withdrawn illegally. At the time, the </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rationale given by the COO and President was that they were concerned that Ms. Williams was being coaxed into closing her account. The issue with their concerns is that there was absolutely no evidence that Ms. Williams was being manipulated to close her accounts. It was pure conjecture on the part of the COO and President. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is most peculiar is that at the time the monies were taken out of Ms. Williams' account, no one at Priority One, including the COO and President, made certain the Credit Union's protocols designed to protect Member assets, were being strictly enforced. What is also peculiar is that no one at Priority One ever noticed that the 101 year-old Member seemed to be spending an inordinate amount of time in Las Vegas casinos. Though possible suspicious triggers were evident, no one at the Credit Union took notice of these.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we've published in past posts, in 2009, an audit of the Los Angeles branch's records confirmed that more than $60,000 had been taken from Member accounts by a former receptionist assigned to that office. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In early 2013, another audit of the Los Angeles branch's records showed that other thefts had occurred. At the time these were discovered, Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, told employees of the South Pasadena branch that the thefts had been perpetrated by the AVP who had overseen the Los Angeles and Airport branches. <b>Why would the Credit Union not take notice of what most assuredly constitutes suspicious patterns of behavior?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following the refusal by the COO and President to release Ms. Williams' funds, the Member was forced to procure the services of an attorney. I</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">n his letter dated September 20, 2009 and never published by us previously, attorney Ruben A. Spivey, addresses the issues of $17,080.00 taken without authorization from Ms. Williams' account. In his correspondence, shown below, the lawyer aptly asks why the Credit Union never realized that large withdrawals of money were being taken from the 101 year old's account?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only did the Credit Union fail to perform its due diligence, they failed to notify police authorities. It appears the Credit Union experiences tremendous difficulty enforcing its own protocols and clearly, they aren't very adept at protecting Member assets. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>CONCLUSION</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As 2014 rapidly draws to its end, it appears Priority One Credit Union in South Pasadena, California remains securely entrenched in the cycle of loss and failure first begun by President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. in 2007. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The challenges facing Priority One also include its apparent inability to market its aging products and services supposedly designed to improve a person's financial life, yet in a Credit Union where its products are neither unique or new, what are the actual specific benefits any Member should expect to reap from what the Credit Union offers? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since January 1, 2007,. the date when Charles R. <span style="background-color: white;">Wiggington, </span>Sr. began serving as President, he has compulsively shown his disdain for the Credit Union's policies, state and federal laws, and even for the well-being of Members, and employees. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His long record of violations are numerous and have proven periodically, costly to a Credit Union struggling to garner new business. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before being appointed President, he intentionally circumvented Loan Policy and approved a more than $30,000 automobile loan to a Member whose FICO Score was a mere 518 and whose Credit Report referenced a bankruptcy and other adverse credit references. In the meantime, many other members with scores of 518 and better have been denied their requests for loans because they didn't meet the Credit Union's eligibility requirements. Not only did he create a precedent, he discriminated against other Members whose history was no worse than that of the Member he approved because he found her physically attractive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through the years, President Wiggington has violated policies created to protect the Credit Union and forcibly causing the Credit Union to be sued and pay out settlements. Despite his reprehensible acts, he has always found protection in the Board of Director who under leadership of its Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, have freely approved use of Credit Union funds to hire attorneys and consultants, who weaved intricate and fictitious defenses in an effort to exonerate the roguish President. In 2001, while serving in the capacity of Vice President of <i>Operations</i>, the President manipulated Credit Union policy and approved an automobile loan for more than $30,000 to a Member whose FICO Score was 518 and whose credit report referenced a bankruptcy and other adverse credit references. </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We saw this same disregard for policy and federal laws by the President and Board of Directors in 2008, when an investigator proved President Wiggington had sexually harassed a former employee.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We witnessed this same disregard when he ordered repossession of an automobile from a Member who had fallen on hard financial times but who agreed to repaying the monies due on the loan. The Member's mistake was having financed a BMW, the President's favorite automobile. After repossessing the vehicle, the then owner of Credit Resolutions handed the President the title for the car. Mr. Wiggington never paid a cent for the vehicle which was supposed to be sent to auction to try and recuperate some of the unpaid balance. Instead, the President took possession of the vehicle which he sold a few years later, at a profit to himself. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2007, the President chose not to enforce security protocols and as a result, ballots for that year's election were mailed out to members in envelopes on whose exteriors were printed Member credit union and social security numbers. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late 2009, the President and Board Chair committed collusion when the two disrupted that electoral process for the upcoming 2010 election. Their goal was to ensure the election did not result in the removal of any of the Directors who were loyal to Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, and the President and to whom ethics, policies and laws are based on their history of behavior, unimportant. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The widespread record of documented abuses committed by the President and enabled by the Board of Directors are merely symptoms of the their underlying psychology. In 2007, while standing in the Member Services Department and in the presence of Members, the President exclaimed loudly, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"I'm President and no one tells me what to do.</b>" The childish rant was both embarrassing and telling, revealing that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. doesn't perceive himself as an officer elected to serve Member-Owners, but as someone not required to abide to a structure of conduct defined under Credit Union policy and state laws. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather pathetically, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. has proven he is a slave to his own unhealthy proclivities. His excuses verbalized to a select few employees that he ordered the closure of six branches as part of a well-honed strategy designed to fuel growth is both ridiculous and more than a little disturbing. If the Redlands and Valencia branches were closed in 2010 and the Riverside branch closed in 2011, for the purpose of reducing spending and driving sales and new membership, then why did he open the Santa Clarita branch in February 2012? The answer is both simple and obvious: He's lying. The President's absurd concoctions are intended to deter attention from his immense ineptitude and well documented failures. They're also intended to help him save face though after seven years of abhorrent behaviors, his reputation seems quite <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: left;">unsalvageable</span>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Contrary to the bill of goods he'd like Members and employees to buy into is that Priority One's decline is </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">not </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the result of the national economy or the high national unemployment rate. He has also never been the target of a group of apparently invisible ninja-like bloggers who out of jealousy, have sabotaged the Credit Union's ability to do business. The Credit Union's failure to attract Member and potential Member interest in what it offers are easily attributable to the President's immense ineptitude and ignorance of marketing and his equal inability to comprehend the necessity of establishing and maintaining relationships with the membership and the communities located within the Credit Union's territories. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bankrate's assessment which cites a concern about Priority One's overhead is a real and growing issue which could at worst, force the closure of another of the Credit Union's three remaining branches in the not-so-distant future. Oddly, it doesn't appear that President Wiggington can comprehend that closing branch locations reduces convenience to Members and in turn, serves to compromise the integrity of service levels. However, Priority One's internal and service issues are merely the by-products of the type of leadership provided by Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., the Board, and its Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, all of who have left Priority One a smaller, frail and ineffective organization. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: blue;">IT IS A MAN'S OWN </span><span style="color: red;">MIND</span><span style="color: blue;">, NOT HIS ENEMY OR FOE, THAT LURES HIM TO EVIL WAYS </span></b></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">- </span>BUDDHA</i></b></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com242tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-28549346169997979292014-10-10T14:53:00.000-07:002014-11-14T20:58:35.951-08:00A History of Failures, Part 1 of 4<div align="center" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 26pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">It’s Throwback</span> <span style="color: red;">Thursday</span><span style="color: blue;">!</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Due to the many comments we received in response to our last post, which alluded to abuses committed in the past by Priority One Credit Union's President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., we decided to dedicate this month's publication to some those events. We've selected those incidents and acts which provide the most insight into Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s character and ethics and which we believe had the greatest and most destructive impact upon the Credit Union. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone following Priority One's performance, that September 2014 proved to be another lackluster month for a Credit Union that can't escape its inability to market its products and services at a level required to amass profit, increase membership, and regain its former reputation as a respected and principled organization led by ethical and competent Managers. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Since being appointed President on January 1, 2007, President Wiggington and his so-called executive staff have failed quite publicly, to develop methodologies that translate into real growth and profit. Since 2010, the Credit Union has struggled to offset its continually increasing overhead and in 2014, is no longer able to provide convenience to Members living and working in many of the communities located within its vast territory stretching from the Santa Clarita Valley in the north to the Riverside/San Diego border, in the South.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only significant change we noticed during the month of September was that the President abruptly ceased expounding about how his closure of six branches since 2010 were part of an elaborate and well-honed plan guaranteed to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">increase business, augment new memberships, and produce real physical growth. We aren't about to hold our breath awaiting fruition of his alleged plan, but his excuse struck as more than a absurd. Since when does eliminating convenience and an inability to provide quality member service reap growth and profit? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This post contains copies of documentation we've never published previously along with documentation presented in past posts, including biographies written in 2010 by Directors, Diedra Harris-Brooks, O. Glen Saffold, and Richard Hale. The intent of the biographies was to impress and sway voters to re-elect the three incumbents to the Board during the 2010 election. This, by the way, is the election the Board Chair and President disrupted when they tried to exclude a large contingent of Members from voting. The plan was of course foiled when we exposed it on this blog, forcing the Credit Union to conduct a second election. </span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The biographies were also published before Priority One </span><span style="text-align: justify;">was forced to close 6 of 9 branches, before it was forced to </span><span style="text-align: justify;">terminate a large contingent of full-time employees, replacing them with part-time staff, and before the Credit Union was forced to drastically reduce budgets once spent on successful, prize-winning marketing, advertising and business development. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reader comments published in response to our last two posts suggest people have grown weary of the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President's and Board Chair's excuses and far-fetched concoctions, created to excuse and even justify the Credit Union's lagging performance and possibly, suggesting that the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">propaganda</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> churned out by the two officers may have finally and at long last, run its course. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">THE WAYBACK MACHINE</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquuB4tMj8oif83K_XKvFyFirth_jtDYN4cNYA9jDbRPVQv1dS_MSDqjpXLpEd5VHevuEAJbhgTlOUOGv4a_f2APYyjqtIroyno44JA40MDU0RU271omexgH_JA1un_BrCh2uUyzfAcnru/s1600/the+Wayback+Machine.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquuB4tMj8oif83K_XKvFyFirth_jtDYN4cNYA9jDbRPVQv1dS_MSDqjpXLpEd5VHevuEAJbhgTlOUOGv4a_f2APYyjqtIroyno44JA40MDU0RU271omexgH_JA1un_BrCh2uUyzfAcnru/s1600/the+Wayback+Machine.PNG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a time when Priority One Credit Union could actually afford to publish a monthly and quarterly newsletter. The monthly newsletter ceased publication in 2010, when the Credit Union discovered Members were not reading it. Publication of the quarterly newsletter continued though abruptly ending in late 2013 and a victim of the President's often ermergent need to reduce spending. In an effort to avoid rumors that the quarterly newsletter was eliminated because the Credit Union could no longer afford to maintain it, the President stated that Members can obtain the latest news about the Credit Union on its droll and often inaccurate, News and Updates page, located on the Credit Union's webpage. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7OAgdGYFfgoaZJms_HvUvWe4kUoPlMp76lBGHdj9ORUyIFflZZkuN0-kLwxvT_7mEckXxXsRT1SVf44wn9q0_iBbnYywdqlo6RZxH4L_vK9D1iI7M6Q-3PNej_-_Y6VYCjTWG8NeDz9Z/s1600/News+and+Updates.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7OAgdGYFfgoaZJms_HvUvWe4kUoPlMp76lBGHdj9ORUyIFflZZkuN0-kLwxvT_7mEckXxXsRT1SVf44wn9q0_iBbnYywdqlo6RZxH4L_vK9D1iI7M6Q-3PNej_-_Y6VYCjTWG8NeDz9Z/s1600/News+and+Updates.PNG" height="400" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Spring 2010 quarterly newsletter, the President declared that Priority One possesses the ability to help <u>every</u> Member achieve financial fitness. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XX2L1ErDdxJwzlDv5TzvoX9mJN6VSh4AamUPuFR75_9W-jfg_SkEelI89EC1QSXK0h6egiRhnmOMUiRu3TluLSXgV7pnOOZfk16Bed0fHy0v_7N1u1qSOY4npe-QQ7fMhxk7H_PU0qC8/s1600/President+Address+100314+Amended.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XX2L1ErDdxJwzlDv5TzvoX9mJN6VSh4AamUPuFR75_9W-jfg_SkEelI89EC1QSXK0h6egiRhnmOMUiRu3TluLSXgV7pnOOZfk16Bed0fHy0v_7N1u1qSOY4npe-QQ7fMhxk7H_PU0qC8/s1600/President+Address+100314+Amended.PNG" height="282" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="OLE_LINK1"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">“We are
starting out the year (2010) by reaching out to all our members, to assist each
and everyone of you in getting financially fit. We realize that some of our
members may already be financially fit but some may still need assistance.” </span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></a></div>
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place things into perspective, the President's address was published a few months after the Credit Union ended 2009 with<b><span style="color: red;"> -$5,458,432</span></b> in losses. </span> With the assistance of his then ally, COO Beatrice Walker, the President announced Priority One turned a profit during the month of <b>January 2010</b>. The CEO and his COO, lied. What actually transpired was that the President and COO transferred monies from one Credit Union General Ledger, reporting the <i style="font-weight: bold;">borrowed </i>monies as profit. Their manipulation of the Credit Union's books had a short-lived effect. By March 2010, the Credit Union's net income was again decreasing and by October 2010, the Credit Union announced it would be closing its Redlands and Valencia branches. On December 31, 2010, the Credit Union reported losses in the amount of <b><span style="color: red;">-$563,830</span></b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite the dishonest manipulation of the Credit Union's books, President Wiggington arrogantly declared that the Credit Union possessed the ability to help every member achieve financial fitness yet inexplicably and contrary to its own self-promotion, the Credit Union apparently lacked the ability to help achieve its own financial fitness.</span><br />
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In his address, the President also states, <b style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>“</i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">We realize that some of our members may already be
financially fit, but still may need assistance”. </i>The statement is absurd though quite typical of a President who doesn't possess the ability to perpetrate deceptions competently. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Why would Members who are financially fit require the assistance of the Credit Union to help them improve their </i></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">"financial fitness"? </i>A Credit Union whose Net Income has decreased by more than $17 million since January 1,. 2007 is no one's financial fitness center and incapable of helping improve any member's financial status. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">President Wiggington continues… </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span id="goog_482733700" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“POCU has anew served referred to as “Balance”, which
is a financial fitness program</b>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Balance is offered by other Credit Union's and touted as an allegedly "free" financial education and counseling service though in actuality., it is not entirely free to Members who enroll in the program which is designed to help Members introduce control over their finances and achieve their personal financial goals. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">President Wiggington was informed about Balance by </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Training and Education Manager, Robert West. Mr. West has periodically introduced FREE services to the Credit Union though none has survived the test of time and like his other offerings, Balance ceased to be offered during the same year it was introduced. </span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THE <span style="color: red;">PACT</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On <b>September 23, 2014</b>, the following comment was posted by a reader of this blog:</span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You know who Wiggington is as a man, by his associations. He is close with Smock who is a horrible human being. He is close with West who is no small hypocrite. He’s friends with Henry Justice. It was Wiggington who introduced Henry Justice to the credit union. After Henry Justice refused to surrender pink slips for 5 cars purchased from him by members of the credit union, Priority One had to file a suit in court against Mr. Justice but old wily, street smart Justice filed bankruptcy and said his daughter made off with the money. So Priority One couldn’t touch Henry. In 2009, Henry Justice shows up at the main office with his son and asks to meet with Wiggington. Wiggington comes out and hugs his buddy the thief, at the reception desk and takes him back to the board room. Then they leave the credit union for about 3 hours and have lunch at the Barkley where they talk about reintroducing Mr. Justice to Priority One and again, as a preferred auto broker.</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-size: 12pt;">The following week, Henry (Justice) shows up (at the South Pasadena branch) with his son an hands Wiggington a stack of business cards. They leave the office (branch) for about two and a half hours and the next day, Wiggington tells Patti Loiacano that Henry (Justice) is returning to Priority One. Patti reminds him that Mr. Justice (allegedly) stole money and owes the credit union more than $70,000. He (the President) shrugs it off and tells her Mr. Justice will pay back a part of what he owes. He (Henry Justice) pays back about $1300.00 and Wiggington passes out Henry's business cards to every loan officer and processor and tells them they're to promote Mr. Justice's new business as a "preferred broker." </b><b style="font-size: 12pt;">The loan people have more character than Wiggington because they all agreed not to promote Mr. Justice because of what he did to the credit union. Then a few days later, a post appears on this blog exposing Wiggington’s new plan. He comes out to the loan department and picks up Mr. Justice’s business cards, he tells the staff not to promote Mr. Justice and he calls Mr. Justice and tells him that if anyone from the board calls him to ask if he’s returning to Priority One that he’s supposed to say no and also say he hasn’t spoken to Wiggington in years. Yep, you can tell who Wiggington is by his associations. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>The Incident</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">In 1998, Charles R. Wiggington. Sr. introduced his friend, Henry Justice to the Credit Union, intending to promote Mr. Justice's dealership, Justice Auto Sales. What this meant was that Mr. Justice's dealership as a <i>preferred broker. </i> This meant that representatives of the Member Service and Loan Departments would recommend Mr. Justice's dealership to Members expressing an interest in buying an automobile. In our post, </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>"It May be Fraud to You but not to Charles R. Wiggington, Sr</i></b><i>" (Monday, January 26, 2009)</i>, we reported that in 2003, Mr. Justice refused to surrender Pink Slips for vehicles purchased by four Members of the Credit Union. Mr. Justice's refusal impeded the Credit Union from registering its name as lienholder of the four automobiles and though the Credit Union had entered into an agreement with Mr. Justice in good faith, the broker refused to surrender the vehicle titles. Due to Mr. Justice's refusal, Members could not obtain Registration Cards from the Department of Motor Vehicles ("DMV") forcing the Credit Union's DMV Specialists to visit the office of the DMV in Lincoln Park, each month, to obtain a temporary Registration Card so Members could legally operate their automobiles.</span></span><br />
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To add insult to injury, Mr. Justice filed for bankruptcy. His bankruptcy filing was subsequently approved by the court, enabling Mr. Justice to avoid repayment of the monies due Priority One. Mr. Justice would later insist that the monies due the Credit Union were absconded by his daughter who had been employed by him at his dealership. </span><br />
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In 2002, in ongoing efforts to try and acquire the pink slips for each of the four automobiles purchased by Members from Justice Auto, the Credit Union mailed letters, like the one shown below, requesting the dealer provide a copy of the DMV Application so that the vehicles could be properly registered. Mr. Justice chose not to respond. </span></div>
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08/20/2002
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<b>JUSTICE AUTO SALES</b><br />
<b>20930 BONITA STREET</b><br />
<b>CARSON, CA 90746</b>
<br /><br />
We have enclosed a check in the amount of $ <u><b> 7344.00</b> </u> as payment in full for the<br />
<br /><br />
following vehicle <u><b> 1997 HONDA CIVIC </b></u><br />
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Vehicle Identification Number # <b><u> 2HGEJ6677VH575341 </u></b><br />
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Being purchased by<b><u> LISA M. XXXXXX ESTHER C. XXXXXXX </u></b><br />
</span><b style="font-size: 12pt;"><u><br /></u></b></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>
<b><u>6412 XXXXXXX AVE BUENA PARK, CA 90621 </u></b><br />
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We are now <b>PAPERLESS TITLE</b>. The application to Register New or Used Vehicles with the Department of Motor Vehicles must be <b>Exactly </b>in the name of.<br />
<br /><b>PRIORITY ONE CU</b></i></span><br />
<b style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1631 HUNTINGTON DR</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i><b>S PASADENA CA 91030</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>As Lienholder and the Registered Owner as given above.</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">To perfect our interest, please send us a copy of the DMV Application to Register the Vehicle. Thank you for your cooperation. </span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Respectfully,</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>Loan Department Date: 08/20/2002</i></span></span><br />
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In 1998, at the time Mr. Justice was introduced to Priority One by his friend, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., the dealer entered into a written agreement with the Credit Union, an excerpt of which is shown below. What we find perplexing is that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. signed the agreement with Mr. Justice? Doesn't it seem a conflict of interest that Charles R. Wiggington., Sr., a friend of Mr. Justice, signed the agreement which allowed the dealer to become a preferred automobile broker? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkdY9eFH0mXDC6G7QggSxw1ChZ0m2YgB7FW4uG9lSXLvA00WjlTtvM19BXmW2O_uVlM7tnf1i-tNI1sQ3wbjMA2h78Gv-jfh7OY9bf1rLoTQMqKw5Fr0uOsNFi6QbuTZ5sFUmdZ4_VFgt/s1600/Henry+Justice+Agreement+1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkdY9eFH0mXDC6G7QggSxw1ChZ0m2YgB7FW4uG9lSXLvA00WjlTtvM19BXmW2O_uVlM7tnf1i-tNI1sQ3wbjMA2h78Gv-jfh7OY9bf1rLoTQMqKw5Fr0uOsNFi6QbuTZ5sFUmdZ4_VFgt/s1600/Henry+Justice+Agreement+1.PNG" height="167" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQWkbftmSCmoe0RcLgV4elVJUy0tl5jfc5LAtAks5ATrAlkTUu3rmNKA0qgsHe2d3m-ygpxaRFD0ZtkiQkSF7Ty_FwGcZbYFDZFpdAEFcsrf82DDLBeRv461Izgtx118MOlh0nz9ApuHa/s1600/Henry+Justice+Agreement+2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQWkbftmSCmoe0RcLgV4elVJUy0tl5jfc5LAtAks5ATrAlkTUu3rmNKA0qgsHe2d3m-ygpxaRFD0ZtkiQkSF7Ty_FwGcZbYFDZFpdAEFcsrf82DDLBeRv461Izgtx118MOlh0nz9ApuHa/s1600/Henry+Justice+Agreement+2.PNG" height="351" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. has proven an immense inability to comprehend the inappropriateness of his actions. His friend's actions which culminated in bankruptcy, caused Priority One to lose more than $60,000. </span><br />
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The following letter, dated June 18, 2003, was sent to Priority One by its collection attorney, Bruce P. Needleman. If Mr. Needleman's name sounds familiar, he is the same lawyer who in 2012, responded to a complaint filed at Superior Court in Los Angeles by a Member who alleged Priority One violated the Privacy Act and published information about her automobile loan and her person, on the Internet. Mr. Needleman who was ill qualified to represent the Credit Union in the 2012 lawsuit and was subsequently replaced by an attorney qualified to respond to the Member's complaint. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIck-CnEkcae9m-dfjhiPq1iHNo_xDi2Z_-6dTDlwk7BjOb_6RVvn7XZXsGHpFjTiLlCtz_HlpdzS3Xg-oucmgzTFG2lrffVaW-Gj2NbjBWTF08UW0P2JXS0Akk8afyKe4ZKwHp85bqHO/s1600/Bruce+Needleman+09182003+Ltr+JPEG.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIck-CnEkcae9m-dfjhiPq1iHNo_xDi2Z_-6dTDlwk7BjOb_6RVvn7XZXsGHpFjTiLlCtz_HlpdzS3Xg-oucmgzTFG2lrffVaW-Gj2NbjBWTF08UW0P2JXS0Akk8afyKe4ZKwHp85bqHO/s1600/Bruce+Needleman+09182003+Ltr+JPEG.PNG" height="640" width="512" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Approval of Mr. Justice's bankruptcy should have signaled an end to the business relationship between the dealership and the Credit Union but not so for President Wiggington whose defiance to rules, laws and protocols impel him to seek out what is personally gratifying versus what is good for the Credit Union, Member-<i>Owners,</i> and employees. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, Mr. Justice and his son, arrived, unannounced in the lobby of the South Pasadena Branch. They asked the receptionist if they could speak to President Wiggington. The President who will never meet with people who haven't previously scheduled an appointment to meet with him, hurried to the lobby and loudly welcomed Mr. Justice and his son. He afterwards lead the two to the Board Room located at the back of the South Pasadena branch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ensuring security protocols are adhered to is pivotal to any business yet on the day of Mr. Justice's visit, the President invited Mr. Justice and his son into the back offices of the Credit Union's main branch despite the fact Mr. Justice ended his business relationship with the Credit Union just a few years earlier, owing more than $60,000 for vehicles whose titles he refused to surrender. In inviting Mr. Justice to the back offices, the President should absolutely no concern for the well-being of the Credit Union, it's assets and property. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Three days following Mr. Justice's visit to the South Pasadena branch, President Wiggington informed then Lending Director, Patricia Loiacano, that Mr. Justice was being reinstated as a preferred broker of the Credit Union. An image of Mr. Justice's business card was personally issued by the President to the Consumer and Real Estate Loan Officers along with instructions that they recommend Mr. Justice's dealership to Members hoping to purchase a vehicle. As shown below, Mr. Justice's new dealership was named Long's Auto Sales though the owner on record was Mr. Justice's son. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV0DklxZWfDgRVTC04edf6bTlrcIjeQnG1DNcfNXytDxvt1dlVXDbMT-VGIJD19rhGcBgmF2brirkVY8_qOP2hayWDaq1VyDNnCpzfmugn_kw__7tZits1poivpa9TLaqkh8eUvSfDXOk/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV0DklxZWfDgRVTC04edf6bTlrcIjeQnG1DNcfNXytDxvt1dlVXDbMT-VGIJD19rhGcBgmF2brirkVY8_qOP2hayWDaq1VyDNnCpzfmugn_kw__7tZits1poivpa9TLaqkh8eUvSfDXOk/s1600/Capture.JPG" height="233" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A PLAN <span style="color: red;">ABORTED</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As oft occurs whenever Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. chooses to manipulate circumstances, his plan to re-establish a relationship with Mr. Justice, encountered some obstacles. The first occurred when the Director of Lending, Mrs. Loiacano, reminded him that <span style="font-size: small;">Mr. Justice owed the Credit Union more than<b> $60,000</b>, suggesting that Mr. Justice make some effort to repay a portion of the unpaid balance due Priority One. </span>The President conferred with Mr. Justice and it was agreed he would pay the Credit Union approximately<b> $1300.00 </b>before being reinstated as a "preferred" auto broker. </span></div>
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Mr. Justice agreed to pay the small amount and the President proceeded with his plans. Unfortunately, for the undisciplined President, at the time he was preparing to re-introduce Mr. Justice to the Credit Union, we published a post describing Mr. Justice's past transgression which cost the Credit Union a total loss in excess of $60,000 and described the President's plan to promote Mr. Justice's new dealership. It is also important to point out that at the time the President promised to promote the dealership at no cost to Mr. Justice. </span><br />
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In January 2009, the President quickly moved forward with his plan and might have succeeded had we not exposed his intent on this blog. Panicked, the President returned to the Loan Department, picking up Mr. Justice's business cards and ordered Mrs. Loiacano to advise her staff not to promote the dealership until further notice. Returning to his office, he called Mr. Justice's cellular and instructed him to deny that the President had invited him to return to the Credit Union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No doubt, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. has no concept that as President, he is to serve the best interest of the Credit Union. His plan to enter into a new agreement with Mr. Justice was an effrontery to ethics, to the security of the credit union and its assets and disrespectful to the four members who had purchased automobiles from Justice Auto Sales and who for years were immensely inconvenienced by Mr. Justice's refusal to turn over pink slips for the four vehicles financed by the Credit Union. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwhyphenhyphenMfvwZ3OnIB-sF768nWHni8Two403K-odmaIOcuUGgA0nYUihF8juzN_NQ-CwL1qmUHxH6lKMywGApZXklG-_YcmTerEGcWQC-ljmT0OcQ0SSR9GbuUVdPTQBCqsxHGq3HK0sBIrSP/s1600/1+Squart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwhyphenhyphenMfvwZ3OnIB-sF768nWHni8Two403K-odmaIOcuUGgA0nYUihF8juzN_NQ-CwL1qmUHxH6lKMywGApZXklG-_YcmTerEGcWQC-ljmT0OcQ0SSR9GbuUVdPTQBCqsxHGq3HK0sBIrSP/s1600/1+Squart.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>The 2007 Mailing Fiasco</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmhZSqTaCmdan8FjRLHNXtnnjcOolOrY1PrJDk77IZNHKlUDEgc12Vr9y0QbzFF_v4VGpKNmoo24u84ZDRm68cue7OR3edQfNZNsmrReYO2vMxU6t42I8xiNT6EMAuolXdq6j9ZcLDsTf/s1600/Mail+Truck+Wrecked.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmhZSqTaCmdan8FjRLHNXtnnjcOolOrY1PrJDk77IZNHKlUDEgc12Vr9y0QbzFF_v4VGpKNmoo24u84ZDRm68cue7OR3edQfNZNsmrReYO2vMxU6t42I8xiNT6EMAuolXdq6j9ZcLDsTf/s1600/Mail+Truck+Wrecked.JPG" height="220" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just 3 months after being appointed President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s abilities were challenged by two separate incidents. The first incident involved a former Burbank Branch Manager who he personally picked and promoted to the newly created post of AVP which she began serving in on January 2, 2007. The problem was that the AVP had for many years, incurred NSF incidents on a monthly basis. She had also periodically borrowed money from co-workers despite the fact Priority One Credit Union policy prohibits borrowing money from co-workers. During the months of October and November 2006, then Vice President of Operations, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. approved reversing 24 individual NSF fees from the manager's account. Despite her checking account abuses, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. not only reversed NSF fees but found her qualified both in aptitude and ethically, to become one of his first AVP's.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, by April 2007, the AVPs account abuses surfaced after an anonymous letter was mailed to one of the Board Directors. The now former Director, conducted himself ethically and responsibly and personally delivered the letter to then Credit Union attorney, William Adler. An investigation by Mr. Adler revealed the AVP had committed kiting, a federal offense. Her crime involved writing bad checks from three checking accounts held at three different institutions including Priority One Credit Union. And though President Wiggington may not have known she was kiting, he was fully aware that during October and November 2006, she incurred from that 24 separate NSF incidents because it was he, who approved backing out all NSF fees. Not only did he deny any knowledge about the numerous NSF fees, Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, testified on his behalf, informing investigators that Mr. Wiggington had no knowledge that the AVP had kited while avoiding any queries regarding his knowledge that Mr. Wiggington knew about the NSF incidents or that it was he who approved the reversal of all NSF fees. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The AVP was rightfully terminated but an incensed Charles R. Wiggington., Sr. swore he would find out who had written the anonymous letter and make certain that person was terminated. Within days following termination of the AVP, he sat in the Consumer Loan Department and told the VISA Card Supervisor that he knew for a fact that the letter had been written by the former Director of Marketing who he demoted to Marketing Coordinator immediately upon becoming President. <i>Unfortunately, the President allowed his vivid and insatiable imagination to overcome logic and reasoning. We happen to know who wrote the letter and it wasn't the former Director of Marketing who had no involvement in the exposure of the President's hand-picked AVP who had chosen to violate federal law. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Immediately following termination of the AVP another, far more detrimental incident arose which affected all Member-Owners and is the one incident which began the Credit Union's rapid public unraveling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the years preceding January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began his appointment as President and CEO, during each annual election intended to fill seats of the Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee, a disc would be created containing the names and addresses of all active Members in good standing. The disc would be forwarded to the Credit Union's contracted printer, who would prepare ballots and envelopes, which would be sent to Members. However, before the disc was sent to the printer, the President would always examine its contents to ensure only member names and addresses were contained in the disc. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, the President chose not to examine the disc, instructing the IT Supervisor to send the uninspected disc to the printer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks later, the printer provided the credit union with some of the envelopes which had been printed and prepared for mailing. President Wiggington's predecessor had established security protocols which required that he along with the Director of Marketing and a third employee, examine a batch of envelopes intended for mailing, just to ensure the mailings were prepared correctly. In 2007, when Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was asked to examine a sample batch of the intended mailings, he replied, "I'm the President and I don't do that!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The envelopes were mailed but a few days later, a Member visiting the Valencia branch with his envelope in hand, was informed by a Teller, that the envelope contained the Member's Credit Union and Social Security Numbers, printed just above the window where his name and address appeared. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some Members contacted Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, incensed that their account and Social Security Numbers had been printed on the outside of the envelopes containing that year's ballots. An irked Board convened at the main branch, demanding President Wiggington discover who was a fault and ordering that person's termination. The President told them the error had been caused by the IT Supervisor, but convinced the Board that rather than terminating the IT Supervisor, that they instead lay him off for three days without pay. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While informing the IT Supervisor that he was going to be placed on a three-day suspension because of the breach of security which he allegedly committed, the President also told the IT Supervisor that he "fought" to retain the Supervisor's employment because the Board had demanded his termination. Shortly after returning from his suspension, the humiliated and broker Supervisor resigned, obtaining a better and higher paid position with the city of Los Angeles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to the widespread backlash, including the publication of an article by a Member and industry observers, the Credit Union hired at a cost of $100,000, the services of Equifax which monitored Member accounts for up to one year. But there was a catch, to qualify for the service, a Member had to contact the Credit Union and request inclusion in the service.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNLJhVSkPBNKW0eIqL0PAwF0vtFOzCS4P-z3r3PSddAX1CJ0jGmP5xN7Fy6dsR6VzTJby815SSvF5qHvE9lGBcxmRHSFhPSNEuqoj09-v_HRn3D79GnL_1CyDvYNg8NhgwfGtbJ16zKib/s1600/CRW+2007+Ltr+to+Mbrs+Mailing+Fiasco+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNLJhVSkPBNKW0eIqL0PAwF0vtFOzCS4P-z3r3PSddAX1CJ0jGmP5xN7Fy6dsR6VzTJby815SSvF5qHvE9lGBcxmRHSFhPSNEuqoj09-v_HRn3D79GnL_1CyDvYNg8NhgwfGtbJ16zKib/s1600/CRW+2007+Ltr+to+Mbrs+Mailing+Fiasco+1.JPG" height="640" width="481" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJtI3ZoxZX3w4i6o8mAniplZU4BmJ5YXFVXwaG_kRm-MZoz1RaJUFVg5tp4ik36YLwturEML5KdOYAvZTw-1hoBSz8gXLyJ7safY9008YRlf3nSJ2FnQjWyeA1FwoVn0YN0Ftq9gPRC6Y/s1600/CRW+2007+Ltr+to+Mbrs+Mailing+Fiasco+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJtI3ZoxZX3w4i6o8mAniplZU4BmJ5YXFVXwaG_kRm-MZoz1RaJUFVg5tp4ik36YLwturEML5KdOYAvZTw-1hoBSz8gXLyJ7safY9008YRlf3nSJ2FnQjWyeA1FwoVn0YN0Ftq9gPRC6Y/s1600/CRW+2007+Ltr+to+Mbrs+Mailing+Fiasco+2.JPG" height="640" width="524" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite the statements contained in his letter, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was not about to promote enrollment to Equifax's credit monitoring service which he often referred to as "expensive." He visited the Member Service and Loan Departments in South Pasadena to ordered them not to promote monitoring service adding that in his opinion, it was "highly unlikely an Member's account" would be compromised as a result of the security breach. The President's words showed how wholly disingenuous he was when he was forced to offer the credit monitoring service despite the fact the breach occurred because he though himself to elevated to adhere to the Credit Union's security protocols.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, his opinion that Member accounts would not be compromised was just another fantastical concoction dredged up from the deepest recesses of his strange and convoluted imagination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President's instructions to employees seem more than a little inconsistent with statements containing in a memorandum issued by Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, to employees and which provide <i style="font-weight: bold;">some </i>instruction on how they should respond to Member concerns regarding the security breach.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplRR5iLWNAEk1w5HyAU9DZ9my7H5ov5rtRGyJv0P2qNR-FB8_W7OhsUnNESj3MSSf1ABZ4xhEykYIw6OGgYJ7IYPkEC3HzSZC91GpZFHN32wbihGLbhHmFifdZciU9Uce37ACxhzQFP8e/s1600/Rodger+Smock+042507+Notice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhplRR5iLWNAEk1w5HyAU9DZ9my7H5ov5rtRGyJv0P2qNR-FB8_W7OhsUnNESj3MSSf1ABZ4xhEykYIw6OGgYJ7IYPkEC3HzSZC91GpZFHN32wbihGLbhHmFifdZciU9Uce37ACxhzQFP8e/s1600/Rodger+Smock+042507+Notice.JPG" height="640" width="510" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> When the security breach became public, Rodger Smock's priorities appear to have become more than a little confused. In his memorandum, he seems to have forgotten that Members are Member-Owners and that any inquiries regarding the security breach are justified when one considers that the breach was the result of Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. elitist attitude that he was somehow to elevated to personally inspect a sample batch of the envelopes which were intended for mailing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And contrary to Mr. Smock's assertion, the "important thing" should have been for all employees to exact steps needed help Members regain confidence in the Credit Union and its ability to protect Member assets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, the chronically dull EVP lacked the lucidity to respond appropriately to the mailing fiasco caused by his friend and supervisor, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. This by the way, is the same officer, whose mismanagement of the Human Resources Department provoked the filing of four lawsuits by former employees during the years of 2010 through 2012.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THE <span style="color: red;">DAMAGES</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The President's horrendous decision to disregard security protocols resulted in the writing of letters by numerous, concerned Member-Owners. Though sent to his attention, the President chose not to read or reply to the letters, personally delivering these to the Business Development Department and instructing them to reply to every Member who had written a letter to his attention. The Members were contacted by telephone and when the project was complete, the letters returned to President Wiggington. The President chose not to file the letter but instead merely dropped them into his trash can. Despite the letters having been written about a security breach, the President chose not to shred or destroy the letters and again, violated Credit Union security protocols. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Here are copies of two Member letters:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVaSAF2XyVJv8SaOFmzp32bLUtsZhtPNXrkhxLnH80-hOLlNA3ZFnFDaTQILy2JzaOnzsEnwrlUKZj2YtHhX4x4JDbc-9yzd7VXlAT9QyWwf3oemZbAS4cAglqGDK4Cf_pjVrvP0YAHf-/s1600/Mailing+Ballot+Fiasco+04242007+Carol+DeRoberts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVaSAF2XyVJv8SaOFmzp32bLUtsZhtPNXrkhxLnH80-hOLlNA3ZFnFDaTQILy2JzaOnzsEnwrlUKZj2YtHhX4x4JDbc-9yzd7VXlAT9QyWwf3oemZbAS4cAglqGDK4Cf_pjVrvP0YAHf-/s1600/Mailing+Ballot+Fiasco+04242007+Carol+DeRoberts.JPG" height="640" width="456" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This last letter was written by Member, Steve Bass. Mr. Bass. Mr. Bass who writes for PC World, published an article concerning the President Wiggington's mailing debacle. An excerpt of his original article is still available at <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/article/2290684/lan-wan/priority-one-credit-union-s-security-breach.html">NetWorld Article</a>. One might have thought that in view of Mr. Bass' quite public complaint about the incident, that the President might have discarded the Member's letter in a manner consistent with security protocols. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1UBIu-ylw6_h-rZxcIPwzKKc_CNJzoOc8f1SsDAWTYyavKxS1Rukzzj2N3qryctoRIfFLbSU2Ch_6dIwBY4-YK80wdWBTWCbtoleS7MLFQD5WYR-uKAM7rzaOrh3of-cgLk6YXF5NEM3/s1600/Mailing+Ballot+Fiasco+04242007+Steve+Bass.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX1UBIu-ylw6_h-rZxcIPwzKKc_CNJzoOc8f1SsDAWTYyavKxS1Rukzzj2N3qryctoRIfFLbSU2Ch_6dIwBY4-YK80wdWBTWCbtoleS7MLFQD5WYR-uKAM7rzaOrh3of-cgLk6YXF5NEM3/s1600/Mailing+Ballot+Fiasco+04242007+Steve+Bass.JPG" height="640" width="556" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwhyphenhyphenMfvwZ3OnIB-sF768nWHni8Two403K-odmaIOcuUGgA0nYUihF8juzN_NQ-CwL1qmUHxH6lKMywGApZXklG-_YcmTerEGcWQC-ljmT0OcQ0SSR9GbuUVdPTQBCqsxHGq3HK0sBIrSP/s1600/1+Squart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwhyphenhyphenMfvwZ3OnIB-sF768nWHni8Two403K-odmaIOcuUGgA0nYUihF8juzN_NQ-CwL1qmUHxH6lKMywGApZXklG-_YcmTerEGcWQC-ljmT0OcQ0SSR9GbuUVdPTQBCqsxHGq3HK0sBIrSP/s1600/1+Squart.JPG" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THE <b><span style="color: red;">BOARD</span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">of Directors</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inarguably, it is Priority One Credit Union's Board of Directors who have in unison, enabled the circumstances which resulted in the bludgeoning of Priority One as a business and as an employer. Clearly, in 2014, Priority One is not what it was prior to the appointment of Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. as President.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The actions of the Board have revealed an arrogance in how each Director views himself. Their combined actions are not for the good of Members, the Credit Union or employees, but nothing more than what appears to be a need to exact their authority over a continually shrinking Credit Union.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what are the abilities that each Director possesses that allegedly serves in helping each fill his or her assigned role on the Board?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: start;">In the Thursday, April 28, 2011 post, we published the biographies of incumbents whose seats were up for re-election. </span>We've decided to again use the biographies written by three of the Directors- Diedra Harris-Brooks; O. Glen Saffold; and Richard Hale. As you read through these, consider what they say about their abilities an accomplishments and the state-of-affairs at the Credit Union. There is a clear disconnect and if the Credit Union remains trapped in a perpetual cycle of decline, then consider the abilities of each officer.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Lo9oOgF16M4TowrsYsXsQkho_rHAfEYZZz4PVQjLUSOpH2aDzTrw2lN0JFnWUeqklL7TKvtoF0oxT9O7kkzJYgiSqGZX7MnVROhMQCYQkqD0OJeE6mFuMiNCFPg3sGHNdNdIMkQNQfZH/s1600/Diedra+Harris-Brooks+2009+Bio.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Lo9oOgF16M4TowrsYsXsQkho_rHAfEYZZz4PVQjLUSOpH2aDzTrw2lN0JFnWUeqklL7TKvtoF0oxT9O7kkzJYgiSqGZX7MnVROhMQCYQkqD0OJeE6mFuMiNCFPg3sGHNdNdIMkQNQfZH/s1600/Diedra+Harris-Brooks+2009+Bio.PNG" height="640" width="534" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one person can be attributed as the single most cause for Priority One's decline, it has to be Diedra Harris-Brooks. Contrary to her and President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s addresses appearing in the Credit Union's annual reports, the U.S. economy and the national unemployment rate are not the catalysts which triggered the Credit Union's decline. In 2011, the President attempted to convince employees during one of the Credit Union's all-staff meetings that all Credit Unions are performing poorly, a statement that is easily verified to be untrue by studying the Financial Performance Reports ("FPRs") for other Credit Unions and available at NCUA.gov.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is also evident that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s rampant abuses of authority and horrendous business decisions could never have occurred had the Board and in particular, Diedra Harris-Brooks not enabled his destructive decisions making. It is also Mrs. Harris-Brooks who on her own volition, squashed evidence presented by an investigator to the Board in 2008, which proved Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. sexually harassed a female employee once assigned to the Loan Department.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to her biography, Mrs. Harris-Brooks has been a Member of the Credit Union for "more than 28 years". That is impressive, but how does that qualify her to serve as Board Chair? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks attended the University of Phoenix where she completed Business Management and Marketing courses, attaining a 3.5 GPA. We'd certainly like to view her transcripts since her performance as Board Chair does not attest a proficiency in business management or marketing. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Her knowledge in Marketing and computer skills has proven to be an asset to Priority One"? Really? How so? We'd like Mrs Harris-Brooks or one of her pack to provide a single shred of documented evidence proving that her alleged knowledge in marketing has proven an asset to the Credit Union. And what types of computer skills is she referred to? Is she a programmer, an IT Technician, a software developer or she referring to a proficiency in using Microsoft Word? What specifically have her computer skills contributed to the betterment of the Credit Union?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since there is no tangible evidence to substantiate the statements she makes about her accomplishments, we'll have to label her biography as unconfirmed and thus not yet proven to be true. In her biography, she states she retired from the U.S. Postal Service where she worked her way up from a clerk and during which she received an "exceptional managerial service and earned the respect of her employees." We've spoken to former co-workers of Mrs. Harris-Brooks and respect is not a word we'd associate to their remarks about her behavior while serving as a manager of the U.S. Postal Service. We'd also like to see the documented evidence that she was recognized for her "exceptional" managerial skills. There certainly isn't evidence to any of this while she has served as a Director of the Credit Union. </span></li>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kdOwmFkRq7-W68lkkSZMRHp35jzhEordoRtYIPp5EJEwHda142_FLVd5HXf2oqY4GFiGPtk_HbbnoKcerWiiddhri0ZTmDQV6copVQqku-0iWTcdfztEtnUDTG3FCpUycEB68Wpz3iTT/s1600/O+Glen+Saffold+2009+Bio.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kdOwmFkRq7-W68lkkSZMRHp35jzhEordoRtYIPp5EJEwHda142_FLVd5HXf2oqY4GFiGPtk_HbbnoKcerWiiddhri0ZTmDQV6copVQqku-0iWTcdfztEtnUDTG3FCpUycEB68Wpz3iTT/s1600/O+Glen+Saffold+2009+Bio.PNG" height="640" width="478" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately for Mr. Saffold, all that he wrote he accomplished is dispelled by the facts that 2008, he, Diedra Harris-Brooks; Director, Thomas Gathers, and Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons, squashed all evidence gathered by an investigator from EXTTI, Inc. proving Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. sexually harassed an employee. Not only did the four discard the evidence, but in a letter signed by Mrs. Harris-Brooks, the four corrupt officers vilified the victim, stating that based on their "understanding" of what constitutes sexual harassment as defined by federal law, the allegation of wrong doing never occurred. Mr. Saffold joined forces with the others to purposely suppress evidence so that they could retain Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. as President and CEO.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Saffold's states that at the time his biography was published, he'd served on the Board for "three terms." He ignores the fact that since 2009, the electoral process was changed when Mrs. Harris-Brooks and President Wiggington disrupted the electoral process in an effort to retain the same Board Directors who have blindly shown their loyalty to Mrs. Harris-Brooks versus the Credit Union and its Members.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Saffold states that he has been "steadfastly involved in the financial and member service improvements implemented by Priority One Credit Union." This is a rather odd statement when documentation including the Credit Union's Monthly Income Statements/Balance Sheets and quarterly Financial Performance Reports filed with the NCUA, clearly document a more than $17 million loss of net income since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President on January 1, 2007. The reports also show that new membership openings are continually offset by account closures. The Credit Union has also closed six of its nine branches since October 2010. So where is the evidence that Mr. Saffold's participation on the Board has served to benefit the Credit Union? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">W</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">e'd invite Mr. Saffold to provide documented evidence, versus verbalizations, proving his statements. On a side note, Member Service issues are a key problem at Priority One, further dispelling Mr. Saffold's alleged involvement in improvements that cannot be attested to by anything tangible or real. Mr. Saffold was not telling the truth when he wrote his embellished biography. Mr. Saffold continues, stating </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that during his employment with the United States Postal Service ("USPS") he has served in the capacities of:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Budget Analyst</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Automation Programmer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Customer Service Representative</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Certified Data Conversion Operator</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Retail Specialist</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Consumer Affairs Representative</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. International Airmail Records Clerk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Certified City Clerk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Mail Carrier</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. Mail Handler</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how have Mr. Saffold's skills gotten from the long list of positions he listed in his biography, positively impacted Priority One? We invite </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Saffold to explain losses, lawsuits, and failures that have occurred since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President. More importantly, we'd like Mr. Saffold to explain why he and the other Directors have done everything in their power to ensure Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. remains President.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Saffold also states he brings "a broad range of American economic and social expertise to the Board of Directors." We again invite Mr. Saffold to explain why since January 1, 2007, the date Mr. Wiggington began serving as President of the then successful Credit Union, the Credit Union's Net Income has dropped by $17 million (at times during the past 7 years, it's been more) and why six of nine branches have been closed since October 2010.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He ends his statement by stating that he is "c<b>ommitted to serving Priority One Credit Union with INTEGRITY and SEASONED experienced."</b> Really? We again invite Mr. Saffold to explain how suppressing evidence proving Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. committed sexual harassment and repossessed a member's automobile whose ownership he transferred to himself without paying a cent for the vehicle proves Mr. Saffold's integrity. Due to the lack of all evidence supporting his so-called integrity, Mr. Saffold's words are meaningless. We suggest he also take a moment to acquaint himself with what defines integrity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Hale states that his is not only a Director but also once served as Chairman of the Supervisory Committee. On paper, his biography suggests competency and experience yet uncannily we see no tangible evidence of these while he has served as a Director on the Board. To the contrary, like Mrs. Harris-Brooks and Mr. Saffold, Mr. Hale's presence on the Board is characterized by a gross incompetence and an inability to fulfill his duties. There is no denying that while he has served as Director, Priority One has morphed into a smaller, no longer impressive Credit Union. Furthermore, through the years, he has been an avid supporter of President </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. bringing into question Mr. Hale's ethics and competencies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his biography, ,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Hale states he "completed" studies in "Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Appraisal, Property Management, Legal Aspects of Real Estate, Real Estate Practice, Real Estate Finance, Escrow Principles, and Eal Estate economics" while attending Los Angeles Southwest College. He adds that he received a CERTIFICATE in Real Estate. Since late 2010, Priority One has eliminated the varied types of Real Estate Loans it once offered to Members. Nowadays, the Credit Union's paltry real estate portfolio consists of mostly HELOCs. All other types of real estate loans are referred to CU Partners who pays the Credit Union a fee for approved and funded loans. Evidently, Mr. Hale's alleged vast expertise in real estate has not contributed anything to the Credit Union's real estate funding efforts which brings into question why he even mentioned it in his biograph?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Hale also </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">states he's "<b>devoted a considerable amount of time to the Credit Union and understand the financial needs of its members."</b> This is a very general statement lacking specifics and unsupported by anything tangible. According to the Credit Union's 9900 form filed with the IRS each year, Mr. Hale like the other board members contributes one (1) hour per month to the Credit Union. Is that what he considers "considerable"? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So why should we believe Mr. Hale at face value? How has Mr. Hale's alleged understanding of the financial needs of members actually helped members? What has he contributed that has changed the financial standing for any member? And what members have benefited from his expertise?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The exaggerated and misleading biographies, riddled with generalizations and references that don't in anyway relate to the post of Director, speak volumes about the characters of Mrs. Harris-Brooks, Mr. Saffold, or Mr. Hale who try in earnest to convince readers that they actually have contributed to a Credit Union that has been in decline for seven years. Did they think no one notice that Priority One is is no longer a prosperous and growing Credit Union or that their perpetual protection of Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. would not serve as proof of their inability to make sound decisions that benefit the Credit Union, its Members, and its employees?</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years, President Wiggington and Board Chairperson, Diedra Harris-Brooks, have expended tremendous time, energy and lots of Credit Union money, trying to hide evidence of the Credit Union's business failures and legal problems. Fortunately for the curious, President Wiggington is incapable of guarding confidentiality and in time, cannot help but verbalize information about the issues plaguing the Credit Union.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before the first closure of branch offices in 2010 , the President was trying to contend with declining Net Capital. In 2008, in an effort to create the impression of success, the President borrowed $20 million from the Credit Union's line-of-credit which served to raise Priority One's Net Income on paper but which cost the Credit Union to pay interest in the approximate amount of $30,000 to $33,000 per month though for a very brief period, it did create the impression of success albeit it, non-existent success. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, Board Reports reveal the same mundane promises made by Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. to find a way of increasing membership, amassing new business and most importantly, increasing Net Capital well above the dreaded 6%. We've decided to publish his addresses to the Board, published in the May, June and July 2009 Board Reports. We must point out, that over the years, the President has prohibited the public disclosure of information which proves Priority One is in a state of decline though a look at the Credit Union's size in 2014 compared to its size in the years before Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President, should suffice as evidence that his leadership is grossly deficient and has caused the Credit Union immense losses in income, Members, and its ability to sell its products. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are excepts from the May, June and July 2009 reports which are being made public for the first time:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Increasing the amount of the Credit Union's Net Capital became critically important in 2010 and by the end of that year, culminated in the closing of the Redlands and Valencia branches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2010, cutting expenses has become the primary means by which the Credit Union remains in business. The reliance in brutal expense reductions is born out of the fact that President Wiggington is quite incapable of implementing strategies that succeed in increasing sales and new memberships. It is this failure that has most undermined </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">riority One's ability to m</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">arket its products and service the communities lying in Santa Clarita Valley in the north and extending south, to the Riverside/San Diego border. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's more, closing branches and cutting other expenses was supposed to be a temporary solution </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">intended to help Priority One regain its financial footing. In 2014, closing braches has become a normal part of business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not surprisingly, the Board's Directors seem disturbingly out-of-touch and incapable of comprehending that the as the President desperately seeks ways to increase Net Capital, Priority One's performance falls more and more into decline. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late September, we learned President Wiggington feels unappreciated and declares people refuse to see or understand that there is an actual purpose to his actions that will ultimately benefit the Credit Union. His spiel is customary though usually consigned to all-staff meetings and the Board Reports which the ignorant Directors seem to believe. Why would the President believe people are going to continue indulging his excuses when over the past seven years, he has caused the decline of the Credit Union including closure of 6 of 9 branches and a $17 million decline of its Net Income. He would like listeners to believe that there is good in his intents but the fact is President Wiggington has behaved abominably proving he is not CEO material and at times, has violated state and federal laws, proving he is defiant to legal structure. Certainly the filing of lawsuits by four former employees and a lawsuit filed by a former Member whose personal information was published on the Internet by a member of the Credit Resolutions team all point to the President's unethical proclivities. In fact, 2013 ended with more than<b><span style="color: red;"> $500,000 </span></b>spent on legal fees. </span><br />
