At AlaTrust Credit Union, we’re built differently — created to serve the people who matter most: our members.
As a not-for-profit financial institution, we don’t answer to outside investors. We answer to you. That’s why we return a portion of our earnings directly to member accounts each year. In fact, last year alone, $500,000 was deposited back into over 13,000 member accounts.
This isn’t just about giving back — it’s about putting your financial well-being at the center of everything we do. Because when we succeed, you benefit.
Because our earnings belong to our members, our guidance is focused on helping you reach your goals, not boosting a bottom line.
From loans to savings, you’ll see more competitive rates because we’re building value for you, not for outside investors.
With more than 90 years of experience — and a team where over 40% of employees have been here a decade or more — you get deep knowledge and people who are committed to you for the long run.
Whether it’s your first account, a loan, or planning for what’s next, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
This isn’t just a promise — it’s what we show up to do every day. At AlaTrust, you’re never just a number. You’re the reason we exist.
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Everyone has a past. This is ours.
In 1935, we were founded as one of the first credit unions in Alabama history when the Birmingham Board of Education decided to create Birmingham Credit Union. We were founded by educators for educators and sought to do banking differently. In a way that was personal to our members and our community and sought to do what’s best for our members rather than what’s best for a bottom line.
To put it into perspective how long we’ve been around, here are some other things that happened in 1935:
March 12th, 1935 – Birmingham Credit Union was formed
April 12th, 1935 – Kodak released the first color film for cameras
April 14th, 1935 – The Dust Bowl
May 15th, 1935 – Babe Ruth hits his final home run for a career total of 714
July 16th, 1935 – The world’s first parking meter is installed in Oklahoma City
Aug 14th, 1935 – President Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act
November 5th, 1935 – The game Monopoly is created
In 1994, we changed our name to First Educators Credit Union to show that we were founded as Alabama’s first credit union for educators and had expanded beyond Birmingham City Schools.
This growth was made possible by two member-approved votes, in 1964 and 1968, which expanded our field of membership from serving only Birmingham City Schools to serving any educator employed by an Alabama educational institution not already covered by another credit union, along with their family members.
By 2014, our credit union had grown far beyond its original roots. Over the years, we expanded our field of membership and became community chartered, allowing us to serve anyone who lives, works, or worships in the counties we serve — not just educators. This broader mission allowed us to support more people in the communities connected to us and the schools we had served for decades.
To reflect this growth, we changed our name to AlaTrust Credit Union.
Even though the name was new, our core purpose remained the same: providing excellent service to our members and the employee groups that built our foundation. Through every chapter of our history, our principles have stayed constant — being a not-for-profit financial institution focused on offering services at the lowest possible cost.
No matter our name, one thing has never changed — our members have always been, and will always be, at the center of everything we do.
The name AlaTrust reflects our vision for the future and our commitment to serving the people who trust us with their financial lives.
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