At America’s Credit Union, the focus is always on the members and the employees at the credit union’s three branches work tirelessly to accomplish the organization’s mission:
To empower member-owners to improve their financial well-being by paying higher rates on savings, offering lower rates on loans, and providing products and services for free or at lower costs than other financial institutions.
Don Green, ACU Marketing and Business Development, explained that credit unions are member-owned so there are no paid stockholders. The money they make goes back into serving the members.
“It is people helping people,” he said.
ACU is active in community organizations including Garland, Mesquite and Springfield, Missouri Chambers of Commerce, Children’s Miracle Network, Garland’s Hope Clinic and Garland Association for Hispanic Affairs.
The credit union offers a long list of products and services and all are explained on their redesigned website which offers more compatibility between devices, better interaction for mobile devices and improved navigation. In addition to the improved site, the credit union publishes a quarterly newsletter that includes financial information, credit union news, personal stories and more.
Other perks that ACU members enjoy include a live telephone receptionist and access to email addresses and phone numbers for direct contact with the staff. The credit union takes full advantage of new technology, but, unlike many other financial institutions, still offers telephone and face-to-face contact.
“We provide all the financial services available today and we focus on personalization, getting to know our members and being willing to help in times of need,” Green said.
Green provided the history of the credit union which was started in 1934 in Denison, Texas as Kraft Credit Union. The organization originally provided financial services to only salaried employees of Kraft Foods. The membership fee was 25 cents and 13 employees joined when the charter was signed.
The Kraft plant and credit union moved to Garland in 1949. Its long-time presence here began on Belt Line Road. In 1954, both the plant and credit union moved to the current Kraft Foods location on Forest Lane at Shiloh Road.
Growth was slow until 1955 when membership was extended to hourly employees. At that time, the name changed to Kraft Employees Credit Union. Membership was also offered to Kraft Foods locations in Springfield, Missouri, as well as some other Kraft sales districts and plants.
Kraft Employees Credit Union built its own building in 1986 when there were 5,600 members. The facility, located next to the Kraft plant, was a full-service operation with drive-thru, safe-deposit boxes, break room and office space. A growing membership later prompted the addition of 4,700 square feet of office space.
In 1995, the name was changed to Kraft America. In 1999, membership was extended to everyone who lives or works in Dallas, Rockwall and Collin counties, and in 2007, it became America’s Credit Union.
Employees of more than 200 local and national companies are served by ACU as Select Employee Groups. These companies range from small businesses to large entities such as Plastipak Packaging, US Food Service and the Garland and Richardson United States Postal Service.
Again, with more growth came a need for more space and ACU later undertook the project to update, improve and expand its headquarters. The project included a two-story addition for an education center, more office space and employee fitness center.
Since the 1980s, at least 20 credit unions have been merged into ACU. There are approximately 22,300 members nationwide. And the credit union employs 58 people in offices in Garland, Mesquite and Springfield, Missouri.
To learn how to become a member, visit www.americascu.org or call 972-494-5328 or 800-543-2803.