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It is important to note that the Credit Union moved quickly to settle the lawsuits in an effort to avoid a costly and potentially <i>embarrassing</i> court trials though the President and Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, would later boast to staff members the settlements paid out were paltry and affordable to the Credit Union and settled because the Plaintiff's lawsuits lacked the substance needed to win in a court trial. This is the same type of contrived story-telling constantly resorted to by the same President who wanted people to believe closing six branches will reap huge profits. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President's and Vice President's distortion of the facts are weak and declaring victories where none occurred. The big hole in their many stories is that they would like people to believe that the Plaintiff's filed frivolous lawsuits. If that were true, then why would the credit union agree to settle these and pay out monetary settlements? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if the lawsuits lacked an evidentiary foundation then why was each Plaintiff required to sign settlements which stipulate that they are not to divulge the details of their cases or the subsequent settlements? <b>The reason the Credit Union paid out settlements is because there was more than sufficient evidence to prove it guilty of retaliation, harassment, same sex harassment, age discrimination and racism.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2009, we began reporting about how Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s business decisions could potentially injure and even destroy the Credit Union. <b>We were correct.</b> Since we first began reporting, the Credit Union's Net Income has declined by $17 million and 75% of its branches have been closed in an effort by President Wiggington to ensure Net Capital remains well above 6%. </span><br />
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In 2007, when an investigation confirmed that one of President Wiggington's hand-picked AVPs violated federal law when she purposely committed kiting, an incensed Board Chair issued a verbal warning to the Director who delivered an anonymous letter to the Credit Union's attorney, exposing more than 24 separate NSF violations during the months of October and November 2006. Mrs. Harris-Brooks not only chastised the Director for delivering the letter to the Credit Union's attorney but she order that any such future letters be given to the Board for investigation of allegations exposing wrongdoing. Now why would anyone turn over allegations of a federal offense to Mrs. Harris-Brooks when in 2007, she squashed evidence proving Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. sexually harassed an employee? She chooses not to remember that she possess are computer skills and that she is not an attorney or licensed investigator, clearly disqualifying her to investigate allegations that federal and state laws may have been violated. </span></div>
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What's more, President Wiggington's mailing debacle in 2007 was disingenuously resolved but both the President and his executive staff seemed incapable of comprehending the damage incurred to Member confidence in the Credit Union's ability to safeguard Member information and Member assets. If the Executive Vice President could issue a memo providing employees information on how to "deal" with members, then it is quite clear that the Credit Union doesn't view Member-Owners as respectable or important. </span><br />
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The President's disdain for security protocols was again attested to in 2009 when he invited Henry Justice to return to the Credit Union as a preferred automobile broker even though Mr. Justice caused the Credit Union to lose more than $60,000 of its monies in 2003. The President's plan to return Mr. Justice to a "preferred" position within the Credit Union is astounding and again, it is clear he had absolutely no concern for the well-being of the Credit Union or its Members. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will publish additional documentation in our next post, all supporting our 5-year assertion that Charles R. Wiggington., Sr, Diedra Harris-Brooks, and the Board of Directors have single-handedly caused widespread injury to the no longer competitive or respected Credit Union and stripped it of its ability to de</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">velop effective marketing needed to sell its wares and and compromising quality member service. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, if it were not for the Board, President Wiggington's rampant abuses which led to the ruination of the once prosperous Credit Union, might never have occurred. </span><br />
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com293tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-13758554586891965132014-09-09T00:01:00.000-07:002014-09-14T19:20:44.861-07:00Devoid of Scruples<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like an over-privileged and out-of-control 20-year old celebrity, at the end of August, Priority One Credit Union could not refrain from embroiling itself again, in yet another scandal after </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Credit Resolutions (aka <i>the "collections department"</i>) Supervisor, Alex/Alejandra Suarez revealed she instructed her staff to create bogus Facebook accounts which were then used by collection representatives to send out <i>friend requests</i> to unsuspecting Member-<i>Owners</i> whose accounts and loans were the subject of collection proceedings. The bogus accounts were also setup using photographs of attractive young women. Ms. Suarez steadfastly assured her staff and others, that the ploy was 100% legal. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unwary Members accepting a request for friendship from bogus accounts were afterwards contacted by collection department personnel, via Facebook, and ordered to remit delinquent payments due the Credit Union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the surface, the procedure might seem clever, trapping unsuspecting Members who have failed to pay their monthly loan payments or who may have overdrawn their credit union accounts, though we are of the opinion that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">most companies who value their Members or customers might try to avoid employing tactics utilizing fraud and deception to achieve their ends. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the surface the ploy seems unethical and as we've since verified, creating bogus accounts is prohibited by Facebook. The three areas of concern we have with the Credit Union's ploy are: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plan/plot/scheme ensnares Members by deceptively obtaining access to their confidential Facebook accounts.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It utilizes photographs of young women who did not sign a release allowing Priority One Credit Union to use their images in a collection ruse. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once a request for friendship is accepted, Priority One then has full access to a Member's list of associates and friends and personal activities. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The use of deception to recuperate monies owed to it, demonstrates in part, the level of disrespect the Credit Union has for its Members. In their zeal to collect unpaid monies, the Credit Union has chosen to literally ambush and even humiliate unsuspecting Member-Owners.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather simplistically, Ms. Suarez assured her staff that the scheme is </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>only illegal </b>if a <b>message demanding payment is published on a Member's Facebook timeline, </b>adding that the Credit Union is within its right to recuperate monies due to it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many nuances to the Credit Union's tactic and some which bring into question Ms. Suarez's competency as a Supervisor. We know Ms. Suarez is not an attorney nor is she qualified to dispense legal advice, so who did she confer with to obtain verification the ploy was legal and who authorized its use?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We actually don't believe Ms. Suarez would have arbitrarily and on her own volition, implemented the deceptive tactic without first obtaining authorization from her immediate supervisor, Vice President Yvonne Boutte. Ms. Boutte is no stranger to manipulative tactics or scandals and historically, has been the contributor to intrigue and conflicts wracking the Credit Union.</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, Ms. Boutte boasted that when working on Saturday mornings, calls from the Credit Union appear on a Member's Caller ID as originating from the </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"California Lottery."</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009-2010, Mrs. Boutte was a frequent contributor to then COO, Beatrice Walker's heinous campaigns which ousted many employees who the two believed were conspiring against the Credit Union.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2012, Mrs. Boutte provoked a Member into filing a lawsuit against the Credit Union when attempting to subjugate the Member whose confidential account and personal information were published on the Internet by an employee of the Credit Union and more than likely, either a representative or officer in the Credit Resolutions Department. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also believe that prior to its implementation, President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. would have been consulted. This blog is written around and about the vast misappropriation of authority, abuses, and violations of policy and laws committed by the President Wiggington over the past 7 years and this latest incident is one that was more than likely perpetrated with his permission. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Suarez has been an employee of Priority One Credit Union since 2008. She was brought to the Credit Union by then newly hired Credit Resolutions Director, Yvonne Boutte. At the time, the President had terminated his business relationship and friendship with the owner of Allied Management, the Credit Union's former collection agent. Ms. Boutte was hired to head the then new in-house collections department. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since her arrival in 2008, Ms. Suarez has been a polarizing presence. Early on, she showed an insatiable obsession for office gossip and intrigue, often publicly maligning subordinates and peers. From 2008 thru 2012, she and Mrs. Boutte gossiped daily and in the presence of members of the Credit Resolutions team, the Card Services department and Call Center staff. The two women, openly talked about a multitude of highly confidential subjects, openly defying Credit Union policies and in particular, the policy governing confidentiality. However, in 2013, learning about their behaviors, Board Chairperson, Diedra Harris-Brooks, demanded the President bring an end to Mrs. Boutte's and her protege's disclosure of confidential information while in the presence of non-management personnel. However, Ms. Harris Brooks is often not as irked by the fact the President and his subordinates violated Credit Union policy but rather by the fact the Credit Union's unethical and illegal acts are made public. It was after all, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks helped cover-up numerous violations of policy and law including the 2007 mailing of ballots in envelopes in whose exterior were printed Member Credit Union account and social security numbers; the discovery that the President sexually harassed an employee; and numerous violations of federal law which resulted in the filing of lawsuits by four former employees and one Member. In regards to the lawsuits, Priority One voluntarily settled each complaint before Plaintiff complains could proceed to a court of law. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the big question is whether the use of bogus Facebook accounts to recuperate unpaid monies due to the Credit Union is illegal or merely a breach of ethics? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; text-align: justify;">In her article,</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; text-align: justify;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; text-align: justify;">"Debt collectors turn to social media to track down delinquencies"</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6000003814697px; text-align: justify;">, author Debora M. Tood states:</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"....there are rules collection agencies must follow, and two government agencies are working to make that better known.</b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; line-height: 1.3em;">Clarifying that laws outlined in the </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;">Fair Debt Collections Practices Act of 1977 </span><span style="color: blue; line-height: 1.3em;">also apply to collection attempts made through digital media has been a priority for the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, said Christopher Koegel, assistant director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection‘s financial practices division. </span><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="color: blue;">For example, </span>FULL<span style="color: blue;"> and </span>HONEST DISCLOSURE OF IDENTIFY<span style="color: blue;"> and the</span> INTENT TO COLLECT A DEBT IS MANDATORY FOR COLLECTION AGENCIES." </span></span></b></div>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly, Ms. Suarez used a deceptive ruse to gain access to confidential and private Member information. </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, the Credit Union used the photographs of women without authorization in the form of a signed release. </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union also obtained access to the list of friends contained in Member Facebook accounts. Furthermore, if the Credit Union contacts a Member's Facebook friends without prior written authorization, then this too is a violation of the law. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The good news is, there is legal recourse available to Member-Owners. What's more, If a creditor is found guilty of perpetrating a violation of the </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fair Debt Collections Practices Act of 1977</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, the monetary awards they are ordered to pay by the court to a victim, can be substiantial. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Individual debt collectors found in violation of the act could face fines of $1,000 per violation — money that goes directly to the debtor."</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em;">If you are a Member accepted a friend request from a bogus Facebook account created by the Credit Union and was afterwards contacted by a collection representative at your Facebook account, there are remedies. Gather your evidence proving the Credit Union sent messages to your Facebook account and file complaints with the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em;">Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and/or the State Attorney General's office. Apparently, Ms. Suarez,. Mrs. Boutte and the President are again demonstrating the same disregard for the law that forced Priority One to pay out settlements to former employees and a Member in lawsuits filed in the years, 2010 through 2012. </span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em;">Source: </b><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.3em;"><span style="line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">Deborah M. Todd: dtodd@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1652 or on Twitter @deborahtodd, </span><span style="line-height: 1.2em;">Debt collectors turn to social media to track down delinquents, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, J</span><span style="color: #474747; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">une 19, 2014, 11:32 PM</span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;">Read more: </span><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/business/technology/2014/06/20/Debt-collectors-turn-to-social-media-to-track-down-delinquents/stories/201406170010#ixzz3BilnyOJN">http://www.post-gazette.com/business/technology/2014/06/20/Debt-collectors-turn-to-social-media-to-track-down-delinquents/stories/201406170010#ixzz3BilnyOJN</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last month, a reader of this blog posted a comment disclosing that after almost three (3) years and in response to our June 25, 2014 post, Priority One Credit Union finally removed stale information from its website's </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">News and Updates page.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Apparently, our expose' about the Credit Union's long disregard of information published on its website had a profound effect upon Board of Directors who ordered the President to clean-up the webpage. Our review of the Credit Union's website confirmed that <i><b>most</b></i> of the outdated information had been removed with exception to a single notice announcing closure of the Airport branch which took place on December 13, 2013. Evidently, someone at the Credit Union has problems proofreading and identifying information that is outdated. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Source:</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://priorityonecu.org/community/news/">https://priorityonecu.org/community/news/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On the other hand, our post had absolutely no effect upon the President's continued refusal to publish the Credit Union's </span><a href="https://priorityonecu.org/membership/annualreport.php" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2013 Annual Report</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on Priority One's website. We of course were able to obtain a copy of the report whose excerpts we published in our last post. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if the President has been forthright and done nothing wrong, then why would he continue to suppress disbursement of the 2013 Annual Report? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If anyone needs a copy of the 2013 Annual Report we can send one to you. Just write to us at our email address and we will provide a photocopy via email. Confidentiality and anonymity are guaranteed. </span></div>
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<b style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large; line-height: 24.639999389648438px;">MORE DELUSIONS</b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Donning the Role of Victim</b></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In our last post, we reported that President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s has entered into yet another campaign which spins the truth by trying to convince people that his decision to close 6 branches since October 2010 was intentional and designed to reduce expenses and increase profit. He recently played the victim, proclaiming that </span></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">"People call me names because I closed down branches." </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">His spiel is another lame attempt to spin the truth into something that is palatable to only himself and create the impression that he is a victim of scurrilous criticisms. As reported in many posts, Priority One branches have been closed because President Wiggington is unable to create strategies that generate new business and produce the level of profit to comfortably offset its overhead. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We don't know of a single person who has ever disparaged the President because he closed down branches. Rather, the criticisms of the President stem from his abuse of </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">employees, his misappropriation of authority, his squandering of Credit Union monies, his disregard for Members, and his very public immersion in scandals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">President Wiggington is many things but never pragmatic. Since 2007 and always with the approval of the Board of Directors, the President has been forced to reduce spending to avoid closure or sales of the Credit Union and maintaining net capital well above 6%. However, branch closures have robbed Members of convenience forcing the Credit Union to promote the benefits of Shared Branching and Home Banking. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As we will show later in this post, reducing expenditures has negatively impacted the amount of salary paid to non-management personnel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>A <span style="color: blue;">SECOND</span> CORRECTION </b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMROgAVYdZD_Tvd-SmdAJl5ZVVH2XSpATfKJ20hURgsXb1xGU4cqCZ4qBh97Sky2K4IP6NIscTNbTHKuGc4j0Ylb5o7BnxIieGQX_JZ5ThyjG-pNOW8DkiRcNZfo7fp1pz167HKM7EuqGh/s1600/Pinnochio+090314+Jimenie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMROgAVYdZD_Tvd-SmdAJl5ZVVH2XSpATfKJ20hURgsXb1xGU4cqCZ4qBh97Sky2K4IP6NIscTNbTHKuGc4j0Ylb5o7BnxIieGQX_JZ5ThyjG-pNOW8DkiRcNZfo7fp1pz167HKM7EuqGh/s1600/Pinnochio+090314+Jimenie.JPG" height="275" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If anyone tried to access Priority One Credit Union's <b>"Career"</b> page during the months of June and July, a message would have advised you that you were<b> "Forbidden" </b>to view the page. After several weeks, the page is again available for viewing though an old exaggerated reference placed on the page by President Wiggington, has now been amended. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">After three years of reporting that Priority One had been exaggerating the amount of its </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Net Income</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> (or worth), which the President ordered be shown at a whopping </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">$172 million</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">, the Credit Union has finally conceded and amended the amount to a more accurate </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">$154 million. </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So what prompted the correction? According to one of our sources, the order to correct the reference came via consultants and state auditors. Though it always benefits any company to be truthful in its disclosures, under President Wiggington it usually takes some strong admonition to move the bull headed President to do what is ethical. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior to June 2014, and for several years, the amount of the Credit Union's Net Income had been shown as $175 million. The Credit Union's Net Assets had reached $175 million under William Harris, President Wiggington's capable and highly respected predecessor. That of course all changed after January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began serving in the capacity of President and CEO. Over the years, due to horrendous business decisions, overspending, declining business and an immensely inept Board of Directors, the Credit Union's Net Asset value dropped quickly. To stave off the appearance of decline, in mid-2008, President Wiggington obtained approval from Board of Directors Chairperson, Diedra Harris-Brooks, and the Board, to borrow $20 million from the Credit Union's line-of-credit. The loan raised the Credit Union's Net Assets to $182 million, though the effect was temporary and added a new burden to the Credit Union which for a year, paid more than $40,000 a month on interest alone. Following repayment of $10 million, the Credit Union continued to pay approximately $30,000 to $33,000 per month in interest. Is this an example of how Priority One enables Member-Owners and employees to achieve Financial Fitness and Win with Money? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One's decline is attributable to several factors that worked in unison to deplete the once growing, thriving, and respected credit union, transforming it into a much smaller, unpopular and no longer competitive entity and a mere shell of its former self. The President's chronic blunderings, the Board Chair's insatiable need to control all facets of the Credit Union's operation and the ignorance shown by the Board's Directors of financials, member service, business development, and marketing, have all contributed to the Priority One's decline.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="color: red; font-size: xx-large;">ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W2yDBCKHWu8XgX0GdDZJblx3BClOFgnJew90WpRYvFvSpR8xndfdd8k6nIMNzgFN18ZdTVxDjX1IoadRgtBR-lO3jbYFK0BfQwRyr-9tL7apjd1aQyAG_rtkVbtq1Pcpwlny539E8PZz/s1600/Fine+Pring.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W2yDBCKHWu8XgX0GdDZJblx3BClOFgnJew90WpRYvFvSpR8xndfdd8k6nIMNzgFN18ZdTVxDjX1IoadRgtBR-lO3jbYFK0BfQwRyr-9tL7apjd1aQyAG_rtkVbtq1Pcpwlny539E8PZz/s1600/Fine+Pring.JPG" height="248" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We recently received an email from a Member who financed an automobile loan from Priority One Credit Union. He alleges that he was not provided copies of the loan documents he signed and assured these would be mailed to him in a day or two. When he did receive the copies, he noticed that the monthly premiums were higher than the amount verbally disclosed to him while at the branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Priority One the training provided to loan processors is primarily consigned during the loan funding process and not a formal classroom setting. This clearly determines the capabilities of any loan processor or officer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Loan Department- Real Estate and Consumer Lending, is headed by long-time employee, Vice President of Lending, Patricia Loiacano. Mrs. Loiacano fully understands the rules, principles, and procedures governing lending, however, this is not to say that she imparts that knowledge to her staff. To the contrary, she is rather selfish and unwilling to share her knowledge with subordinates possibly as a means to ensure job security. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Loiacano does not conduct lending classes. Former Training and Education Manager, Robert West nowadays serves as figurehead over Employee Services aka Human Resources and allegedly oversees Compliance (though having no formal training in anything related to compliance). However, he is wholly unqualified to teach any person procedures governing anything related to loan funding. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>CUTTING EXPENSES</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59SsS7bJLrr57NAVtMQ0q6c1Gyc37LQfBD2Avm0n72CKBXv4wrVoXUf2IP80gpqNprC_396aPWPDmsSMQQvwzJg3uC96wfEADbb_buJCOIMMHEMFwVd0Ira3TyRMWIQI91mySZe6XZG3V/s1600/Table+081314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59SsS7bJLrr57NAVtMQ0q6c1Gyc37LQfBD2Avm0n72CKBXv4wrVoXUf2IP80gpqNprC_396aPWPDmsSMQQvwzJg3uC96wfEADbb_buJCOIMMHEMFwVd0Ira3TyRMWIQI91mySZe6XZG3V/s1600/Table+081314.JPG" height="320" width="252" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Actual Table @ Main Branch</span></b></div>
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<b style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Traveling the Road to Frugality</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s efforts to reduce expenses continue, unimpeded and out of necessity. In 2010, the President with the help of then COO, Beatrice Walker, and Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, began implementing expense reductions, allegedly as a temporary solution to save money until Priority One could begin generating sufficient new business to offset their then amassing expenses and ensure Net Capital remained above 6%. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2012, the Credit Union began hiring more and more, part-time employees which enables the credit union to staff its last three remaining branches without having to pay medical benefits. This is the new normal at the troubled Credit Union and characteristic of the effects President Wiggington has had on the once larger, richer and certainly more promising, Credit Union.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nowadays, Priority One employs a large contingent of part-time employees because its a key means by which the Credit Union can continue operating. Part-time employees are not eligible for medical benefits or for the Credit Union's 401K plan. Many full-time employees have not received raises since 2010 and 2011, the years President Wiggington implemented and re-implemented what has become a never ending wage freeze. Of course, President Wiggington and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, make no reference to this in their email addresses contained in the Annual Reports for the years 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We recently conducted a search on the Internet, locating information about salaries paid by Priority One Credit Union. CareerBliss.com discloses that the Credit Union's salaries fall well below the industry average. If things were as promising as the President and Board Chair asserted in the 2013 Annual Report, then why is Priority One relying on part-time staffing and paying out salaries that fall below the industry average? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CareerBliss reports that the average hourly rate paid to employees is $19.00 per hour or $37,000 per year. This is 34% less than the average paid throughout the industry. However, we have to disagree with some of the information published by CareerBliss as many of the Credit Union's tellers are paid $13.50 to $15.00 per hour which is substantially less than $19.00 per hour. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also noted that the references to officer salaries are inconsistent with the amounts reported by the Credit Union in their 9900 filing to the IRS. As shown below, the Credit Union received a single star rating from its employees. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some excerpts from CareerBliss: </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">SOME MANAGEMENT SALARIES</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each year since 2011, we publish excerpts from the Credit Union's 9900 tax filing. The latest available copy if for tax year 2012. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though most employees of Priority One are paid less than the industry standard and despite the Credit Union's continuing inability to reap profits at an amount that could offset its outgoing expenditures and amass a profit, President Wiggington and some of his executive staff are paid a handsome salary for literally doing little to nothing and certainly all failing to introduce a single strategy that might bring an end to the ongoing fiascos created by Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union's Mission Statement to Member-Owners and employees states:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background-color: white;">Our Mission:</span> "To help our member-owners and employees achieve financial fitness. We are committed to providing quality products and services that help YOU win with money."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Source:</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pocuone/info">https://www.facebook.com/pocuone/info</a></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly, the only people winning with money at Priority One Credit Union are its overpaid and incompetent officers, none of who have contributed anything to resolve the long slew of problems created by their less-than-illustrious leader, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. The actions taken by the Credit Union to increase Net Capital through reduced spending has ultimately been at the cost of the credit union's most valuable resource- its employees. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Employee salaries at Priority One fall well below the industry average and many employees are part-time staff and thus ineligible to receive medical benefits. What's more the Credit Union's useless Human Resources Department aka Employee Services, has never negotiated affordable insurance plans for its employees. Subsequently, low pay and high insurance premiums have financially taxed employee salaries. Despite the inability of the credit union to prove itself as an employer who cares for its staff, the Credit Union still touts itself as capable of helping Member-Owners and employees become </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>financially fit </b></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and through their products and services, help Member-Owners and employees </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>win with money</i></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. The Credit Union's net asset size has declined by over $14 million since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President and the Credit Union's 9 branches have been reduced to 3, clearly proving Priority One is far from being financially fit or capable of winning with money. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Mission Statement, authored by now Employee Services Director, Robert West, is nothing more than a poorly written attempt to expound upon abilities and assurances Priority One does not possess or is able to realize. The Credit Union should scrap and replace its disingenuous Mission Statement with something more truthful and inarguably, more accurate. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>SO WHAT DO EMPLOYEES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT PRIORITY ONE CREDIT UNION?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union's single star rating referenced on CareerBliss is derived entirely from employee reviews of the Credit Union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this year, after approximately 4 years of employment, the Credit Union terminated its CFO, Saeid Raad. Until a new full-time CFO is hired, the Credit Union continues in its quest to locate a new CFO, but is Priority One a Credit Union where an accomplished, capable and ethically-driven CFO might want to work? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We certainly wish the best to any person who accepts an offer by the highly troubled Credit Union to serve as its next CFO. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For anyone who is considering applying for the position, here is some information regarding the Credit Union and its treatment and expectations of its CFO's.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For any person considering responding to Priority One's ad seeking a CFO, we thought we'd provide a little background about the Credit Union's most recent CFO's.</span><br />
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On Monday, December 1, 2009, long-time CFO, Manny Gaitmaitan, submitted his letter of resignation following three months of being ostracized by President Wiggington; then COO, Beatrice Walker; and EVP, Rodger Smock. Mr. Gaitmaitan's sin was that he refused to manipulate the Credit Union's account practices and on several occasions, warned the President that his demands to alter reporting were illegal. The President and Ms. Walker informed the Board that Mr. Gaitmaitan was difficult, insubordinate and clearly, not a team-player. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time, Ms. Walker suggested not inviting Mr. Gaitmaitan to executive meetings, stating that by doing so they might be able to force his resignation. Ms. Walker, who had used this same ploy while employed by other companies, was absolutely correct. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though Mr. Gaitmaitan submitted his letter of resignation on December 1, 2009, he stopped reporting to work on Wednesday, December 3, 2009, and did not return to his office until Monday, December 29, 2009. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2010, the Credit Union posted its Balance Sheet/Income Statement for December 2009 and showing that Priority One ended 2009, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b>-$</b></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-right;"><span style="color: red;"><b>5,458,432</b></span> in the <span style="color: red;"><b>RED</b></span></span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-right;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> </b>In February 2010, Ms. Walker informed the President that her friend, Saeid Raad, could serve as an interim CFO until the Credit Union found a new, full-time replacement for Mr. Gaitmaitan. She assured the President that Mr. Raad, unlike Mr. Gaitmaitan, would cooperate fully with the President's wishes. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-right;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President conferred with Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, who approved hiring Mr. Raad on a temporary basis. However before the year had elapsed and at the request of the President and COO, Mrs. Harris-Brooks authorized offering Mr. Raad the post of permanent CFO. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-right;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In July 2011, Ms. Walker who had been hired in 2009 to serve as the President's personal "hatchet woman", was abruptly terminated. Over the months following her hiring, she had succeeded in usurping much of the President's authority but her costly strategies designed to increase business had all utterly failed. Ms. Walker also erred when she disparaged the Board, describing them as "uneducated" and "unqualified." Her assessment of the Board was actually spot on but provoked the ire of the Board Chair. What's more, the Board had grown increasingly uncomfortable with rumors originating in South Pasadena, about Ms. Walker's sexuality. </span></span><br />
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-right;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier, this year, Ms. Walker's friend, Mr. Raad, was abruptly terminated shortly after orchestrating closure of the Airport and Santa Clarita branches. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So is Priority One Credit Union an employer any qualified and self-respecting executive should hope to work for? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">CONCLUSION</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his seven years as President and CEO of Priority One Credit Union, President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s single greatest accomplishment has been establishing a reputation for propagating excuses intended to excuse his blunders and illegal acts. His excuses and stories have been spewed out to the point of ad nauseum. Inarguably, he is the author for the failures which now preclude Priority One Credit Union from producing the levels of business and new memberships needed to gain upward mobility and reverse the effects of the multitude of fiascos created by the President. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s most memorable excuses include: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009 and 2010, the President blamed an invisible group of non-existent conspirators who in his words were<b> "sabotaging my plans to bring in new business."</b></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2011, the President declared that <b>"all credit unions are doing poorly." </b>His lame excuse was undermined by Financial Performance Reports from many other Credit Unions which proved financial and physical growth. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the 2012 and 2013 Annual Reports, the President and his constant accomplice and supporter, Board Chair Diedra Harris-Brooks stated that Priority One was finally overcoming the effects caused by the nation's economy and national unemployment. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the past year, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the President has launched a new campaign, portraying himself a victim of criticism while asserting that the closure of 6 branches since October 2010 is part of a carefully wrought plan that is designed to promote physical and financial growth. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His stories are all too easily refuted and proven to be nothing more than Wiggington-styled bunk and a wild and not-so-imaginative attempt to spin the ugly truth into something that is the product of careful contemplation. What Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s expense reduction are designed to achieve is ensuring Net Capital remains above 6%. However, his focus on preserving and even increasing Net Capital comes with a high price and his so-called "plan" is flawed, having compromised the Credit Union's integrity and impeding it from...</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Successfully marketing its wares.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Providing convenience to its Members.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Retaining a Business Development Team that generates sales and builds relationships with Member-Owners; and </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serving all of Riverside County, all of the Santa Clarita Valley, post office facilities in the county of Los Angeles or servicing employees of Providence Hospitals, Holy Cross, Tarzana and St. Joseph Medical Center. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reality is, the closure of six branches was an act of pure desperation and necessity and NOT some Napoleon-esque tactic conceived by a bungling President. In business, sometimes less is more but in the case of the President's latest excuse, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>nothing is never more</b></i>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The closures have forced the Credit Union to promote Shared Branching and Home Banking as a viable substitutes to actual branch locations staffed by real human beings but the fact is Shared Branching and Home Banking don't serve as viable substitutes for real branch locations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The recent revelation by C</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">redit Resolutions Supervisor, Alex Suarez, that her staff has at her request, created bogus Facebook accounts emblazoned by the photograph of attractive young women and used to send friend requests to unwary Members whose accounts and/or loans are the subject of collection proceedings brings into light the immense disrespect the Credit Union has towards Members or adhering to Facebook policies which prohibit this form of abuse. What's more the scheme is illegal, reminding us that under Charles R. Wiggington., Sr., policies and laws are merely a suggestion which the Credit Union may believe it is exempt from complying with. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union's recent correction on its website validates our 4-year assertion that the Credit Union had blatantly distorted its actual worth and published it as $172 million, an exaggeration of $17 million. As we've often declared, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is a man obsessed with creating impressions and projecting successes where none exist. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inarguably, in September 2014, Priority One is a much smaller, less potent, no longer competitive, and highly disrespected Credit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In response to our last post, a reader posted the following comment, <span style="background-color: yellow;">describing</span> just some of the activities orchestrated by Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. over the past 7 years and which we believe contributed to Priority One's decline: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><b style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">Also, Wigg has provided all the board members with free Internet hook-up to the credit union's network so they don't have to pay a provider for Internet. Now you know they're not using it to look at the cu's boring webpage. They surf the web and look at this blog and at times, post comments too. By the way, I'm pretty sure giving the directors remote access to the cu's network is a violation of some law or policy. After all, aren't they volunteers? Then again, Wigg pays them gas to and from South Pasadena which brings into question what defines "volunteer." In the days when the Credit Union was prospering, Board Members attended board-related conferences in Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Europe, allegedly for the purpose for enhancing their skills but that was the justification. The directors traveled to the destinations and did not attend the conferences. In the 2009 trek to Las Vegas, the Board's Chair receipts showed she spent more than her allotted $100.00 a day, mostly at hotel bars. President Wiggington ordered that any monies spent in excess of $100.00 be disbursed to other days so as not to create a record she exceeded her allotted daily allowanc</b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; text-align: start;">e. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />At the root of Priority One's problems is its ineffective, ignorant, and ethically deprived Board. There is no disputing that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. could ever have committed his far flung abuses of authority, rampant and seemingly uncontrolled spending of credit union monies, and almost compulsively violated policies and laws if he had not been enabled by the Board of Directors and in particular, its Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks. Over the past 7 years, the Board has approved the vast spending of money on attorneys, consultants, and investigators, desperately trying to vindicate the President of wrong doing. The President's multitude of egregious acts and failures have all come at a hefty cost depriving Members of quality member service and convenience while simultaneously sabotaging the opportunity for employees to develop a career or earn income commensurate with the industry average while depriving them of medical and retirement benefits. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The only silver lining we see is that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. continues to receive an undeserved salary in excess of $150,000 including bonus' approved by the incompetent and embarrassing Board of Directors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So as 2014 draws to an end, will Priority One suddenly experience a surge in new business or will the President have to target another branch for closure? If the only means of staying in business is retaining high Net Capital and without a sudden resurgence of new business, the President will likely have to close another branch. So which branch might he be forced to close? Will it be the small but thriving Van Nuys branch or the large Los Angeles office? Or might it be the main branch in South Pasadena? Maybe the question we should be asking is when will the next branch close?</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">< item>
< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com367tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-22533409523531813342014-08-08T15:42:00.001-07:002014-08-19T22:35:25.538-07:00The Tale of the Missing Report<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On May 26, 2014, we learned Priority One Credit Union President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. ordered that managers of the Credit Union's last three (3) remaining branches, not distribute copies of the 2013 Annual Report which was scheduled to be distributed in two days, during the Wednesday, May 28th Annual Meeting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Intermittently, since January 1, 2007, President Wiggington has tried to censor information about the Priority One's financials. His efforts have often been accompanied by rumors of the Credit Union's success, all perpetrated by the President and boasting that business is growing physically and financially. Unfortunately, the President's deceitful acts have been undermined by the Credit Union's financial reports whose data eventually trickles on to the Internet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each year, Priority One makes its annual report available on its website, in a PDF format. However, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in 2014 the last annual report published by the Internet on its website is the 2012 Annual Report. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2009, Priority One's Balance Sheet/Income Statement and Annual Report have proven problematic to the President and continually undermined his efforts to create the impression that Priority One is a credit union experiencing real growth and generating real and substantial profits. Over the years, President Wiggington's fabrications have always garnered the support of the Board of Directors and more specifically, its Chairperson, Diedra Harris-Brooks. What their efforts to hide information proves, is that the President and Board have a lot to hide, otherwise why expend so much censoring the credit union's financial information? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under state and federal laws, Priority One like all other credit unions, is required as a non-profit, to post its monthly Balance Sheet/Income Statement in a conspicuous place within each branch. Priority One is also required to provide copies of its Balance Sheet/Income Statement to all active members who request they be provided a copy of the statement. The Credit Union is also required by law, to provide copies of its annual report to members requesting the report. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Source: </b><span style="color: blue;">https://priorityonecu.org/community/newsletter/</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since mid-2009, the President and Board Chair have periodically complained they are weary of seeing </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the Credit Union's financials analyzed and dissected publicly. Their almost compulsive need to paint a rosy picture of a thriving Credit Union is possibly founded on the hope people will cleave to their statements at face value and without demanding evidence to support their contentions. Their actions suggest they will always try and divert attention from the Credit Union's decaying service standards, closing branches, declining asset size and the Credit Union's absence withing the communities it allegedly serves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we've often reported in past posts, Priority One is nowadays a credit union addictively reliant on expense reductions. The public exposure of President Wiggington's bungling decisions, failed enterprises and sometimes illegal acts, have not boded well for a President who in 2007 proclaimed he would transform Priority One's then nine branches into state-of-the-art, technically savvy service centers that would rival the products and services offered by bigger, wealthier credit unions. Unfortunately, for the chronically boastful President, his alleged transformation of the credit union never materialized. In fact, under his leadership, Priority One was transformed from a growing medium-sized credit union to a small, inconspicuous and no longer competitive credit union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, auditors informed the President that the credit union's capital was dropping dangerously close to the dreaded 6% minimum. At the time, auditors urged the President to reduce expenses and even consider closing one of the credit union's least profitable branches. In January 2010, he and then COO, Beatrice Walker, asked employees during an all staff meeting, to provide suggestions on how to reduce spending. Numerous suggestions were made by employees, including one which asked that management voluntarily reduce their salaries until Priority One could regain its financial footing. The employee making the suggestion was laid-off a few weeks later- a victim of a plot concocted by the President, the COO, and Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock who took tremendous effrontery from her remark. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In September 2010, the COO and then CFO, Saeid Raad, decided the Credit Union would close its Redlands and Valencia branches because neither location was generating enough business to offset the more than $5200 spent each month to lease each space. The REAL reason for choosing to close the Redlands branch is that President Wiggington suffered from a purely emotional disdain for Riverside County which had been acquisitioned through a merger orchestrated by his predecessor in late 2006. In January 2007, during his first month as President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. complained to staff and representatives of other credit unions that he "inherited a mess" from his predecessor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Closure of the Valencia branch was also personal and emotional. Prior to targeting the location for closure, the then COO tried to force a friendship of sorts, with that office's Branch Manager. When the Branch Manager rejected the COO's advancements, the COO ordered the office closed and the Branch Manager demoted. The Branch Manager resigned before the Valencia branch closed and in 2012 filed a lawsuit citing wrongful termination and same-sex sexual harassment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In mid-2011, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President concocted a contrived story, alleging he ordered closure of the Redlands and Valencia branches as part of a grand scheme to eliminate offices located in regions where Member-Owners did "not show allegiance" to the credit union and who were only interested in maintaining single-service (savings/share) accounts, adding that this apparently large sector of members were not only unprofitable to but costing the credit union valuable monies paid out in the form of dividends.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">MORE EXCUSES</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President's statement was nothing less than preposterous and another in a long list of lame excuses made over the past 7 years, trying and hoping to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rationalize his gross ineptitude. The closures were necessary and not planned for the purpose of eradicating unprofitable single account holders. The closures enabled Priority One to remain in business, however, one might have thought that after 7 years of public failures and inane excuses, that the President might have thought it a little too late to try and save face by concocting excuses to escape accountability for his frequent bungling. However, even without the credit union's financials, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">most obvious testament to his failures is the closure of 6 branches since October 2010, though the closures are but one of a long slew of failures that have continually proven Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is unqualified to serve in the capacity of President and CEO of the now small credit union. His immature tendency to try and escape accountability does nothing to dispel the fact that over the years, he has proven completely </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">incapable of creating and implementing effective strategies that produce real growth and generate profit. Clearly, planning and strategizing are not his forte. In 2007, he bludgeoned and eventually decimated the Credit Union's once prize-winning Marketing Department. In 2012, he disbanded the Business Development Department and in 2013, he relegated all business development efforts to the chronically inept, Joseph Garcia, who once served as an AVP before being demoted to Business Development Representative on January 15, 2013. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>IN SEARCH OF THE REPORT</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This past June, we decided to try and obtain a copy of the concealed 2013 Annual Report. Our trek began with a visit to the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Los Angeles branch, located in the depressed corner of Central and Florence Avenues south of downtown Los Angeles. When we entered the branch, we discovered six people standing in line waiting to be assisted by a single teller. We looked towards the desks where not so long ago, one could find a receptionist and FSR's but during our visit, there was no one at any of the 4 desks. We did observe two Asian women leaving the vault, carrying a single box and after placing it on a counter, re-entering the vault. We decided waiting in line was our only recourse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a 23-minute wait, we finally met with the teller. We asked if we could have a copy of the 2013 Annual Report. She stared back, apparently unaware of what is an annual report. We asked, "Do you have a copy of the latest annual report?" She replied, "I don't know what that is." We explained that the report is usually distributed during and after the annual meeting. She asked, "Annual meeting?" She then turned to a woman who sat to her right. She asked if she knew what an annual report is? The woman replied that she did not. The teller turned and advised us that the woman- her supervisor, did not know what an annual report is. We walked over to the reception area where we noticed an FSR who apparently arrived while we waited in line. We asked if we could obtain a copy of the annual report, but like the teller, stated she did not know what an annual report is. We thanked her and left. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days later, we drove to the main branch in South Pasadena. We proceeded to the teller area and waited for 10 minutes before we were able to speak to a teller. The teller informed us that she never heard of an annual report and apologized because her supervisor was at lunch, asking if someone could call us back. We declined and advised we would return later that same day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The following week we visited the Van Nuys branch and were referred to an FSR by a teller who like the other tellers we spoke to at the other branches, that she never heard of an annual report, however, she called an FSR who sat nearby. The FSR informed us that the office had not been provided copies of the annual report but they could call the main branch and ask that one be sent to us. We told her that we would visit the main branch instead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evidently, President Wiggington has raised an army of mostly unskilled and uninformed employees. In past posts, we've periodically reported that President Wiggington apparently views ignorance as bliss, but unbeknownst to the incompetent President, ignorance is simply ignorance. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">NOTHING SAYS CHEAP LIKE.....</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cover of Priority One Credit Union's 2013 Annual Report</span></h3>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">A Study in Frugality</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">At the end of June, we obtained a copy of Priority One's closely guarded 2013 Annual Report. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We were taken aback by the cheap quality and appearance of the report. The report stands as yet another example of what every business should avoid when reducing expenses. Priority One's 2013 Annual Report screams frugal and its construction is shoddy. It is also an embarrassing testament to how Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. chooses to do business. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This year's publication- a thin, single glossy page, folded in half, quickly became worn and covered with creases while we first read it. Inarguably, the 2014 Annual Report is a far cry from the beautifully designed reports produced by Priority One's once prize-winning Marketing Department in the many years before Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">However, even the report's shoddy and cheap appearance is overshadowed by its contents consisting of three poorly written addresses signed by t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">he President and Board Chair, the Board's Treasurer, and the Supervisory Committee Chair. We believe the addresses may have been authored by Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year's report is titled <b><i>Maintaining Forward Progress</i></b> (versus <i>Maintaining Backward Progress</i>). We assume it never occurred to any of the officers that "Forward" and "Progress" are synonyms. A better title might have been Moving Forward. That said, the addresses contain the usual inferences of success and express hope for the future. As usual, the veracity of the statements made by each officer are all too easily dispelled by Priority One's own monthly Balance Sheet/Income Statements and quarterly Financial Performance Reports filed with the NCUA. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are the four addresses:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Message from the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">PRESIDENT/CEO and BOARD CHAIRPERSON</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span><span style="color: #660000;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What are the priorities to ensure our mission, <b><i>Maintaining Forward Progress?</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To continue and maintain a safe and sound Credit Union; continue to reduce operating expenses; improve overall Credit Union operations and control loan losses. Most importantly, we are improving our net income. We have continued to see improvements - specifically in real-estate values, delinquencies, and unemployment." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><b style="background-color: white;">Forward Progress?</b> In December 2013, Priority One closed its Airport branch, an event that sharply undercuts the Credit Union's claim of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Forward Progress</i>. One month following closure of the Airport branch, Priority One closed its Santa Clarita branch which originally opened on February 2, 2012, amidst tremendous fanfare incited by the President, who at the time proclaimed arrogantly, that people in Santa Clarita would flock to the new branch <b>"wanting to become Members." </b>January 2014's closure brought a permanent end to that office's 23-month run, something that can hardly be described as <i><span style="color: blue;"><b>Forward Progress</b></span></i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In their opening statement, the President and Board Chair make absolutely no reference to the February 2013 audit of the Los Angeles branch's records which disclosed that money had again been stolen from that location. In March 2013, Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte, violated the policy governing confidentiality and informed some of her staff in South Pasadena that the thefts were allegedly perpetrated by the AVP of the Los Angeles and Airport branches. What we find peculiar is that Priority One's President and Board chose not to seek prosecution of the AVP, despite the fact the thefts constitute a felony. In March 2013, the President disclosed a trial bring more negative attention to the scandal ridden credit union and might be used as fodder by his detractors and critics. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In their address, the President and Board Chair state they <b>"continue to reduce operating expenses."</b> As we began pointing out in late 2010, reducing operating expenses was initially introduced as a temporary solution to help the struggling credit union regain its financial footing. At the time, auditors informed the President that net capital was dropping dangerously close to 6%. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">temporary </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">solution has since become a way of life for Priority One who appears to have developed an addictive reliance on budgetary reductions to maintain net capital above the dreaded 6% and to sustain its three (3) remaining branches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly, the President and Board are inferring that business is performing well though the credit union's financial statements confirm Priority One is not experiencing improvement in the area real estate loan funding. In 2012, real estate loan funding changed with most funding relegated to HELOCs. Not mentioned by the President or Board Chair is the fact that nowadays mortgage loans that are not HELOCs are referred to CU Partners for review and if approved, for funding. The credit union receives a fee for each application that is referred and approved for funding. Continuing:</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"During the last two quarters of the fiscal year, we have been working to convert our Airport and Santa Clarita Branches to self-service types in order to be cost efficient."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shown below, is an excerpt obtained from the Credit Union's webpage and serving to rent a hole in the President and Board Chair's preposterous statement that they are (or were) <b>"working to convert" the Airport or Santa Clarita Branches to service types." </b>And why did the President and Board Chair allude to the Santa Clarita branch in the 2013 Annual Report when that office closed its doors on January 29, 2014? Clearly, the two have tainted the information presented in the 2013 report by including an event that occurred in 2014. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evidently, neither
President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. or Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, is aware
that <b><u><i>continuing</i></u></b> to maintain an ATM at the former Airport and Santa Clarita
branches is not synonymous with <b><i>“We have been working to CONVERT our
Airport and Santa Clarita branches to self-service types.” </i></b>Clearly, no
conversion has ever taken place. The credit union merely vacated its former branch locations, leaving its </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ATMs behind and in place. </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE END.</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> There was no conversion nor are plans for a conversion in the works. There are also absolutely no efforts being made to increase convenience to Member-Owners in the Santa Clarita Valley or in the communities around the former Airport branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A problem that continually undermines the President's and
Board Chair's deceptive statements is that the two hope people will never try and validate their statements and
accept everything they say and write at face value. The two have amassed such a long and well-documented record of lying to members and employees that it would be foolish in 2014, to believe anything they disclose, at face value. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ultimately, the decision to close both branches was not so much prompted by a desire to instill more cost-effective measures but rather to </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">desperately</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> reduce expenses because business at Priority One was and is failing to generate the amount of profit required to maintain its ongoing operation. The President and Board Chair's statement is just more hyperbole from the credit union's two highest officers whose chronic indulgences are to fabricate facades and create impressions they are proactive and always cognoscente of the need to enhance member service while simultaneously reducing expenses. We believe the President and the Board Chair are again, trying to pull another fast one and hoping Member-Owners and employees who read the annual report will buy into their charade purely on faith and without demanding evidence supporting their statements. </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing.....</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We have also continued to provide greater awareness in our Shared Branch and CO-OP service networks as a way to promote convenience. As of July 25th 2013, the Department of Business Oversight (DBO) approved our new community charter for the city of South Pasadena. SLOW and PLANNED growth will enable the Credit Union to maintain "SAFETY and SOUNDNESS." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is important to note Priority One is NOT exacting efforts to bring GREATER awareness to Shared Branch and CO-OP service networks. It is also important to note that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the reference to approval by the DBO, granting Priority One a community charter in South Pasadena, is completely unrelated to their statement alleging efforts to bring greater awareness to Shared Branching services. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For years, promoting Shared Branching and CO-OP service networks has been limited to advertising on the Credit Union's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Web, Facebook, and Twitter pages. Prior to 2014, the Credit Union also advertised Shared Branching in the quarterly newsletter but as we've pointed out in previous posts, the quarterly newsletter has not been published since 2013, the victim of another expense reduction ordered by President Wiggington. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's true that in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">early 2013, Priority One received approval to do business in the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">city of South Pasadena, however, all business development efforts in that city are failing. In 2012, the President boasted that the charter to do business in South Pasadena would enable the credit union to tap into a potentially rich and previously undeveloped resource. He pointed to the fact that there are no other credit unions in South Pasadena with the nearest competitors located a few miles away in the city of Pasadena. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union's inability to develop new business in South Pasadena, forced the President earlier this year, to visit businesses in the city, believing that his title might cajole people into opening accounts and applying for loans. The President was again, incorrect in his belief. To deter from what is another abysmal failure, the President and some Directors of the Board are now asserting that the credit union is proceedings slowly and cautiously. Their statements are just another spin effort and an outright lie. The fact is, by no choice of its own, Priority One is not making progress in South Pasadena- either slow or cautiously. The affluent community is populated by many professionals and long time residents. Our assumption is that this highly intelligent population would investigate the Credit Union's reputation and financials before agreeing in faith, to become members of the troubled credit union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President's belief that South Pasadena posed a valuable, untapped resource that Priority One Credit Union could develop was based wholly on his personal opinion wrought from what he imagined to be true. This is not the first time his fantastical belief system has failed him and the credit union. As we've also revealed in the past, President Wiggington historically relies on his imagination more than he does on information obtained from </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">surveys, focus groups, or other studies that could gauge the potential feasibility of his far-fetched beliefs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The "safety" and "soundness" referenced in the President and Board Chair's address is the antithesis of the President's usual erratic and disorganized methodologies all of which have over the years, chipped away at the Credit Union's once stable financial foundation. Other expensive failures committed by the President, include: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Introduction of an overpaid and vastly incompetent AVP sector.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Purchase of a technically troubled phone system.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Installation of a substandard Call Center.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hiring of an incompetent COO and equally incompetent CLO.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hiring of a CFO who the President now blames for some of the credit union's financial failures; and lawsuits filed by four former employees and one former member which quadrupled the credit union's annual legal fees. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2010, the President has focused on reducing expenses as part of his strategy to retain net capital above 6%. Of course, his reductions have ultimately compromised the quality of member service, forced the closure of 6 of 9 branches, and reduced budgets which once enabled successful marketing and advertising. The Credit Union no longer has a presence in all of Riverside County, most of the San Fernando Valley and as mentioned previously, in the Santa Clarita Valley or in the communities around the Los Angeles International Airport. Their presence in the city of Burbank ended at the end of May 2012. Their once </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">blossoming relationship with employees of Providence Hospitals, particularly St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank and with employees of the United States Postal Service, has been dramatically undercut by the President's cut-backs and refusal to maintain relations with that community. Under his leadership, the President and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the aberrant and highly incompetent Board of Directors, have placed Priority One in a state of regression. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're also uncertain how the President and Board Chair define safe and sound when in 2009 an audit of the Los Angeles Branch's records revealed an internal theft committed by a former receptionist of approximately $60,000. In February 2013, an audit of the Los Angeles' branch's records revealed another internal theft, this time allegedly committed by the AVP assigned to that location. The President and Board Chair are either being daft in their address or just outright lying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing-</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What's ahead for the upcoming year? We will be evaluating all credit union owned ATMs to ensure effectiveness. Our entire FLEET of ATMs must be upgraded to Windows 7 and be smart card compliant in 2014. We will be evaluating the cost of the upgrade and the cost of replacing ATMs." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The statement suggests Priority One's President and Board are going to spend an unspecified amount of time <i style="font-weight: bold;">evaluating </i>ATMs and according to the two officers, the Credit Union maintains a literal <b>FLEET </b>of ATMs. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shown below, is a list of Priority One's so-called <b>FLEET. </b>Not referenced, are the Credit Union's ATMs located at the no longer existent Airport and Santa Clarita branches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Credit Union's FLEET consists of 10 ATMs minus the Victorville location which according to the credit union, is OUT OF SERVICE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. Does this really constitute a FLEET? Business currently gotten through ATMs is not sufficient to substantially offset its overhead. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President and Board Chair conclude, stating:</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our committed staff, executives and volunteers will continue to provide viable products and services and also keep you informed of any new promotions or events. We welcome any suggestions to improve Priority One, your preferred financial institution. We are committed to serving you, our valued member, and we are committed in <b><i>Maintaining Forward Progress.</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. </i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>President/CEO</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Diedra E. Harris-Brooks</i></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Board Chairperson</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our visits to Priority One's remaining 3 branches revealed that President Wiggington is maintaining a staff of mostly uninformed employees. The overpaid executive sector all seem to lack the ability to reverse the injuries caused by President Wiggington over the past 7 years to Priority One's performance and certainly, none of his executive and managerial staff, have proven capable in slowing down branch closures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In their address, the President and Board Chair allude to volunteers. Nowadays, volunteers shown little interest in promoting the Credit Union's products and services. In fact, attendance to the once popular Ambassadors has continually declined since 2013, when </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Business Development Representative, Joseph Garcia, was appointed the task of planning and overseeing the Ambassador meetings. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE SUPERVISORY</b></span></h2>
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<b style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-large;">COMMITTEE'S ADDRESS</b></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">The Supervisory Committee has the responsibility of
overseeing the internal and external audits of the Credit Union. This is to
ensure compliance with all governing laws to ensure policies and procedures are
being performed properly and with the time constraints required.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></h4>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The external audit firm of Turner, Warren, Hwang, and
Conrad, Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, conducts a comprehensive
annual financial audit with a verification of member accounts each year.</span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></h4>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;">The Supervisory Committee also ensure that an internal audit
on operational procedures as to monthly, weekly and daily reviews are conducted
on all reports in accordance with regulatory compliance.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Supervisory Committee will strive to assist and guide
the Credit Union in </span><i style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maintaining Forward Progress.</i></span></h4>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Cornelia Simmons</i></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Supervisory Committee Chair</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Simmons' annual address is as
usual, safe, robotic and droll. The supervisory committee’s ability to ensure Priority One’s
compliance to “all governing laws to ensure policies and procedures are
performed properly” is proven to be untrue and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">undermined by the 2009 disclosure that
approximately $60,000 were stolen by an employee of the Los Angeles branch and
the disclosures from a February 2013 audit proving another the theft of member
monies at the Los Angeles branch, though this time allegedly embezzled by that
office’s AVP.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If policies were an actual concern of the Supervisory
Committee, then one has to wonder why President Wiggington and his executive
staff succeeded in violated numerous state and federal laws which provoked the
filing of lawsuits by former employees and a now former member? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Simmons of course fails to provide any evidence that she
and the committee’s alleged audits served to ensure that <i>monthly, weekly and
daily reviews were conducted</i> on all unnamed reports to ensure these were
complied in accordance with regulatory compliance. Ms. Simmons’ so-called address is sufficiently general and devoid
of specifics to reduce it to nothing more than another vacuous declaration created by one of the Credit Union's two governing bodies. Historically or at least since 2007, the Supervisory Committee like the Board, have done absolutely nothing to reverse the problems created
and perpetuated by President Wiggington and his rabble of executives and
managers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THE BOARD TREASURER'S ADDRESS</span></h2>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the course of the last fiscal year, we continued to
strengthen our net capital to 8.34% from our previous fiscal year of 8.21% We
are projecting our net capital to be above 9% by next fiscal year end. As of
March 31, 2014, the most recent call reporting period, the NCUA has continued
to categorize the Credit Union as “Well Capitalized.” Moving forward in this
atmosphere of slow economic growth, we continue to reduce operating expenses,
as well as increase gross income through loan growth and conservative but
prudent investments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">Our greatest goal is to provide quality products and
services that help you win with money. We have been entrusted with one of our
most valuable assets - our member-owners. We want to provide a friendly
comprehensive financial platform for our member-owners through our services and
products. We will continue our efforts in </span><b><i><span style="color: blue;">Maintaining Forward Progress.</span><o:p></o:p></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Joseph Marchica, Treasurer</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have to commend Mr. Marchica for identifying Member-Owners as the credit
union’s “most valuable assets”. Mr. Marchica’s heartfelt
sentiment that the credit union’s goal is to <b><i>provide a friendly and
comprehensive platform</i></b> for Member-Owners is lost by the fact that Mr.
Marchica rarely attends monthly Board meetings. Mr. Marchica who is either in
his 80’s or 90’s, lives in Temecula, California. His physical proximity from
the credit union’s main branch is sufficient to preclude him from attending Board
meetings on a regular basis. Subsequently, his involvement or for that matter,
investment in time to the credit union, is less than minimal, prompting us to
wonder why he just doesn’t resign and allow a more involved candidate to take his
place. Then again, replacing Mr. Marchica would place a crimp in Madame Harris-Brooks’
grip over the Board who have since 2006, pandered to her almost every whim. </span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just as in previous years. the four officers and in particular, the President and Board Chair, have misused the Annual Report as a vehicle through which to dessiminate misinformation about the Credit Union's actual and real financial standing. One only need look at Priority One's monthly Balance Sheet/Income Statements and Financial Performance Report to see that Priority One is not in the throes of a resurgence of new business. What's more contrary to what the President and Board Chair would like Member-Owners and employees to believe, the closures of the Ai</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rport and Santa Clarita branches was not a carefully plan to covert the former branches into self-service modules. What the Credit Union did, was break their leases for each location, close down each operation, vacated the premises, and left the ATMs behind for use by Member-Owners. This hardly constitutes a well-planned conversion. The bottom line is the locations were not drawing member interest, in great part because the President chose not to promote and develop these. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>THINKING SMALL</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we disclosed previously in this post, in 2010 then COO, Beatrice Walker, and then CFO, Saeid Raad, targeted closure of the Redlands and Valencia branches because the credit union could no longer afford to pay the more than $5400 monthly cost required to lease each location and to stave off the continued drop of Priority One's Net Capital.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February 2014, President Wiggington disclosed that the closure of branches in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and in January 2014, was intended to drive out Member-Owners who only maintain a savings (share) account and who have shown no interest in obtaining the financial products offered by Priority One. He also explained that this sector of Member-Owners who refuse to become recipients of the Credit Union's products are unprofitable and tax the Credit Union's resources, each time Priority One is forced to pay out dividends to single service (savings) accounts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President would like people to believe that closing branches is meant to vanquish single service account holders. Reviewing documentation produced over the past 7 years, we discovered that unlike his predecessor, President Wiggington has never developed promotions catering to single service account holders. It is reasonable to conclude that one reason why the large sector of single service account holders don't participate in in the credit union's offerings is because President Wiggington refuses to reach out to them. A problem with President Wiggington's view of business is that he believes people will want to become members of Priority One without the Credit Union trying to reach out to potential members. We can only conclude that is apparent disinterest in entering into relationship with the communities served and once served by Priority One is the result of his ignorance, laziness, a lack of experience, disinterest, or a complete lack of intellect. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President's campaign to create the impression branch closures are the result of some inspired plan is of course, ludicrous. If his hope is to drive out single service account holders then it hasn't occurred that branch closures which reduce convenience and the quality of service the Credit Union is able to provide, will also drive out Member-Owners who have more than one account at the Credit Union and who have at sometime obtained loans and other products from the Credit Union. What is acutely clear is that President Wiggington is a slave to his own addictive proclivity to fabricate excuses rationalizing his chronic and incessant failures. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>OVER A CLIFF</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">In their address, the President and Board Chair make
reference to an improved real estate market, but the reference is the state of the real estate industry in the United States and/or the state of California.
According to the Credit Union's Financial Performance Report ("FPR") for the quarter ending June 31,
2014, real estate loan funding actually declined over a period of 12 months.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quarter ending June 30, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total:<b> $48,111,110.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quarter ending September 30, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total:<b> $47,098,067.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quarter ending December 31, 2013</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total: <b>$45,619,455</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quarter ending March 31, 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total: <b>$45,099,116</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total ending June 30, 2014</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total: <b>$44,765,168</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As shown above, real estate funding has declined. So where is the
improvement cited in the President and Board Chair’s address and that of the
Treasurer? </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another peculiar reference in the quarterly Financial Performance Report or the quarters ending June 30, 2013 and June 30, 2014, is that to loan losses. During the entire last 5 quarters, the amount has been well in the negative despite the fact the President's declarations in 2013 and 2014 insisting losses from loans had been reduced substantially. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his address, Board Treasurer, Joseph Marchica states that the NCUA categorizes Priority One as "well capitalized." What Mr. Marchica avoids is any reference that since 2012, Bauer Financial has reduced Priority One from a 4-Star Credit Union to a 3-Star Credit Union. He also avoids making reference to Bankrate's analysis which concludes that Priority One's overhead is unusually and abnormally, high. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If it weren't for expense reductions, Priority One would be in far more trouble than what it currently wallows in. According to their last Financial Performance Report for the quarter ending June 30, 2014, Priority One's Total Assets have declined by more than $2 million since the quarter ending June 30, 2013. So where is the improvement? Clearly, the Board Treasurer was only referring to Net Capital while ignoring all other critical indicators which provide a complete picture of Priority One's actual financial health. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>CONVENIENCE?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past May, the President ordered renewed efforts to promote convenience and ordered a post placed on the Credit Union's Facebook page advising Member-Owners that the main branch in South Pasadena is open on Saturdays, between 9 am and 1 pm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The now much smaller credit union is hoping to clinch new business by emphasizing convenience but nowadays, Priority One is no longer able to offer the convenience once available to Member-Owners in the years before Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one lives near the Los Angeles Airport, the drive to South Pasadena is approximately 50 miles roundtrip to and from South Pasadena. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one drives from downtown Redlands, California,Priority One’s southern-most community, than the trek to and from South Pasadena is approximately 116 miles, roundtrip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one drives from Valencia, Priority One’s northern most community, the roundtrip drive is 72 miles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, the South Pasadena office opens on Saturdays but unless one lives or works in close proximity to South Pasadena, the trek to the main branch is anything but convenient. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pocuone">https://www.facebook.com/pocuone</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">There is a difference between being a poor man's credit union and being a poor credit union just like there is a difference between having a promising future and not having a promising future. President Wiggington's recent attempts to hide the credit union's <b><span style="color: blue;">2013 Annual Report </span></b>suggests he and the Board Chair have much to hide. Over the years, their ploys to suppress evidence of wrongdoing and mismanagement have eventually failed with evidence of their acts and behaviors, surfacing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Obviously, Priority One is not <b><i>Maintaining Forward Progress</i>. </b>Like the 2012 Annual Report, misnamed <i style="font-weight: bold;">A Brighter Future Ahead</i>, the 2013 statement relies on concoctions primarily authored by the President and Board Chair inferring that Priority One is in the process of moving forward despite the fact that branch closures and the credit union's monthly Balance Sheet/Income Statements and quarterly Financial Performance Reports (FPRs) suggest decline, ongoing failure, and decay. What the 2013 report fails to mention is that in February 2013, an audit discovered that monies had allegedly been stolen by the now former AVP overseeing that office and the now defunct, Airport branch. The President and Board Chair go on to declare that the closure of the Airport branch in December 2013 and closure of the Santa Clarita branch in January 2014, were intentional and part of a conversion plan to reduce expenses and turn the branches into what the describe as "self-service types." Of course, as we've proven no conversion took place. The Credit Union terminated its leases, closed each locations and left its ATMs at each location. The two should take a moment to acquaint themselves with the definition of the word <i>conversion</i>. Clearly, Priority One did not experience A <b><i>Brighter Future Ahead</i></b> in 2013. As for the 2013 Annual Report which has remained hidden until now, a more appropriate title for the frugal document may have been <i><b>Trudging Slowly Along at a Snail's Pace in Quicksand.</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The great lengths taken by the President and Board Chair to hide the 2013 Annual Report has officially failed. The report, a shoddy, frugal looking, and embarrassing piece of literature speaks audibly and clearly about Priority One's real financial standing. Now that we've seen the report, could it be the President's efforts to conceal the report was merely because it is an embarrassing tacky, poorly written piece of documentation? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2013 Annual Report, like all reports published under President Wiggington, is riddled with empty, meaningless and general statements which try in earnest to create an impression that the credit union is performing quite well when clearly, it is not. The </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President and Board Chair may hope no one will notice the closure of six (6) branches since October 2010, the decline in service standards, the drop in Net Income, or subpar marketing and advertising. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President's statements that the closure of all branches was part of a carefully wrought strategy to drive out single service account holders is both preposterous and typically childish adding to our contention that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s statements should always be verified to ensure he is not concocting stories. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The take aways from the addresses contained in the 2013 Annual Report is that the statements made by the Credit Union's highest officers can never be trusted, that the Credit Union plans to spend inordinate amounts of time in 2014, evaluating the Credit Union's FLEET of ATMs, and that the Credit Union's highest officers apparently believe their statements will never be verified. </span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">< item>
< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com384tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-88484408178492908182014-06-25T21:47:00.001-07:002014-07-03T20:53:55.957-07:00DISPELLING FANTASIES<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On Wednesday, May 28, 2014, Priority One One Credit Union conducted
its 2014 Annual Meeting though just a few hours before its start, employees of the credit union's three remaining branches convened at Carrow's Restaurant in South Pasadena, California to participate in an all-staff meeting ordered by President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On January 1, 2007, the Credit Union employed in excess of 150 employees but during the May 28th gathering. the staff numbered less than 60. Also noteworthy, is that employees paid for their own lunches and after eating, were forced to listen to President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. ramble on about alleged improved business and a promising future for the supposedly rebounding credit union.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, the President's spiel was nothing more than another outpouring of Wiggington-styled propaganda intended to lure employees into ignoring the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">massive and lumbering brontosaurus in the room which is a well documented record of chronic failures all orchestrated by President Wiggington and all sanctioned by what may be the most deplorable Board of Directors in the credit union industry. In addition to his well-documented botches is the all too conspicuous closure of 6 branches since October 2010, reducing Priority One from 9 offices to 3. Another telling indicator that the credit union may not be performing as well as the President wanted employees to think is that Priority One could not afford to pay lunches for employees attending the meeting. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At 6 p.m., the credit union conducted its Annual Meeting which this year was awkwardly dubbed, "Maintaining Forward Progress" (versus Backward Progress). During the meeting, the President reiterated that Priority One performed well in 2013, however, his over-optimism is sharply undercut by the credit union's own Monthly Income/Balance Sheets and quarterly Financial Performance Reports ("FPR") filed with the NCUA.gov. A review of the reports reveals a credit union that is unable to generate sufficient new business needed to offset overhead, build desperately needed reserves, and augment capital. All of the failures the credit union continues to experience are born out of President Wiggington's inability to implement effective marketing, build relations within the communities the credit union is supposed to serve, failure to create cutting edge advertising that succeeds in attracting member interest, and his inability to resolve the credit union's burgeoning member service issues. The President's spin on the credit union's actual performance was another clumsy and all too transparent poorly honed plan designed to dupe listeners into believing his warped version of reality. </span></div>
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During the meeting, the President went to great lengths to avoid referring to the credit union's present inability to service all of the Santa Clarita and most of the San Fernando valleys and all of Riverside County along with avoiding all reference to the closure of 6 branches since October 2010. Its what he didn't say that most attests to the credit union real performance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In March, President Wiggington disclosed that reason for the closures of the Airport and the Santa Clarita branches in
December 2013 and January 2014, respectively, was simply that neither branch was performing well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Airport branch in 2010 and the Santa Clarita branch* opened in February 2012. In the months before opening the Santa Clarita branch, the President declared that the people living and working in the Santa Clarita Valley would be both "grateful" and "excited" that the credit union was reopening a branch in that region. In 2010, the President ordered closure of the successful Valencia branch because at the time, the credit union could no longer afford to pay the more than $5300 monthly cost to lease the space. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2012, then Santa Clarita Post Master, Ralph Tapia, ordered construction of a structure just outside the gates of the Santa Clarita Mail Processing Center located at 28635 Braxton Avenue in Valencia, California. Mr. Tapia is a loyal member of the credit union and wanted to express his gratitude towards the once well-respected organization. As the new Santa Clarita branch neared completion, President Wiggington began declaring that </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">people would flock to the new branch wanting to becoming members of the credit union. His statements were based on nothing more than conjecture dredged from his fantastical imagination which chronically circumvents logic and evidence to support his far-fetched beliefs. In fact, In November 2011, we stated that the branch would fail, primarily because of its inconvenient location outside of downtown Valencia and because in our opinion, the President would fail to promote the site just as he failed to promote the Redlands, Riverside, Valencia, and Burbank branches, all of which closed during the period of 2010 through 2012. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President's own words revealed that from his skewed perspective, people would "flock" to the new branch without him having to market the location. His failure to develop strategies to market the Santa Clarita branch serves to affirm that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s inspirations are bombastic at base and grounded in fantasy. He sincerely believes that Priority One has something to offer without have to make any effort to reach out to the communities it serves which explains why he was forced to close the Redlands and Valencia branches in 2010; the Riverside branch in 2011; the Burbank branch in 2012; the Airport branch in 2013; and the Santa Clarita branch in 2014. In the end, his beliefs are spurious and both self indulgent and self deluded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*In 2013, the new Post Master in
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amount of their lease. The decision by the Post Master prompted EVP, Rodger Smock, to exclaim, <b>"What are they (the postal service) doing to us!:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years, the two most frequently asked questions we've received are, "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why has President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. not been terminated?" and "Why hasn't the Board of Directors been removed?" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To remove the President, the entire Board or some of the Directors of the Board requires filing of a complaint by member-owners. Without member-owners filing a complaint with the state of California, both the President and Board remain securely in place. We must add that if a non-member files a complaint and submits evidence to the Department of Financial Institutions ("DFI") proving the credit union has violated state and federal law, the DFI will not open an investigation bec</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ause the complaint must be filed by a member-owner. Evidence- even compelling evidence is in itself, insufficient to launch an investigation. Of course, this brings into conflict what the state mandates under law and what is unethical and moral. However, state mandates override the principles of ethics and morals since unethical acts are not synonymous with illegal acts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, the validity of those things said by the President and Board over the years, assuring members and employees that things are just grand at the credit union requires that we believe them at face value. Unfortunately for the President and Board, in 2014 neither possesses a shred of credibility. Their addresses published in the annual reports are laced with distortions of the truth including exaggerations, and always ignoring the fact that the credit union's asset value has declined by millions of dollars since January 2007, the date which Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began his reign of terror. The fact the credit union has terminated more than 50% of its employees since January 2007 is another indicator that things are not going well for the credit union. Couple this with 4 lawsuits filed by former employees since August 2010 along with the closure of 6 branches since October 2010, and all indicators point to decline, though President Wiggington and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, would like employees and members to believe that the credit union's business is increasing and its profits, amassing. Any doubt to the credit union's decline can be easily dispelled by reviewing their Monthly Income Statements/Balance Sheets or their quarterly reports published by the National Credit Union Association at <a href="http://www.ncua.gov/">http://www.ncua.gov</a>. The financials contained in their financial statements conspicuously conflicts with the President's and Board Chair's bloated claims of success.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We recently revisited
Bankrate.com and discovered that the credit union’s financial standing was downgraded from 4 stars at the end of 2012, to 3 stars at the end of 2013. The reason for the downgrade is due to a drop in capital. President Wiggington has since 2009, avoided closure of the credit union by introducing often drastic cut-backs in spending. In February 2012, President Wiggington lied to employees when he explained that capital represents earnings from profit. At the time, he distorted the truth because the credit union was preparing, unbeknownst to employees, to close the Burbank branch and begin what would be approximately 8 months during which many employees were terminated for allegedly failing to meet their assigned monthly sales quotas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2013 assessment by Bankrate.com states that Net Capital has declined. Additionally, since March 2013, t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he credit union has been
reporting negative loan loss allowance which suggests their delinquencies have declined thus reducing the amount of reserve set side to cover projected/estimated losses from delinquent loans. Normally, this would be wonderful news but based solely on the President's manipulation of accounting practices, the report by the credit union cannot be believed without tangible evidence. If the President is lying again and underestimating the amount of projected loan losses or if he is merely being overly optimistic, t then the credit union could potentially create new and additional problems for itself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2010, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President's weapon of choice to counter the sluggish development of new business has been cutting back expenditures, however, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Branch closures are unfortunate,
though in the case of Priority One, necessary. However, closing branches was intended as a temporary means by which to reduce expenses and develop new strategies needed to produce income. The credit union's current inability to acquire sufficient levels of new business is failing to:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Generate profit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Create reserves</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Increase capital</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, auditors advised the President he must reduce expenses immediately and substantially to avoid further decline leading to possible closure. At the time, then COO, Beatrice Walker, and CFO, Saeid Raad, decided that the most immediate and effective means by which to reduce expenses was to close the Redlands and Valencia branches though at the time, Ms. Walker vindictively targeted the Valencia branch because she was at odds with its Manager. The closures should have represented a single, desperate effort to save the credit union and provide an opportunity to the President and his executive staff to create and implement strategies that would more effectively promote the credit union's products, services, and name. At no time, were branch closures intended to become a "usual and customary" part of how the credit union conducts fiscal business. Unfortunately, due to President Wiggington's immense limitations, cut-backs have become an addictive way of life for the credit union and its survival. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Bankrate.com, the credit union’s business is
not profitable. Priority One’s Return on Average Assets is according to
Bankrate.com, “Substantially below Average.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bankrate.com also determined that the credit union’s
outgoing expenses aka “overhead”, is “Significantly Higher than average.” This
indicates that Priority One is not generating sufficient new business needed to
build capital and produce adequate loss reserves. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Bankrate.com, their assessment about Priority
One’s earnings is based on their review of Priority One’s last four quarters of
income and expenditures meaning quite simply, that it includes all of 2013.
Bankrate. com also concluded that a review of <span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">the four quarters ending December 31 2013,
revealed Priority One has a “substantially below average return on average
assets” and “A significantly higher than average overhead ratio is in
evidence.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Priority One’s inability to generate sufficient new business
is undermining their ability to pay their expenses, generate a profit and
create sufficient monetary reserves to sustain its operation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bankrate.com also discloses that the 3 star rating indicates
a “GENERALLY satisfactory financial condition.” In analyzing Priority One’s
capital, Bankrate.com “<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">that this credit union demonstrates well below standard
capitalization. Notwithstanding any of the information contained within this
section, we believe, based on our analysis, that the institution should
consider plans for enhancing reported capitalization.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">So how does one develop plans to enhance reported
capitalization when they have no idea of how to create effective marketing
strategies, how to build relationships with the people living and residing in
the credit union’s vast but not maintained territories. The fact is, the
problems which have contributed to Priority One’s decline have been ongoing for
the past 7 years and sadly, President Wiggington just doesn’t have what it
takes to lead the credit union out of the mire he created. For the President,
creating effective business producing plans is just impossible. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Is Ignorance Truly Bliss?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We received the following account from a member who called the credit union to request a copy of the Annual Report. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday, June 6, 2014</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I called the credit union earlier today and asked a woman who picked up the phone to send me an annual report.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>She asked "A what?" </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I repeated, "An annual report."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>She asked, "What do you need it for?" </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I explained that as a member, I am entitled to a copy of the annual report. She responded, </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"Please hold." </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>She returned and asked again, "What do you want?" </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I asked, "Do you know what an annual report is?"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>She responded slowly, "No." </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I told her I would call back and speak to someone else. She said, "Okay."</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly, unlike the many knowledgeable and competent employees the President drove out of the credit union over the years, new employees are either not being trained and purposely kept ignorant or the caliber of employees hired by the credit union reflects the level of incompetence saturating the credit union since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President of what once was a larger and growing credit union. Does Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. truly believe ignorance is bliss or an attractive quality? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've recently learned that the President has instructed managers not to release information about the credit union's financials. This reminds us of his 2010 directive, prohibiting managers from releasing the credit union's monthly income statements despite the fact that all members, under state law, can request and receive a copy of the statement. His efforts to try and suppress the release of the credit union's financial information clearly suggests the President has much to hide. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">MAINTAINING FORWARD PROGRESS</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year's <b>Annual Meeting</b> was dubbed,<b> "</b><b>Maintaining Forward Progress"</b> (versus Maintaining Backward Progress). The event which has over the past 7 years turned into a high school theatrical production, served as a platform during which President Wiggington and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, disingenuously presented a promising picture of the shrinking credit union's future. If one chose to ignore their poorly scripted and unconvincing speeches, then Priority One is indeed a clean, mean running machining and not a sputtering operation reliant on expense reductions as a means by which to remain in business. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to spend 30-minutes raising yet another sham portraying the sputtering credit union as a clean, mean running machine, a claim quickly and immediately dispelled by Priority One's financial reports which paint a picture of a credit union struggling to sell its products and exerting tremendous effort to pay its overhead. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the President and Board Chair, the Annual Meeting is an opportunity to misrepresent the credit union's real performance. Noticeably not mentioned were the closure of the Airport branch in December of last year and closure of the Santa Clarita branch in January of this year. Also not mentioned is why the credit union has closed 6 of it 9 branches since October 2010. The two officers also avoided all reference why the credit unions asset size has decreased by $7 million over the past 7 years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usually, things reported as news have never been reported
previously. Clearly, Priority One Credit Union defines what is news,
differently than does everyone else. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On their website, under “Priority One News & Updates”
the credit union allegedly publishes notices of current and upcoming events. However,
a review of the page discloses the page is being neglected and continues to
reference information that is more than 2 years old. This failure by the credit
union creates an impression of mismanagement of their own resources and reminds
us of the ship shod manner President Wiggington chooses to manage (or
mismanage) the credit union’s many differing facets. So doesn’t the credit
union have a person or person to maintain its website?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its incredulous that President Wiggington or Executive Vice
President, Rodger Smock; Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte; Vice
President of Lending, Patricia Loiacano; Business Development Representative,
Joseph Garcia; Director of Employee Services, Robert West; or Manager of
Employee Services, Esmeralda Sandoval, have all simultaneously thought it
prudent to continue referencing the Airport and Santa Clarita branches on their
list of branch locations. Though the two, no longer existent branches, each
reference they are closed, they continue to appear on the list of active
offices. We can see where members and prospective members might not realize
those offices are permanently closed. The credit union annotates information
about the closures in red font and also reference the early closure of the
three remaining offices on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, in red font. We assume the
continued inclusion of the two closed offices on their list of active offices
is intended to create the impression that Priority One has 5 branches. Isn’t it
about time President Wiggington donned his big boy pants and accept that the
credit union has lost 6 branches under his tutelage and that maintaining an
inaccurate list of offices is nothing more than another Wiggington-styled
deceptive ploy?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="https://priorityonecu.org/community/locations/">https://priorityonecu.org/community/locations/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inexplicably, the credit union’s last published newsletter
was that for Winter 2013. So what could have happened to their quarterly
publication?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The credit union’s newsletters plummeted in popularity after
2007. For years, the credit union published a monthly newsletter but in 2010,
the then Marketing Specialist gathered evidence that members were not reading
or interested in the monthly letters. At the time, COO, Beatrice Walker,
ordered cessation of the newsletter which irked Executive Vice President,
Rodger Smock, who at the time, was the newsletter’s caretaker. Resentful, Mr.
Smock launched a personal vendetta against the then Marketing Specialist and
falsely informed the COO that the specialist was leaking confidential he had no
access to, on to the Internet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the elimination of the monthly newsletter, the EVP was
left with managing publication of the quarterly newsletter. In 2010, the credit
union determined that mailing of the newsletter was too expensive and if
eliminated could help reduce spending. The credit union issued letters to all
members, asking if they could inform the credit union if they would like to
continue receiving the quarterly newsletter or if they would prefer downloading
it directly from Priority One’s website. Few members responded to the request,
leading the credit union that members were not interested in the newsletters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oddly, the credit union renamed the Winter publication to
First Connections (yawn) but has never published another newsletter since then.
The letters have been chronically dull for years, with the front panel always
containing a mundane and dull address allegedly written by the President. On
the backside, scant advertisements are shown, none possessing any drawing
power.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In what is apparently his final “President’s Message….,“
Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. begins by stating “The news seemed to be full of
fraud and theft stories throughout 2012.” Certainly not a compelling or
editorial masterpiece, the President’s message were intended to help members
but unfortunately continually smacked of the tedious and stale.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some men possess the ability to draw others to themselves.
