A Local Business Begins with UFCU
Jeff and Shannon are the owners of Leaf Tree Services, a small business rooted in Round Rock, Texas. For more than a decade, they have helped residential and commercial clients protect their properties through expert tree care, hazard removal, and arbor services.
“We help make sure properties are safe — whether that’s trimming trees from a roof, removing hazardous trees, or driveway building clearance,” Shannon shares. “I was a one-man show for about seven years. When I got my first auto loan [through UFCU], they financed my chipper and truck. I had a great experience with the loan [officer] and got approved. That set the wheels in motion,” Jeff shares.
As the business grew, Shannon left the corporate world to join Jeff full-time. Together, they began scaling into commercial and multifamily projects — but with growth came new challenges.
“Commercial accounts don’t pay quickly — net 30, sometimes 60 — so we were [floating payroll],” Shannon explains. “We found ourselves in a real pinch, and the other bank we were with [didn’t offer] lines of credit.”
A Turning Point in the Relationship
In a moment of financial strain, they reached out to UFCU — admittedly in a panic. What happened next changed everything.
“Zac Ridge [from UFCU] called us asking ‘is everything okay,’ Shannon explains. “This was the turning point for me with UFCU. Him reaching out to us and having a meeting made me realize, they’re either chasing money or they care — the things [UFCU] said led me to believe that they actually care,” Jeff expresses. “It wasn’t, ‘they’re not good at what they do, let them go.’ It was, ‘what can I do to help you get through that struggle and make it successful for both of us?’ That really made a big impression.”
With UFCU’s support, Jeff and Shannon secured a line of credit, a business credit card, and the confidence to keep growing. But more than the products, it was the relationship that mattered most.
“They’ve never denied me. They’ve always supported me,” Jeff adds. “So I don’t need another bank. I go straight to UFCU.”
Advice from Leaf Tree Services
Shannon encourages other small business owners to be proactive.
“Get that line of credit before you’re in desperate need,” she says. “There are days when you’re on top of the world, and the next day you can go down into the valleys. It’s so important to [connect with] other businesses in the trenches with you.”
For Jeff and Shannon, UFCU is more than a financial institution. It’s a partner that shows up with compassion, strategy, and a genuine desire to help their business succeed.
Today, Leaf Tree Services is a meaningful, grassroots company woven into the fabric of its community. And UFCU is proud to be part of that story.
Members Jeff H, Shannon H
Member since 2019
Services Business Lines of Credit, Business Credit Card, Business Auto Loan, Business Equipment Loan