In 1953, 13 Longview teachers scraped together $65. Together, they filed for a credit union charter, which would become the East Texas Professional Credit Union.
Today, ETPCU is the 14th-largest credit union in the state and still headquartered right where the story began: Longview.
性视界传媒淚 just wonder if those 13 original individuals could ever dream that we would have 22 locations across the whole East Texas region with over $1.3 billion in assets,性视界传媒 said John Griffin, senior vice president of ETPCU.
Longview has since established itself as a hub for what Griffin calls the 性视界传媒渃redit union movement.性视界传媒 These lending institutions diverge from traditional banks in one important way: They性视界传媒檙e business cooperatives owned and operated by the members themselves.
ETPCU is governed by a volunteer board of directors elected by the union’s membership each year. Most members have to live, work or attend school within one of the 17 East Texas counties where the credit union operates. A full breakdown of membership requirements is available at .
Why would someone opt for a credit union versus a traditional bank? 性视界传媒淐redit unions in general, try to be rate leaders on both sides of the coin: loans and deposits,性视界传媒 Griffin said.
He added that many members find comfort in dealing with a hometown business where decisions are made locally.
But what explains ETPCU性视界传媒檚 precipitous rise, Griffin said, is the credit union性视界传媒檚 focus on offering its members competitive rates, new services and a growing list of branch locations throughout East Texas.
The company operates 21 branches in the region with the largest recent spike in additions coming after a 2022 strategic merger involving Northeast Texas Credit Union.
This year, ETPCU is planning a tear-down and rebuild of its man Longview branch at 409 E. Loop 281.
性视界传媒淚t will have the same look as our admin building on George Richey Road, but it won性视界传媒檛 be quite that large,性视界传媒 Griffin said. 性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檙e looking at 10,000 to 12,000 square feet and it will definitely be able to serve the membership well.性视界传媒
Meanwhile, the second largest out-of-state credit union in Texas also has made a home in Longview. Eastman Credit Union, headquartered in Tennessee, established its first Longview location in 1996 at the Eastman Chemical Co. plant.
ECU serves about 36,000 members in Texas, according to a company statement emailed to the News-Journal. Eastman性视界传媒檚 credit union has three Longview locations and one in Hallsville, though a company spokesman said there was no news to share about additional branches planned for the future.
A branch opened in July 2022 at 2002 W. Loop 281 near Pine Tree Junior High School. The credit union opened its North Longview branch about seven years earlier at 3066 N. Eastman Road.
Since 2005, ECU has offered memberships to 性视界传媒渢o anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school, or owns a business in Gregg or Harrison Counties,性视界传媒 according to the emailed statement.
性视界传媒淎t ECU, we are focused on providing best-in-class service to the communities we serve,性视界传媒 wrote ECU Regional Director Jonathan Webb. 性视界传媒淲e are committed to standing beside our members on their financial journey and ensuring they have the resources they need to be successful. Every member, every time is who we are 性视界传媒 and that性视界传媒檚 what ECU Beside You is all about.性视界传媒