Others possess the gift to teach and imbue others with qualities that will
enhance their life. Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. causes things he touches to
wither.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHGxNIzR1yWm3CmlrkiyUiksL-x2J-70A2Z620ty4TOiRuFzq-WioZ6nr1ZQfAjYfVP741GjntGiW2RYXgX_fI4W3ZfqdVpHX0nZh56_em8AJblZA95pd2g4kk24OBf3mpqA0t1ZoAygD/s1600/Line.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHGxNIzR1yWm3CmlrkiyUiksL-x2J-70A2Z620ty4TOiRuFzq-WioZ6nr1ZQfAjYfVP741GjntGiW2RYXgX_fI4W3ZfqdVpHX0nZh56_em8AJblZA95pd2g4kk24OBf3mpqA0t1ZoAygD/s1600/Line.JPG" height="26" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>FACADES</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mVT07l_6mGI3KgMv3vpgBmWV4UVopjCOAbp-3FTqvIqLC7OwzFtIifgzCykIKrQzAn1dXRwQL4y_JT-fxUORI6rX_DVDTNDVvDCe6qiOI8jaU1Z9n-YjuoFRuzNrcRiaXAb0Ee6BInIR/s1600/Diedra+Harris-Brooks+060214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7mVT07l_6mGI3KgMv3vpgBmWV4UVopjCOAbp-3FTqvIqLC7OwzFtIifgzCykIKrQzAn1dXRwQL4y_JT-fxUORI6rX_DVDTNDVvDCe6qiOI8jaU1Z9n-YjuoFRuzNrcRiaXAb0Ee6BInIR/s1600/Diedra+Harris-Brooks+060214.JPG" height="265" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Source: </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://leadferret.com/directory/person/diedra-brooks/12982439" target="_blank">http://leadferret.com/directory/person/diedra-brooks/12982439</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Officers at Priority One Credit Union all seem to suffer from the same insatiable need to exaggerate their online records. We certainly don't comprehend why they are driven to embellish references about themselves and must conclude that their tendencies towards dishonesty are so embedded in their behaviors that they don't possess the ability or desire to change.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shown above is an online record of Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks though all too conspicuously, the reference omits her complete last name. In 2012, we disclosed that Mrs. Harris-Brooks uses variations of her last name on the Internet. These are:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diedra Harris-Brooks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diedra Harris</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diedra Brooks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diedra E. Harris</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diedra E. Brooks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diedra E. Harris-Brooks</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We not only find the variations unusual but they appear suspicious and suggest the Board Chair has more than a little too hide. Otherwise, why use so many variations of her last name? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the above-referenced record, is a list of Mrs. Harris-Brooks professional associations at the credit union. The problem with the record is that contains old references to employees who were terminated as a result of the President and Board Chair's plots. As shown above, the names of former employees, are:</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tsiu Tang, IT Supervisor</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beatrice (“Bea”) Walker, COO</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lynette Fortson, AVP</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David Davidson</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kimberly Burke, Assistant Branch Manager</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manny Gaitmaitan, CFO</span></li>
</ul>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Tsui Tang, IT Supervisor</u></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first, Tsui Tang, succumbed to a treacherous plot
implemented by then COO, Beatrice Walker. Mrs. Walker maintained an open
resentment towards Mr. Tang because quite frankly, he was aware of many acts
she perpetrated which violated credit union policies. She replaced him by
hiring her friend, Randy McBride, who became Mr. Tang’s supervisor and later,
at the request of Ms. Walker, terminated Mr. Tang. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Beatrice "Bea" Walker, COO</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The treacherous and infamous Ms. Walker was terminated in July 2011 by her one-time friend and business associate, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. The reasons for her ouster were insubordination and her alleged failure to satisfactorily fulfill her assigned duties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beatrice Walker was terminated in July 2011, allegedly for
failing to fulfill her assigned responsibilities and insubordination to the
President and Board. However, preceding her ouster, Ms. Walker made a racist
statement about Mexican employees of the credit union, allegedly sexually
harassed a female Branch Manager, and disparaged the intelligence of the
Board’s Directors.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Lynette Fortson, AVP, Los Angeles & Airport Branches</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lynnette Fortson was terminated
in February 2013 following an audit of the Los Angeles branch’s records which
disclosed money had been embezzled from that location.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>David Davidson, Board Director</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David Davidson, one of the few
White Board Directors serving Priority One after Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.,
became a casualty of a plot concocted by Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, and
President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. The two wanted him off the Board because he helped expose that one of the President's confidants and AVP, had kited- a federal offense. The two offered the Director a job at the credit union as their first Financial Planner. He accepted the position, forcing him to resign from the Board. Two months later, the President treacherously terminated him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Kimberly Burke, Assistant Branch Manager</u></b></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kimberly Burke left the credit
union in 2008. Prior to her departure, was sexually harassed by President
Wiggington.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Manny Gaitmaitan, CFO</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manuel Gaitmaitan was a former
CFO who resigned in December 2009 after President Wiggington and COO, Beatrice
Walker, informed Mrs. Harris-Brooks that he was uncooperative and unwilling to
alter account reporting to denote profits were none existed. Mr. Gaitmaitan was
ostracized by the President, the COO, and EVP, Rodger Smock. Mr. Gaitmaitan
would later disclose that he was forced to resign. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks online profile
is evidently proliferated with misinformation that she has either intentionally or unintentionally allowed to remain in one of her public profiles. The fact that the Board Chair of the credit union lacks the motivation to ensure the removal of misinformation, should be deemed disturbing and is a reflection of her negligent attitude while serving as Board Chair. Her inaccurate record also mirrors the credit union's own negligence to maintain accurate information about themselves on the Internet. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHGxNIzR1yWm3CmlrkiyUiksL-x2J-70A2Z620ty4TOiRuFzq-WioZ6nr1ZQfAjYfVP741GjntGiW2RYXgX_fI4W3ZfqdVpHX0nZh56_em8AJblZA95pd2g4kk24OBf3mpqA0t1ZoAygD/s1600/Line.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHGxNIzR1yWm3CmlrkiyUiksL-x2J-70A2Z620ty4TOiRuFzq-WioZ6nr1ZQfAjYfVP741GjntGiW2RYXgX_fI4W3ZfqdVpHX0nZh56_em8AJblZA95pd2g4kk24OBf3mpqA0t1ZoAygD/s1600/Line.JPG" height="26" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>FACT, FICTION OR EXAGGERATION</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We recently revisited the credit union's website where we located the following paragraphs describing the benefits offered by the credit union to its members. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify;">We couldn’t locate evidence proving that “most Fortune 500 companies" consider credit union membership an important benefit to their employees. We of course invite either President Wiggington or Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, to submit whatever proof they are in possession of that makes this statement true. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhgrXrvFxRpfmURe-pKV0TtWH8nf01N8WUsF_BhhboUcS1UklI88FB7tVwlk_ib0SHX8Gjm5gF1EP24WjcVILpM6VGNazf43AEJJP2RTjZKYn-TY7ZhAfIMG_HBcaJu9RsOyQbjqTT9fM/s1600/Membership+Benefits.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyhgrXrvFxRpfmURe-pKV0TtWH8nf01N8WUsF_BhhboUcS1UklI88FB7tVwlk_ib0SHX8Gjm5gF1EP24WjcVILpM6VGNazf43AEJJP2RTjZKYn-TY7ZhAfIMG_HBcaJu9RsOyQbjqTT9fM/s1600/Membership+Benefits.JPG" height="516" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Paragraphs 4 and 5</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: justify;">Lastly, the credit union is not a <b>$163 million credit union</b>.
It’s current asset size is less than <b>$155 million</b> a loss of over <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: red;"><b>$17 million</b></span></span>
since January 1, 2007. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: left;">As we proved in 2012, the credit union was rated a
four-stars by Bauer Financial and under President Wiggington, has NEVER has
received a 5-star rating. Despite their 4-star rating, President Wiggington
ordered the always docile, Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, to alter the
credit union’s actual rating and increase it from 4 to 5 stars.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, the credit union received its first complaint declaring that a lawsuit had been filed by a former employee. In 2011, the credit union received a 2nd notice advising the credit union was being sued by yet another former employee. In 2012, the credit union received two additional complaints that it was being sued by two other, former employees. </span></div>
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</span>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In response, the credit union hired an attorney to weave defenses that might help the credit union escape accountability against a list of allegations that it had violated state and federal laws and credit union policy. During depositions conducted in 3 of 4 lawsuits, credit union attorney, Paul F. Schimley, of
<i><b>Richardson-Harmon-Ober</b></i>, aggressively asked questions about who was and is, writing this blog. The attorney who was being paid handsomely by the credit union hoped to create a defense the impugned witnesses and plaintiffs through raising a facade that would hid the egregious acts allegedly committed by the President and his staff. All four lawsuits implicated President Wiggington; former COO, Beatrice Walker; and EVP, Rodger Smock. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of the plots orchestrated by the President against employees were crafted by both him and former COO, Beatrice Walker. Ms. Walker, as we've often described, proved to be plutonium to the credit union as a business and employer. On the surface, Ms. Walker was hired to create new streams of business for a company whose performance was beginning to falter. However, within days after being hired, the President divulged that she had been hired to also reduce expenses by identifying positions that were unnecessary to the credit union. He also revealed that she had been hired to drive out enemy employees who were seeking to overthrow the President. Clearly, his imagination has no limits. Though Ms. Walker was
hired by the President who told employees he never met her prior to June 1,
2009, the date she was hired. Ms. Walker would later concur, alleging she
obtained the position of COO after answering an ad, contacting the credit
union, interviewing with the Board, and then being offered the position of COO.
Of course their story proved to be a concoction and it turned out Ms. Walker
knew the President long before she had been hired, having met him years before
while employed by Toyota Federal Credit Union located in Torrance, California.
Six months before being hired, the President and Ms. Walker were seen leaving
Applebee’s in Alhambra, California. The
only reason the two chose to lie is because she was not merely hired to be a
COO and as time quickly proved, she was hired as the President’s personal
hatchet-person to target and terminate employees the two imagined were out to
undermine their authority.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One does not possess a portfolio containing a “vast
array of products and services. Under President Wiggington, there is no concept
of what convenience means as attested to by their present scarcity of branch
locations in the vast territory they possess.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, a subject of many complaints is the
credit union’s impersonal treatment of members and their failure to respond
quickly or competently to the needs and requests from members. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlEBn-dZka3lKQeDw9qGAg6vsRZoQXaRdUjZy5hKVmhDCybJnI2w77_uWucjyq1wq-VtgdscF5pdDzDS5ov_61X8or2RmWhTFqAW7ZvQhfr5LDQtqc-bOumdh6nnuZbQZGK-ay59EXF85/s1600/Line.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlEBn-dZka3lKQeDw9qGAg6vsRZoQXaRdUjZy5hKVmhDCybJnI2w77_uWucjyq1wq-VtgdscF5pdDzDS5ov_61X8or2RmWhTFqAW7ZvQhfr5LDQtqc-bOumdh6nnuZbQZGK-ay59EXF85/s1600/Line.JPG" height="26" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszjamf-tylIpth3piJn7986jDDw9RxXwN2TXN7483V7Fn-LL63Sen1nEp6qt_G4jlei1Bp03xJt_LplvXSJDrl1ESHlnpgZFPzgN3TZ1e_L_oJocmmXvhaLb7XanTKgvFpL4_KiCfGX35/s1600/Dull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszjamf-tylIpth3piJn7986jDDw9RxXwN2TXN7483V7Fn-LL63Sen1nEp6qt_G4jlei1Bp03xJt_LplvXSJDrl1ESHlnpgZFPzgN3TZ1e_L_oJocmmXvhaLb7XanTKgvFpL4_KiCfGX35/s1600/Dull.JPG" height="193" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The crux of this blog is inarguably, Priority One Credit Union's perpetually dull President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. Since 2009., we've often reported upon many of the destructive decisions made by glib President. One of the many issues we've reported on, pertains to the ham-fisted President's horrendous inability to select qualified candidates to service in an executive capacity. One decision by the President which would tax the credit union's infrastructure heavily and injure employee morale was the President's 2009 decision to hire Beatrice ("Bea") Walker to serve as the credit union's first COO and who was banished from the credit union in July 2011 for insubordination, failing to fulfill her assigned responsibilities and because she had made comments disparaging the Board's intelligence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Approximately three weeks after terminating Ms. Walker, the President hired Cindy Garvin to be the new Director of Lending. So bolled over was Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. by her exemplary performance that 4 months after hiring her, the President promoted Ms. Garvin to the position of Chief Lending Officer ("CLO"). However, something changed in how the President viewed Ms. Garvin and on 12/28/12, she was terminated for failing to satisfy her assigned responsibilities though her departure came at the heels of criticisms she verbalized about the President. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years, we’ve reported
about President Wiggington’s apparent inability to make sound, educated
decisions that at one time, could have benefited the credit union. In 2009
through the end of 2010, we were the target of numerous online slurs,
criticisms and even received emails accusing us of lying, of omitting facts and
of portraying President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. as a horrendous personality
and ham-fisted President.</span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As with all things related to
Charles R. Wiggington’s decisions, the plot never progressed as planned. Ms.
Walker soon began gossiping about the President’s unprofessional demeanor,
complained about his loud boasting hours spent each day on personal telephone
calls. She described has as “uncouth”, “brash”, and even embarrassing. Though
she initially ingratiated herself to the Board Chair, by early 2011 she began
complaining about the lack of education possessed by the Directors and about
their ignorance of financials. She also chose to defy the Board’s directive
that she obtain approval for all campaigns, promotions, and projects from
either the President or EVP, Rodger Smock. She complained that she was being
forced to obtain permission from two men she deemed wholly incompetent and in
her words, “useless.” Her rebellion ended on July 13, 2011, when she was
escorted to the employee entrance at the main branch in South Pasadena and bid
adieu. A few days later, her personal possessions left behind in her office
were packed and shipped to her home in Santa Clarita. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is an email we received last
year from a former colleague of Ms. Walker, while employed at Universal City
Studios Credit Union. The account was sent to us after we published that Ms.
Walker was named in a lawsuit alleging she retaliated, harassed and sexually
harassed a former Branch Manager. As you read the account, remember that Ms.
Walker arrived at Priority One Credit Union via her friend, Charles R.
Wiggington, Sr. The account provided to us in late 2012, describes some of the
same reprehensible behaviors manifested by Ms. Walker while serving as COO at
Priority One Credit Union. Also
noteworthy is the fact that Ms. Walker was in character a reflection of who
Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is as President and as a person. Her failures and character
faults accommodate those of the President and most of his executive sector. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE ACCOUNT</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know why she [Beatrice
Walker] left [Universal City Studios Credit Union]. I left before she did. I
was with my cu for 14 years. I had been considered for the job she ended up
being hired for and when she was made aware of this. I became her target. I
left December 2004. I believe she was gone by the Summer of 2005 from UCSCU
(“Universal City Studios Credit Union”).<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the points made in the
lawsuit I saw coming for me. The year I left I had the best review and highest
pay increase but all she did was highlight and emphasize any of what she called
my shortcomings. I did tell my CEO I was having some communication issues with
Bea but at the time my cu had some other issues and at that time this seemed a
minor issue and I should just deal with it with her. I did try to speak to her
privately.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She of course stonewalled me
and said there was no problem AT ALL. She would tell subordinates of what her
issues were with me. Her passive and passive aggressive behavior was too much
for me to take. I loved my cu and I felt I needed to move on anyways for better
things. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know she plays the victim
very well and I'm pretty sure she was asked to leave. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In conclusion, I just knew I
had to get away or she would could have ruined my reputation and minimized all
the hard work I had done with my cu. She appeared unstable. The cu did hear me
after I submitted my resignation threw a lot of money at me, offered a title of
my choice and said I did not have to report to her if I stayed. I felt this
would make things worse. It took a lot for me to get to that point. I had deep
roots with my cu. :0).<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue;">They never made their loan
goal until new management took over after her departure. That was enough for
me. :0)</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inarguably, Bea Walker arrived at credit union loaded with
personal baggage and apparently it never occurred to the equally dysfunctional
President that her behavioral aberrations could prove adverse to a credit union
already burdened by the President’s incompetence and his very special
behaviors. Not only did she exacerbate the problems created by the President
and Board, she proved an expensive liability who in the end sought to topple
the President from his perch. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHGxNIzR1yWm3CmlrkiyUiksL-x2J-70A2Z620ty4TOiRuFzq-WioZ6nr1ZQfAjYfVP741GjntGiW2RYXgX_fI4W3ZfqdVpHX0nZh56_em8AJblZA95pd2g4kk24OBf3mpqA0t1ZoAygD/s1600/Line.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHGxNIzR1yWm3CmlrkiyUiksL-x2J-70A2Z620ty4TOiRuFzq-WioZ6nr1ZQfAjYfVP741GjntGiW2RYXgX_fI4W3ZfqdVpHX0nZh56_em8AJblZA95pd2g4kk24OBf3mpqA0t1ZoAygD/s1600/Line.JPG" height="26" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoHeading8" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>EMOTIONS VS PROFIT</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEmLGnZJeNUsqRCkB2CuQB41Tcq1g1v_WrlJPBIM9I7Wgc9a6J96DcepjAD4Qfpf1tQ00Bn4cuWrES_BAH9B9m03EbCOzpKoT1JXhJrnGR_xTWFsAAdQdFJHDiTrbsu2TlbPy4iMo3xfb/s1600/Regression.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEmLGnZJeNUsqRCkB2CuQB41Tcq1g1v_WrlJPBIM9I7Wgc9a6J96DcepjAD4Qfpf1tQ00Bn4cuWrES_BAH9B9m03EbCOzpKoT1JXhJrnGR_xTWFsAAdQdFJHDiTrbsu2TlbPy4iMo3xfb/s1600/Regression.JPG" height="210" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div class="MsoHeading9" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A President Embedded in Regression</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2007, then newly appointed President, Charles
R. Wiggington, Sr., conducted a meeting with Vice President of Operations,
Rodger Smock; and then AVP of Operations, Aaron Cavazos, advising them that he
was eliminating the seasonal loans implemented by his predecessor and which for
years, had served as a reliable source of new business for the then thriving
credit union. The President’s decision for eliminating the successful line of
products was pure, unadulterated emotion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time, the President
stopped referring to the former President by name and began calling him “my
predecessor.” He even went as far as removing his name plate and in the
presence of some employees, throwing it in a trash can and exclaiming “We don’t
need him anymore.” The behavior was deemed disturbing and as time would prove,
characteristic of a very mode of troubling which would have far flung
reverberations upon employee morale and the credit union’s financial stability. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late 2012, the President
dredged up the Tax Loan implemented by his predecessor and the credit union’s
once award winning Marketing Department. 7 years transpired before the
chronically dull President realized that the seasonal loans create a guaranteed
source of income and so he is now reintroducing a line of products he once
expressed a profound disdain for. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdt3Y9JgjP3Eavc4g_giV4oIOhobcv_jc8rx7SdokL4SNdCXclc7eiAUMi6jg7rrb2bbmQFPt3gwhIoacVxK-hnKhTdxfVcwcl4HwyMqNHMX-By0oGYdPIumIrENfVRyCwDRfoZ4y2s5O/s1600/Line.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdt3Y9JgjP3Eavc4g_giV4oIOhobcv_jc8rx7SdokL4SNdCXclc7eiAUMi6jg7rrb2bbmQFPt3gwhIoacVxK-hnKhTdxfVcwcl4HwyMqNHMX-By0oGYdPIumIrENfVRyCwDRfoZ4y2s5O/s1600/Line.JPG" height="26" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SlZ1FXNucdkyM3FGt5YzjfaJ_JduNBarwlXUZRtDGjpYc1NUeZbQqUD9g2CBoHaVIoEcf5V78DumTSr_cAgifH3_HVlF-ylrKsq3VqLz1vXBfYbowtOXcgwqAyDa0GyEqGAa3W54Z68A/s1600/Offer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SlZ1FXNucdkyM3FGt5YzjfaJ_JduNBarwlXUZRtDGjpYc1NUeZbQqUD9g2CBoHaVIoEcf5V78DumTSr_cAgifH3_HVlF-ylrKsq3VqLz1vXBfYbowtOXcgwqAyDa0GyEqGAa3W54Z68A/s1600/Offer.JPG" height="307" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2007, the year when Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was inspired to obliterate the credit union's once prize-winning Marketing Department, Priority One's ability to implement effective marketing and create promotions that generate large member interest, have sputtered and faltered. Despite his history of well-documented failures, the President moves forward, continuing what will surely be his legacy, of concocting ineffective and uninteresting offers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Earlier this month members received an incentive offer from the credit union, inviting them to spend $500.00 using their credit union issued check card so that they can receive $10.00. If they spend $750.00 the amount to be paid to members doubles to a whopping $20.00. The offer is intended motivate members into spending using their Priority One check cards, but does it work? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While reading the credit union’s latest offer we thought we heard the
wind blowing while a coyote howled somewhere far in the distance and tumble
weed blew across the landscape. Obviously, the President doesn't possess the creativity needed to produce impacting promotions. We can't imagine members rushing out of their homes to spend $500 and $750 respectively so that they can receive what truly are insignificant returns. Maybe before launching a promotion, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.
should take the time to reread and reread and reread the credit union’s offer
to ensure they possess the impact needed to achieve whatever goals is being
targeted. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is another example of the caliber of advertising being dispensed by credit union nowadays. The oddly positioned image, obtained from Priority One's Facebook page, was apparently taken using a cell phone. The language is juvenile at best and semantically incorrect. It is one thing to be cost-effective and quite another to appear frugal and cheap, a fact President Wiggington is evidently unaware of. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>"GIFT CARDS ARE THE </b></span></span><b style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>EVERYDAY </i></b><br />
<b style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">CHOICE FOR GIFTS <i>EVERY DAY</i>."</b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The credit union's advertisement promoting gift cards is awkwardly written and accompanied by a frugal-looking photograph of VISA gift cards neatly positioned in an inexpensive acrylic stand. The photograph appears to have been taken using a cellular camera though no effort was made to create a professional-looking and appealing image serving as yet another metaphor for the way Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. chooses to do business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pocuone">https://www.facebook.com/pocuone</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">One morning in early 2013, the credit union received several calls from members complaining they were unable to access the credit union's website. The problem continued for several hours during which more and more calls were received, inundating phone lines and overwhelming staff. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The problem was corrected by the end of the day but not before it was revealed the credit union had not paid its website provider.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In 2012, then </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">CFO, Saeid Raad, informed the Accounting Department staff that President Wiggington issued a directive, ordering that invoices received from vendors, be held 3 to 4 weeks before being paid. The inability by Priority One to pay its bills promptly is rooted in its continuing inability to acquisition sufficient new business needed to generate income required to offset overhead a fact identified by Bankrate.com in their 2012 and 2013 financial assessments of the credit union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">On Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at about 2 p.m., the credit union's website was again, inaccessible. We contacted the main branch 3 times and during each call, were told that there was no problem with the website, however, one proactive representative tried to access the webpage and confirmed that the site was indeed, down and inaccessible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's more than a little peculiar that no one at Priority One apparently monitors the website. In the years since 2010, when the credit union began closing down branches, the President increased focus on online home banking but online banking doesn't work if the website isn't accessible. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the May 28th, Annual Meeting, the President announced that all is well at the heavily troubled credit union though its apparent that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is sufficiently disorganized not to implement procedures needed to monitor the credit union's internal operation to ensure members receive service meeting their high standards and expectations.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>WASTING <span style="color: red;">MONEY</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were sent to the following offer for life insurance mailed by the credit union during the week of June 2nd. The second paragraph of the letter states, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>"As a member, you are eligible to apply for up to $10,000...." </b>The problem with the credit union's letter is that the person the offer was sent to, is no longer a member of Priority One Credit Union. Apparently</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is incapable of comprehending that a person closing their credit union account(s) officially terminates their relationship with the credit union. Mailing the offer to non-members is another example of how Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. chooses to waste credit union monies. Since 2007, President Wiggington has exacted decisions that have financially diminished the once profitable credit union. His very public efforts, allegedly intended to taper and even bridle spending, are undermined by chronic undisciplined spending which in this case is attested to by unnecessary printing and fees spent on letters sent to non-members. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When thinking about Priority One Credit Union, two words come to mind- <b>neglect</b> and <b>cheap</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Priority One Credit Union is broken and its survival heavily reliant upon expense reductions. Cutting expenses has transformed Priority One from successful and promising to the epitome of frugality. Despite the credit union's inability to generate large new amounts of business, Priority One continues to employ several overpaid and useless executives, almost all unnecessary to the operation and none who has contributed anything of substance to the deficient organization. Despite the obvious, the credit union's ignorant Board and in particular, its impulsive and inept Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, continue in their efforts to ensure Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. remains President and CEO.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we've periodically done over the years, we extend an invitation to the entire derelict Board or unimpressive executives to provide a single shred of evidence proving that they've contributed to the betterment of the credit union and that in 2014, Priority One is a stronger more potent credit union than it was in the years prior to January 1, 2007- the day Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began his appointment as President. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Certainly, aged Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, can take a moment to leave his office and explain how he's resolved the problems created by his friend and mentor, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. Or possibly the arrogant, verbose and polarizing Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, can show how she's helped increase new business and membership and fostered the development of improved morale. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its a well-known fact that Priority One can longer service all of Riverside Country, most of the San Fernando Valley and all of the Santa Clarita Valley. In fact, the credit union apparently is unable to maintain its own website which is currently populated by stale information, incomplete pages and boring advertising. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />In his embarrassing 7 years as President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. has been more concerned with the trappings of his position than the well-being of the membership or employees of the credit union. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since he became President the credit union no longer provides free education to the communities it allegedly serves nor do its representatives attend credit union events and functions. Over the years, his greatest preoccupation was to fabricating facades intended to create the impression of success though his poorly constructed facades collapsed in the face of well-documented records proving failures and losses resultant from his inept business decisions. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As of June 2014, Priority One continues to slip into a pool of obscurity and unless its tattered remains are salvaged through a merger with a better, stronger, and bigger credit union, it will eventually close its doors and be all together forgotten. For all intents and purposes, Priority One is exactly where it should be. It would have been virtually impossible for the credit union to thrive under the inept leadership of Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. and his boat of bungling cronies. His </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">deficiencies as President and CEO could only result in chaos and foster failure, stripping the once popular and prospering credit union of its dignity and potential for success as a business.</span><br />
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com98tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-9863827542674862662014-05-25T15:20:00.003-07:002014-06-01T18:57:54.704-07:00THE 2014 ELECTION EDITION, Part 2 of 2<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As has become a normal part of business at Priority One Credit Union in South Pasadena, California, the
months of April and May were not without incident.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the month of April, the credit union began receiving calls from other financial institutions inquiring about cashier checks containing Priority One's but which were proved to be counterfeit. This latest incident is just another of a list of illegal incidents afflicting the credit union over the past 7 years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The checks were quickly identified as fraudulent by the credit union. These all contain erroneous information printed on the check's front panel, including an incorrect street address for the credit union's main office in South Pasadena. The gravity of this latest incident was sufficient to prompt President Wiggington to monitor the amount of times the credit union is contacted on a daily basis by institutions who receive the fraudulent instruments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, overshadowing the latest incident is the fact the credit union is again the focus of negative attention and though the credit union is not in any way involved with the distribution of the fraudulent checks, it serves to add to the number of incidents involving fraud and violations at Priority One Credit Union over the past 7 years. This also brings attention to the credit union's security protocols. The number of compromises afflicting Priority One's protocols have increased exponentially since January 1, 2007, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President and CEO of the no longer growing credit union. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">A SHIFT IN ATTITUDE</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">But is it Sincere?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since March, President Wiggington has donned a quieter, less boastful demeanor and ceased bragging about the credit union's non-existent success. We've also noticed that Vice President, Patricia Loiacano, has desisted from declarations that business is doing well at a credit union where closing branches has become a normal staple in ensuring Priority One's survival. <b><i>So should we construe this apparent change in demeanor and seemingly more contrite positioning, as a genuine change in attitude? </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past March, the credit union's attorney issued warnings to the President, his executive staff, the Board Chair, and former COO, Beatrice Walker, warning that they begin exacting efforts to guard confidentiality and desist from slandering the reputations of current and past employees. Of course, the directive assumes that the body of managers possesses the ability to exercise self-discipline and refrain from divulging information </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">originating from the credit union's inner sanctum. We've learned that the four lawsuits filed by former employees finally took a tremendous toll upon the credit union's batter reputation though it took the credit union's overpaid attorney to order a cessation of the executive and managerial sector's abhorrent behaviors. Evidently, it never occurred to the obstreperous President and his equally undisciplined staff of officers that they must conduct themselves in a manner that is dignified, professional and above-reproach. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We of course expect the President to fall back on his old behaviors sometimes in the not so distant future as he is an immovable creature of habit and professional decorum is not his strong suit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Covering Their Ass</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his continued effort to implement remedial but superficial efforts to correct the credit union's numerous internal problems, President Wiggington has once again, shuffled the responsibilities of two of the credit union's officers. In his latest move, the President removed </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vice President, Patricia Loiacano's authority over compliance and amended her title to Vice President of Lending. He also transferred compliance to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Employee Services (aka Human Resources) Director, Robert West. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The decision to RETURN Ms. Loiacano to lending makes sense as she is well versed in the principles and procedures governing </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">real estate and consumer loan funding. However, one has to wonder why the chronically glib President has moved Mrs. Loiacano around and placed her in positions she was ill qualified to serve in. Over the years, we've failed to find anything that could lend a clue to the methods employed by the President to his apparent madness, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008, President Wiggington promoted Mrs. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loiacano from <b><i>Assistant to the AVP of Lending</i></b> to <b><i>AVP of Lending</i></b>. His promotion of Mrs. Loiacano caused an immediate and permanent rift in the relationship between the President and then AVP of Lending who became incensed that the President did not first confer with him before deciding to promote Mrs. Loiacano. In what can only be described as a hizzy fit, the AVP of Lending left the credit union on what was to be a temporary personal leave of absence but when he tried to return to work, several months later, the President with the help of EVP, Rodger Smock, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dredged up several complaints filed by employees against Mr. Cavazos in the years before being appointed AVP of Lending, and used these to justify termination of the AVP. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, the President added authority over compliance to Mrs. Loiacano's assigned responsibilities, despite the fact she had absolutely no experience in anything related to compliance. The President also ordered the removal of the more experienced and knowledgeable Bank Secrecy Specialist and after her expulsion, hired a temporary contracted Bank Secrecy Specialist to assist Mrs. Loiacano. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On June 1, 2009, the President hired Beatrice Walker as the credit union's first COO. Within a few weeks following her arrival, Ms. Walker informed the
President that Mrs. Loiacano could not simultaneously oversee compliance and
lending because
according to state auditors, the dual appointment was deemed a conflict of
interest and illegal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though Mrs. Loiacano is an authority of real estate and consumer lending the President transferred authority over lending to the then Supervisor of the Call Center, Joseph Garcia, despite Mr. Garcia having no prior experience in real estate or consumer loan funding. Mrs. Loiacano was named AVP of Compliance though she had no formal experience in anything related to compliance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President deemed it prudent to assign compliance to his confidant, Director of Employee Services, Robert West, despite the fact Mr. West has no previous experience in anything related to compliance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't expect this to turn out well. Historically , the President's bombastic and illogical decisions exacerbate the credit union's immense problems. Evidently, neither the President or the Board has ever learned that one always reaps what they sow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In our last
post, we reported upon the adverse affect Priority One’s Board of Directors and in particular, its Chair,
Diedra Harris-Brooks, have had upon the once growing credit union. As reported previously, in 2009 and 2010, Mrs. Harris-Brooks and President Wiggington interfered and tainted the credit union's electoral process, all in an effort to retain the Board's dynamic comprised of Directors who are subservient to the Chair and President. Since 2010, we've noted a dramatic decline in nominations submitted by members to vie for a seat in the credit union's annual election. The apparent apathy towards the the credit union's future parallels the immense problems the credit union continues to experience in garnering member interest in its products and services. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As should come as no surprise, this year not a single nomination was received by the credit union, retaining the Board safely in place just as the Board Chair and President planned back in 2009 and 2010. However, in their efforts to retain a compliant Board comprised of submissive Directors, the Board Chair and President injured the allegiance members once felt for the credit union which is attested to in the closure of 6 of 9 branches since October 2010.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their need to preserve a compliant Board allowed Mrs. Harris-Brooks to sanction many of the President's decisions which contributed to the credit union's financial erosion. What's more, it was Mrs. Harris-Brooks who approved expenditures which ultimately taxed the credit union's coffers and reduced its Net Income, its ability to successfully market its products, maintain service standards, and provide members with convenience once enjoyed in the many years before Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President. Spending approved by Mrs. Harris-Brooks includes:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More than $70,000 spent on installing a Call Center whose performance has by abysmal and exacerbated the credit union's inability to provide a high standard of member service. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">More than
$100,000 spent since 2009 on consultants, all of whose suggestions failed to dispel the credit union's business and morale issues.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">In 2010, then COO, Beatrice Walker, recommended the hiring of her friend, Saeid Raad, to serve as temporary CFO until a new CFO was hired. 6 months later, Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, approved hiring of Mr. Raad because he had fully complied with all directives issued to him by the President, the CFO, and the Board Chair. Mr. Raad was terminated earlier this year for failing to satisfactorily implement strategies that produced profit. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">More than $500,000 spent since October 2010 on legal fees needed to defend the credit union in lawsuits filed by former employees and a members whose confidential account and personal information were published on the Internet by an officer of the credit union.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">More than
$40,000 spent to refurbish the main branch in South Pasadena and the no longer existent, Burbank branch.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">More than
$200,000 spent during the years of 2009-2012 on salaries paid to a COO and CFO, both </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">who were eventually terminated for failing to satisfactorily fulfill their
assigned duties; and</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">More than
$300,000 spent by President Wiggington on the installation of an AVP sector. Most of the AVPs failed as a result of a lack of experience and qualifications to carryout their assigned responsibilities. The expense and failed sector met its d</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">emise in February 2013, when the last standing AVP was terminated for allegedly embezzling monies from member accounts. </span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These wide misappropriations of credit union monies are coupled with the bloated salaries paid to President Wiggington and his executive staff including Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock; Vice President, Yvonne Boutte; Business Development Representative, Joseph Garcia*; and Director of Employee Services and now, Compliance, Robert West.</span><br />
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*Joseph Garcia is the former Call Center Supervisor, Real Estate and Consumer Loan Manager, Credit Manager, Assistant to the Chief Lending Officer, AVP of Sales and Business Development. In his latest incarnation, he serves as Priority One's sole Business Development Representative. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;">NOT THE REPUTATION </span><span style="font-family: Arial; text-align: justify;">YOU SHOULD EVER WANT</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following
publication of our last post, we received three emails from members asking if the Los Angeles branch is scheduled to close within the next three months. We don't have any information that the branch is slated for closure at anytime in the near future. It is also the only one of the credit union's three remaining branches that attracts the largest amount of member traffic, making it unlikely that it will close at anytime soon. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Businesses should always be concerned when rumors arise that their business is failing or as in the case of Priority One, that some of its branches are targeted for closure. Clearly, members are reasonably associating the closure of 6 branches since October 2010, the deterioration of member service, and the elimination of the business development team with impending closure. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As recently as this past January, the President described business as "great" ignoring the fact Priority One has decreased in size since he became President in 2007 or that member complaints have not abated and continue to cite poor member service. Add to this that Priority One is no longer a visible presence in the communities it serves nor can the credit unionn be viewed as competitive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2009, the President attributed the credit union's business failures on the economy, on high unemployment and on "haters" actively seeking the credit union's demise. The closures of the Airport and Santa Clarita branches should serve to dispel any of his imaginary reasons why business is failing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008, the President was found guilty of sexually harassing a former employee which cannot be attributed to the economy, unemployment or "haters." During the years of 2010-2012, the credit union was sued four times by former employees and by a member. Each lawsuit accused the credit union of harassment, discrimination, retaliation and slander, accusations that were not the product of the economy, unemployment or the creation of an invisible band of "haters." </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, efforts over the years, to cover-up wrong doing committed by President Wiggington and some of his staff and her participation in plots that victimized certain targeted employees who were labeled enemies of the President's regime, were fueled by her undisciplined emotional need to assert her authority and ensure her dominance and control were firmly secured. However, her zeal to maintain control contributed to the ruination of the once respected credit union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a few days, the credit union will conduct its annual meeting which usually begins and ends within 30 minutes and during which, the Board Chair and President pronounce their verdict that the credit union's is not only doing well but performing according to plan. The meetings are nothing more than a PR effort to create the impression that the credit union performed well during the preceding year but that the future looks promising. At least that's the generic forecast presented during the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 annual meetings. Of course, the annual declaration that all is well is sharply undermined by the credit union's own well-documented performance recording loss after loss. Evidently, the President and Board Chair choose to view the credit union's lackluster performance through rose-colored glasses.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">THE 2014 ANNUAL MEETING</span><span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"></span><b>Revisiting the President's and Board Chair's Address published in the 2012 Annual Report.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In May 2013, copies of the credit union's 2012 Annual Report were distributed to attendees</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If the past years are an indicator of anything, expect the 2014 annual meeting to be saturated with embellishments that try to deter attention from the credit union's ongoing failures. Expect the Board Chair to nervously expound about the non-existent strides made by the credit union in 2013 while completing avoiding the subject of 6 branch closures including one in December 2013 and another in January 2014. She may even declare that Net Income increased during the year, though a quick look at either the credit union's monthly Income Statements or quarterly Financial Performance Reports available at www.ncua.gov, will reveal that in spite of forced reductions in spending including branch closures, net income is still millions of dollars below what it was on January 1, 2007, the day Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began his infamous and embarrassing stint as President and CEO of the now much smaller credit union. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
However, evidence of the truthfulness of what the Board Chair and President expound upon is easily obtained by revising the credit union's 2012 Annual Report, issued in May 2013. The statements made by the Board Chair and President conveyed their opinions of how the credit union was projected to perform in 2013. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In May 2013, the credit union distributed its annual report for the year 2012 and inappropriately titled, <i style="font-weight: bold;">A Brighter Future Ahead</i>. Seven months following distribution of the report, the credit union permanently closed the doors to its Airport branch which had only been in business for less than 3 years. A little more than a month later, the credit union permanently closed the doors to its Santa Clarita branch and shortly afterwards, terminated CFO, Saeid Raad. Clearly, the future proved to be far less bright than the Board Chair and President had hoped for.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the first paragraph of their address, t</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he President and Board Chair's submit 4 declarations about the credit union's in 2012. According to the credit union's two highest officers, Priority One made progress in the following areas: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-indent: -0.25in;">The credit union was maintained “safe and sound”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-indent: -0.25in;">Operating expenses were reduced</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-indent: -0.25in;">Net Income improved</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">NET INCOME IMPROVES (OR DOES IT?)</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In what appears to be an attempt to pull the proverbial wool over member and employee eyes, the Board Chair and President stated Net Income improved. <span style="text-align: start; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: start; text-indent: -0.25in;">In the very report containing their statement that Net Income improved, the credit union provides the amount of verified or audited Net Income for the period ending 3/31/12 and projected or unaudited Net Income for the period ending 3/31/13. As shown below, Net Income was projected to <i style="font-weight: bold;">decline</i>. Though a projected decline was quite clearly shown, both the Board Chair and President chose to pull a fast one and proclaim an increase in Net Income when clearly, a project loss was anticipated. It took tremendous gall to state growth and document an expected loss in the same report. So did the two officers believe few people would ever read the financials provided in the 2012 report or do they believe members lack the ability to comprehend financials? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's more and as shown below, the credit union's assets declined during the period of 12/31/12 through 12/31/13: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total Assets for the quarter ending 3/31/12 totaled <b>$160,967,331</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total Assets for the quarter ending 3/31/13 totaled <b>$152,938,281</b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Total Assets reported for the quarter ending 3/31/14 totaled $<span style="text-align: -webkit-right;">153,942,384. This is a slight increase from what was reported for the quarter ending 3/31/13 but approximately $7 million less than what was reported at the end of March 31, 2012. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>REDEFINING "<span style="color: red;">SAFE AND SOUND</span>"</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In February 2013, just 3 months before the 2012 Annual Report was made public, an audit conducted at the Los Angeles branch revealed monies had been embezzled from member accounts, allegedly by the AVP assigned overseeing that office and the no longer existent Airport branch. In spite of the audit's finding, both the Board Chair and President had no qualms in publishing a statement that asserted they maintained a sound and safe credit union. Nothing could have been further from the truth. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
What's more, to date, charges have not been filed against the former AVP. So did she abscond with member funds and if so, why has a credit union that allegedly maintains a sound and safe operation, chosen not to file charges? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
However, the ability by the credit union to maintain a sound and safe credit union is highly suspect. In
2010, a 3-week audit of the Los Angeles branch’s records confirmed a former
receptionist of that office embezzled approximately $60,000 from Member
accounts. At the time, the receptionist was no longer an employee of the credit
union, having left on maternity leave and never returned. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exposure
of the 2010 thefts occurred ONLY AFTER a member contacted Priority One
and advised them money had been taken from her CD without her authorization, bringing focus to the credit union's actual ability to protect member assets and provide a "safe and sound" credit union. One has to wonder, why an organization with security measures in place seems to have missed major incidences of internal thefts. Are employees being properly trained? Who is in charge of ensuring security protocols are being implemented on a daily basis? In early 2009, the person overseeing operations was Rodger Smock, so why didn't the senior officer identify suspicious account activity? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late 2009, then COO, Beatrice Walker oversaw operations, yet she, like Mr. Smock, seemed oblivious to activities pointing to internal thefts.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>THE 2013 INCIDENT</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">How the President bungled </span></b><br />
<b style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">covering up an investigation and audit </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There is no
arguing that in his 7 years as President and CEO of Priority One Credit Union,
Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.'s tenure has been marred by immense business
failures and embarrassing scandals. In February 2013, the President created a
ruse covering up knowledge that more internal thefts had been perpetrated at
the Los Angeles branch by yet another employee. The President hoped to keep
knowledge of the thefts from members, most employees, and bloggers. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
The President's cover-up proved to be yet another bombastic attempt by the
President to hide evidence pointing to a deficiency in the credit union's
ability to protect member assets. The February 2013 audit confirmed that
embezzlement had again occurred at the Los Angeles branch. On March 1, 2014,
the credit union issued a notice to all employees via the company's Intranet,
advising them that Lynette Fortson, the AVP overseeing the Los Angeles and
Airport branches, was no longer an employee of the credit union. Ms. Fortson
had been an employee of Priority One for approximately 40 years. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
Here is a detailed description of the investigation and plot hatched by
President Wiggington in an effort to cover-up the incident. It is important to
note that 3 months after an audit proved monies had been absconded from
member accounts, the Board Chair and President issued an address in the annual
report, asserting that the credit union was found to be "safe and
secure." </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<b>THE INCIDENT </b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
On Friday, February 1, 2013, Priority One posted a notice on their Intranet, on
their Facebook page and on the door to the Los Angeles branch, informing
members and employees that the branch would not be opening due to a “power
failure.”</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Los Angeles branch location is owned by the United
States Postal Service (“USPS”) and is part of the massive Los Angeles Postal
Distribution Center located on the corner of Central and Florence Avenues in
Los Angeles. What many members of the plan found peculiar on that Friday was
that no other sector of the plant suffered a “power failure.” What’s more,
inside the branch, members reported seeing lights on and employees
working. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the
morning of Friday, February 1<sup>st</sup>, internal Auditor, Diane Huffman,
arrived at the Los Angeles branch where she proceeded to audit records. </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Curious, we contacted the Los Angeles
Distribution Center’s Administrative offices located inside the plant and asked
if any part of the facility had been affected by a power failure. We were told
no power failures had been reported and that if any had occurred, they as
owners and managers of the property, would have known about these. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br />
On the morning of Monday, February 4, 2013, the branch remained closed and the
credit union again posted another message stating that the alleged “power
failure” continued. Despite their disclosure, employees were seen inside the
office and the lights remained on.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the afternoon of the 4<sup>th</sup>,
employees of the Credit Resolutions and Accounting Departments learned that
Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, who had been working out of the Los Angeles
branch for several days, called and confided to one of her subordinates that
money had again been embezzled from the Los Angeles branch. According to Mrs.
