In reference to J. Wass’s recent criticism of Merco Credit Union’s new manager, we would like to tell another side of the story.

Yes, the previous manager was exceptional and is missed by the members. But the new manager is just as professional. Being nice is a valuable quality in a person’s character, but it certainly isn’t the only one, or even the most important.

Earlier this year, our family was put into a financial bind, with our mortgage company’s decision to force-place an expensive flood insurance policy onto our loan. After months of looking for a solution and talking to dozens of business people, lenders, flood data personnel and county employees, we finally found the help we needed: at Merco Credit Union. It was the new manager at the Mariposa branch who, with empathy and resourcefulness, pointed us in the right direction. The people at Merco were willing to work with us in ways that other lenders were not.

One man’s experience is not the sum total of all Merco members’ experiences. We have walked into Merco when the new manager was the only person behind the counter, and she went out of her way to meet the needs of each customer in line.

The world of finance is high-pressured, where a simple mistake can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doing a job well is just as important as being amiable. Mariposa’s credit union is housed in a small space with only a handful of employees. Sometimes it’s busy, and sometimes it’s not. Is it too much to ask for customers to be mature and exercise a little more patience when necessary, instead of griping when something doesn’t go their way? Or when someone doesn’t smile at them?

Since Merco’s new manager is the newcomer, it stands to reason that we’re the ones who should be welcoming her.

Ron and Debbie Croft