Tradition and Technology

For generations, Native peoples in New Mexico have practiced a kind of financial wisdom that existed long before credit unions, banks or budgets. Families saved through community — sharing harvests, pooling resources, and investing in what mattered most: land, livestock, ceremonies, and the wellbeing of future generations.

Bandelier National Monument, canyon stairs, 2026. Photo by Diane Sandoval-Griego

These stone steps remind us of that legacy. Every step was intentional. Every choice was rooted in purpose. Even in rugged terrain and scarcity, people found a way to build security through relationships and trust.

Today, that same wisdom continues, but with new tools. These practices aren’t new to us. They’re the same values that guide credit unions today, cooperation, shared responsibility, and community strength. Credit union members contribute through savings and borrowing, and those resources circulate back to help other members.

Many of our families still stretch every dollar, support extended relatives, and reinvest in their communities… and now we also use mobile banking, online budgeting apps, digital credit-building tools, and financial education to strengthen the next generation.

What financial teachings from your family or community still guide you today?

By Diane Sandoval-Griego, EVP/Chief of Advocacy, Guadalupe Credit Union, Santa Fe, NM