Boutte, the monies had been withdrawn from member accounts. According to Mrs.
Boutte, the thefts were internal. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the afternoon of February 4, 2013, the credit
union posted a revised message on their Intranet and Facebook page advising
readers that the Los Angeles branch would open again for business on Tuesday,
February 5, 2013. Evidently, the credit union resolved its non-existent power
failure.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">During the
evening of F</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">eb</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">ruary 4, 2013, at 6:27 p.m., an anonymous poster posted the
following cryptic message on this blog: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">If you only knew
what was really happening at LAPDC. Very Heavy. A lot more than you know.
That's all I'm saying. </span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The branch was
allegedly was closed on<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Friday
1, 2013</b>, for the entire day, due to a power outage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Monday, February 4, 2013</b>, the
branch remained closed for the entire day. The credit union posted notices on
their Intranet and web and Facebook pages, disclosing that the office remained
closed due to a power outage. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Los Angeles
branch remained closed for part of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Tuesday,
February 5, 2013</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>though
opening later that afternoon only after the credit union published yet another
notice, this time disclosing the cause of the outage had been repaired. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">On March 1,
2013, the credit union posted a notice on their Intranet, advising employees
that the AVP assigned to the Los Angeles and Airport branches had left the
credit union. Despite having been an employee of Priority One for approximately
40 years, the credit union did not conduct a farewell or retirement party, suggesting
that her departure was a result of having been terminated. </span></div>
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The branch's closure and the reason why the AVP left the credit union would have
remained a mystery had the President not temporarily reassigned Vice
President, Yvonne Boutte, to the Los Angeles branch. At the time of her
arrival, Mrs. Boutte disclosed she had been sent to the branch to
investigate complaints filed by members, alleging problems
with the level of member service being dispensed by employees of that office. Mrs.
Boutte also disclosed that the AVP voluntarily left the credit union on vacation because
she did not want to be present while Mrs. Boutte remained at the Los Angeles branch. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;">By Friday,
March 11, 2013, gossip originating at the South Pasadena branch, revealed
thefts had occurred at Los Angeles branch. According to employees, Vice
President, Yvonne Boutte, revealed that an audit of that office's records found
that thefts had been perpetrated by the former AVP assigned to oversee the Los
Angeles and Airport branches. </span><br />
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Not only did the President fail to cover-up the fact of the thefts, subsequent
audit and eventual termination of the AVP, but the incident fueled widespread
gossip amongst employees of all branches. What's more, only three months
following completion of the audit, the credit union issued its 2012 Annual
Report in which the President and Board Chair declare that Priority One is a
"secure and safe" credit union- a statement which in retrospect,
proves to be an utter distortion of the truth. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">"We continue to </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">reduce </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">operating expenses"</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Board Chair's and President's statement describing the reduction of expenses creates an impression that the Board, its Board Chair, and the President, on their own volition and proactively, implemented measures that reduced expenses. Any such impression is incorrect and definitely, misleading.</span><br />
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Beginning in 2010, outside auditors advised the President and then COO, Beatrice Walker, that the credit union <i style="font-weight: bold;">must</i> reduce spending. They instructed the officers to identify branches that were not performing well. They were also told to consider the amount being spent to lease the spaces occupied by these branches. If the amount of business being generated at those locations could not justify the continued amount being spent to lease the properties, then those branches would be placed marked for closure. </span><br />
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In 2010, the credit union closed the Redlands and Valencia branches whose leases exceeded $5000 per month but the December 2013 closing of the Airport branch and January 2014 closure of the Santa Clarita branch are less easily understood as the amount to lease each property owned by the United States Postal Service, approximated $1.00 per year. </span><br />
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The introduction of drastic spending cut-backs has become a way of life for a credit union that describes itself as a <i style="font-weight: bold;">financial fitness center. </i> The reliance on expense reductions is almost addictive and a key means by which Priority One is able to continue in business, albeit it a much smaller and less competitive credit union. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDskK1iCmX-CxGZIujr70cvCmsB4WWgscHuPa2ktyPKP_uMrnrKF4Z4O3sGcRB3lqNZLj_aMTc7-CM9mG-pSfisUloTtH9JHWNicnrLm1j6YvhlhPA7pue3ySfCL22WJIJSDQMogJkVZCN/s1600/Annual+Report+Paragraph+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDskK1iCmX-CxGZIujr70cvCmsB4WWgscHuPa2ktyPKP_uMrnrKF4Z4O3sGcRB3lqNZLj_aMTc7-CM9mG-pSfisUloTtH9JHWNicnrLm1j6YvhlhPA7pue3ySfCL22WJIJSDQMogJkVZCN/s1600/Annual+Report+Paragraph+2.JPG" height="138" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-align: justify;">The Board Chair and President expounded at length about the successful introduction of improvements to Priority One's home banking system and implementation of its "first-ever" mobile banking apps for iPhone and Android smart phones. They also describe revamping of the credit union's webpage (<a href="http://www.priorityonecu.org/">http://www.priorityonecu.org</a>), yet amidst their declarations, neither offers evidence that could lend credence that the enhancements have resulted in growth, the obtainment of new business or increased membership.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They also state that <b>"Hundreds of members have taken advantage of Mobile Banking." </b>Hundreds is hardly impressive when one considers that Priority One allegedly has more than 28,000 members. In the year since the 2012 Annual Report was issued, how many of Priority One's 28,000 members actually utilize online and telephone banking? How many are recipients of e-statements? And how many have applied for loans and other products as a direct result of the credit union's revamped webpage?</span><br />
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The Board Chair and President proceed, describing how the overhauled website resulted in improved navigation and dissemination of information as well as provided an improved means by which to inform members of current promotions. So how many members have applied and more importantly, how many have funded loans as a direct result of improved navigation using the credit union's website? </span><br />
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The two offices conclude by stating that launching <b>“new home banking, e-statements, and
website” </b>enabled Priority One to “rebrand the entire Internet experience?” How so? Certainly, there is nothing outside of their address lending credence to any of their statements. Before Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President the credit union's tagline was, "You are our first priority". At the time, the credit union was known to place the needs of its members at the forefront and proved that they were a credit union where members were more than just participants in the organization- they were family. So in 2014, what is Priority One's brand? It certainly isn't its revamped website. The closure of 6 of 9 branches since October 2010 suggests Priority One is not living its brand, whatever that brand may be. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyK-AdNyCk5CmEI0v5k-45WRtLan3DF8syX37VoZZ-RwZX-ZKa2v_coube-1viapiYoJhac00DRdrBHmJjhs3ZXaJfkz6v3iz1VZi2KWeU6K1AnMg1hIirfelBDej8o-IhMa_fz-aVsnE/s1600/Annual+Report+Paragraph+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyK-AdNyCk5CmEI0v5k-45WRtLan3DF8syX37VoZZ-RwZX-ZKa2v_coube-1viapiYoJhac00DRdrBHmJjhs3ZXaJfkz6v3iz1VZi2KWeU6K1AnMg1hIirfelBDej8o-IhMa_fz-aVsnE/s1600/Annual+Report+Paragraph+3.JPG" height="277" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The officers conclude by asking, “What’s ahead for the
upcoming year?” As disclosed previously in this post, just 3 months prior to the 2013 Annual Meeting, the credit union conducted an audit discovering that monies were embezzled from the Los Angeles branch, allegedly by that office's AVP. </span><br />
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However, five months prior to the 2013 Annual Meeting, the credit union terminated CLO, Cindy Garvin after only 17 months of employment and allegedly because she failed to fulfill her assigned responsibilities including implementing strategies that resulted in increased new business.</span><br />
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Approximately 6 months following the 2013 Annual Meeting, the credit union closed the doors to its Airport branch. </span><br />
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In answer to the question, "What's ahead for the upcoming year?", we have to assume, continued losses and at some point in the future, the closure of yet another branch. There is no reason to believe otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Board Chair and President continued, optimistically stating, “We will continue to deliver the best products and
services to our members”, yet since 2010, the credit union has closed branches each year indicating that just maybe, Priority One doesn't <b>deliver the best products and services</b>. </span><br />
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Factors contributing to Priority One's current plight include the bludgeoning of what once was a prize-winning Marketing Department under his predecessor and the obliteration of a income-generating Business Development Department which he replaced with a single Business Development Representative who has since January 2013, only accrued approximately $30,000 of his $150,000 assigned monthly sales quota. </span><br />
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The President has also strained relations with the credit union's once largest sector of members- employees of the United States Postal Service. And though he attends the bi-monthly meetings conducted at the National Association of Letter Carriers- Branch 24, he is rarely allowed to speak to attendees. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Board Chair and President promise to add future improvements to the credit union's website but the site is not a channel through which substantial levels of new business are being generated. They also promise to introduce a 2.0 version of the credit union's mobile apps, though the announcement either presumed the mobile apps would be a source of lots of new business or they as usual, are ignoring logistics and opting for what they construe to be true.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In their address, the two state the revamped website will inform members of current and upcoming promotions. Here is an image of the current page where promotions should appear:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdwUCvCCcsFuU2EnXbb1ueyBPjr3R8Zad_DoVrfLkKb4P8NUYmSat-6IQfUlZbXYuZLKfBrjR0tJoNk8LZdghQyetuhzHY97n3YXNodiFvAqv3ITBkn4WiSCguTSMAml5gTaYnQuauY0o/s1600/Account+Promotions.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdwUCvCCcsFuU2EnXbb1ueyBPjr3R8Zad_DoVrfLkKb4P8NUYmSat-6IQfUlZbXYuZLKfBrjR0tJoNk8LZdghQyetuhzHY97n3YXNodiFvAqv3ITBkn4WiSCguTSMAml5gTaYnQuauY0o/s1600/Account+Promotions.JPG" height="169" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Source: </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://priorityonecu.org/accounts/promotions/">https://priorityonecu.org/accounts/promotions/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are actually looking forward to the upcoming annual meeting, anxious to hear and read what so-called accomplishments were made by the credit union in 2013 and what improvements are planned for 2014. True, it will be nothing more than hyperbole and 100% disingenuous, but at this juncture in the credit union's decline, the ridiculous stories fabricated by the President and Board Chair can only be viewed as outrageous fiction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>SOUTH PASADENA</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Not Quite the Mother Lode</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In 2012, the President hired consultants to draw up a proposal that would be presented to the state of California and request a community charter in the city of South Pasadena.</span></div>
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Though the credit union has been located in South Pasadena for many years, it could only offer membership to employees of the United States Postal Service and their families and to employees of Select Employer Groups and their families. </span><br />
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Because South Pasadena is an affluent city, the President easily convinced the Board of Directors that the location represented a virtual untapped mother lode that could serve to reverse Priority One's inability to generate new business. It evidently never occurred to the Board that if the President had failed to generate new business in all of Riverside County, in all of the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys, that maybe the problem isn't the communities but his deep seeded deficiencies as a President. </span><br />
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The city of Pasadena is a lovely community populated by many small, privately owned businesses. The three largest businesses are three markets- Vons and Pavilions, both owned by
Safeway, Inc. and Bristol Farms. The city's dynamic cannot be viewed as one conducive to the amount of business Priority One is in dire need of. A slave to habit, the President proceeded with his plan and in 2013, the credit union received approval for a charter in South Pasadena. Unfortunately, the President's aspiration to create an impact in South Pasadena's marketplace has yet to be realized. The community, as a whole, has taken little interest in obtaining membership to the credit union.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The decision to apply for a state charter in South Pasadena reminds us that the President's beliefs of what is good for the credit union are often based on what he perceives to be true. A few weeks ago, motivated by the fact the credit union has failed to establish a presence in South Pasadena, the President decided to visit businesses in the city and invite their owners to become members of Priority One. During his trek through the city, he obtained an application for membership from the owner of an antique store. He promised the owner he would make certain an account was opened in her name so that she could access the products and services offered by the credit union. What he failed to consider in his spiel was that all applicants must satisfactorily pass a ChexSystems query.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A subsequent inquiry to ChexSystems produced a list containing other institutions where the applicant had once maintained accounts and which were eventually closed, leaving negative balances. </span><br />
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The member called the credit union several times before the President agreed to speak to her and explain why her request for membership could not be honored. The applicant later contacted other business owners in the city and urged them not to open accounts or do business with Priority One. The city is small enough that people know one another and certainly the rumor started by the applicant may ultimately have a detrimental impact on the credit union's ability to do business in South Pasadena. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the years before being named President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. attended numerous seminars and conferences where he learned that to build relations with communities, a credit union must offer some free services including extending an invitation to community business owners to use the credit union's branches to conduct business meetings and special events. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last December 3, 2013, the President invited the South Pasadena Chamber of Commerce to use the South Pasadena branch for its Holiday Party. What we find most interesting is that the President waited 7 years to implement his plan which evidently failed to attain the response he was desperately hoping for- producing lots of new business. That said, the gathering was at least a success as a party- saturated with laughter, carousing, and bawdy behavior. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Priority One Credit Union's Brain Trust</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0JvuB_byLoSqD9v12cyhM4TnMI0_9Ix9qhXMv0ARb7xipdVGGtXb0RvUhEsNkTVBHSOOJl3cW5um5XI7aGj2CPeJDVIzKrz1imNc8nnxXu1vWmxCBlWZrV2YS2OxnPoC7KtY8ORTdVtQ/s1600/Wigg+and+the+Mgmt+Team.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd0JvuB_byLoSqD9v12cyhM4TnMI0_9Ix9qhXMv0ARb7xipdVGGtXb0RvUhEsNkTVBHSOOJl3cW5um5XI7aGj2CPeJDVIzKrz1imNc8nnxXu1vWmxCBlWZrV2YS2OxnPoC7KtY8ORTdVtQ/s1600/Wigg+and+the+Mgmt+Team.JPG" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b>Patricia Loiacano</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><i><b><u>Vice President of Lending</u></b></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Loiacano is one of the last remaining senior employees
of the credit union with more than 20 years of service.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While employed, she has served in various capacities including
Supervisor of Lending, Assistant to the Lending Director, Lending Director, AVP
of Lending, AVP of Lending and Compliance, AVP of Compliance, Vice President of
Lending and Compliance, and currently services as Vice President of Lending. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is hard to believe that while Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.
was Vice President of Operations, he demoted Mrs. Loiacano as Supervisor of
Lending, because in his words, “She doesn’t know how to treat people.” At the
time, he complained the President that Mrs. Loiacano was abrasive, haughty and
condescending. This is one of the few times we’d have to agree with Mr.
Wiggington though as the old saying goes, “Look who’s talking.” </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008, a former Loan Processor told Mrs. Loiacano who was
then the Assistant to the Lending Director, that the then DMV Specialist had
obtained permission from then Lending Director, Aaron Cavazos, asking a
temporary employee to forge member signatures on more than 150 Power of
Attorney forms that had not been signed at the time members funded their
vehicle loans. For those who may not know, the Power of Attorney must be signed
by a member so that the credit union can transfer ownership of the vehicle to
itself until the loan has been satisfied. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the time, Mrs. Loiacano replied that there was nothing
she could do because the directive came from her immediate supervisor, the
Director of Lending. At the time, we found it interesting that Mrs. Loiacano
could compromise ethics so easily for what was personally politically
advantageous.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past January 2014, Mrs. Loiacano declared that business
was “good”. Had she not noticed that the Airport branch closed in December
2013? Her statement was also verbalized just 3 weeks prior to the closing of
the Santa Clarita branch, a fact she would have known about. It is incredible to believe that in view of
her standard of honesty, that for approximately 4 years. she oversaw
Compliance. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Rodger Smock</i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><u><i>Executive Vice President</i></u></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, then COO, Beatrice Walker began questioning Mr.
Smock’s purpose at the credit union, asserting that he was unnecessary to the
operation, describing him as “slow”, “ineffective”, “lazy” and “overpaid.” In
August 2010, she stripped him of all authority over Human Resources,
transferring the department to herself. Like the President, Mrs. Walker could
not refrain from verbalizing her intents, which were to force Mr. Smock to
retire. Her plot was made public by her confidants, then Manager of Credit
Resolutions, Yvonne Boutte, and Loan Manager, Joseph Garcia. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Smock’s ineffectiveness as the overseer of Human
Resources is easily attested by his numerous failures to uphold the very policy
he was appointed to enforce and by his own personal defiance of credit union
which during the years 2010 through 2012, resulted in the filing of four
lawsuits by former employees. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Mr. Smock’s deficient behaviors began long before 2009.
In 2002, Mr. Smock invited some employees of the credit union, to his home.
During the soiree, he served alcohol while one inebriated female swam naked in
his pool. In between visiting the women at the pool, he spent his time inside
his home entertaining a young gay Latino male employee. Evidently, Mr. Smock
was unaware of what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate behaviors or what
might be deemed a compromise of his then position as Director of Human
Resources. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During a deposition conducted in early 2013 at the offices
of the credit union’s attorney, Mr. Smock identified himself as the current
Director of Human Resources despite the fact that in July 2011, the
department’s name was changed to Employee Services and Robert West named its
Director. Despite being sworn just prior to his deposition, to answer
truthfully, Mr. Smock had no inhibition to lie on record.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Gema Pleitez<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><b><i>Manager (?)</i></b></u><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another long-time employee, Mrs. Pleitez in the capacities
of Teller, Financial Service Representative, Assistant Branch Manager, Branch
Manager, AVP, and now monitors telephone calls to the Call Center. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, Mrs. Pleitez was transported by paramedics to
Huntington Memorial Hospital following an anxiety attack. At the time, she
complained she was afraid then COO, Beatrice Walker, had targeted her for
termination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the years, Mrs. Pleitez has violated credit union
policies though she remains employed thanks to Executive Vice President, Rodger
Smock. For years, she had her staff clock her in, whenever she was going to
take more than a 60-minute lunch. And though the credit union allots all
employees 2 ten-minute breaks per day, for years Mrs. Pleitez took two 40 to 60
minute breaks each day, Monday-Friday.
Normally, these violations would have resulted in the issuance of
written warnings and/or suspension or termination. Thanks to Rodger Smock, Mrs.
Pleitez escaped all disciplinary action. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2007, she was investigated for removing a 7-day hold for
a check deposited by her close friend, the Lead Consumer Loan Officer. The Loan
Officer withdrew the money from her account but the check was returned unpaid
by the bank it was drawn from. Normally, this would have resulted in
termination, but due to Mr. Smock, Mrs. Pleitez retained her employment. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Yvonne Boutte</i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><i><u>Vice President Operations</u></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte arrived at Priority One in 2008 to serve as the
credit union’s first Manager of Priority One’s then new, in-house Credit
Resolutions Department. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Boutte quickly earned a reputation for being loud,
pushy, brash, at times uncouth, and possessing a seemingly uncontrollable
propensity for gossip. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, Mrs. Boutte became the confidant of then COO, Beatrice
Walker. It was Mrs. Walker who first promoted Mrs. Boutte. Over the year which
followed, the two became inseparable taking lunch together each day and
visiting each other on weekends. Mrs. Boutte became a key member of Ms.
Walker’s inner-circle and at the time, began publicly criticizing the abilities
of President Wiggington. Together with Ms. Walker, Mrs. Boutte helped target
“enemy” employees. In 2012, Mrs. Boutte used her strong-armed tactics to try
and subjugate a member whose confidential information had been posted on the
Internet by an employee of Credit Resolutions. Her ploy failed and provoked a
lawsuit which the credit union quickly settled.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>Joseph Garcia</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b><u>Business Development </u></b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Garcia is not only the most tragic of the credit union’s
officers and apparently, one of its most incompetent. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2010, he was transferred from the no longer
existent Redlands branch to South Pasadena, by his then patron, COO, Beatrice
Walker where he was to serve as interim supervisor of the newly opened Call
Center. Mrs. Walker issued a notice advising employees that Mr. Garcia would
serve in that capacity until a permanent supervisor was hired. Three weeks
following his arrival, the company announced that Mr. Garcia had been appointed
the new and permanent Call Center Supervisor. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Within three months, Ms. Walker added the titles of Credit
Manager and Real Estate and Consumer Loan Manager to Mr. Garcia rapidly growing
repertoire. And though Mr. Garcia
appeared to be in the fast track headed towards an executive position- at least
that’s what he divulged to co-workers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Within 6 months after being appointed Manager of Real Estate
and Consumer Lending, the President determined that Mr. Garcia wasn’t qualified
to oversee Real Estate lending. The department was removed from under Mr.
Garcia’s authority and transferred to CFO, Saeid Raad. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The favor Mr. Garcia enjoyed under Ms. Walker, proved
short-lived. By the end of 2010, he conflicted with Ms. Walker’s other
confidant, Yvonne Boutte. Shortly afterwards, Mrs. Boutte’s working and
personal relationship with Ms. Walker came to an abrupt end and almost
immediately afterwards, Mrs. Boutte began publicly criticizing Ms. Walker’s
lack of abilities</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as COO and her vindictive treatment of people she “imagined”
were her enemies. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shortly afterwards, Ms. Walker complained that Mr. Garcia
had proven incapable of understanding the responsibilities for the many
positions he held. By the end of 2010, Mr. Garcia was also stripped of his
title of Credit Manager. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2011, Mr. Garcia was bypassed by Beatrice Walker
for a promotion to AVP. Mr. Garcia
began disparaging his former patron and supposed friend, describing Ms. Walker
as ruthless, unscrupulous, and cruel. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By March 2011, Mr. Garcia confessed that he believed Ms.
Walker had marked him for eventual termination and replaced him with newly
appointed AVP, Gema Pleitez. Mr. Garcia left the credit union on a medical
leave of absence, alleging he was suffering from emotional stress. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In July 2011, Ms. Walker was terminated and on August 1,
2011, the President hired Cindy Garvin to serve as Director of Lending. Mr.
Garcia returned to work shortly afterwards, though he was demoted to Assistant
to Ms. Garvin. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the next few months, Mr. Garcia spent his days
campaigning, trying to convince Ms. Garvin and the President that he possessed
the abilities to jump start business development and that he would make sure
that any employee who failed to do their part to ensure the obtainment of new
business, would be promptly terminated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In November 2011, President Wiggington promoted Mr. Garcia to
the position of AVP of Sales and Business Development. Over the next 8 months,
Mr. Garcia and Ms. Garvin terminated a large number of employees who had failed
to attain their assigned monthly sales quotas. However, by late August 2012,
Ms. Garvin informed Mr. Garcia that his strategies were all failing and that unless
these improved radically, he too would be terminated. In October 2012, Mr.
Garcia fled the credit union on a second leave of absence, again alleging
work-related stress. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On December 28, 2012, Ms. Garvin was terminated
for failing to fulfill her assigned duties. On January 13, 2013, Mr. Garcia
returned to work but was informed his position had been phased out that he would
begin serving as the credit union’s only Business Development Representative.
He was assigned a monthly sales quota of $150,000 but throughout 2013 and to
the present, he has never obtained more than $30,000 in newly funded loans.
Despite his failure, the President has refrained from issuing a written warning
to Mr. Garcia and as usual, created yet another exception in choosing not to
enforce credit union policy for people he holds in favor. </span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqS7Q6s-DdiCZzW57AKw8MsmvrtU5-_gDqq_RUrmbbrpEmbUZTbLIQscN8w5vVXeKfL30gzC5jkOcUh5vDGxIrHzk_mh53it7EwXACNRWZyWoJvlBepe6lAZMOnOL1LM0d1Y1bdsSsZpe/s1600/Line.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqS7Q6s-DdiCZzW57AKw8MsmvrtU5-_gDqq_RUrmbbrpEmbUZTbLIQscN8w5vVXeKfL30gzC5jkOcUh5vDGxIrHzk_mh53it7EwXACNRWZyWoJvlBepe6lAZMOnOL1LM0d1Y1bdsSsZpe/s1600/Line.JPG" height="26" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">CONCLUSION</span></b></div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #660000;">Dishonesty</span> is a Choice-</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Never a <span style="color: #660000;">Mistake</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The benefit of revisiting Priority One's 2012 Annual Report is that it facilitates identifying statements that are inaccurate and more importantly, identifying lies that were paraded as fact by the President and Board Chair. Since January 1, 2007, the day Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began his notorious reign as President and CEO, he has amassed a well-documented record of dishonest acts which he willingly chose to do. Subsequently, his denials and excuses have continually failed to prove that these were committed in error. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In our current review of Priority One's 2012 Annual Report we discovered that the President and Board Chair freely embellished the credit union's actual accomplishments in 2012 while conspicuously drawing attention away from the apparently looming failures that caused the credit union's asset value to decline and which resulted in the later closure of two branches in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">December 2013 and January 2014. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's more, the report was distributed just a few weeks after an audit proved that internal thefts had again occurred at the Los Angeles branch, yet the two chronically deceitful officers perpetrated another sham, declaring the credit union was both <b>secure </b>and <b>safe</b>. What's more they assured readers of<b> </b><i><b>A </b></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Brighter Future Ahead. </i></b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Wednesday, May 28th, the credit union will conduct its 2014 annual meeting and we expect </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the President and Board Chair to again misrepresent the facts regarding the credit union's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">performance in 2013 and exaggerate, as usual, what lies ahead in 2014. Clearly, the two have grown accustomed to manipulating the purpose of the annual report and using it to imply non-existent success. Each year, the two craft an annual address to members which consistently avoids addressing the elephant in the room which is that Priority One has closed 6 branches since October 2010, all in a frantic and desperate effort for the credit union to remain in business.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, the President has ordered that on the day of the meeting, all branches will close at 12 noon so that employees can convene at the main branch in South Pasadena where lunch will be provided. Though the event is being touted as a gesture by the credit union thanking its employees, we've learned the President's real motivation is to coax employees to stay and attend the annual meeting whose attendance has steadily declined each year since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President. Over the years, few if any members attend and few employees who find the proceedings dull and a waste of time. Attendance is usually comprised of the credit union's managers and Directors and Supervisors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What we find peculiar is the President's decision to close all branches at 12 noon because it means convenience to members will again be disrupted. Monday, May 26th is Memorial Day which means branches will be closed. Branches will again open on Tuesday, May 27th but only open half day on Wednesday, May 28th. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evidently things like service and convenience are unimportant to the credit union's dull President, reminding us that it is his decisions, lack of understanding, and poorly thought out strategies which have contributed most to the credit union's decline. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Through the years we warned that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. might prove an embarrassment </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to the credit union and that his decisions could prove lethal to the then thriving credit union. We were correct. His tenure has been characterized by embarrassing scandals, illegal acts, and abuses, all serving to undermine business, member relations, and employee morale. Our warnings were based on a careful </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">prognosis of t he President's decision-making abilities, the Board's inability to govern the credit union and an assessment of the educational limitations of the Directors and Supervisors. What's more, at Priority One, the Directors rely on the President to interpret the credit union's financial data. Other factors we considered included the caliber of officers promoted and hired by the President, noting that the qualification he seeks most in an officer is their loyalty to his agendas and those of the Board Chair</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the meantime, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. continues to surround himself with managers who like himself, are unqualified to carryout their assigned responsibilities but remain employed because the insecure President requires allies who will never contest his mode of mismanagement. In May 2014, we don't foresee <b>A</b> <b>Brighter Future Ahead</b> for Priority One. The credit union remains in decline, headed towards an inevitable end which could result in closure or a forced merger with a better managed and hopefully, scandal-free credit union. </span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-57038132332928096102014-03-20T16:05:00.001-07:002014-03-29T01:12:34.415-07:00THE 2014 ELECTION EDITION, Part 1 of 2<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On February 28, 2014, the deadline ended for members of Priority One Credit Union to submit their nominations to run for a seat on either the Board of Directors or Supervisory Committee. Normally, nominees and incumbents hoping to be re-elected, would vie for a seat on either governing body so that they ensure the continued sound and stable operation of the credit union. Of course, the credit union's performance during the past 7 years reveals something is sorely amiss. The annual closure of branches since 2010 coupled by plummeting income and deficient marketing, indicates that qualified and knowledgeable officers are not currently occupying either the Board or Supervisory Committee. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The credit union's Balance Sheet/Income Statements confirm that fees and charges levied to members now are a key source of income for the credit union while the closure of 6 branches in the past 4 years suggests reducing expenses has become critical to Priority One's survival. And though the credit union's capital remains high, the closure of branches coupled by a loss of more than $24 million in Net Income since January 1, 2007, clearly points to an inability to create a reliable and ongoing streams of income that generate profit, cover the costs of overhead, and which create the prospect for growth. Though Priority One's Board of Directors are the ultimate decision-making authority at the credit union and though they are responsible for directing and controlling the affairs of the credit union needed to ensure effective and efficient management, the current Directors have proven they each lack the competency and education needed to properly maintain the credit union's operation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Certainly, President R. Wiggington, Sr. is a key cause for the credit union's continued decline which began when he was appointed President on January 1, 2007, however, it would have been impossible for his often horrendous and detrimental decisions to have ever occurred without the abhorrent incompetence of the Directors whose subservience to Chairperson, Diedra Harris-Brooks, has led to Priority One's apparently unstoppable deterioration. After all, its is Mrs. Harris-Brooks who in late 2006, urged the Directors to select Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. as the next President and CEO of the then thriving credit union. It was also Mrs. Harris-Brooks who aggressively pushed and won the reinstatement of President Wiggington following an 8-week suspension during which an investigation uncovered evidence he sexually harassed a former employee. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is also important to note that unlike other credit unions, Priority One's Board relies on the President and his executive staff to interpret the financial information they are provided. The Board's ignorance about financials and management and their compromising relationship to the President are critical component to Priority One's decline. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">THIS POST</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unless members submitted their nominations by February 28, 2014, Priority One Credit Union may not have an election. This phenomena of disinterest in the credit union by members began in the years after Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President though we believe the apathy towards the credit union was begun when Board Chairperson, Diedra Harris-Brooks, decided to interfere with the credit union's electoral process. In this post, we </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will show how the Chairperson's decisions and unwavering patronization of the President created an opportunity for the many debacles which have negatively impacted Priority One Credit Union since January 2007. It is well-documented that Mrs. Harris-Brooks has exerted tremendous time, effort and credit union monies to ensure Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. remains President of what is no longer a competitive credit union and all at the cost to business, the internal operation, employee morale, and the credit union's very public reputation. </span><br />
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To draw a reasonable parallel between the decisions made and actions taken by Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the credit union's ongoing failures, we've decided to publish documents she authored in which she describes her competencies and education and present these alongside facts confirming the credit union's actual performance during the period she has served as Board Chairperson. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the past 7 years, Mrs. Harris-Brooks has ruled over a Board comprised of Directors who lack an understanding of the credit union's financial reports and whose subservience has allowed the Board Chair to exceed the state-mandated perimeters of her position. Here is a summary of some of the decisions authorized, enabled, and sanctioned by the Mrs. Harris-Brooks and <b><i>her </i></b>Board:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2007, Mrs. Harris-Brooks also authorized the President to dismantle the credit union’s once prize-winning Marketing Department and it was also Mrs. Harris-Brooks who allowed the President to lay-off the department’s Director and instead, install a Marketing Committee comprised of credit union employees all inexperienced in marketing.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In mid-2008,
Mrs. Harris-Brooks led the Board into authorizing President Wiggington to
borrow $20 million from the credit union’s line-of-credit for the mere purpose
of plumping up the credit union’s net income which had begun to slip soon after
Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008, an investigation of President proved he sexually harassed a former employee, however, Mrs. Harris-Brooks knew she could only continue to exact her control over the credit union if Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. remained in office. Literally suppressing and ignoring the evidence gathered by an investigator from EXTTI, Inc., Mrs. Harris-Brooks led a battalion consisting of Directors, O. Glen Saffold and Thomas Gathers, and Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons, into voting for President Wiggington’s reinstatement. Mrs. Harris-Brooks and her pack held the majority vote and won reinstatement of the guilty President. Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. returned to work and led the credit union into failure, ending 2008, 2009, and 2010 immersed in the negative.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In early 2009,
the President and Mrs. Harris-Brooks decided that there was a group of rebel
employees residing within the credit union and that they must be ousted to
bring an end to the criticisms regarding how Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. chose
to do business. <b>It apparently never occurred to Mrs. Harris-Brooks that
acting ethically and focusing on business could have more effectively dispelled
criticisms than launching a full fledged and very public witch-hunt.</b> To
resolve the issue, Mrs. Harris-Brooks authorized the hiring of <b>Beatrice Walker</b>, to serve as the credit union’s first Chief of Operations ("COO"). Ms. Walker arrived at
the credit union on June 1, 2009. allegedly for the purpose of creating new streams of
income, however, just prior to her arrival, the President divulged that the new COO would help target and vanquish his enemies. During Mrs. Walker's tumultuous 25-month
stay, she wrecked havoc upon business, employee morale, and became the source of vicious gossip slandering numerous employees. However, her undisciplined need to control all things soon created a conflict with the President, the Executive Vice President, and eventually the Board of Directors. In July 2011, she was abruptly terminated for failing to fulfill her assigned responsibilities, for failing to bring an end to the President's detractors, and for defying the President and Board. Ms. Walker exorbitant spending failed to generate the amount of business she said would be reaped if she were allowed to implement changes without interference of the President. The Board eventually tired of her failures and became concerned about rumors regarding her sexuality. They ordered her to submit any proposed changes to policy and procedures or proposed campaigns, to either President Wiggington or Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock. Ms. Walker became incensed and complained that the "uneducated" Board was forcing her to obtain approval from the President and Executive Vice President, both of who she described as intellectually inferior. Unfortunately, for Ms. Walker, her murmurings reached the Board who ordered her ouster. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In November
2009, Mrs. Harris-Brooks, President Wiggington, and Director, Bobby Thomas,
interfered with the electoral process and manipulated what should have been a
fair and democratic process all in an effort to retain the current Board of
Directors who pander to Mrs. Harris-Brooks’ every whim. <b>More on this, in April's post</b>.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beginning in
2010, Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the Board authorized spending on refurbishing the appearance of the main branch in South Pasadena
and the lobby of the now Burbank branch, believing these would draw new business and increase membership. Two years after the refurbishments were completed, the Burbank branch permanently closed its doors.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, Mrs. Harris-Brooks began authorizing the hiring of attorneys to defend the credit union against lawsuits filed by former employees and members. During the years of 2010-2014, the credit union spent more than $500,000 in legal fees.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2010, Mrs. Harris-Brooks approved the President's plan to implement drastic expense reductions to marketing and business development. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beginning in 2010 and upon the advice of then COO, Beatrice Walker, Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the Board began implementing increased fees and charges to members. Not only has the credit union developed an addictive reliance on fees and charges as a key source of income, but it now resembles a bank more than it does a credit union.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since October 2010 and again, under Mrs. Harris-Brooks, Priority One has closed 6 of 9 branches.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2011, Mrs.
Harris-Brooks authorized the hiring of CLO, Cindy Garvin, who began working at
the credit union on 8/01/11 and would be responsible for developing new streams of income, jump starting lagging
loan development, revamping the business development team, creating effective
and cutting edge marketing strategies, and overseeing all of Priority One’s
branches. At the time of her arrival, Rodger Smock issued a memorandum to all employees, praising Ms. Garvin’s
extensive past work experience. Despite the fanfare which accompanied her
arrival, Ms. Garvin’s employment ended abruptly on 12/28/12, for allegedly
failing to fulfill her assigned responsibilities.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is also Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the Board who have continually authorized the hiring of expensive consultants over the past 7 years and whose expensive strategies have failed to improve business. The changes suggested by consultants included administering tests in 2009 to determine the likes, strengths, and knowledge of all employees so that personnel could be assigned to positions where they would best serve the credit union. After more than $30,000, none of the findings were used for staff development. In 2012. upon the advise of consultants, the credit union revamped its webpage, introduced an app for smartphones and saturated the Internet with copies of President Wiggington's and Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock's biographies. The webpage, app and inaccurate biographies have evidently not helped bolster business. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clearly, Mrs.
Harris-Brooks has proven to be an adverse influence and can't be excluded as a factor contributing to the credit union's inability to develop new business, increase membership, and service its vast territories. Prior to January 1, 2007, the credit union merged with several smaller credit unions and as a result, incrementally increased its physical size and Net Income. Since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President and under the Board Chair, the credit union has been forced to close branches and is now unable to service its vast territories, prompting them to emphasize home banking services and Shared Branching. </span><br />
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It is also Mrs. Harris-Brooks who authorized the spending of more than $500,000 on attorney fees during the years of 2010-2014, in an effort to both defend the credit union from prosecution against allegations its officers violate federal and state laws and to cover-up incidents of wrong doing committed by the President, Human Resources, and other members of the executive sector. It is also Mrs. Harris-Brooks who authorized the settlement of 3 lawsuits filed by former employees. In her zeal to retain the horrendous President on payroll, Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the Board compromised the credit union's relationship with the communities it serves along with SEG's, postal employees, chapters, and city chambers. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">How
the Board Chair Ruined the Electoral Process</span></b></span></div>
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In recent years, Board Directors, Thomas Gathers and Janice Irving resigned while the remaining Directors have been in place for more than 7 years, though not because of their devotion to the credit union, competency, or keen intellect. To the contrary, they remain on the Board in spite of their incompetence. . </span><br />
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In October 2009, Mrs. Harris-Brooks decided it was critical to ensure no one on the Board was voted out during the upcoming 2010 election. Her concern and that of the President was that any change could offset their plans for the credit union. At the time as exists today, the Directors were all subservient to Mrs. Harris-Brooks. At the time, Mrs. Harris-Brooks, President Wiggington, and then COO, Beatrice Walker concocted a scheme to ensure the Board remain unchanged. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under state law, the credit union is to inform all members in good-standing, about the impending election and invite them to nominate themselves to run for either a seat on the Board or on the Supervisory Committee. Though ballots had been mailed, the three officers decided to only publish the notice and invitation in the Credit Union's Winter Newsletter which is ONLY mailed to members who have a savings and checking account and thereby excluding the very large number of members who only have a savings account. </span><br />
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Their plan may have worked had we not discovered it and exposed it on this blog. Though the electoral process had begun, the Board and Supervisory Committee held an emergency meeting in South Pasadena and determined that the failure to have advertised the election and invitation to members compliant to state law could result in sanctions against the credit union. And so, new ballots were printed and money again spent on mailing these to members. The officers not only caused the credit union to spend even more monies to repeat the election but they violated state law somehow believing that their ploy would go unnoticed.</span><br />
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Forced to hold a second electoral process, then COO, Beatrice Walker, and then Credit Resolutions Manager, Yvonne Boutte, told staff assigned to the Member Services and Credit Resolutions Department not to vote for incumbent Director, Janice Irving, whose seat had come up for re-election. In 2008, Mrs. Irving unwittingly provoked the ire of the President and Board Chair when she voted for termination of the President after reviewing evidence <u>proving</u> he sexually harassed a former employee. Upon his reinstatement, Mrs. Harris-Brooks informed the President that Mrs. Irving had been one of two dissenting votes. In response, the President declared, "I'm going to make sure she get out of here!" Unfortunately, for the President, Mrs. Harris-Brooks, Ms. Walker, Mrs. Boutte and the others, Mrs. Irving was not only one of the winners in the election but she tallied the highest number of votes amongst all the contenders. </span><br />
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Another reason why Mrs. Harris-Brooks tampered with the electoral process is that at the time, she received a nomination from a former White Board Director. The former Director had been branded the enemy by Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the President in 2007 while he served on the Board. At the time, the Director, a White male, received an anonymous letter at his
home exposing then AVP, Liz Campos, of kiting. The Director delivered the letter in person, to the office of then credit union attorney, William Adler. Mr. Adler contacted the President and Mrs. Harris-Brooks and ordered an investigation of the AVP's bank records. The investigation revealed more than 24 separate incidents in which she overdrew her Priority One checking account. The investigation also showed that she was not charged the customary and required <i>non-sufficient fund</i> fee. It was also discovered that she had been writing checks in amounts exceeding her balances drawn from accounts at two other institutions. At the time, President Wiggington adamantly denied all knowledge of the more than 24 separate incidents despite the fact that the abuses occurred while he served as Vice President of Operations. <b>Evidently, he lied.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs.
Campos was terminated for violating federal law and the incensed President expressed his furor against the Director who delivered the anonymous letter to the credit union's attorney. The the termination was performed accordance to policy, the childish and obtuse President was incensed because he had hand-picked Mrs. Campos for promotion to AVP despite her well-documented abuses to her checking account. </span><br />
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What's more, Mrs. Harris-Brooks joined the fray, calling the Director who exposed the incident into a meeting and chastising him in the presence of other Directors, for not delivering the letter to her instead of the credit union's legal counsel. She warned the Director that should he ever circumvent the Board again, he would be removed from the Board. Evidently, the delusional Mrs. Harris-Brooks forgot that she is not an attorney nor is she qualified to investigate allegations that federal laws have been violated. What's more, she lacks the objectivity or ethics required to conduct an impartial investigation. </span><br />
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In 2008, attorney William Adler received a letter from a former employee, informing him she had been sexually harassed by the President for many years prior while he served as Vice President of Operations. Mr. Adler ordered an investigation during which the President was placed on suspension. During his 8-week absence, Mrs. Harris-Brooks ordered the President be paid his salary. Historically, all other employees of Priority One who have been suspended are suspended without pay. </span><br />
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At the conclusion of the investigation conducted by EXTTI, Inc., the investigator submitted evidence proving the President sexually harassed the former employee and recommended Mr. Wiggington's termination. Mrs. Harris-Brooks fought the recommendation and along with Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons, and Directors, O. Glen Saffold and Thomas Gathers, voted and won reinstatement of the President despite the fact he violated federal law. </span><br />
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It was also Mrs. Harris-Brooks who signed a letter to the former employee who filed the complaint and advised her that according to the Board's "understanding" of what defines sexual harassment, the President had not violated federal law, adding that the information compiled suggested that the employee had not only participated the sexualized gestures and comments from the President, but provoked him into sexualized exchanges. Mrs. Harris-Brooks not only squashed the evidence, she violated credit union policy which quite specifically calls for the termination of ANYONE found to have committed sexual harassment. What's more, Mrs. Harris-Brooks vilified the former female employee by insinuating that Mr. Wiggington's illegal actions were somehow encouraged by the former employee. Mrs. Harris-Brooks' determination in the matter, actually her manipulation and distortion of the facts were a travesty though quite revealing of her actual character. </span><br />
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Following his reinstatement, President Wiggington decided to avenge himself against those who had caused him to be suspended. He decided to install a Financial Planner at the main branch in South Pasadena. Not-so-coincidentally, the Director who delivered the letter to Attorney, William Adler, was also a Financial Planner employed by CUSO. The President hired the Director to serve as the credit union's first Financial Planner. Because the Director could not work at the credit union while serving as a member of the Board, the Director resigned his position. Two months after being hired, the Director was abruptly terminated for unsatisfactory performance. </span><br />
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2010, following receipt of the former Director’s application, Mrs.
