Champion Credit Union launched the first banking and finance apprenticeship in North Carolina, but Lori Chappell hopes it is the first of many. 

“Our hope is that other financial institutions will join us in creating a pipeline of well-trained and qualified employees,” said Chappell, Champion’s business development manager. 

Champion, based in Canton, N.C., might be new to apprenticeship, but the credit union has been in business since 1932, when seven employees of Champion Paper and Fibre Co. created Champion Savings and Loan. It later became Champion Credit Union, which now serves over 24,000 members in nine western North Carolina counties. 

“Champion Credit Union is thrilled to be partnering with ApprenticeshipNC and we have been pleased with the support provided by our consultant, Eric Tillmon,” Chappell said. “ApprenticeshipNC has made the process much easier than I had anticipated, and Eric was there to answer questions and provide information to our consortium group in a timely manner. It has been an enjoyable process and we are looking forward to furthering our relationship with ApprenticeshipNC.”