Celebrating Fran and wishing her a very happy retirement! Fran worked for Bronco for 20 years—most recently as our Real Estate Services Administrator. She has also served as a Home Equity Processor and Closer, Member Services Representative and our first official Greeter.
Any big plans, now that you’re retired?
My last official day with the credit union was June 6th, and now I’m just trying to enjoy the summer a bit, spend some time with my family, then tackle some projects around the house. My husband and I hope to visit our two daughters and their families a lot more. Our oldest daughter lives about an hour or so away and has a four-year-old daughter, so we’re excited to be able to help out a little more with her. Our youngest daughter and her husband just moved into their new home, which is three or four hours away, and we hope to be able to visit them and help them in any way we can.
How long were you with Bronco?
I started with Bronco in November of 2003 as the first official “greeter.” That was a new position for Bronco at the time, and I enjoyed doing it for several years before moving into real estate in October of 2005.
What did you do in your final position with Bronco?
I was the Real Estate Services Administrator. I oversaw the real estate department and was responsible for processing packages for home equity loans, lot loans and in-house first mortgages. I was also responsible for lien releases for all paid-off real estate loans, as well as a variety of reporting requirements—including Home Mortgage Disclosure Act reporting, which is required by the government. Those were a few of the highlights of the duties that generally took up my time.
What did you love most about being part of the Bronco team?
I have worked with some great people over the years and made some wonderful memories. I have enjoyed being part of a financial institution that is very invested in its community, whether it be through the food drives, the reality fairs at schools (a personal favorite), roadside trash pick-ups or our annual fundraiser for CHKD, just to name a few.
Do you think you’ll miss being there?
Yes, I do. I have worked since I was 15 years old at some type of work or the other. I will definitely have to find a new purpose for these “after Bronco FCU years.” It will be like going on summer break from school and not having to go back!
What made you good at what you did for Bronco?
I always thought I was best at behind-the-scenes stuff. I think I have some pretty strong organization skills—some might say OCD—but it helped me to do the job and make sure, to the best of my ability, that Bronco was in compliance with the many regulations for real estate transactions. And those regulations are ever-changing, which can be exceptionally challenging.
Why do you think people choose Bronco?
I think they choose Bronco because they know they can come through those doors and get what they need done. In many instances, our members feel comfortable coming here because they personally know someone here. And if they don’t, they will likely feel that they have a new friend by the time they leave. It’s so hard today to actually talk to a real estate person if you are trying to resolve a problem. That’s not the case with Bronco—call into our Member Service Center and you get a real person to help you. Walk into our offices and there are folks there to help you—from the tellers to the Members Service Representatives to our Mortgage Originators. Our back-office staff is great, as well. They are very responsive to members’ requests for help.
Before you retired, what did you like to do outside of work?
I enjoyed time with family, of course. I have sung in the choir at my church for 30 years and consider them like family, too. The beach and the mountains are my favorite places to go. I enjoy reading and doing jigsaw puzzles. I also like helping with things like packing backpacks with food (a Food Bank program), so I will need to find a hobby or something to take up some of this new-found time.