Harris-Brooks immediately conferred with President Wiggington and it was decided that they must impede the Director from being reinstated on the Board. Director, Bobby Thomas, offered to induct a postal carrier who would run for a seat on the board. Because Mr. Thomas was an officer of the National Letter Carriers Association, Branch 24 in Los Angeles, he assured Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the President that he would make sure postal carriers voted for his nominee and thus lessen the amount of votes that might otherwise be cast for the former Director. </span><br />
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The scheme almost failed when Mr. Thomas' nominee failed to submit his application to run in the election, though the deadline was quickly approaching. Concerned, Mrs. Harris-Brooks mailed a letter to the postal carrier reminding him of the deadline, an act she had never committed for any other potential candidate. A few days following the deadline, the postal carrier arrived at the main branch and asked to speak to the President. The President who never meets with members, sent his administrative assistant to meet with the carrier. His assistant was handed a packet containing the member's application even though the deadline to submit the application had already expired. </span><br />
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The application was handed to the President who giddily exclaimed, <b>“I’ve been
expecting this!”</b> He immediately called Mrs. Harris-Brooks to inform her the application had finally been received despite it having been received late. </span><br />
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Mrs. Harris-Brooks, the President and Director, Bobby Thomas succeeded in disrupting the election. Though the former Director did not win a seat on the Board, neither did Mr. Thomas' nominee. However, their intent was to defer as many votes from the former Director to their candidate and in this they did succeed. However, the three never considered the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ramifications their actions might have upon future elections. The President, the Board Chair, and Director Thomas, transformed what had traditionally been a democratic and unbiased electoral process into a joke. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To identify Diedra Harris-Brooks' accomplishments and contributions requires first reading what she says about her competencies and education. Then all one has to do is simply compare what she writes about herself with what is documented in credit union reports. </span><br />
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During the 2010 election, Mrs. Harris-Brooks' seat came up for re-election. At the time, she submitted the following biography, which we originally published on this blog on November 28, 2011 and written in the third person, describing her abilities, education, and hopes. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“She
has held the position [Board Director] for the past six years and is <i>dedicated
</i>to her responsibilities as a volunteer.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks alleged dedication to her
responsibilities is certainly arguable. We've no doubt of her dedication but not for the well-being of the credit union or its members but to ensuring her whims are satiated and her continued control. guaranteed. As is well documented, Mrs. Harris-Brooks has far over-extended her authority exceeded what is defined under state law. She doesn't oversee the credit union's operation to ensure its sound performance, she is the one who decides what will be implemented and what will not. In fact, in 2007, prior to his suspension from the credit union, the President complained to Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, that Mrs. Harris-Brooks was in his words "pushy" and "over-extending her authority." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beginning in 2008, Mrs. Harris-Brooks ordered that all advertising be presented to her and the Board for approval. At the time, she asserted that she as a former expert in marketing was most qualified to decide what promotions were acceptable for publication. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Based on the credit union's lackluster performance as attested to by 6 branch closures is sufficient to draw a relationship between the credit union's ongoing failures and the Board of Directors who clearly don't comprehend the credit union's financials or management principles. A key deficiency of the Board is its blind subserviency to Mrs. Harris-Brooks and President Wiggington. This is certainly a reason why in 2007, President Wiggington described the Board as "not very smart" and why former COO, Beatrice Walker," labeled them "ignorant and uneducated." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Furthermore, Mrs. Harris-Brooks' alleged dedication to the credit union was not attested to in 2008 when she suppressed evidence presented by an investigator from EXTTI, Inc. proving Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. sexually harassed a former employee. It was also not attested to in 2009, when it became public that the President ordered the repossession of a member's BMW and then transferred ownership of the vehicle to himself. At the time of the repossession, he circumvented credit union procedures and even helped create sham documentation to create the appearance had been sent to auction when in fact, he acquired it in defiance to ethics and credit union policy. Mrs. Harris-Brooks' interference with the electoral process in 2010 certainly dispels her assertion that she is dedicated to the credit union and her authorization allowing more than $500,000 to be spent on legal fees to protect the unethical President, corrupt Human Resources Department, and former COO, Beatrice Walker, from prosecution when they each violated state and federal laws, serves to discredit any claim by the Chairperson that she is genuinely concerned for Priority One's well being. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While serving as Board Chair, the credit union's business has declined steadily year after year while the credit union integrity as an employer compromised and its public reputation, tarnished. Of course, nothing attests more to her dedication than does the closure of 6 branches since October 2010 and the more than $24 million drop of Net Income since January 1, 2007. Clearly, Mrs. Harris-Brooks needs to acquaint herself with what defines dedication. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Mrs. Harris-Brooks attended the University of Phoenix where she completed Business Management and Marketing courses holding a 3.5 GPA. Her
knowledge in Marketing and computer skills has <i>proven </i>to be an asset to
Priority One.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">If Mrs. Harris-Brooks achieved a <b>3.5 GPA</b> in
Business Management and Marketing Courses its certainly not attested to in the credit union's lackluster performance.. And one might have assumed that an alleged expert in business management would understand the harm that would be caused by eliminating business development, compromising marketing and member service, and by closing branches. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She also fails to provide an example as to how her <b>“knowledge in Marketing and computer skills has proven to be an asset to Priority One.”</b> Priority One has been in a downward spiral since 2007 and as attested to by branch closures and the immense drop of its Net Income. Clearly her alleged knowledge in Marketing is highly suspect. And what computer skills is she referring to? Is she referring to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access or Publisher? If so, how has her knowledge in any of these proven to be an "asset" to the credit union? We know the board room at the South Pasadena branch does not have a computer. We also know she doesn't have an office or desk at the main branch. We know she's never been seen using a computer when visiting the main branch. So we can safely conclude she isn't utilizing her computer skills while visiting the main branch. We also know that all Directors and Supervisors have free access to the Internet because President Wiggington authorized remote access to the credit union's network from their homes. We doubt Mrs. Harris-Brooks is working while at home, using her computer to access the credit union's network. If she is, then what is it that she does? <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>“She began her career
as a clerk in 1969 at the Inglewood Mail Processing Center. Promoted to
management in 1985, she left a 20-year legacy of exceptional managerial service
and earned the respect of her employees. Her promotions included Manager of Consumer
Affairs, Business Center and Retail and was assigned detailed positions to Manager,
Marketing and Manager Administrative Services.”</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She omitted all evidence of her "legacy of exceptional managerial service" or proof she "earned the respect of her employees." With that said, we will either have to take her word on this or chalk it up to just more conjecture from a Board Chair who has not only manipulated credit union policies but has done all in her authority to cover-up wrong doing and business failures committed by Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Diedra continues to
expand her knowledge of the operations of this credit union and is looking
forward to continuing her voluntary services to the Board of Directors,
Priority One Executive staff, employees and members.” </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The closures of the Valencia and Redlands branches in 2010, closure of the Riverside branch in 2011, closure of the Burbank branch in 2012, the closure of the Airport branch in 2013, and closure of the Santa Clarita branch in 2014, are conspicuously inconsistent to Mrs. Harris-Brooks statement that she is continuing to expand her knowledge of operations at the credit union. <b>Its quite evident, she has not!</b> Not only hasn't she learned anything from her many mistakes but she's exerted tremendous time, energy, and credit union money to hide the blunders she and the board sanctioned, though evidently her costly efforts to hide the truth failed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks' 2010 biography is riddled with generalizations. Mrs. Harris-Brooks knows all too well that probably most members never read candidate biographies. Her statements about her competencies and education are not only unimpressive but lack any specificity that could show how her <i style="font-weight: bold;">alleged </i>qualifications relate to the post of Director and Board Chair and whatever it is she's accomplished. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fact stands, that irrelevant of what she wrote about herself, the credit union's current state and its myriad of operational issues more than suffice to prove she is ill-qualified to serve on the Board, either as a Director or as its Chairperson. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In early 2012, the President proudly announced that a petition had been filed with the state of California to grant Priority One Credit Union a charter to do business in the city of South Pasadena, California. The request was eventually approved and membership to Priority One Credit Union is now open to people living, working, and worshiping in the city of South Pasadena. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Though Priority One is headquartered in South Pasadena, they have been unable to offer membership to people in that lovely city for many years. Prior to receiving approval to do business in South Pasadena, the credit union could only grant membership to employees of the United States Postal Service and employees of contracted SEG's and of course, their families. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of all, South Pasadena is a lovely city. It is also an old and up scale community where stately old homes stand amidst beautifully tree-lined streets. With exception of three supermarkets- Vons, Pavilions, and Bristol Farms, South Pasadena is the home of many businesses- mostly small, privately owned shops. The credit union's main branch stands alongside apartment complexes with no other business immediately near it for at least two blocks. Years ago, the credit union failed in a bid to install and ATM machine because citizens of the city thought the ATM could potentially attract crime to what is a very safe city. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It must be noted that before President Wiggington could request a charter for the city of South Pasadena, his request had to be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. The President convinced them that an affluent city like South Pasadena would be wonderful source of desperately needed income. The Board Chair concurred, believing that South Pasadena might provide a rich source for new business despite the fact that the community has, as we stated previously, many small privately owned businesses. Vons and Pavilions are affiliates and they have their own credit union, disqualifying them as a source for new memberships. Bristol Farms is an upscale store but it has a small contingent of employees and is hardly a source for either new business or memberships. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite limited resources from which to obtain new business and new members, Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the Board found it prudent to approve the President's request seeking a charter in the city of South Pasadena. Its nothing short of incredible, that President Wiggington believes South Pasadena will provide a wonderful source for new business. And if the President is no longer able to provide service to the Santa Clarita Valley, in the city of Burbank and its surrounding communities, in the many cities located around the Los Angeles International Airport and in all of Riverside County, then how can he believe the credit union can service the city of South Pasadena and generate the level of service needed to produce sorely needed income and profit? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As anyone reading the credit union's financial reports knows, since Charles R. Wiggington. Sr. became President, Priority One has been trapped in a cycle of ongoing decline. To stave off a complete shut down of credit union, the President under approval of the Board Chairperson and <i style="font-weight: bold;">her</i> Board, frequently implemented often drastic reductions in spending which allowed the credit union to remain in business though compromising its potential to grow and market its products. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inarguably, under Mrs. Harris-Brooks' leadership, Priority One has become a smaller, less competitive credit union though it is also Mrs. Harris-Brooks who has fervently led the cavalry denouncing the credit union's critics and who through the years, sanctioned the President's fervent persecution of alleged "enemy" employees who were terminated in the years between 2009 through 2012. However, despite Mrs. Harris-Brooks and <i style="font-weight: bold;">her </i>Board's efforts, in 2014, the evidence of the President's failed enterprises, plots against employees, wasted spending of credit union monies, and embarrassing scandals can no longer be </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">camouflaged, denied, or covered up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks can never claim she had insufficient time in which to resolve the challenges impeding Priority One from regaining it's former foothold in the credit union industry. She has not only failed to live up to her own self-promoted hyperbole, she actually participated and even headed schemes which violated ethics, laws and credit union policy all in an aggressive effort to secure her hold over the once prospering credit union. Though President Wiggington is the author behind many of the factors which contributed to Priority One's decline, most of his actions could never have occurred had he not been enabled by Mrs. Harris-Brooks and her deficient pack of Directors. Mrs. Harris-Brooks is not an insignificant player in the credit union's decline, it was she after all who...</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Allowed the President to cover-up his breach of security in 2007, which resulted in the erroneous mailing of ballots to members in envelopes on whose exteriors were printed the Member credit union account and social security numbers.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008, it was again Mrs. Harris-Brooks who led Directors, O. Glen Saffold and Thomas Gathers, along with Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons, to ignore tangible evidence gathered by an investigator from EXTTI, Inc. <u>proving</u> the President sexually harassed a former employee. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who who signed the letter sent to the victim who was sexually harassed by the President, informing her that she had somehow encouraged and participated in the exchange of sexualized comments and gestures with the President.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, it </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was Mrs. Harris-Brooks who authorized the hiring of notorious former COO, Beatrice Walker, who was to create new streams of income and help drive out subversive employees. Mrs. Harris-Brooks also knowingly allowed the persecution of several employees who the President and COO believed where conspiring to topple their authority. In July 2011, It was Mrs. Harris-Brooks who eventually authorized the expulsion of Ms. Walker's because of her failures to fulfill her responsibilities, her polarizing effect upon the credit union and its environment and due to rumors circulating about her alleged sexual preference. </span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late 2009, Mrs. Harris-Brooks entered into a plot which disrupted the credit union's electoral process and which forced the credit union to perform a second election so to avoid state sanctions for having violated the law. Her antics forced the credit union to spend money reprinting ballots and money to resend the ballots to members.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2011, it was </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mrs. Harris-Brooks who authorized the hiring and later, firing of CLO, Cindy Garvin, for allegedly failing to fulfill her responsibilities. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In her 2010 biography, Mrs. Harris-Brooks stated that she is dedicated to the credit union but Priority One's performance suggests she was not so much dedicated as obsessed with a need to control all facets of the credit union's operation and because of her limited knowledge of financials and managements, it was she who most contributed to the credit union's decay. There is nothing in her actions that suggests she cares about the credit union, its members or its employees. If there is, we invite anyone including Mrs. Harris-Brooks to provide evidence proving that she is indeed dedicated and that under her leadership the credit union grew and prospered. Its not an unreasonable request and certainly someone as allegedly dedicated as Mrs. Harris-Brooks should have no problem producing the evidence. </span><br />
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Furthermore, Mrs. Harris-Brooks has shown absolutely no hesitation to use credit union funds to carryout her schemes including her involvement in disrupting the 2010 election and hiring expensive lawyers to defend the President and his posy against allegations they violated state and federal laws and credit union policies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the end, it doesn't matter what the President or Board Chair use as a defense or justification for their abominable acts, the fact remains that the credit union's own documented records referencing losses, exorbitant spending, account closures that exceed new account openings, branch closures, and the massive drop in Net Income, prove that the credit union's many internal problems were created and perpetuated by the President, the Board Chair, and the Board. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If members believe Priority One is worth saving, then we hope someone submitted their nomination. If no one did, then Priority One's d</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ecline will continue, unimpeded because the factors that caused the credit union's decline remain securely in place. It is highly possible that sometime in the near future, Priority One will have to again close the doors to one of its remaining 3 branches- that's of course, if they wish to remain in business. We believe the closures are just prolonging the inevitable. If Mrs. Harris-Brooks' goal was to transform Priority One into a single branch credit union, then she is indeed succeeding and almost there.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Next Month, Mrs. Harris-Brooks Annual Report Promises</span></b></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">< item>
< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-18842991132448141752014-02-20T00:37:00.001-08:002014-03-18T11:17:13.928-07:00So What Does the Future Hold for Priority One Credit Union, Part 2 of 2, February 2014<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5h9mfcto7AqpBRs6o6ccxMW5cpYLw9m8PEJ13VCowPmiLcYxyr4Q6vfnRIo8tyhxFtq8tchbzwFtZfYpQ429LfBPyWXNY7sdRWCilRklz9WawkGz0HK6HlqjsdTz0k49U7fq8-vVVRNi/s1600/Wiggington+Effect.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5h9mfcto7AqpBRs6o6ccxMW5cpYLw9m8PEJ13VCowPmiLcYxyr4Q6vfnRIo8tyhxFtq8tchbzwFtZfYpQ429LfBPyWXNY7sdRWCilRklz9WawkGz0HK6HlqjsdTz0k49U7fq8-vVVRNi/s1600/Wiggington+Effect.JPG" height="260" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;">"We must add, that in our opinion, the </span><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Santa Clarita branch will close either at the end of this year or in 2015."</span></span></span></span></b></h3>
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<b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: small;"><i>So, What Does the Future Hold for Priority One Credit Union , Part 1 of 1, January 20, 2014</i></span></span></span></b></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last month, based on our
review of Priority One Credit Union's performance during the years, 2012 and
2013, we surmised the credit union would close its small, poorly performing
Santa Clarita branch either, later this year or sometime in 2012. You can imagine
our surprise to discover that only 11 days after publishing our statement,
Priority One permanently closed the doors the Santa Clarita branch. The branch,
which opened on February 2, 2012 and closed on January 31, 2014, brings an end
to Priority One's presence in the Santa Clarita valley and serves as more
evidence that something is horribly amiss at the credit union.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was the second branch closed by Priority One since January 13, 2013, the date when it permanently closed the doors to its Airport branch. The last time the credit union closed two branches in a less than 60 day period, occurred in 2010 when Priority One closed the doors to its Redlands and Valencia branches. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The closure of the Airport and Santa Clarita branches conspicuously undermine the President's December 2013 and January 2014 proclaiming that business is "great" and statements by Vice President, Patricia Loiacano, that business is "doing well." The evidence shows business is neither great nor remotely well reminding us that one should never believe anything Priority One's highest officers have to say proclaiming success of the credit union. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<strong style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Source:</span></strong><span class="apple-converted-space" style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://priorityonecu.org/community/locations/%C2%A0" target="_blank">https://priorityonecu.org/community/locations/ </a></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost as pivotal as the closure of Airport and Santa Clarita branches is the February ouster of Priority One's Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), Saeid Raad. In 2010, President Wiggington boasted Mr. Raad <b>"makes more money than me!" </b>He also often referred to Mr. Raad as his friend, spending hours each week visiting the CFO in his office, during which the President would boast about his plans for the credit union, his business savvy, and gossip about people he terminated who failed to live up to his loft expectations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We happen to know Mr. Raad didn't earn as much money as the President. His annual income approximated $130,000 to $138,000 and though in the world of CFO's, the amount he received may not have been unreasonable or impressive, it was substantial pay at a credit union in rapid decline. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Raad arrived at Priority One in 2010, via his associate and friend, former COO, Beatrice Walker. Initially, Mr. Raad was hired on a contract basis but later in mid-2010, was offered a permanent position replacing former CFO, Manny Gaitmaitan who resigned in December 2009. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So why was Mr. Raad dispatched from the credit union?</b> According to staff close to the President, there were several reasons for his removal. Mr. Raad was responsible for reporting accurate financial information needed by the credit union to make business decisions. We've been informed that some of his estimates, including those pertaining to the credit union's Net Income, allegedly over-estimated the amount of future profits. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He allegedly failed to identify areas within the operation which had proven most efficient </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nor did he allegedly succeed in developing methodologies that allowed the credit union to capitalize on its strengths. He is also alleged to have failed </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to develop accurate forecasts of Priority One's financial future and allegedly failed to to identify areas in business were money was most generated which is needed to develop strategic planning that induces growth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In our January 20, 2014 post., we reported that at the end of 2013, the credit union's losses from investments exceeded <b><span style="color: red;">$500,000</span></b> for the entire year. Following the departure of Manny Gaitmaitan in December 2009, the responsibility of determining investments was appointed to now former Accounting Manager, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jennifer Kelly. After Mr. Raad was appointed CFO, Ms. Kelly continued to manage investments. Last year, Ms. Kelly left the credit union and the task was understandably relegated to the CFO. Following our public disclosure that the credit union's were more than <b><span style="color: red;">$500,000</span></b> in the negative, an incensed Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, allegedly contacted the President demanding an explanation for the losses. What we find peculiar is that as Board Chair, she was well aware of the losses before we published them on this blog. President Wiggington of course, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">shirked off all responsibility for the losses, attributing these to decisions made by Mr. Raad. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As CFO, Mr. Raad <i>was as pivotal</i> as President Wiggington, in determining the credit union's financial future.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During his brief stay at the credit union, Mr. Raad unlike his predecessor, Manny Gaitmaitan, complied with the President's and Board's every wish. In 2012, at the request of the President and due to increasing financial problems, Mr. Raad instructed the Accounting Department to not pay invoices for at least 3 to 4 weeks after they were received. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During 2013, when President Wiggington reduced his work hours from 40 to 8 to 16 hours per week, Mr. Raad along with Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, and Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, inherited his responsibilities. Like his predecessors, Beatrice Walker and Cindy Garvin, Mr. Raad allegedly grew dissatisfied with President Wiggington's mode of governance which may have also contributed to the CFO's ultimate ouster. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since 2013, we learned that President Wiggington had told several long-time members of the credit union and representatives of other credit unions that the credit union's decline was caused by insurmountable problems he inherited from his predecessor. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President's ploy is to weave yet another preposterous excuse to escape culpability for what he alone caused. President Wiggington is a man devoid of self-discipline and emotional maturity and who will do all in his limited power to dodge blame for the reverberations born out of his ill-conceived ideas. His excuse, for that is all it is, is both untrue and blatantly absurd. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On January 1, 2007, the day President Wiggington officially began serving as President, the credit union's Net Income approximated $172 million and it had 9 branches. Its territories extended from Santa Clarita and south to Riverside county. During the first half of 2007, the President traversed the halls and departments of the main branch, loudly declaring his intents to transform Priority One into a state-of-the art credit union that would rival larger, richer credit unions by offered the latest technologies needed to deliver convenience and simply the home banking experience. Clearly, he would never have boasted about is plans had h</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">e inherited a credit union riddled with internal problems. The real issue lies in the fact that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was unqualified to lead the credit union. It is this deficiency which led to Priority One's rapid and well-documented decline. We're surprised he hasn't blamed his dog, the Loch Ness Monster or his son, who in 2013 was convicted for selling methamphetamines. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlike President Wiggington, his predecessor was a respected leader in the industry. While President, he compiled an impressive record of success. Under his leadership, Priority One entered into mergers which expanded the credit union's holdings, generated new membership and increased the credit union's Net Income. Under his predecessor, the credit union was able to offer a variety of real estate products and maintained an impressive and growing portfolio. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In contrast, since his appointment to President, Priority One can no longer service its vast territories forcing it to promote increased use of home banking and Shared Branching. The once impressive array of real estate mortgage loans has been reduced to HELOC.s The credit union's Net Income has plummeted from a $172 million to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">$146,318,298 (as of 12/31/2013) and it has closed 6 of 9 branches since October 2010. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Charles R. Wiggington's legacy is his single-handed unraveling of a once outstanding and promising credit union. He has earned a well-deserved reputation for being slothful and inept. Over the years, he has proven he lacks an </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">understanding of marketing, advertising, and member and employee relations. Over the years, he has demonstrated a propensity for gossip, dishonesty, scandal and wasting of the credit union's valuable resources. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">With only 3 branches left and efforts to jump start business continuing to fail, it is highly possible Priority One will be forced to close another of its remaining branches, sometime in the not-to-distant future. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The President's stories designed to escape accountability should be viewed as mere childish jabber from a man whose mode of administration is characterized by far flung fiascos. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The former Airport and Santa Clarita branches were located on U.S. Postal Service properties. The amount spent by the credit union to lease each space was $1.00 per year. In 2013 the credit union received notice the New Post Master in Santa Clarita had decided to increase the amount of the lease for the space located just outside the Santa Clarita Mail Processing plant. Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, exclaimed, "I can't believe what the post office has done to us." We don't think the post master's decision to increase the amount paid by the credit union was either personal or emotional and merely constituted a sound business decision. Evidently, raising the amount paid to lease the Santa Clarita space was more than Priority One could afford.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Over the year, the President enters into campaigns to tout the credit union's success. In 2011, he visited all branches and told employees that business had improved. In January 2012, during an all-staff meeting conducted in South Pasadena, he again declared a resurgence of business. However, on February 2, 2012, he announced that unless large amounts of new business were obtained immediately, he would be forced to close the Burbank branch. What he didn't tell employees was that he had already notified the property management company overseeing the Burbank office and informed them the credit union would either close in April or May of that year. During the months of February through August 2012, a large number of employees were terminated for failing to attain their assigned monthly sales quotas though the real reason for their termination was an emergent need to reduce expenditures. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Historically, President Wiggington and his executive staff rely heavily on distorting the truth as a means by which to camouflage failures and hide indiscretions. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In January </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2010, the President and his then COO informed employees that the credit union had turned a profit despite having ended 2009 more than $500,000 in the <b><span style="color: red;">RED</span></b>. On month later, in February 2010, it was revealed that the President transferred funds from a general ledger and reported them as profit, when no actual profit had been generated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last December, following closure of the Airport branch, the President declared that business was doing "great" while Vice President, Patricia Loiacano, disclosed that business was performing well. Later that same month on January 31, 2014, the credit union closed the doors to its Santa Clarita branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What the President and members of his posy haven't learned is that no amount of rhetoric will ever hide their well documented failures which are clearly referenced in the credit union's Balance Sheet/Income Statement. The alleged success touted by the President is also contradicted by the more than $26 million drop of the credit union's Net Income and the closure of 6 branches since October 2010. What these losses also attest to is that neither the President or any member of his executive staff possess the knowledge to create strategies that resolve the many problems afflicting Priority One since mid-2008. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The credit union maintains a satellite office at the NDC, a postal processing plant located in City of Commerce. That office once opened for 3 hours on Fridays. A representative of the credit union's Business Development team would povide employees of the plant, their credit union account and loan balances, dispense information about the credit union's services and products, and accept </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">new membership and loan applications. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, the post office offered Priority
One a larger office where they could conduct credit union business. Prior to
this, the credit union’s office was located inside an office supply room inside the distribution center. The generous
offer meant Priority One would have a more visible and elevated presence at the
plant, however, as usual, President Wiggington was unresponsive and failed to
order installation of a computer in the new office space. Subsequently, the
office could not be utilized adequately and in time, ceased to open all
together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Here is a record of other blunders committed by the President's and his executive staff which have contributed to the credit union's decline. </b></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder One<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Actually, the first blunder was committed by the Board of Directors who in October 2006 at the urging of Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, determined Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was the best and most qualified candidate to become Priority One's next President. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In November 2006, Directors of the Board announced the appointment of Mr. Wiggington and cited his <u>past</u> banking experience as a key factor for selecting him as the credit union's new President/CEO despite the fact Mr. Wiggington had not been an employee of any bank since 1992. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another reason for selecting him to be President was divulged by Dir</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ectors </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O. Glen Saffold, Thomas Gathers, and Janice Irving, all of said <b>"Priority One needs a Black President." </b>We'd like anyone of the three to tell us how successful its been for the credit union, members, and employees having a Black President lead the credit union? Interesting that the deficient Directors ignored Mr. Wiggington's qualifications, a record proving actual accomplishments made while serving as Priority One's Vice President of Operations, personal decorum, dignity, intellect, morality and ethics opting instead to be swayed by skin color. </span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></b>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u>Blunder Two</u></b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Each year the credit union conducts elections to fill seats on the Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the years before Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President, the President and Marketing Director would review a batch of sample envelopes containing ballots prepared for mailing to member's residences. The procedure was part of the credit union's quality control measures to ensure there were no problems with the intended mailings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2007, President Wiggington decided to circumvent the measure, declaring that reviewing envelopes was not his job. The envelopes were mailed out and soon afterwards it was discovered that on the exterior front side of the envelopes were printed member credit union account and social security numbers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When the incident became public knowledge, the President quickly blamed the IT Supervisor. The Board ordered termination of the supervisor, however, the President asked that they only suspend him for 3 days. The President would later tell the supervisor that because of his intercession, the supervisor was not fired. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To rectify the President's blunder, the credit union offered members one year theft and credit protection. The cost to the credit union for the protection service was<b> $100,000</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Blunder Three</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2007, the President obtained approval from the Board to purchase a new phone system that he alone selected and which he declared would resolve the credit union's member service issues. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President drew up the schematics and ordered that all incoming calls be diverted to the South Pasadena branch even though the branch's phone lines were already overloaded with incoming calls. His plan proved catastrophic and dramatically increased the credit union's member service problems. What's more, his bungled plan added to the already workload of employees at the South Pasadena branch. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Additionally, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President's so-called state-of-the-art phone system suffered technical setbacks which to date, remain unresolved. The sometimes monthly calls to telephone technicians has added to the credit union's expenditures.</span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Blunder Four</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On January 4, 2007, President Wiggington announced his revamping of the credit union's corporate structure and the implementation of a body of AVP's who he promised would help implement strategies that would increase membership and sales. The President hand-selected AVP's from the credit union's management sector and all who he referred to as his "friends." These were: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rodger Smock, AVP of Operations and former VP of Human Resources.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jodi Hurst, AVP for Riverside County and former Branch Manager of the Redlands and Riverside branches. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Liz Campos, AVP for the South Pasadena, Los Angeles, and Worldway branches and former Burbank Branch Manager.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sylvia Perez, AVP for Burbank, Van Nuys and Valencia branches and former Van Nuys Branch Manager.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aaron Cavazos, AVP of Lending and former Director of Lending in South Pasadena.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2007, just 4 after being promoted to AVP, Mrs. Campos was terminated for kiting. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008, Mr. Cavazos argued with the President and left the credit union for what was to be a temporary leave of absence. Mr. Cavazos was promoted to AVP despite a long history of complaints from employees, alleging sexual harassment and retaliation. When he requested to return to the credit union, the President terminated him using the excuse that in a review of Mr. Cavazos personnel filed, it had been decided he had amassed too many complaints from employees indicating violations of credit union policies and state and federal laws. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The AVP sector ceased to exist in March 2013, when the AVP of the Los Angeles and Airport branches was terminated. According to Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, the AVP embezzled money from member accounts. The thefts were discovered during an audit of branch records performed in February 2013. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The combined costs of salaries paid to the AVP's was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not only did the sector fail to live-up to the hype doled out by the President, not one was successful in implement anything that translated into increased business and membership.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Five<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2007, the President introduced yet another change born out of his rich and unfettered imagination which he claimed would skyrocket business development. He eliminated the credit union's </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">award winning Marketing Department and replaced it with a Marketing Committee comprised of employees from the Member Services and Loan Departments and none of who possessed any experience or education in marketing. The President asserted confidently that his new plan would substantially increase savings, reducing what he descried as the "outrageous amounts" spent in marketing by his predecessor. . </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President demoted the experienced Marketing Director to the post of Marketing Coordinator and appointed AVP, Aaron Cavazos, as the head of the marketing committee despite the fact Mr. Cavazos had absolutely </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">no experience in marketing or advertising. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By late 2007, the President's inspired plan was beginning to crumble. Internal squabbling amongst committee members and the production of horrendous and ineffective advertising began impacting the credit union's ability to acquire new business. Furthermore, real marketing was replaced by advertising which was reduced to picking graphics and composing poorly written and uninspired copy. What President Wiggington succeeded in doing was disbanding marketing and replacing it with an advertising committee. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following Mr. Cavazos termination in 2008 and the departure of almost the committee's participants, the responsibility of "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">marketing" was appointed to AVP, Rodger Smock, who for a time, was assisted by then AVP of Lending, Patricia Loiacano. Neither was qualified to serve in marketing and through 2008 until late 2009, the two continue to dispense substandard advertising and unwittingly contributing to the credit union's ongoing decline.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Six</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2007, President Wiggington instructed all AVP's to decrease business development focus to postal service facilities and increase efforts to obtaining Select Employer Groups (SEG's). His reason was that he wanted a higher caliber of member comprised of business owners and their employees. The President's efforts to change the credit union's demographics ignored the fact that historically, SEG's showed little interest in the products and services offered by the credit union. As a result, little business was usually obtained from SEG's whereas employees of the postal service had always shown tremendous allegiance to the credit union even during lean economic periods. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In late 2009, President Wiggington experienced a moment of lucidity, realizing the credit union was not generating income from SEG's. He immediately ordered that business development representatives again increase visits to postal facilities. In N</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ovember 2010, business development representatives were asked to desist all efforts to induct SEG's. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><br /></span><b><u>
Blunder Seven</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In mid-2008, President Wiggington easily obtained permission from Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, to borrow $20 million from the credit union's line of credit. This was another first for President Wiggington as prior to his appointment, no other President had felt inclined to borrow from the credit union's line-of-credit. The reason for borrowing the money was pure vanity. In 2008, the credit union's asset size had begun to decrease and so the President along with his accomplice, the Board, borrowed the money and was able to create the appearance that Priority One's asset size had increased as a result of new business. The loan cost the credit union approximately $30,000 a month in interest payments alone which further taxed the credit union's waning coffers. As usual, the President did not possess the intelligence to create effective strategies, so he resorted to a deceptive and manipulative ploy to create the impression of success. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Blunder Eight</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In early 2009, the President began disclosing that he needed a COO who could take many of his projects that he was too busy complete. A few months later, he obtained approval from the Board of Directors to hire a COO. On June 1, 2009, his then "friend", Beatrice Walker, arrived at the South Pasadena branch and though escorted through the office by then AVP, Rodger Smock; he never introduced her by name nor her position title provided. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2007, the President confided
that he created the AVP sector so that he would not have to work to develop new
business, leaving the arduous task to his selected Assistant Vice Presidents who
he said would have to bring in new business. As it turned out, they failed to
carryout their assigned responsibilities and one by one, were terminated over
the next 6 years. Similarly, the President hoped the hiring of a COO would
further diminish any of his responsibilities.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He hired his then friend, Beatrice
Walker, as the credit union’s first COO. Unbeknownst to the President, Ms.
Walker found him unqualified to be President and confided to her then allies,
Yvonne Boutte and Joseph Garcia that she intended to displace the President and
that once she was named CEO, she would promote Mrs. Boutte and Mr. Garcia as
officers who would serve directly beneath her. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the two years which followed, Ms. Walker wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on failed enterprises including programs that never garnered member interest. She also spent large amounts building a Call Center whose performance has proven lackluster and even contributed to the credit union’s increasing member service issues. In 2010 and 2011, she remodeled the South Pasadena branch and the lobby of the Burbank branch. She assured the board more people would want to become members if </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the appearance of the two offices were improved. The Burbank branch closed at the end of May 2012 and the South Pasadena branch is known amongst members for being depressing and its employees appearing unhappy. Evidently, Beatrice Walker was wrong. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Nine</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2011, the President decided to rid the
credit union of COO, Beatrice Walker, but not before first seeking to hire a Director of Lending. What Ms. Walker didn't know was that the President had already planned her termination and that a new Director of Lending would assume many of the responsibilities once performed by the COO. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2011, the credit union posted an ad seeking a Director of Lending who would be paid $63,000 annually. After interviewing candidates, the credit union decided on hiring Cindy Garvin as its new Director of Lending. In late June 2011, Ms. Garvin accepted the position and on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, Beatrice Walker was informed she was being terminated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Garvin reported to work at the main branch in South Pasadena, California on Monday, August 1, 2011. At the time she was hired, Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, issued a memo, informing employees that Ms. Garvin had been come from Clearpath Federal Credit Union where she served in the capacity of AVP of Business Services, Marketing, and Business Development. He described her as both highly qualified and accomplished. 4 months after being hired, President Wiggington promoted her to the post of Chief Lending Officer ("CLO") and appointed her authority over operations for all of Priority One's offices. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Garvin's alleged experience failed to resolve the problems created by President Wiggington and the Board. Ms. Garvin also suffered from inability to get along with others. Like President Wiggington, Beatrice Walker, and Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, Ms. Garvin possessed an insatiable predilection for gossip and creating discord. For a period of several weeks in mid-2012, she and Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, would meet not-so-secretly, in the alleys located around the main branch, where they would gossip about employees, the President, and members of the Board. Their private meetings came to a sudden end when we reported their practice on this blog. In 2012, Ms. Garvin along with her subordinate, Joseph Garcia, targeted and terminated many employees who allegedly failed to carryout their assigned duties. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On December 28, 2012, Ms. Garvin was terminated for unsatisfactory performance. During the 16 months of her employment, Ms. Garvin could not extricate the credit union from the problems authored by President Wiggington. Her </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">alleged expertise, skills, and knowledge in sales and loan development, once loudly proclaimed by EVP, Rodger Smock, were never attested to in anything she endeavored to do. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Ten<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Wiggington never liked the idea of a Business Development team. In 2007, he ordered increased scrutiny of all Business Development Representatives insisting they could bring in a lot more new business. The basis for his belief was purely emotional and not based on tangible evidence. At the time, he also confided that he disliked the team because it was the brainchild of his predecessor. His statement possessed no rationale and like so many of his beliefs, was based on pure conjecture born out of his unfettered emotions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, newly hired COO, Beatrice Walker, joined the President's efforts scrutinizing the team's contributions and even exclaimed during a manager meeting that she could bring in more business than the entire team, combined. Of course, Ms. Walker never proved she could bring in more business and President Wiggington never introduced a single proven strategy that could have been provided to the team that might have lent some credence to his imaginary belief of the team's ineffectiveness. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The team ceased to exist on or about October 2012. Its demise accelerated the unraveling of the credit union's former healthy relationship with employees of the United States Postal Service and Select Employer Groups. In 2013, the President appointed Joseph Garcia as the credit union's sole business development representative though Mr. Garcia has failed on a monthly basis to attain his assigned goal of $150,000 and has been poorly received by employees of the United States Postal Service.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Eleven<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010 </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">as a result of the President's chronic failure to implement strategies that reap new business, increase membership, and generate profit, the credit union's capital began to plummet. State </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">auditors suggested an immediate reduction of the credit union's expenditures and so in September 2010, then COO, Beatrice Walker, and CFO, Saeid Raad, identified four branches whose monthly leases exceeded $5000 each. It was decided to close the Redlands branch in October 2010 and the Valencia branch in November 2010. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Valencia branch was actually a successful location, generating far more money than either the Burbank, Redlands or Riverside branches. However, the decision to close the branch was made by then COO, Beatrice Walker. Her decision was purely personal and unrelated to business. At the time, Ms. Walker had experienced a falling out with the Valencia Branch Manager and in act of pure vindictiveness, she ordered closure of the branch. She also planned on subjugating the Branch Manager by demoting her and transferring her to the failing Burbank office. As is typical at Priority One, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ms. Walker’s vindictive act was sanctioned by President Wiggington; Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock; and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Twelve<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California, offered the credit union </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">space within the hospital, where it could install a branch that could replace the poorly performing Burbank branch. Many employees of Providence St. Joseph Medical Center were members of the credit union. This would have introduced added convenience to employees of the hospital while providing an opportunity for Priority One to maintain a newer, more convenient location. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Wiggington delegated negotiation of the space to then COO, Beatrice Walker, who in turn, delegated planning to then AVP, Sylvia Perez, and then Director of Project Management, Yvonne Boutte. The decision to place responsibility for planning of the new branch made no sense because Mrs. Perez was a horrendous officer with a long history of complaints filed against her by employees of the credit union. Furthermore, the project fell far outside of her experience. Similarly, Mrs. Boutte was equally unqualified to negotiate acquisition of the space, much less plan out installation of a branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the weeks which followed, officers of the hospital made several attempts to contact the credit union about the proposal but neither the President, the COO, the AVP, or the Director of Project Management felt inclined to return their calls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2011, the hospital informed Mrs. Perez that the credit union would no longer be invited to participate in monthly new hire presentations. The credit union had for years enjoyed the privilege of participating in the orientations during which they spoke to new employees about the benefits of being a member to the credit union. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">President Wiggington was so incensed by the hospital's decision not to include Priority One in new hire presentations that he ordered cessation of all business development efforts to the credit union. Obviously, President Wiggington did not understand that his actions contributed to deterioration of the credit union's relationship with the medical center. It apparently also didn't occur to him that the credit union needs business from the medical center. </span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Thirteen<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In January 2007, the President ordered AVP's and Business Development representatives to reduce focus on obtaining new business from
employees of the United States Postal Service (USPS). He ordered that aggressive efforts be made to induct Select Employer Groups ("SEG's") explaining he wanted a different and "better' membership comprised of business owners and their employees. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem with the President's "vision/delusion" is that historically, little business was ever obtained from SEG's. There was also the fact that employees of the United States Postal Service had demonstrated unwavering allegiance to the credit union since its founding in 1926 and had even carried the credit union through lean economic periods. Of course, the facts were inconsequential to a man who rarely relies of facts and ignores the importance of studies that might provide an assessment of the viability of his spontaneous, poorly conceived ideas. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2014, the credit union continues to reap little business from SEG's while its once strong and long relationship with employees of the USPS is tenuous at best. </span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Fourteen</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2011, Providence St. Joseph Hospital
contacted then AVP, Sylvia Perez, and informed her that the credit union would
no longer be invited at attend monthly new employee orientations conducted by the hospital. For years, Priority One had enjoyed the privilege of being included in the hospitals new hire orientations during which they were allowed to conduct a brief presentation describing the benefits of being a member to Priority One. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Incensed by the medical center's withdrawal of its long standing invitation, the incensed President ordered an immediate cessation of all business development activities at the hospital stating, <b>"We</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> don’t need them!” </b>The President's response was both emotional and typical and once again reveals his inability to understand that it is not Providence St. Joseph that needs Priority One but rather the credit union that needed and needs a relationship with the hospital though in 2014, the credit union has lost the clout it once enjoyed with all Providence hospitals. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Fifteen<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In March 2007, an anonymous letter sent
to a Director of the Board disclosed that then newly appointed AVP, Liz Campos, had
overdrawn her account more than 24 times during the months of September 2006
and October 2006. The activity occurred while Ms. Campos served as Branch Manager of the Burbank office. Also, when the abuses occurred </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. served as Vice President of Operations and would have known of the abuses. Despite being fully aware of the abuses and having known that over the years, Mrs. Campos had overdrawn her account, he found it prudent to promote her to the post of Assistant Vice President ("AVP"). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Director submitted the letter to the credit union's then attorney, William Adler, who ordered an investigation. A subsequent review and audit of Mrs. Campos account disclosed she had been kiting using checking accounts from 3 different institutions. The findings were sufficient to order her termination, however, President Wiggington, and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, became incensed with the Director who had submitted the letter to the attorney. During a monthly board meeting, Mrs. Harris-Brooks warned the Director that he was never to confer with the credit union attorney before first bringing a matter to her attention. What is interesting is that despot, Mrs. Harris-Brooks, was unqualified to respond to an alleged federal offense. And though the matter was appropriately referred to an attorney, Mrs. Harris-Brooks and the incensed President, could not but vex their anger against the Director who conducted himself ethically and in compliance to state and federal law. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the investigation, the President proclaimed his innocence, asserting he had no idea about Mrs. Campos' abuses yet that would have been impossible in view of the fact he was the VP of Operations. If he truly had been unaware, then it is just one more reason why he should never have been appointed President/CEO as the credit union needed a leader who was vigilant and informed to lead it. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Sixteen<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008, a former employee filed a
complaint with then credit union, William Adler, alleging she had been sexually harassed by President Wiggington, over a period of years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The attorney ordered an investigation and EXTTI, Inc. was hired to carryout all investigative proceedings. During the investigation, President Wiggington was suspended with pay, a decision approved by Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The investigation's findings were presented to the Board, though Mrs. Harris-Brooks excluded inviting some Directors to attend the meeting. Unfortunately for the chronically corrupt Board Chair, then Director, Janice Irving, learned of the meeting intended to provide the investigator's findings. Mrs. Irving and Director, Joseph Marchica, attended the meeting to the chagrin of Mrs. Harris-Brooks. The investigator recommended termination of the President. Mrs. Irving voted for his ouster but Mrs. Harris-Brooks, Director's, O. Glen Saffold and Thomas Gathers, and Supervisory Committee Chair, Cornelia Simmons, ignored the documented record of findings and voted for President Wiggington's reinstatement. It was a travesty and one which demonstrated the amoral nature of some of the Board's Directors and of the Supervisory Committee Chair. It also proved that they were each willing to squash tangible evidence proving incidence of a felony. </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Seventeen<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, at the recommendation of then COO, Beatrice Walker, the credit union hired the services of Lillestrand and
Associates, a company who works with many credit unions in improving productivity and morale. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The founder of the firm, Loren Lillestrand, arrived at the credit union via his "friend", Beatrice Walker. In meetings conducted with credit union staff, he disclosed that he intended to gauge staff interests though tests that would determine their likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, and interests which would be used to create a better, more knowledgeable and more effective work force. What he did not disclose to employees is that he was hired to also help flush out "enemies" of the President who were attempting to topple Mr. Wiggington's imaginary empire and subvert his alleged efforts to develop new business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Lillestrand who is actually well intentioned, agreed to the proposal but failed to concretely prove which employees were truly undermining the President. Furthermore, his findings submitted to COO, Beatrice Walker, which should have been used for staff development, were never implemented. In the end, the credit union spent more than $30,000 to obtain information that was never utilized. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2012, the President hired other consultants who determined that business could improve and the credit union's reputation could be salvaged, if the credit union website were revamped and dozens of the President's and EVP's bios posted throughout the Internet. It was a dull idea ignoring the history of abuses and irresponsible acts committed by the President and in the end was tantamount to <b><i>putting lipstick on a gorilla.</i></b></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blunder Eighteen<o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The cherry atop the President's history of blunders are his realignment of the credit union's Human Resources Department. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For years, the department was under directorship of Rodger Smock. In August 2011, then COO, Beatrice Walker, disclosed that Mr. Smock was ineffective, lazy, and overpaid. She removed his authority over Human Resources and transferred it to herself. However, a verbal complaint filed by the Valencia Branch Manager, alleged Ms. Walker had harassed, persecuted and retaliated against the Branch Manager, including alienating the Manager from her staff. Then Human Resources "clerk", Esmeralda Sandoval, referred the complaint to Rodger Smock and President Wiggington. A few days later, the two drove to Valencia to inform the Branch Manager, that Ms. Walker had ordered closure of the branch as part of the credit union's efforts to streamline operations and reduce expenditures. At the time, President Wiggington asked the Branch Manager and Business Development Representative assigned to Santa Clarita, to provide him with letters documenting the acts and statements verbalized by Ms. Walker. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President returned to his office in South Pasadena and contacted Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks. Three days later, a message posted on the credit union's Intranet, informed employees that Ms. Walker would no longer oversee Human Resources and that the department's new Director would be then Training and Education Manager, Robert West. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, secretly and unbeknownst to employees, the department continued to be managed by Mr. Smock simply because Mr. West had no prior in anything related to Human Resources. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In July 2011, days after termination of Beatrice Walker, Mr. Smock posted a notice on the Internet advising employees that Human Resources was being renamed Employee Services and its new Director would be Robert West who would be assisted by newly appointed Employee Service Manager, Esmeralda Sandoval. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The department has proven to be a horrendous intermediary between the credit union and employees. The appointment of Mr. West as Director is a ruse by which to divert attention from the history of failures committed by Rodger Smock. The department is nothing more than a vehicle or tool, which serves to satisfy the President and Board's wishes. The department's decision to exempt many officers from the disciplinary actions described in policy led to the filing of 4 lawsuits by former employees during the years of 2010 through 2013. The settlement of 3 of those lawsuits not only lend credence to allegations that Priority One's officers violate state and federal laws and choose to circumvent policy, it also validates assertions of the incompetence of the department's officers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And though the credit union has closed 6 of 9 branches since October 2010, the department continues to employ three officers <b><i>whose combined salaries exceed $200,000 per year</i></b>. The entire staff- Rodger Smock, Robert West, and Esmeralda Sandoval, should have been terminated years ago and replaced with new, better education, more qualified and certainly, far more ethical personnel who do not easily compromise ethics for what is politically advantageous. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u><span style="font-size: x-large;">CONCLUSION</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>2008</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The borrowing of $20 million by President Wiggington from the credit union's line-of-credit in 2008 was a clear and indelible signal that some was amok at Priority One Credit Union. And despite the loan of $20 million, on December 31, 2008, the credit union reported losses for the year in the amount of <b><span style="color: red;"><i>-$690,652</i></span></b>. On December 31., 2007, the credit union ended that year <i style="font-weight: bold;">$683,589 </i>in the Black. So from 12/31/07 through 12/31/08, the credit union incurred loses of <b><span style="color: red;">-$1,374.241</span></b>! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>2009</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In retrospect, the loan obtained from the credit union's line-of-credit was intended to maintain a record that Net Income was high, knowing that most members would not understand the actuaries referenced in the credit union's Balance Sheet/Income Statement. And though the credit union sustained tremendous losses during that period, the Net Income <u style="font-style: italic;">appeared</u> to remain high, though clearly and based on the references found in their Income Statement, immense losses were sustained as a result of the President's inability to implement anything that reaped real profit. . </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of 2009, the credit union reported losses in the amount of a whopping <span style="text-align: -webkit-right;"><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">-$5,458,432</span><b>. </b>D</span>espite the staggering losses, the President continued to insist business was great. At the time, his tidings of great business were joined by then COO, Beatrice Wiggington who insisted new business had been gotten at the end of the year though undeniably, there was no evidence of this in the credit union's financials. Furthermore, the Board of Directors under Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, was apparently unconcerned and took no remedial measures to determine why business had declined and why President Wiggington's decisions were not only failing to achieve their intended purpose but causing the credit union to hemorrhage losses. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>2010</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On December 31, 2010, the credit union ended the year in the negative, reporting losses in the amount of -<b style="text-align: -webkit-right;"><span style="color: red;">-$563,830</span>. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="text-align: -webkit-right;">Over the years of 2008 though 2010, the Board remained unresponsive and refused to enact inquiries needed to understand why the President's decisions were causing losses of income. And though the Board has a responsibility to ensure that the best interests of members are realized, Priority One's board has over the years, been unusually unconcerned. In fact, their failure to act is disturbing. Could it be that President Wiggington was correct when he said the Board did not understand the credit union's financials? Based on the Board's ineffectiveness it is reasonable to conclude that none of the Directors possess a basic understanding of finance or accounting practices nor do they comprehend the actuaries contained in the balance sheet and income statement. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The closure of the Airport branch on December 13, 2013 and closure of the Santa Clarita branch on January 31, 2014 in addition to the closure of 4 other branches in the period between 2010 and 2012, serve as evidence that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. and the Board, have been plutonium to the once successful credit union. Horrendous business decisions, undisciplined and embarrassing behaviors, an inability to comprehend the internal workings of the credit union have left Priority One a mere shadow of its former self. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The President's reliance upon consultants to try and dredge Priority One out of its mire has proven to be an expensive and futile enterprise. The expensive efforts implemented by consultants have failed to increase membership, promote business development and failed to resolve the myriad of issues created by Priority One's highest officer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In mid-2012, the President again hired consultants who after a study of the credit union's service levels and product portfolio determined that what Priority One most needed was a revamped web page and a spanking new smartphone app. These alleged enhancements which we will describe in next month's post, were alluded to in the President and Board Chair's address contained in the <b>2012 Annual Report</b> and touted as indicators that Priority One's business was improving. The reference to the revamped web page and app were an attempt by two simpletons to try and convince members and employees that a new web page and smartphone app are synonymous with success. The proof that Priority One is failing versus prospering, is proven by the credit union's Balance Sheet/Income Statements and its quarterly Financial Performance Reports versus<i> </i>the President and Board Chair's chronic <i>lip service</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The truth is, Priority One remains in a state of decay. What's more, President Wiggington and his overpaid posy have never developed anything that succeeds in generating a level of profit needed to positively impact losses. Furthermore and as cited by Bankrate in early 2013, Priority One's overhead is precariously high. The revamped web page and app did not contribute to the credit union's decline but neither did they serve to resolve the issues underlying the credit union's far flung problems. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we have often published, the President, the executive sector and the Board of Directors remain responsible for delving out solutions for the very problems they alone created. Their efforts thus far have been purely superficial and refuse to consider that they are the single cause behind Priority One's deterioration. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reason for the credit union's failures is that the solutions sought by the President and Board of Directors, are purely superficial and refuse to address the causes of the credit union's far flung problems which are the President, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the executive sector, the Board of Directors, and the seemingly invisible Supervisory Committee. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Yesterday, February 19th, a member posted the following comment expressing frustration and dissatisfaction over the level of unsatisfactory service being dispensed by Priority One nowadays.</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anonymous.....</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I called the credit union today and waited 35 minutes until someone finally answered the phone. I told Tina, the person who answered the phone, about how long I waited on the line and she replied, "That's alright, we're working on it!"</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What a moron. She doesn't understand what member service is. I wanted to bitch slap her over the phone. I'm closing my account on Friday along with the accounts to my wife, 2 sons and daughter. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Enough is enough. This isn't the first time I have to wait and wait and this isn't the first time I have to speak to a moron. Management is jacked up so its no wonder they hire jacked up people.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>February 19, 2014 at 10:20 PM</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its evident that a new, revamped web page and smartphone app are not going to resolve the problems impacting the credit union's apparent inability to jump start business or the many issues afflicting member service. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>So what lies ahead for the rapidly shrinking credit union?</b> Since 2009, we've predicted that Priority One will continue to sustain losses simply because Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is unqualified to serve as President and CEO. It is important that the same factors which caused Priority One's decline over the past 7 years, remain intact. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is also important to note that the credit union's capital remains high which is a key reason why Priority One remains in business. However, the closure of 6 branches since October 2010 are nothing more than a pardon, extending what will be the credit union's ultimate demise unless they experience a sudden and miraculous reversal of their current misfortune or if they are taken-over by another credit union. Until then, their survival will continue to depend on expense reductions, possibly future branch closures, and leveling increased fees and charges to its membership. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2014, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">account </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">closures continue to exceed account openings and though the credit union aggressively pushes loan development, the fact is, their monthly Income Statements show an unhealthy and increasing reliance on charges and fees. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's more, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">credit union's relationship with employees of the United States Postal Service and Providence hospitals may have reached an irreparable state which has coupled the credit union's inability to promote its products and services. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Additionally, Priority One no longer sends representatives to monthly Chapter Meetings and chamber and community sponsored events. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Priority One, convenience is a thing of the past forcing the credit union to place increased emphasis on <b>Shared Branching</b> and <b>Home Banking</b> services. Priority One </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">no longer have a presence in all of Riverside County or the entire Santa Clarita Valley. The Santa Clarita branch was constructed in late 2011, by former Post Master, Ralph Tapia, as a good will gesture to the credit union for its years of service to the postal community. Clearly, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was unappreciative and did nothing to promote the credit union's northern-most location. However, the good news is, the space formerly occupied by Priority One is scheduled to be taken by another credit union</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The worst part of the President's bungling and the Board's paralysis is the ordeal they have subjected present and former employees to in their quest to maintain control of a crumbling credit union managed by a contingent of unimpressive and incompetent officers who appear to be playing opossum as the credit union sinks deeper into the mire created by President Wiggington. </span><br />
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<span class="bqQuoteLink" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px; line-height: 26px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnwayne109679.html" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="view quote">Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid.</a></span></div>
<div class="bq-aut" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 6px; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_wayne.html" style="color: rgb(0, 51, 153) !important; text-decoration: none;" title="view author">John Wayne</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To be continued......</span></div>
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< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com73tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-6276345439460041612014-01-20T11:42:00.001-08:002020-04-19T18:26:24.448-07:00So What Does the Future Hold for Priority One Credit Union, Part 1 of 2, January 2014<div align="justify">
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bLmij9J0Pz8/Ut17fO9kW6I/AAAAAAAAHhE/h80hMqi6Eos/s1600-h/image51%25255B1%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qAY2opT64fQ/Ut17gyHGhXI/AAAAAAAAHhM/Zhcwb-nbdxY/image_thumb31%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="234" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="346" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">After a little more than 4 years, we decided to take what was intended to be a one month leave from the blog so that we could each focus on other pursuits. Upon our return, we discovered that <b>Priority One Credit Union’s President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.,</b> interpreted our absence as a sign the blog had finally come to an abrupt end. Never one to ignore an opportunity, the President has since November 2013, perpetuated rumors the blog is “dead”, having been “shut down” by his efforts. The puzzling part is that over the years, his efforts to terminate our reporting have been met with failure. In 2008, he and former <b>CFO, Manny Gaitmaitan</b>, drove to Glendale, California and met with then credit union attorney, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><b>William Adler </b>of <a href="http://www.law4cus.com/abio-wja.htm">Styskal, Wiese and Melchione, LLP</a> but were informed they were unable to do so. In the years that followed, Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks contacted Google but her efforts also failed. In our absence and beginning this past November, the President has carried out a campaign which again touts his alleged prowess and keen tactical skills which lent this blog a final and deadly blow. His efforts were willingly assisted by </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><b>Vice Presidents, Yvonne Boutte</b> and <b>Patricia Loiacano</b>. Some employees of the South Pasadena unwittingly repeated the rumors though at no point did anyone at the credit union take a moment to verify the validity of the President’s statements choosing to instead, embrace his declarations at face value despite his long history of abuses, lies, and failures. Since <b>January 1, 2007</b>, the date Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began his stint as President, we’ve often published evidence of the scandals he immersed himself in and exposed his insatiable misappropriation of authority which contributed to the decline of the once promising credit union. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Cu-kfwyFv2U/Ut17iVBuj7I/AAAAAAAAHhU/ZRJO7Sk3a8o/s1600-h/image12.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c24VNdxuBLA/Ut17jvYioVI/AAAAAAAAHhc/dDuu-dyijzo/image_thumb8.png?imgmax=800" height="318" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="345" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Inspired by absence of the blog, President Wiggington recently also declared that Priority One has returned to a state of prosperity and is currently experiencing growth. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">His statements are of course unaccompanied by evidence that could lend some credence to his declarations. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The P</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">resident has also resumed working on an almost full-time basis. In late 2012 and throughout 2013, the President reduced his work week from <b>40 hours</b> to <b>6 1/2</b> to <b>16</b> hours <i>allegedly</i> because he suffered a relapse of cancer first diagnosed in 2012. . </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">So has the credit union overcome the many problems created by President Wiggington since he was first appointed President? Has Priority One now entered a period of prosperity and are they generating profit? Have they recouped the millions of dollars lost in Net Income since 2007? If the credit union has recovered it has done so in spite of President Wiggington and his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legion_(demon)">legion</a> of inept executives and managers? </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bK8f8kOWYb0/Ut17kZ51hsI/AAAAAAAAHhk/LD7sisO9Vm0/s1600-h/image161.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xeI0-7gbyEY/Ut17k0Zv3gI/AAAAAAAAHhs/BN3N7ld1oMY/image_thumb10.png?imgmax=800" height="175" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The President recently also boasted that his “ball cancer” (his words, not ours) is in remission. Since resuming full-time hours, he traipses </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">through the South Pasadena branch visiting the offices of CFO, Saeid Raad, Vice President, Yvonne Boutte and Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock and boasting loudly that “2013 was a great year” and blaming the credit union’s allegedly past failures on the incompetence of former <b>COO, Beatrice Walker</b>, and former <b>CLO, Cindy Garvin</b>, have now been resolved. Evidently, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is feeling much better. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Joining the President’s spin efforts are declarations by Vice President of Lending and Compliance, Patricia Loiacano, who asserts “business is good” and “we’re doing great.” In recently weeks, Mrs. Loiacano’s declarations have been further echoed by Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte, who also boasts that she has </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">single-handedly succeeded in subjugating employees of all branches, an achievement she alleges her predecessor, former <b>COO, Beatrice Walker</b>, and <b>Executive Vice President, Rodger</b> <b>Smock</b>, failed to do. Mrs. Boutte evidently suffers from selective memory forgetting that in late 2012, she acted alone and provoked a member into filing a lawsuit against the credit union. The lawsuit ended in payment of a settlement to the member. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Though the credit union’s <b>Human Resources</b> department continues to act in title as liaison between employees and the credit union, the filing of four lawsuits by former employees during the years of <b>2010 </b>through <b>2012 </b>have transformed the department into a powerless puppet head under the unofficial leadership of <b>Executive Vice President</b>, <b>Rodger Smock</b>. In <b>2011</b>, we frequently exposed that the promotion of former <b>Training and Education, Robert West</b>, to <b>Director over Human Resources</b>, was nothing more than a sham designed to draw attention from <b>Mr. Smock’s</b> failures as <b>Director</b> over the department and his violation of credit union policies and state and federal laws which left the credit union open to lawsuits. In early <b>2013</b> during a </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">deposition conducted at the offices of </span><a href="http://www.rh4law.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Richardson Harman Ober PC</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">, <b>Mr. Smock</b> identified himself as the <b>Director of Human Resources </b>(not Employee Services). This finally and officially exposed <b>President Wiggington’s</b> lie and chronic insistence that Robert West is the Director over Human Resources. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EibzPn451cg/Ut17nwFIC2I/AAAAAAAAHiE/8-JKiMrXshw/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uksSO-hwOkM/Ut17ohZtQfI/AAAAAAAAHiM/mxxZqSBst_Y/image_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="178" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="226" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Each January, we present a forecast of what may lie ahead for Priority One during the new year. Our assessments published in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 have been on consistently on point because we consider the credit union’s past performance, take into account its ability to generate new business, consider its relationship with members, take into account any lawsuits filed against the organization, and examine the behaviors and ethics of its officers. So is the credit union generating sorely needed profit and experiencing growth? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>CAN YOU FIND THEIR PROFIT?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Logically, it would be as foolish to believe anything about Priority One and its officers at face value, so as we’ve done in many previous posts, we’ve decided to use the credit union’s own documentation in conducting a review of their performance in 2013 and in determining what may lie ahead for the organization in 2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In this post, we use the credit union’s own Balance Sheet/Income Statement for the month of December 2013. Though state law requires the report be displayed in a conspicuous location for members and employees to read and requires the credit union to provide a copy of the report to members who request a copy, a copy of the report is almost impossible to obtain. In 2008, the President issued a directive to all officers prohibiting release of the report to members. He ordered that members provide reasons for requesting a copy of the report. He also ordered that all requests be directed to him for review, despite the fact Priority One is required to provide the report to any active member who requests to see it. One cannot but think that the President implement the stringent and illegal requirement if he has nothing to hide.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Shown below, is a copy of the Income Statement for the month ending December 31, 2013. The report also provides a record of Priority One’s year-to-date actuarials. The December 2013 statement provides irrefutable confirmation that business is as the President has declared, “great” or if it is something less than wonderful. </span></div>
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<b>PRIORITY ONE CREDIT UNION</b> </div>
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<b>FOR THE MONTH ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2013</b> </div>
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<b>BALANCE SHEET / INCOME STATEMENT</b> </div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5mEp0ECIUWY/Ut17r3gjqgI/AAAAAAAAHik/lMaJ41-HkQY/s1600-h/image9.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E6qhOUeUK24/Ut17sqTd_iI/AAAAAAAAHis/WNJqpsmuQ9w/image_thumb5.png?imgmax=800" height="325" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="374" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">As shown above and below, the credit union incurred a loss of <span style="color: red;">$576,523</span> in <b>“Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss).”</b> Simply stated, the reference is due to (a market value) loss from investments. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Also of note is the reference to <span style="color: red;"><b>FEES and CHARGES </b></span><span style="color: black;">which amounted to $249,327 for the month of December 2013 and for a total of $2,790,532 for the entire year of 2013. This entry is particularly interesting because it <b><i>proves</i></b> Priority One Credit Union garners a tremendous amount of their income from fees and charges levied to members for using the credit union’s services. The increased profit being earned from fees and charges is a reflection of the “bank industry mentality” of President Wiggington who prior to being hired as Vice President of Operations, was employed by Bank of America. </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OOGhO_P2Rw8/Ut2HjbVLdeI/AAAAAAAAHm8/m7ajApa52Ws/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ijl4qxfceMY/Ut2Hkr-fOWI/AAAAAAAAHnE/rgvrSYMckTA/image_thumb%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="150" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="474" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The closures of the Redlands, Valencia, Riverside, Burbank, and Airport branches has reduced the amount of monies spent each month on leasing property for the credit union’s remaining locations. In December 2013, the credit union spent a paltry $252 to lease their remaining offices located in South Pasadena, Los Angeles, Van Nuys and Santa Clarita. The reduced spending helps Priority One remain open for business though unfortunately, their financials don’t reference sufficient substantial income generated from new business only because their continued survival is contingent upon expense reductions. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JRjeYcvuIIQ/Ut17wJLuSCI/AAAAAAAAHjU/fmd6UXG2UmY/s1600-h/image31.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-R-4_lwzL8c4/Ut17xZCmptI/AAAAAAAAHjc/4sYpcnrI9Ec/image_thumb21.png?imgmax=800" height="507" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="458" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Their financials show that over 2013, the credit union spent a whopping and unprecedented <b>$323,866</b> in legal fees. In the years prior to Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.s appointment to President, the credit union’s annual expenditures on “legal” approximated <b>$18,000</b> to <b>$23,000</b>. In 2013, the credit union spent more on legal fees than were spent by the President’s predecessors over a 12 year period. What’s more, in <b>2011</b> and <b>2012</b>, the credit union spent more than <b>$100,000</b> in legal fees. <b><span style="color: blue;">From 2011 through December 31, 2013, Priority One has spent more than $500,000 in legal fees.</span></b> This is shocking and should be deemed unacceptable. Clearly, something is sorely awry at Priority One and certainly nothing attests to the incompetence and abuses committed by President </span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;">Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. that does the filing of lawsuits by former employees and the vast amounts spent on legal fees.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In 2011, President Wiggington boasted that Shared Branching would enable members who worked or moved outside of areas where Priority One maintained branches, to retain their accounts and reap the benefits of membership to Priority One. Unfortunately, the elimination of branches as a means by which to remain in business forced the credit union to promote Shared Branching as a substitute for a real and personal branch. The President's plan failed because many members continue to close their accounts when they move outside of the regions served by Priority One. Furthermore, the credit union’s records show that the majority of people utilizing Shared Branching are members of other credit unions. During 2013, Priority One spent $161,118 in Shared Branching a cost that further erodes any profit generated by the credit union. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">From 2011 through December 31, 2013, Priority One has spent more than $500,000 in legal fees.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">An expense which we cannot explain and which seems suspiciously high, is the amount spent on the Board of Directors and Supervisors. We cannot fathom how $14,346 were spent on the now much smaller Board and the Supervisory Committee. Furthermore, their ineffectiveness as overseers of the credit union’s internal operation fails to justify this expenditure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Another equally perplexing expense is Mileage and Reimbursements which in 2013 totaled $24,495. How is it possible that a credit union that only employs 1 Business Development Representative and who no longer participate in community events or attend Chapter meetings would spend almost $25,000 on mileage and reimbursements. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The credit union generated income in the amount of $1197 for December 2013 and $307,281 for the entire year of 2013. Hardly impressive is it? Priority One’s Balance Sheet/Income Statement says much more about the credit union’s actual performance than the unfounded hyperbole being perpetrated by President Wiggington and Vice Presidents, Yvonne Boutte and Patricia Loiacano. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In 2010, President Wiggington and his then COO, Beatrice Walker, manipulated reporting for the month of January 2010 and showed a profit generated during that first month of the year. Historically, January is a slow month. Additionally, the credit union ended December 31, 2009, more than $500,000 in the RED immediately stirring our suspicion that the two highest officers had manipulated the credit union’s reporting. Two months later, in March 2010, we discovered and reported that the President and his COO transferred money from one of the credit union’s general ledgers and reported it as profit for the month of January. Their act was intended to create the impression that Priority One generated profit following 12 months of losses and failures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In 2007, President Wiggington began the bad habit of dipping into the credit union’s coffers, at first $600,000 on a new phone system which he promised would propel growth and increase profit. He also spent tens of thousands of dollars implementing an improved and allegedly improved email system. Both of his efforts failed miserably.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In 2008, he obtained authorization from the Board of Directors to borrow $20 million from the credit line of credit. Over the next 4 years the credit union spent more than $30,000 each month paying interest alone of the loan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In 2009, he was overcome by an inspiration to hire a COO who would help him create new streams of income, help oust his enemies from the credit union, and help realize his vision for the credit union. Two years later, she was terminated for insubordination and following rumors regarding her sexuality and a complaint that she’d sexually harassed and abused a Branch Manager. During her approximate two year stint, more than $200,000 were spent on the COO’s salary. At the time of her departure, not only had her alleged streams of income all failed to realize their purpose but she had wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on a Call Center, remodeling of the South Pasadena and Burbank branches, and spent immense amounts of money on failed enterprises in addition to contributing to the credit union’s financial decline and ruination of its once pristine reputation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In 2011, the President spent tens of thousands of dollars on hiring a Director of Lending. Several months later, the Director was terminating for failing to stop the credit union’s ongoing decline. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Last year we reported that Bankrate.com issued its report declaring that though Priority One remained buoyant, the credit union’s overhead was sharply undercutting profit and could in their opinion, create future problems for the credit union. They were absolutely correct. In December 2013, the credit union was forced to close the doors of its Airport branch signaling again the deep-rooted failure of President Wiggington to enact methodologies that produce new business, increase profit, and generate member interest in what the credit union has to offer. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-AAJ38PrYHRU/Ut173H_QO3I/AAAAAAAAHkU/k2ZgTjaYcLw/s1600-h/image51.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Gag8CDaO3N8/Ut174YGfoNI/AAAAAAAAHkc/UuBmOurNZsI/image_thumb31.png?imgmax=800" height="261" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="372" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">During the months of December and January, we visited all of the credit union’s remaining branches for the purpose of observing their working environments. Here is some of what we observed:</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Santa Clarita</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The Santa Clarita branch opened in 2012 following months of fanfare by President Wiggington declaring the branch would prove an unprecedented success and draw droves of new members. The President was wrong. The branch is starkly devoid of members. Clearly, it is under utilized by members and it is certain, the location is failing to generate sufficient profit to justify its continued operation. Prior to its opening we pronounced the location would fail because of its inconvenient location outside downtown Valencia. As time quickly proved, we were correct. The number one reason why members and potential members choose not to visit the branch is because it lies far outside downtown Valencia and as some members have pointed out, they would prefer opening an account at an institution more centrally located. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Los Angeles</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">On the day we visited the credit union’s busiest branch, we found the front doors to the office, wide open. We were informed that the room was hot and the air conditioning was not functioning properly. It was quite evident that the Branch Manager is unaware that leaving the doors open in that manner, poses a potential security threat. We also counted 14 people standing in line waiting to be assisted by a single teller. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">There was also only one FSR present. She was busy helping a member while another waited for assistance. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">South Pasadena</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In 2013, the President approved the installation of cubicles in the Member Service Department. Since then, cubicles have also been installed in the Loan Department. Though cubicles are commonly found in many businesses, the cubicles selected by President Wiggington and Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, almost touch the ceiling, creating the undeniable impression of confinement and segregation. <span style="color: #c0504d;">So is the intent to create the impression that management at the main branch wishes to segregate itself from members?</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><b>Van Nuys</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The branch was the only one which we found to maintain some semblance of organization. The staff were helpful and there were actual people visiting the location. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4ZMWZp3MhAs/Ut175h2jkuI/AAAAAAAAHkk/3QDf6mrB1pE/s1600-h/image%25255B10%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lN5LH-TM3vQ/Ut1761lIyQI/AAAAAAAAHks/zNcNkzZ8e1Y/image_thumb%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Priority One was once known for its friendly employees and comfortable branch environments. It was also prized as an employer by its employees. In fact, many members who utilized the South Pasadena branch often described it as </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">“cozy” and feeling “like home.” That of course ended after Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President. The person currently in charge of branch operations for Priority One’s remaining offices, is notorious Vice President, Yvonne Boutte. Mrs. Boutte is a caustic presence who has often created discord and conflict and not surprisingly, proven she doesn’t possess the ability to reverse the environmental issues plaguing employee morale. No doubt, many employees view Mrs. Boutte as polarizing and having no qualms of exhibiting unfettered hubris. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Her confrontational and demeaning treatment of employees and members has often elicited conflicts. In 2012, her overbearing and aggressive zeal provoked the filing of a lawsuit by a now former member. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The credit union responded quickly, issuing a monetary settlement to the abused member. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Business Development?</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-11UWH0udZbo/Ut178O9opsI/AAAAAAAAHk0/4tKv9XcEaS0/s1600-h/image%25255B29%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7evUwP45Lzg/Ut178xRJ1NI/AAAAAAAAHk8/MqqS_X0wBmw/image_thumb%25255B17%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="230" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Nowadays, Business Development efforts are solely carried out by failed former AVP, Joseph Garcia. In his latest incarnation, Mr. Garcia allegedly visits the communities served by the credit union though his chronic inability to meet his monthly goal of $150,000 reminds us that Mr. Garcia is a man devoid of any real talent. Despite his shortcomings, Mr. Garcia was once the golden child of former COO, Beatrice Walker, who found it prudent to promote him into positions he proved unqualified to serve in. It was Ms. Walker who single-handedly decided that Mr. Garcia’s loyalty to her would be rewarded with promotions. Though Mr. Garcia continually pandered to the former COO, he proved quite incapable of fulfilling his responsibilities as Priority One’s first Call Center Supervisor, Real Estate and Consumer Loan Manager, Member Services Loan Manager, and AVP of Sales and Business Development. His return to work in January 2013 following a second 3-month leave of absence taken over a 16-month period stripped him of all of his former titles and he was knighted the credit union’s new and only Business Development Representative. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Mr. Garcia no longer possesses the authority he once relished in and which for a short time enabled him to target and terminate any employee who allegedly failed to fulfill their assigned duties. His once seemingly immovable relationship with Beatrice Walker deteriorated and by December 2010, she had marked him for future termination. He in turn, became one of her more avid critics, confiding to other employees that she misappropriated her authority which she used to banish employees she believed were her enemies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Since being appointed Priority One’s single Business Development Representative in January 2013, Mr. Garcia has failed on a monthly basis to meet his $150,000 monthly sales quota appointed to him by President Wiggington. The highest amount attained during any single month, approximates $28,000 and in December 2013, he only achieved $12,000 of his $150,000 quota. For Mr. Garcia, this is a humiliating fall from grace. So why does he continue to be employed despite the fact that better and more accomplished employees were terminated throughout 2012 for failing to attain their assigned monthly quotas? Our guess is that his preservation may be due to the fact that he possess a lot of insider information about how former COO, Beatrice Walker, and President Wiggington chose to do business. We know that following his fallout with Ms. Walker, Mr. Garcia began communicating with former employees terminated by the COO and President and labeled enemies of the credit union. Through emails, text messages, and telephone conversations, Mr. Garcia admitted to wrong doing committed by his superiors. It will be interesting to see if his is subpoenaed as a witness for the credit union when they appear in court to litigate the lawsuit filed by the last Branch Manager of the now defunct Valencia branch. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;">“We are doing great!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">January 2014</span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VaNNS9v5u8M/Ut18AejEEvI/AAAAAAAAHlE/r64Eo2HMJk0/s1600-h/image5.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qso3UNoIn8s/Ut18CqN0oxI/AAAAAAAAHlM/lflh4Wm91_U/image_thumb3.png?imgmax=800" height="280" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;"><b>ANOTHER BRANCH CLOSES</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">This past December, the credit union closed the doors to its Airport branch. The office which opened under much fanfare in 2009, was the victim of poor planning by President Wiggington who could never develop strategies to draw member interest to the location. Its closure, however, did not stop the President from recently proclaiming that business is “great” nor did it inhibit Vice President, Patricia Loiacano, from declaring that the credit union’s performance is doing well. Evidently the two need to acquaint themselves with what defines great and what defines good and well. They might also take the time to what defines poor, bad, and substandard. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The President’s latest campaign, touting the alleged renewed success of the credit union attempts to dissimulate the credit union’s actual performance which as we’ve shown, remains subpar. As we’ve pointed out often in the past, on the day (1/01/07) Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. began to serve as President, the credit union’s net income approximated $172 million. As of January 1, 2014, the credit union’s Net Income totals $146,318.298. That is an approximate loss of $25,681,702 in a 7-year period. Couple this with the fact the credit union had 9 branches on the day of President Wiggington’s appointment and now only has 4 remaining branches. Charles R. Wiggington, Sr., his executives, and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, would like you to ignore the facts and instead believe what they have to say at face value. Obviously, the credit union is not growing. Its reduced net income attests to losses. The closure of 5 branches denotes decline. And the credit union is not progressing, it is regressing. </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KxwuYduuP2g/Ut18DOkxaWI/AAAAAAAAHlQ/kPZ9Amx7r2I/s1600-h/image311.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uwNi7X6h7SA/Ut18D76-MVI/AAAAAAAAHlc/qkTNdSEFkI8/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" height="109" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: small;">We recommend Mr. Wiggington hire a competent spin doctor to concoct a more believable story about Priority One’s actual financial and business standing. Unfortunately, President Wiggington’s reputation precludes him from being trusted or believed and his assertions to success are not only untrue but should never be believed. We must add that in our opinion, the </span><span style="font-size: small;">Santa Clarita branch will close either at the end of this year or in 2015.</span> </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pocuone" title="https://www.facebook.com/pocuone"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium;"></span></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-y6dBQL-UHng/Ut3dPhOc0II/AAAAAAAAHnU/LFT7wUH9cqo/s1600-h/image17%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K5ef_Px_cT0/Ut18F9bJ0CI/AAAAAAAAHnc/mqYFtqufoSs/image17_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="167" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="446" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">LAWYERING AT ITS WORST!</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pQHcjY8rLWk/Ut18G29S0wI/AAAAAAAAHl0/GTjwpR8lLR0/s1600-h/image13.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-o4IjnJabyXg/Ut18H15L3RI/AAAAAAAAHl8/bYx0mZKcYJQ/image_thumb7.png?imgmax=800" height="267" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="348" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Priority One continues to litigate the lawsuit filed against it in 2012 by the former and last, Valencia Branch Manager. Unlike three lawsuits filed by former employees which preceded it, litigation of this lawsuit appears to be dragging. It appears that neither the credit union or its prized attorney, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Paul F. Schimley of of </span><a href="http://rhopc.com/"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Richardson Harmon Ober PC</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">, have tried to resolve this lawsuit in a speedily manner as they apparently chose to do with all prior complaints. The President has revealed that the lawsuit could not proceed to court in 2013 because the court’s calendar was full and later, because of the holidays. That’s odd because the lawsuit was filed in mid-2012 and it is now January 2014. At the time the three previous lawsuits were filed, there were also court calendars and holidays to be dealt with and apparently those did not impede the timely and even expedient litigation of those lawsuits. We find the present delays suspicious particularly in view of </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">President Wiggington’s 2012 and 2013 disclosures that the credit union’s attorney had said the Valencia Branch Manager’s lawsuit was frivolous and devoid of merit. If true, then the lawsuit would have been dismissed at the end of 2012. Evidently, the attorney’s alleged declarations were unfounded and may have constituted mere hyperbole. At the end of 2012, President Wiggington also disclosed that the allegations in the lawsuit were laughable and contrived and attributed the filing on a plot intended to extort money from the credit union. Again, if true, why hasn’t the lawsuit been dismissed?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">For those who may have forgotten or who do not know, the lawsuit contains allegations of same-sex sexual harassment perpetrated by former COO, Beatrice Walker, and allegations that the former Branch Manager’s complaint reported verbally and in writing to both Human Resources and the President refused to protect her from the scathing and very public attack carried out by Ms. Walker. The complaint also alleges that the credit union violated state and federal laws and refused to adhere to its own internal policies which prohibit harassment and retaliation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Though the President would have one believe that attorney Schimley is an expert in litigating employment-related matters, we’ve yet to witness anything that hints at his allegedly keen tactical prowess. Here are some highlights of recent, past litigation by Mr. Schimley:</span></div>
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<li> <div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In 2010, the attorney threatened to file a motion seeking dismissal of the lawsuit filed by the former last Branch Manager of of the no longer existent Burbank office. According to President Wiggington, the lawsuit lacked merit. At the time, we also spoke to some of the witnesses who the credit union intended to use in its defense. We were told by one, that she was to provide testimony that Mrs. Nisely was a racist who hated “Latins.” The statement was so important that the witness alleges the credit union’s legal counsel offered to represent her at no cost to herself. At the time, then AVP, Sylvia Perez, told employees of the Van Nuys and Burbank office that she was anxious to be subpoenaed as a witness for the credit union and intended to provide testimony that the former Branch Manager was insubordinate and lazy. At the end of 2011, Mr. Schimley contacted the Plaintiff’s attorney and requested mediation to enter into a settlement of the lawsuit. So what happened to the allegations of racism, insubordination, and the Branch Manager’s refusal to develop new business in her region? </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In 2011, Mr. Schimley again threatened to seek dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a former Business Development Representative. In fact, Mr. Schimley contacted the credit union and informed them the Plaintiff’s attorney had resigned because of a conflict with his client. The President shared the information with some of his staff one of who published the information disclosed by Mr. Schimley on this blog. That case was also voluntarily settled by the credit union despite the credit union’s insistence that they had been advised the lawsuit lacked all merit. </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li> <div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">In 2012, a lawsuit was filed by a former FSR assigned to the now defunct Burbank branch. Mr. Schimley contacted President Wiggington and Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, and informed them the case had no merit. The President who is a chronic violator of confidentiality, shared Mr. Schimley’s statements with members of his immediate staff and soon afterwards one of them posted comments that the FSR had been reduced to begging for any amount of settlement she could obtain from the credit union. Soon afterwards, the credit union voluntarily paid out yet another monetary settlement to close the lawsuit which allegedly lacked all merit. </span></div>
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</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Late last year, Mr. Schimley conducted a deposition at his Pasadena, California office. He aggressively leveled questions at a former Business Development Representative in his effort to exact contradictions and deficiencies in her testimony as witness for the former Valencia Branch Manager. His efforts failed to force any statement that could be used to break the witness. However, overshadowing his efforts to impugn the witness were a slew of questions that asked if she knew who authors this blog. The questions are perplexing when one considers that this blog is not referenced in the lawsuit filed against the credit union. Furthermore, this blog is wholly unrelated to acts allegedly committed by former COO, Beatrice Walker, President Wiggington, or that may have been perpetrated by the credit union’s Human Resource Department. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The world of attorneys is populated by highly competent and <i>educated </i>lawyers possessing well-developed tactical abilities as well as bottom feeders who litigate cases using tactics that border on abuse and above all else, serve to impugn the character of any Plaintiff and their witnesses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">We have to note that it is not President Wiggington who approves the hiring of attorneys nor is he the person who authorizes paying out legal fees. The more than $500,000 spent on legal fees for the years of 2011 through 2013 are approved by the Supervisory Committee and Board of Directors. Actually, in the case of the Board the person approving hiring and payment is Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks. Over the years, Mrs. Harris-Brooks has shown no hesitancy in spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on attorneys, particularly those hired to squash Plaintiff lawsuits and whose goal is to ultimately protect versus exonerate, President Wiggington and Human Resources of having violated state and federal laws. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">However, to keep things in perspective, we must point out that the President and Mrs. Harris-Brooks have often boasted that every lawsuit filed by a former employee was ultimately settled “cheaply.” As usual, the two officers lack the ability to comprehend the actual cost incurred upon the credit union. Settlement payments issued to Plaintiff’s represent but one small and almost insignificant portion of the actual money spent on litigation. The fact is, more than $500,000 spent on legal fees for the years of 2011 through 2013 is excessive and unwavering evidence of the abuses committed by the Board of Directors and President. What’s more, the financial impact to the credit union has proven detrimental, contributing to the continuing depletion of its financial resources. However, the cost to the credit union’s reputation as an employer and business cannot be measured and is far more destructive than its spending on legal services. What is acutely clear is that Mrs. Harris-Brooks is willing to authorize whatever amount is needed to cover-up violations of state and federal law committed by and under President Charles Roger Wiggington, Sr. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><b>CONCLUSION</b></span><br />
<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-48bYg27aPVI/Ut18KlMEtlI/AAAAAAAAHmE/PM2gZezLgOw/s1600-h/image2.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M_EpQjx0yw4/Ut18MO2h13I/AAAAAAAAHmM/1x_AYIGacOI/image_thumb2.png?imgmax=800" height="297" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="307" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">During our absence, President Wiggington launched yet another verbal campaign proclaiming that Priority One Credit Union had finally returned to a state of profitability following a “great” year during which their performance improved and even excelled. The President’s verbal assertions are laid waste by Priority One’s own Balance Sheet and Income Statement which reveal no growth, reduced Net Income, immense losses from investments, and exorbitant spending on legal fees. <b>The President hopes people will ignore his past history including his manipulation of the credit union’s monthly income statements, his sexual harassment of a former employee and the documented fact he took ownership of a BMW repossessed from a member, or with the help of his former ally, COO Beatrice Walker, targeted “enemy” employees whose reputations were publicly slandered before being terminated. His creation of an expensive AVP sector failed and as of 2014, there are no more AVP’s employed by the credit union. His installation of a Call Center that would drastically improve member service also failed miserably and actually serve to add increased dissatisfaction amongst members. His hiring of former COO, Beatrice Walker, proved not only disastrous but costly as did his hiring of former Director of Lending, Cindy Garvin. Prior to his appointment to President, the credit union had never been sued by former employees yet since his appointment the credit union has been sued by 4 former employees, 3 of whose complaints were voluntarily settled by the credit union. If anything is to be learned from the President’s many fumbled efforts is that he marches to the beat of a different drummer- a drummer no one else sees or hears. </b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">The President’s current campaign exalting his achievements amounts to just more unfounded </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Wiggington propaganda. His claims that through his efforts, Priority One has finally </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">overcome obstacles and impediments that have crippled its ability to progress forward is wholly absurd when one considers that it was he with the help of Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, who created the fiascos which caused the credit union’s decline. As the credit union’s <b>Balance Sheet/Income Statement</b> for the month ending <b>December 31, 2013</b> proves, there is no resurgence, no growth and no improvements!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Business not only remains stagnant but the credit union’s reputation amongst members continues to deteriorate. Efforts to increase new business through one solitary Business Development Representative have proven both futile and ineffective. The Business Development Representative’s goal of <b>$150,000</b> has yet to be met despite that he served in the capacity of Business Development Representative for a little more than one year. His treks into the communities served by the credit union reaped a </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">paltry <b>$12,000</b> in newly funded loans. In other words, he missed attaining his monthly goal by <b>$138,000 </b>and obtained <b>8%</b> of his assigned goal. A review of his monthly performance since <b>January 2013</b>, shows that he has never achieved more than <b>17%</b> of his assigned monthly goal, an amount that is both inconsequential and of little benefit to a credit union desperately requiring new business and actual monetary profits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">President Wiggington’s statement that business is <b>“great”</b> and Vice President, Patricia Loiacano’s statement that business is doing well are undermined by the credit union’s own reports. Furthermore, the two would like members and employees to ignore the fact the credit union ordered closure of its <b>Airport branch</b> in <b>December 2013</b>. The officers may argue the <b>Airport branch</b> was unprofitable but the fact is that neither President Wiggington, Mrs. Loiacano nor Vice President of Operations, Yvonne Boutte, ever introduced strategies that would have generated interest in the location. Either as a result of ignorance, a lack of imagination, or intentional refusal, the three have proven that they are quite incapable of creating plans that effectively realize what should be the credit union’s intended efforts for success. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">As of January 1, 2014, </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Priority One retains its continuing unhealthy reliance on expense reductions. Inarguably, Priority One would survive without continually having to reduce spending. The hiring of an expensive COO in 2009 proved almost catastrophic. The hiring of a Director of Lending in 2011 proved useless and destructive. The hiring of c</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">onsultants in 2012 produced a revamped website but did nothing to rectify the credit union’s far flung problems, all authored by the deficient President. </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><b>Additionally, an increased portion of the credit union’s income is reaped from charges and fees levied to members. This practice veers far from the credit union industry’s motto of people helping people or offering access to members who might experience difficulty obtaining financial products and services from traditional banks. The gap which once differentiated credit unions from banks is lessening and apparently, President Wiggington has helped close the chasm by charging more fees to members who are nowadays subjected to deficient member service and are offered products and services the can be easily obtained by better credit unions and banks.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">So what lies ahead for the apparently impotent credit union? There is absolutely <i>nothing</i> within the credit union’s reports that hint at forthcoming success. What’s more, <b>Board</b> <b>Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks</b> and the remaining Directors have exerted tremendous effort since <b>2008</b>, to ensure the destructive dynamic that has diminished Priority One Credit Union from profitable to ineffective, remains protected and intact. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"></span></div>
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Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Charles+R.+Wiggington" rel="tag">Charles R. Wiggington</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Sr." rel="tag">Sr.</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Charles+Wiggingotn" rel="tag">Charles Wiggingotn</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rodger+Smock" rel="tag">Rodger Smock</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Yvonne+Boutte" rel="tag">Yvonne Boutte</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Patricia+Loiacano" rel="tag">Patricia Loiacano</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Paul+F.+Schimley" rel="tag">Paul F. Schimley</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Richardson+Harman+Ober+PC" rel="tag">Richardson Harman Ober PC</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/board+of+directors" rel="tag">board of directors</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/supervisory+committee+Chair" rel="tag">supervisory committee Chair</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/priority+one+credit+union" rel="tag">priority one credit union</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/POCU" rel="tag">POCU</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Diedra+Harris-Brooks" rel="tag">Diedra Harris-Brooks</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Diedra+Harris" rel="tag">Diedra Harris</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Diedra+Brooks" rel="tag">Diedra Brooks</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Robert+West" rel="tag">Robert West</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Esmeralda+Sandoval" rel="tag">Esmeralda Sandoval</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Human+Resources" rel="tag">Human Resources</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Los+Angels+branch" rel="tag">Los Angels branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Airport+Branch" rel="tag">Airport Branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Valencia" rel="tag">Valencia</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Santa+Clarita+branch" rel="tag">Santa Clarita branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Van+Nuys+branch" rel="tag">Van Nuys branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/South+Pasadena+branch" rel="tag">South Pasadena branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/sexual+harassment" rel="tag">sexual harassment</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/repossession" rel="tag">repossession</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/stolen+car" rel="tag">stolen car</a></div>
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer">< item>
< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com85tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-65419028284213302042014-01-17T14:11:00.001-08:002020-04-19T18:26:24.491-07:00Friday, January 17, 2014<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">WE’RE BACK FROM HIATUS!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">NEXT POST, <b>MONDAY, JANUARY 20TH!!!!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Read about Priority One Credit Union’s performance!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Learn about the antics of President Charles R. Wiggington, Sr.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Are they still being sued?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Read about Vice Presidents, Yvonne Boutte and Patricia Loiacano</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What is their Human Resources Department up to?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">How many actual credit union branches remain open?</span></div>
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Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Charles+R.+Wiggington" rel="tag">Charles R. Wiggington</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Rodger+Smock" rel="tag">Rodger Smock</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Yvonne+Boutte" rel="tag">Yvonne Boutte</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Patricia+Loiacano" rel="tag">Patricia Loiacano</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Robert+West" rel="tag">Robert West</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Esmeralda+Sandoval" rel="tag">Esmeralda Sandoval</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Priority+One+Credit+Union" rel="tag">Priority One Credit Union</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/lawsuit" rel="tag">lawsuit</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/branch" rel="tag">branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/branches" rel="tag">branches</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/POCU" rel="tag">POCU</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/South+Pasadena+branch" rel="tag">South Pasadena branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Los+Angels+branch" rel="tag">Los Angels branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Van+Nuys+branch" rel="tag">Van Nuys branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Santa+Clarita+branch" rel="tag">Santa Clarita branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Airport+branch" rel="tag">Airport branch</a>,<a href="http://technorati.com/tags/Paul+F.+Schimley" rel="tag">Paul F. Schimley</a></div>
<div class="blogger-post-footer">< item>
< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7093967394710757386.post-49740328567069162062013-09-30T17:57:00.001-07:002020-04-19T18:26:24.359-07:00Less Business, Increased Complaints & Overpaid Leadership: A Recipe for Disaster<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>THE BEST <i>AND <span style="color: red;">WORST</span></i> LAID PLANS OF MEN and MICE OFTEN GO AWRY</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">As of September 2013, the most notable change at Priority One Credit Union is that its President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. no longer traipses about the main branch in South Pasadena, California boasting about a non-existent resurgence in business or that the credit union’s legal troubles are now a thing of the past. One reason may be because as reported her previously, he only comes to work one to three days each week and while at work spends a great portion of his time on non-work related matters like talking on the phone to friends and perusing the Internet or gossiping with his closest confidants. The credit union once known for its friendly and helpful employees is less a less visible presence in the communities it serves and rarely do employees of the credit union attend credit union industry or city chamber events. In fact, nowadays the credit union is the subject of derision amongst many of its members.</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Since our last publication, we’ve confirmed that many of the President’s former responsibilities are being managed by members of his executive staff. Vice President, Yvonne Boutte oversees operations for all branches while CFO, Saeid Raad, handles a hefty amount of other issues usually assigned to the President. Though not referenced on the credit union’s </span><a href="https://priorityonecu.org/membership/management.php"><span style="font-family: Arial;">webpage</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">, Mr. Raad’s title has been changed to <i>CFO/Senior Vice President</i> to reflect his expanded authority. Of course, one has to wonder why the Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee continue to employ a part-time President possessing a long history of failures and whose administration has been marred by chronic scandal and lawsuits. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We previously reported that earlier this year, Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, attended a deposition at the law offices of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><a href="http://rhopc.com/">Richardson, Harmon, and Ober</a> in the capacity of Human Resources Director of Priority One Credit Union. During the deposition, he provided testimony about his handling of the 2010 complaint filed by the former Valencia Branch Manager which alleged she had been harassed by then COO, Beatrice Walker. He not only stated that he was the Director of Human Resources at the time the complaint was filed but stated he remains the department’s Director. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We’ve also recently learned that </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Employee Services Manager, Esmeralda Sandoval, also attended a deposition and answered questions about her role in the 2010 investigation of the Branch Manager’s complaint. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">More recently, President Wiggington and Employee Services Director, Robert West, also participated in depositions, each also answering questions about their handling of the Valencia Branch Manager’s complaint and its investigation. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The answers provided by the four officers reveal much about the credit union’s defense and about each person’s character. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">To review, in his letter </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">dated October 13, 2010 and sent to the Valencia Branch Manager, President Wiggington stated:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">He investigated the complaint filed against COO, Beatrice Walker. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">He interviewed all parties implicated in the complaint; and </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">He arrived at the conclusion that the conflict between the Branch Manager and Ms. Walker was not work-related and spurred by a misunderstanding on the part of the Valencia Branch Manager though omitting any specific reference describing what it is she allegedly misunderstood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Possibly forgetting about his letter, in 2012 and earlier this year, President Wiggington disclosed to staff members that he delegated investigation of the complaint to the Human Resources Department. We were surprised that the credit union’s allegedly sharp attorney, Paul F. Schimley of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><a href="http://rhopc.com/">Richardson, Harmon, Ober</a> didn’t help the President devise a more clever and less deficient account of his involvement in his handling of the Branch Manager’s complaint. Here is a brief summary of what he other officer now allege transpired in 2010: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>Rodger Smock, Executive Vice President</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">According to the Executive Vice President, in September 2010, he delegated investigation of the Branch Manager</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">‘s complaint to his staff in Human Resources. This is rather peculiar, since in September and October 2010, Rodger Smock was not a member of the Human Resources Department, having been unceremoniously ousted from the department by then COO, Beatrice Walker. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>Esmeralda Sandoval, Manager of Employee Services</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Miss Sandoval testified she referred investigation of the complaint to her superior, Rodger Smock. This too is peculiar since on the date the documented complaint was received by the credit union, Miss Sandoval’s immediate supervisor was Robert West. Also, just before Mr. West’s appointment as Manager of Human Resources and Education and Training, Miss Sandoval’s immediate supervisor had been then </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">COO, Beatrice Walker. Her testimony is also inconsistent with the disclosures made by President Wiggington in his October 13, 2010 letter to the Valencia Branch Manager in which he attest he alone investigated the complaint. It is also important to note that in 2010, Miss Sandoval was wholly unqualified to investigate a complaint whose allegations cited violations of state and federal law. Miss Sandoval also does not possess a BA in Human Resource studies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>Robert West, Director of Employee Services</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">According to Mr. West, he only followed instructions provided him by others. Prior to his appointment as overseer of Human Resources in September 2010, Mr. West had not experience, training nor had he completed studies in Human Resources. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>So who’s telling truth? </b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>FOLLOWING THE <span style="color: #c0504d;">EVIDENCE</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">This is the first time we publish the following letter dated October 20, 2010, sent by Director of Employee Services, Robert West, to the Valencia Branch Manager. Here is the first portion of Mr. West’s letter: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">If Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, was the Director of Human Resources in September and October 2010, then why would Mr. West who had no experience in Human Resources be asked to write to the former Branch Manager? Mr. West’s response to the Branch Manager was not only unusual, it was unacceptable. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In previous posts, we’ve describe how COO, Beatrice Walker, took possession of Human Resources at the start of August 2010, casting long-time Director, Rodger Smock, aside. Her intent for taking possession of the department was to eventually drive Mr. Smock out of the credit union because in her opinion, he was “lazy”, “overpaid” and who she said, needed to “retire.” Ms. Walker’s plan might have succeeded had she not been blindsided by the Valencia Branch Manager’s complaint which exposed a vicious and personal campaign orchestrated by Ms. Walker against the Branch Manager. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In September 2010, President Wiggington’s authority as President, had waned with much of his power absorbed by Ms. Walker. When the President learned of the Branch Manager’s complaint against Ms. Walker, he moved quickly to manipulate the circumstances and try and use the complaint as leverage in regaining some of his lost authority. T</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">raveling to Santa Clarita in early September 2010, the President in company of EVP, Rodger Smock, requested letters from the Valencia Branch Manager and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Business Development Representative to Santa Clarita, documenting their allegations that Ms. Walker had indeed carried out a vicious campaign against the then Branch Manager. Three days after meeting with the Valencia Branch Manager and the Business Development Representative, the President obtained approval from Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, to remove Human Resources from under Ms. Walker and assign it to then Training and Education Manager, Robert West. Mr. West was also provided a change in title to Manager of Human Resources and Training and Mr. Smock, the department’s former Director, was not reinstated despite the fact Mr. West had absolutely no experience in anything related to Human Resources. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Mr. West also carbon copied (“cc’d”) President Wiggington, then COO, Beatrice Walker, and then Human Resources “clerk”, Esmeralda Sandoval. <b>If Mr. Smock was the Director of Human Resources in September and October 2010, then why was he not also carbon copied in Mr. West’s letter? </b>The answer is, because at the time, Mr. Smock was not the Director of Human Resources nor a member of that department. So did Mr. Smock perjure himself during the deposition? It is also highly unlikely that Mr. West, who had not actual experience or education in anything related to Human Resources, would have authored the letter to the Branch Manager. Not only was he unqualified to compose a response, but the statements contained in the letter were dictated to him by President Wiggington and COO, Beatrice Walker. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In October 2010, Mr. West had only served as Manager of Human Resources, Education and Training for a little less than one month. As we’ve often stated, he also did not possess studies or actual hands on experience in anything related to Human Resources. At the time, the Board had grown displeased with Mr. Smock’s performance which they believed had left the credit union vulnerable in the lawsuit filed by the former Burbank Branch Manager. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The letter signed by Mr. West was actually dictated to him by both President Wiggington and former COO, Beatrice Walker. Mr. West’s letter as well as President Wiggington’s October 13, 2010 letter prove Mr. Smock was not the Director of Human Resources nor was he involved in investigating the complaint filed by the former Valencia Branch Manger. Contrary to his statements made during the deposition, Mr. Smock was not the recipient of the complaint nor did he investigate the Branch Manager’s contentions. One would think that the aged EVP would have been adverse to lying but evidently his role in the investigation of the Branch Manager’s complaint proves he had not problems lying during his deposition. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Reduced to its lowest denominator, the credit union’s defense amounts to another feeble effort by the President and some of his lackeys to try and escape accountability for a situation they alone created. What remains puzzling is that this last lawsuit filed by a former employee has not been dismissed. In mid-2012, President Wiggington boasted that the credit union’s attorney allegedly assured him that the lawsuit lacked merit and would be overturned before it would ever go to trial.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">At the end of 2012, the President bragged that a motion to dismiss the lawsuit was about to be filed by the credit union’s attorney as he laughingly proclaimed the case was “as good as dismissed.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">At the beginning of 2013, the President boasted that the attorney obtained unspecified evidence which served to impugn the Plaintiff’s character and that according to the credit union’s attorney, this would bring an end to the Plaintiff’s complaint. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">It is now the end of September 2013 and it appears the credit union’s and its overly confidant legal counsel are dragging their metaphorical feet. Why the delay if the lawsuit lacks evidence to support the Plaintiff’s accusations? We would have thought that a credit union alleging an extensive arsenal evidence impugning the Plaintiff’s character and her allegations, would have made an example of the former employee and publicly obliterated her lawsuit as a testament to its might. Then again, Priority One settled three lawsuits filed by former employees in 2012 and a fourth filed by a member. The odds are, Priority One doesn’t possess an infallible defense and based on what we do know of the story so far concocted by the credit union and its overpaid attorney, their defense amounts to childish storytelling hoping someone will believe that Priority One is the innocent victim in a heinous unified effort by former staff to extort money from the well-meaning organization. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;"><b>THIS POST</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We perused our files, locating documents and emails which up until now, had never been made public and provide insight into some of the activities occurring at Priority One over the last three years and which relate in part, to the last remaining lawsuit pitting Priority One against yet another of its former officers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Early on, President Wiggington unwittingly setup the destructive course which would in injure the credit union’s once good reputation and undermine its ability to sell its wares in the marketplaces it served. His behaviors, methodologies and actions would also contribute to the credit union’s decline. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In late 2006, almost immediately after being informed he was to be the credit union’s new President, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. walked about the South Pasadena branch verbalizing who he intended to terminate when he did become President. The people he said would be fired under his regime included the Branch Managers of the no longer existent Worldway branch and the Los Angeles branch as well as the Director of Marketing. At the time, the President branded them “Harris’ people”, a reference to his predecessor, William e. Harris. In the years which followed he terminated a large contingent of employees who he labeled insurgents or who posed an intellectual threat to his style of doing business. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">This past February, Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. terminated the last of Mr. Harris’ people. The termination immediately followed disclosure from an audit revealing that funds had been embezzled from the Los Angeles branch. The President concluded that the AVP overseeing the branch had been lax in enforcing security protocols and must be terminated for <i>unsatisfactory performance</i>. Almost immediately following the AVP’s termination, Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, prohibited employees from communicating with the former AVP whether while at work or from their homes. Mrs. Boutte, like her mentor, President Wiggington, could not refrain from violating the credit union’s policy governing confidentiality and revealed that the AVP was suspected of having embezzled some of the funds stolen from the Los Angeles Branch. Mrs. Boutte remained working at the Los Angeles branch for several months as the credit union anxiously searched for a Branch Manager to replace the fired AVP. During her stay in Los Angeles, Mrs. Boutte let it be known that she intended to terminate some of the staff at the Los Angeles branch. On September 18, 2013, the credit union terminated a Receptionist/FSR who had been one of the people targeted by Mrs. Boutte. Another very long-time employee, fled that office in July 2013, alleging stress though she is allegedly slated to return to work in December of this year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Mrs. Boutte like President Wiggington, suffers from the same predisposition of having to verbalize their most intimate plots against staff members. We can’t personally comprehend why Mrs. Boutte and the President act as if they are exempt to abiding to credit union policy but evidently several lawsuits filed by former employees and at least one member suggest that the two officers have learned absolutely nothing from their catastrophic behaviors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Nowadays the once-thriving Los Angeles branch has like almost all of Priority One’s branches, has been weakened by the horrendous decisions wrought by the credit union’s highest executives. Employees of the neighboring Postal Distribution Center have grown weary of the credit union’s internal conflicts and its evident inability to provide satisfactory member service. And as we’ve learned from speaking to many former employees, there seems to be a sense of relief that they no longer have to work under duress or in fear of being terminated. We know Priority One’s future is bleak. There is nothing to suggest any improvement in business or morale and let’s face it, as long as Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. remains President, the credit union will never recuperate any of the four branches it lost since 2010. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Last year, we reported that confidential information about a member had been posted on the Internet by an employee of the credit union. Though the incident constituted a violation of the Privacy Act, neither Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, President Wiggington or Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, were moved to rectify the violation of policy and law. Instead, the matter was turned over to the chronically callous Mrs. Boutte who thought it prudent to try and subjugate the member. The result of her action was the filing of a lawsuit which the credit union settled in November 2012 bringing closure to the incident. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">A few months ago, the <b><i>same </i></b>member discovered that the credit union submitted unauthorized inquiries to Experian, the credit reporting company about her credit history. What was unusual is that the member never submitted a request to reinstate her membership nor did she apply for a loan, prerequisites which would have justified what turned out to be three (3) separate inquiries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The member contacted the credit union’s attorney, advising her that Priority One breached the terms of the settlement agreement. Someone at the credit union informed the attorney that there was no record on file proving the credit union ever initiated inquiries to Experian. Of course, the attorney being unfamiliar with Priority One’s internal procedures did not know that inquiries to Experian are performed electronically via the credit union’s XP operating system and so contrary to what the attorney was told, the credit union’s online member records would reference the date the inquiry was submitted and the name of the operator submitting the request. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Unable to rectify the violation through the credit union’s legal counsel, the member informed the attorney she would have no other course but to file a lawsuit. The attorney responded that she would file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit indicating that the attorney is unfamiliar with Priority One’s internal procedures. Experian’s records showed that Priority One initiated the request. This is not a mistake regardless of the effort by the credit union to deny this fact. Furthermore, the reference in the member’s credit report that references Priority One as the entity issuing the inquiry is ample evidence to prove Priority One violated the terms of the settlement agreement entered into with the member. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">After exposing this latest incident on this blog, the credit union moved at seemingly light speed to withdraw all references that it submitted inquiries to the credit reporting company. Their effort to rectify what they committed brings an end to this incident and avoids the filing of yet another lawsuit against a credit union that knowingly and willingly violates covenants it is required to adhere to. This normally might bring an end to yet another incident documenting abuse committed by the troubled credit union however in our opinion it does nothing to dispel the fact that the credit union has again shown no qualms in violating its agreements. Can any member be assured their confidential account information is safe with Priority One Credit Union? There is a well documented record of employees who have violated the credit union’s security protocols and interestingly enough, the credit union has not terminated any staff for these alleged abuses. This in itself is suspicious and prompts us to believe that the perpetrators are officers of the credit union. The 2012 publication of the member’s account and personal information on the Internet proved that an employee or employees of the credit union defied the Privacy Act. The inquiries sent to Experian without authorization again show the same disdain for credit union policies and procedures and in this case, for the terms contained in the settlement agreement entered into between the member and the credit union. Earlier this year, an audit revealed that member accounts had been pillaged through internal thefts. Though the the Board of Directors moved quickly to terminate the AVP who had overseen the Los Angeles branch for many years, no action was taken by the Board against the President, the Vice President of Operations, or the Vice President of Compliance, all of who are responsible to ensure protocols are enforced. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">As we suggested previously, the latest violation of credit union policy was perpetrated by an employee likely seeking vengeance upon the member who filed a lawsuit against the credit union in 2012. The </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">only person’s who would have a grudge to further harass the former member and order three reports from Experian are either the Credit Resolutions Supervisor, Alex Suarez, or her supervisor, Vice President, Yvonne Boutte. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>FICKLE, UNSTABLE, or DYSFUNCTIONAL?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tsawCqS5osQ/Ukp76Z-REkI/AAAAAAAAHb0/NkhAAIzKIhY/s1600-h/image1111%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IJL-PADdyY8/Ukodhwr8dvI/AAAAAAAAHb8/9nJtfBlvjG8/image1111%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="240" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span> <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Snared in His Own Trap</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In 2010, while an investigation of the Valencia Branch Manager’s complaint was allegedly being conducted, we received the following email from a reader who described the actions carried out by members of the credit union’s Human Resources Department. The communication provides very specific insight into the actions of the Executive Vice President and the Human Resources “clerk” and describes statements made by President Wiggington. The disclosure suggests that Human Resources was duplicitous in helping to undermine the Valencia Branch Manager’s complaint and ensuring the matter was not resolved properly or fairly as guaranteed under credit union policy or state and federal laws.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">John, I thought you should know what’s going on in this place. Yesterday [Thursday, October 14, 2010] Rodger got a voicemail from Susanna [the Valencia branch manager]. She’s been calling him but he hasn’t been returning her calls. She’s out on PTO because she’s stressing from what Bea’s [Walker] been doing to her. Yesterday, she gets a call from Esmeralda [Sandoval] telling her that she has until 5 p.m. today to tell the company if she’s going to accept the assistant branch manager job in Burbank or if she’s going to accept the severance package offered to her. Here’s the problem, the credit union, actually Wiggington offered her the assistant branch manger position now that Valencia is going to close but no one mentioned anything about a severance package to her. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">He decided to call her back today. He said she was upset because Esmeralda gave her less than 24-hours to make-up her mind about what she’s going to do plus she hasn’t been shown a copy of the severance agreement which even Rodger knows your supposed to provide when you offer it to employees. She also told Rodger that this is the first time she heard anything about a severance package and that she finds Esmeralda’s ultimatum unreasonable. You probably already know that Rodger plays both sides of any situation and so he agreed with Susanna and suggested she call Esmeralda immediately and tell her she is out on PTO and will not be at work on Friday, October 15th. Susanna told Rodger she had already done that but Esmeralda told her she had not choice and has to provide an answer to the credit union either by email or letter. I happen to know that Esmeralda is doing what Bea Walker told her to say. Esmeralda doesn’t have the experience or smarts to know what to do. She’s way over her head. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Susanna told Rodger that Bea alienated her from her staff and that Sylvia [Perez] and Cecilia [Pereyra] don’t talk to her. Rodger told Susanna that she is imagining the whole thing. Its more of his same old BS he uses every time some complains. Either every employee is mentally ill or Rodger is nuts. </span><span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Rodger was supposedly not happy because Susanna told him he hasn’t responded to her emails. He told her he never got any of them and that he hasn’t received emails from her in a very long time. He said he can’t understand why he doesn’t receive them. Susanna asked him if it is possible that Bea is blocking him from getting her emails. Rodger kept saying, “That’s really strange” and “that’s weird.” Susanna is really naïve. She trusts Rodger but he is someone that can never be trusted. A few weeks ago Wiggington told us that we were not to talk to Susanna but he didn’t give a reason. Rodger is getting her emails, he just isn’t replying to them and now he’s lying. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Rodger told Susanna that he’s on vacation and won’t be back at work until Monday, October 18th. He said as soon as he gets back, he’s going to investigate to find out why he isn’t getting her emails. He also told her that maybe her emails are going into his SPAM box. Susanna told Rodger that maybe Randy McBride was instructed by Bea to block her emails from getting to Rodger.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Susanna also told Rodger that Esmeralda doesn’t respond to her voicemails or emails and that when she is able to speak to her, Esmeralda never provides answers to her questions and says she will have to first speak to <b>“the executives”</b> before she can give Susanna an answer. Its pathetic that Esmeralda who is supposedly HR can’t answer questions about HR. Esmeralda also told Susanna that it is she who decides <b>“who stays”</b> or <b>“leaves”</b> at the credit union. If that was true, then why does she always have to first speak to “the executives” instead of giving Susanna a straight answer to her questions? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Susanna also told Rodger that when she was on medical leave, Sylvia was ordered by Bea to work out of Valencia as the temporary branch manager. While in Valencia, Sylvia got chummy with Dana and Judith and some of the other staff and told them that they should not speak to Susanna if she calls the branch. Susanna also told Rodger that since she got back, she feels alienated from her staff, some who don’t speak to her anymore. She also told Rodger that one day Adrianna told her, “It looks like you don’t have any more power.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Rodger gave Susanna his same old useless advice that never does any good. He told her to confront Sylvia and ask her why she’s not returning calls and why she’s helping Bea alienate Susanna from her staff. Susanna told him that this would not help because Sylvia is her supervisor and stopped talking to Susanna when she was on her leave of absence. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Rodger is two-faced. He knows Sylvia is probably the most disliked person at the credit union. No one any department likes to talk to her and Rodger and West are not even providing her with information about things they’re planning for her region. West has even said he can’t stand talking to her. Sylvia called Van Nuys on the day Susanna came back to work and asked Cecilia if she knew if Susanna had come back to work or extended her leave. These managers like to play the stupidest games but that’s just the way Wiggington has made the credit union go down. Why didn’t Sylvia call Esmeralda [Sandoval] or Robert [West]? <b>Plus Rodger isn’t even in HR anymore so why is he giving her advice on what to tell Sylvia? Shouldn’t West be the one telling Susanna what to do? Notice how Rodger never said, “Call Robert. He’s the new director?”</b> Rodger also told Susanna he hoped she didn’t make the wrong decision. He even told her that if he was her, he would have accepted the assistant manager position at Burbank. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #400080; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Susanna told Rodger that when she got back to Valencia she was told Bea offered the Burbank Branch Manager job to Judith Barajas which means that if Susanna accepts the assistant branch manager job, Judith will be her supervisor. How is that even possible when Judith has been her assistant at Valencia? Rodger said he didn’t know anything about this and even told her he didn’t think Bea is allowed to do this but because he isn’t in HR anymore she should talk to West about what Bea supposedly said. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The email reveals Rodger Smock was not the Director of Human Resources in September October 2010 which explains why he was not referenced in President Wiggington’s October 13, 2010 letter or in Robert West’s letter dated October 20, 2010. Despite this fact, Mr. Smock attended a deposition earlier this year in which he stated under oath that he was the Director in September 2010 and that he was the recipient of the Branch Manager’s complaint. He also stated under oath that he assigned investigation of the complaint to his staff in Human Resources though as it now appears, he was not part of Human Resources and thus had no staff. If one believes the story described in the email, then Mr. Smock is unusually glib about the responses issued by Human Resources in response to the Branch Manager’s complaint and in particular, to the acts committed by then COO, Beatrice Walker, AVP, Sylvia Perez, and Human Resources “clerk”, Esmeralda Sandoval. If he was in fact the Director then how could he have been so grossly misinformed by the acts being committed by his peers and his alleged assistant? </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Either Mr. Smock lied during the deposition or he is immensely dull. The advice dispensed to the Branch Manager during their September 2010 was counter-productive, betraying his alleged expertise in psychology, a subject he studied during the 1960’s while attending the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Smock was and remains a man deeply out-of-touch and ineffective as attested to by his ignorance of the very activities occurring under his metaphorical nose. His bungling and ill advice dispensed to the Branch Manager reminds us that Rodger Smock is the same man who in 2008 insisted President Wiggington never sexually harassed a former employee and that the President’s statements to the victim inviting to “spank” her “ass” was merely said in jest. Evidently, Mr. Smock was also ignorant about the inappropriate and illegal nature of the President’s sexualized verbalizations. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span></div>
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If you tried to access Priority One Credit Union’s webpage between Saturday, September 21st through the morning of Monday, September 23rd, a message would have informed you that the credit union’s security certificate had expired. Not surprisingly, members calling the credit union to inquire about the message were responded to by employees who didn’t know anything about the problem. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">According to Microsoft, when a security certificate is not renewed or revoked, then the webpage may adversely affect computers attempting to access the website. There are ways to circumvent the message but it is at one’s own risk and could cause one to </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">inadvertently download harmful materials, i.e., spyware, malware, and virus’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">On Monday, September 23rd, we called the credit union to inquire about the problem and when it might be corrected. During each of our three calls, we were provided differing information. The reasons provided us were that:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Another employee informed us that no one knew when the issue might be resolved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">A third representative told us the credit union’s website would be “down” during the week and they thought someone was attempting to resolve the problem. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The inability to deal with any problematic situation is further attested to by the inept responses to any critical situation. Clearly, Microsoft, Internet Explorer and other sites warn that attempting to access a website whose certificate has expired or been revoked poses a security risk. The gravity of the situation was insufficient to prompt President Wiggington to properly address the problem though not because of a lack of executive staff. Evidently, his Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock, or Vice President, Yvonne Boutte felt significantly motivated to address the issue with employees. Certainly, Manager, Gema Pleitez, didn’t feel a need to provide her staff with information needed to answer member concerns. The credit union also has an IT Manager who never issued information that might have been informed employees. The variety of answers we obtained clearly indicates that the need to provide employees with the tools needed to satisfactorily carryout their assigned responsibilities are not being dispensed by managers who as we’ve often said, are inept and unqualified.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">Littering Memory Lane</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Promises are Made to Be <span style="color: red;">Broken</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In 2010, we received the following email which is also being published for the first time. Its author provided insight into the President’s handling of the complaint filed by the former Valencia. The contents of the email reveal that the President could not again exercise the personal discipline that should have precluded him from verbalizing his intents. The incidents described reveal that the President as is usual, made promises he had no intent of keeping and suggests that his only purpose for soliciting a written record of the Branch Manager’s complaint was to use it as a weapon by which to steal back some of the power and authority taken from him by then COO, Beatrice Walker. The acts describe also provide insight into how the Board of Directors and more specifically, Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks, chooses to subvert ethics and push her personal agenda which is often to cover-up wrong doing committed by <u>her </u>President. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In November 2011, during litigation of the Burbank Branch Manager’s lawsuit, the chronically gabby President told some members of his staff that credit union attorney, Paul F. Schimley, assured him the Branch Manager’s lawsuit would be dismissed because of a lack of evidence proving her allegations she was the victim of racial and age discrimination. The attorney’s law firm also offered a witness of the credit union- Nora Neale, free legal representation if she testified that the Burbank Branch Manager was a racist who disliked Latinos, lazy, and unwilling to help the credit union develop new business. Based on the President’s disclosures, the case was a slam dunk for the credit union. According to the President, the Priority One’s legal counsel contacted the Branch Manager’s attorney and told her they were preparing to file a motion to dismiss the frivolous lawsuit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Despite the premature exclamations of a victory and the threat to file a motion to dismiss the Burbank Branch Manager’s lawsuit, in December 2011, the credit union’s attorneys contacted the Plaintiff’s attorney, advising her they were interested in working out a settlement. So what could have happened that dissipated the President’s proclamations of a pre-trial victory? Obviously, the Burbank Branch Manager possessed something tangible that succeeded in displacing the credit union’s confidence in the defense they had carefully hammered out and which allegedly would serve to decimate the Plaintiff. The answer is that the Plaintiff produced documentation of the complaint once solicited by President Wiggington from the Valencia Branch Manager and in which she described the abuses committed by Beatrice Walker and which proved the credit union did not move to stop Ms. Walker’s campaign despite the many illegal allegations contained in the document. The letter was formidable enough to lay waste to the credit union’s intended defense which allegedly would prove the Burbank was a racist and insubordinate. Even the allegedly keen credit union attorney who has often taken on an aggressive, take no prisoners stance when dealing with Plaintiffs was incapable of staving off the documentation which evidently proved egregious acts committed by the credit union and condoned by the President, Human Resources, and even Board Chair, Diedra Harris-Brooks. <b>More on the letter that brought down the credit union’s defense in the lawsuit filed by the Burbank Branch Manager, in next month’s post.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>NO LONGER ACCEPTING THIRD-PARTY CHECKS</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Last month we received an email from a frustrated and disillusioned member who complained that while visiting the Los Angeles branch he was informed by a teller and the Branch Manager that Priority One no longer accepts third-party checks. Though we admit there are risks when transacting cashing or deposit of a third-party check there are also safeguards and procedures specifically designed to address these. Was the refusal to deposit the third-party check into the member’s savings account an over-reaction on the part of the credit union for their negligence which have periodically caused internal losses of money to occur at the Los Angeles branch? Or is this an actual new credit union wide procedures implemented by both President Wiggington and Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, with approval of the Board of Directors?</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The Incident</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Certainly one contributor to monetary losses at both credit unions and banks are the cashing of third-party checks. Though this is has historically been a problem, most financial institutions have implement stringent policies and procedures to address the problem without impairing their relationship with their members and customers. Not so at Priority One Credit Union where the solution is not to process third party checks. This is a problem since there are safeguards that would allow the safe cashing of these not the least of which is placing holds on all such checks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We recently received a complaint from an alleged long-time member of the credit union who writes that he recently brought a check in the approximate amount of $60,000 to the Los Angeles branch, for deposit. He was informed that the check would not be cashed and its no longer allowable under the credit union’s stricter and recently revamped procedures. Dissatisfied by the Teller’s statement he spoke to Mrs. Huerta, the Los Angeles branch’s new Branch Manager. She agreed with the teller citing policy for the credit union’s refusal to cash the check. The long-time member informed the staff he did not intend on withdrawing the money and didn’t care if a 30 or more day hold was placed on the instrument. He was told the credit union could not process deposit of the check. The fact he is a long-time member with no adverse incidents marring his membership, he was refused service. He now states that this is the “last straw” and adds to his many excuses why not to continue to doing business with the credit union. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The Solution</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">If Priority One were managed by qualified leaders and a competent Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee, they might have taken the time to conceive measures that would allow members to deposit and even cash, third party checks. They could have required that a person hoping to cash a third-party check have a real credit union account. They could also have created a procedure that only allows a member to receive the amount of cash equal to the available balance in their account with a hold placed on any remaining funds pending clearing of the check. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The usual other procedures is that the member sign the back of the check. If the check is to be deposited then merely note “For deposit only” above the signature line. The credit union could also require that all third party checks be deposited versus cashed and a hold placed on the check until it clears and proven legitimate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Of course, a member depositing a check must provide identification such as a driver license, state-issued identification card or passport. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The problem at Priority One is that its leadership don’t possess the ability to make sound decisions. Either as a result of outright ignorance or fear of being terminated, they implement immovable procedures such as refusing to transact a third-party check. Its preposterous and further compromises the credit union’s already debilitated relationship to its members. Priority One’s member service levels are unsatisfactory and the decisions being made by its leaders only serve to further thwart any effort by the credit union to gain upward momentum. The refusal by the credit union to deposit and place a hold on the member’s check is overkill and is an excessive response to the problem of internal thefts plaguing the credit union. The reaction seems to stem from paranoia versus caution and disables the credit union’s staff from making decisions that are adherent to credit union policy without threatening the safety of member and credit union assets.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"> <b>NO BRANCH, NO BUSINESS</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We recently received the following email from a frustrated member of the credit union, who resides in Riverside County. The member’s complaint concerns his efforts to withdraw money from his Priority One accounts, via Shared Branching. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Because Priority One no longer has any real branches in all of Riverside County, members living and working in that region must utilize Shared Branching for all their banking needs. Members are not allowed to withdraw more than $500 during a single day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b>The member tried to withdraw $3000 from this credit union account. Because the amount exceeds the $500 per day maximum limit, the member was informed he would have to visit a Priority One branch. Riverside County is located approximately one hour away from the nearest Priority One location. Forced to drive to South Pasadena, the member closed his Priority One account because the credit union doesn’t provide a convenient branch location in Riverside County. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>SEEING <span style="color: red;">RED</span></b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Inarguably, the working environment is miserable at least according to many members visiting that office and not-so-secretly amongst employees. Two long-time employees of the company have begun complaining about the state-of-things at South Pasadena. Gema Pleitez, who until last year was an AVP and now works in the capacity of South Pasadena Branch Manager, and long-time Lead Loan Officer, Georgina Duenas.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In years past, we’ve written about how the two senior employees frequently broke credit union policies though always finding protection from Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock. Nowadays, the two women may actually have much to grip about. Mrs. Pleitez after all was an AVP for a very brief period of time until her ineffectiveness resulted in her announced demotion. She now oversees the Member Services Department and Call Center, mostly monitoring the work of her staff. Mrs. Duenas was overlooked for promotion in 2011 despite her many years of service. Former CLO, Cindy Garvin, by-passed Mrs. Duenas and instead promoted Sonia Villa as Supervisor over the Consumer Loan Department despite the fact that Mrs. Villa seems unusually addicted to gossip, talking about her personal issues and should you try and reach her by phone, you’ll find your call answered by voicemail. </span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">We believe the two should be grateful to be employed and though the protection they once enjoyed may be a thing of the past, they at least have jobs that pay more than their worth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">DEAD (TIRED) IN THE WATER?</span></b> </span> </div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oPQkxQ-jDTk/Ukod6BP6svI/AAAAAAAAHaM/X1frjsuHjpg/s1600-h/image241.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XIa2nZ45DD4/Ukod7KuiaCI/AAAAAAAAHaU/bU1B50aHrh8/image_thumb13.png?imgmax=800" height="182" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a> </div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Since January 2013, efforts to jump start business development have consistently failed and if the credit union’s sole business development representative serves as an indicator of things to come, then you can be assured, don’t expect any sudden spikes in business anytime in the near future. </span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">For weeks, lone BDR, Joseph Garcia, drives to the credit union’s solitary office space at the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Los Angeles Network Distribution Center located at 5555 Bandini Blvd in Bell Gardens, California and sits quietly in the space hoping members will just walk in to bring in their personal banking business. The space was utilized by the credit union for many years and at one time, opened for 3 hours on each and every Friday. After Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. became President, the post office was kind enough to offer a better space on the main floor of the distribution center, where the credit union would have a more visible presence and might better be able to assist members working at the distribution center. However, the President never felt impelled to order installation of an actual working computer that could be used to transact transfers of money between member accounts or provide balances or conduct research. For several years the room which masquerades as an pseudo-office, contains a desk, chair, table and inoperative computer and monitor serving as yet another example of wasted resources never developed by the chronically ineffective President. However, in recent months, Mr. Garcia has found use for the space as his personal hang-out where he can sit far from the miserable working environment in South Pasadena and where he can escape having to go out into the field in search of new business. </span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Since returning to work on January 15, 2013, following a personal three-month leave of absence, Mr. Garcia has consistently failed to meet his monthly quota of $150,000 in funded loans. In fact, this past August, only $27,000 were funded of the total $150,000 he is allegedly required to bring in. This by the way, was probably one of the highest amounts acquired by Mr. Garcia since his return to work. </span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Throughout 2012, many employees were terminated for failing to attain their assigned monthly goals. These employees were targeted each month by Mr. Garcia who at the time, was the AVP of Sales and Business Development and then CLO, Cindy Garvin. Despite having been the force behind numerous employee terminations, Mr. Garcia has failed throughout 2013, to achieve his own assigned monthly goal of $150,000 yet he somehow remains exempt from the disciplinary actions enforced with all other employees. </span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The President and Vice President, Yvonne Boutte, recently complained that they can’t comprehend why employees are failing to achieve their assigned monthly goals. Clearly, they view the problem as caused by employees and not by their inability to lead or provide employees with tools that help draw new business. A more accurate and realistic reason why goals are not being achieved is that a growing number of members are disinterested in what the credit union offers. This disinterest is born out in part from the credit union’s inability to provide satisfactory member service levels, shoddy marketing, deficient advertising, poor employee morale and an array of lackluster products and services. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The President and his Vice President seem unusually obtuse to the fact that the credit union refuses to maintain relations its membership. </span><br />
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We’ve recently learned that the President purchased lunch for all employees as his personal expression of thanks for acquiring new business, however, he also ordered written warnings issued to about 80% of all employees for failing to achieve their assigned monthly sales quotas. His decisions and acknowledgements are schizophrenic and confused sending mixed messages to the workforce. A better and more reliable gauge of the credit union’s financial standing is its Net Income which has declined by more than $15 million since Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. was appointed President on January 1, 2007. Another are the number of member complaints citing deficient member service along with the closure of four branches over the past three years. The President’s mixed messages attest to chaos not order and affirm that he is incapable of leading the credit union out of the mire of problems he created. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Much ado about nothing…….Again</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bJ2FAhojglY/UkviVlQF8qI/AAAAAAAAHdc/vztK0eTHxpQ/s1600-h/image1%25255B1%25255D%25255B4%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PWM_qyROm70/Ukuk9rMIOCI/AAAAAAAAHdk/Na2OsTBKTxw/image1%25255B1%25255D_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="108" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="490" /></a></div>
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Source: <a href="http://charlesrwiggingtonsr.wordpress.com/">http://charlesrwiggingtonsr.wordpress.com/</a></div>
President Wiggington’s <b><i>many </i></b>online biographies are riddled with exaggerations and inaccuracies. In an excerpt taken from his incomplete Wordpress blog (shown above), the President states he has been President and CEO of Priority One Credit Union since 1992. The President may have forgotten that he began his employment at Priority One in 1992 in the capacity of Vice President of Operations versus President and CEO. He remained the Vice President of Operations until January 1, 2007, when he began his stint as President and CEO. Either Mr. Wiggington and his staff have again failed to proofread information intended for publication in the <i>world wide web </i>or the President is again dispensing inaccurate information about his less than illustrious career. <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FZqJgGGOX0Q/Ukuk-IFIBFI/AAAAAAAAHc0/Ec1IVuuvaqQ/s1600-h/image%25255B10%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-H5J571igdJU/Ukuk-8kLWMI/AAAAAAAAHc8/FnijhGaQFO4/image_thumb%25255B6%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="189" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="580" /></a></div>
The President’s WordPress blog was launched on May 31, 2012 but as is evident, he has yet to post a single article though he asks visitors to leave a comment. Sure, where is your blog? <br />
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<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zguOKLXXRuA/Ukuk_HigyMI/AAAAAAAAHdA/suIkbbc2W8Y/s1600-h/image%25255B15%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KDecXARVMno/Ukuk__aYCoI/AAAAAAAAHdM/dJ70DChCW1w/image_thumb%25255B9%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="277" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="394" /></a></div>
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With the assistance of highly paid consultants, the President saturated the Internet with his biography. The publications are similar and often identical and really serve little purpose as they have not been updated nor do they reference his accomplishments which as we know are nil as attested to by the credit union’s diminished size. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Another example of wasted credit union resources intended to create the impression that Charles R. Wiggington, Sr. is accomplished. Nothing could be further from the truth. </span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><b>CONCLUSION </b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-large;">Forecasting Priority One’s Future</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nOMSX-4uB1M/Ukod_8BT4vI/AAAAAAAAHa8/QUxwsci2-ik/s1600-h/image11.png"><img alt="image" border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-omBy3EAnrek/UkoeA4CqCTI/AAAAAAAAHbE/enlHA6twhGs/image_thumb611.png?imgmax=800" height="306" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="386" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">In his many years of working in the banking and credit union industries, President Wiggington seems never to have learned the relationship between an organization’s ability to generate new business, augment profit and maintain a cohesive working environment and the integrity of its leadership. What may seem obvious to some, apparently eludes the fickly, verbose, and plot-obsessed President. To derive what may lie ahead for the troubled credit union requires that one first study its recent past. Inarguably, Priority One’s leadership relies on lies, manipulation, and always abusing their appropriated authority. Under President Wiggington, Priority One is heavily reliant upon distorting the truth, always hoping they can escape being exposed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">For years we’ve pointed to the compromising relationship between the President and Human Resources, a dynamic which fueled the filing of lawsuits by four former employees. We’ve witnessed their same disdain for policies and rules in the abhorrent manner the credit union dealt with the member whose confidential information was published on the Internet by an employee of the credit union. More recently, an unnamed employee of the credit union may have sought to avenge themselves on the same member and submitted inquiries to Experian, the credit reporting company, requesting information about the former member’s credit history. The credit union refused to rectify the latest abuse until they were again exposed on this blog. Apparently at Priority One, the only reason the credit union feels impelled to rectify its wrongs is when they are publicly exposed. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The remaining lawsuit provided a window, allowing us to peer into the credit union’s inner sanctum and revealing the ethics of the credit union’s highest officers. Apparently, the credit union’s intended defense is riddled with inconsistencies and contradictions and undermined by the credit union’s own documentation. Inarguably, Executive Vice President, Rodger Smock was not the Director of Human Resources in September and October 2010, the period when investigation of Valencia Branch Manager’s complaint was conducted. Furthermore, the only reason the Branch Manager documented her complaint is because President Wiggington requested a physical letter which he said was needed to begin an investigation of her allegations. However, the President’s intent was not to stop Ms. Walker’s campaign but rather recuperate some of his authority lost to the ambitious COO. The President not only failed to resolve the horrendous dynamic created by then COO but he actually perpetuated the abuses the Branch Manager was subjected to. What’s equally </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">amazing is that this group of misfits never imagined their illegal and unethical acts would ever become public or the subject of a lawsuit that would cause the President’s most insidious plots to come into public light. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">The President’s mode of administration has proven lethal to business and to employee morale and sent far flung reverberations across the credit union. The only thing he’s succeeded in achieving is diminishing Priority One’s presence in the marketplace, marred its public reputation, and caused the closure of four branches and termination of numerous employees. Several weeks ago, the President bought lunch for his staff for succeeding in obtaining new business. Normally, this could signal an improvement in business, however, just 3 weeks ago, more than half of all employees were issued written warnings for failing to attain their assigned monthly quotas. It is these mixed messages that affirm Priority One remains in turmoil, its inner mechanisms in dire need of revamping while its management demonstrating again they are incapable of conceiving strategical planning that increases new business, generates profit, heals injured morale, renews the credit union’s reputation and re-establishes relations with its estranged membership. </span><br />
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<div class="blogger-post-footer">< item>
< title>What Happened to Priority One Credit Union < /title>
< description>How a corrupt President caused Priority One Credit Union's decline < /description>
< link>http://www.piorityonecu.blogspot.com< /link>
< /item></div>John Rodartehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859747586374406241noreply@blogger.com37