The Story of Our Credit Union

Emporia State Federal Credit Union, originally known as the Emporia Consumers Federal Credit Union, was granted a charter to serve a “field of membership” on July 26, 1937 under the provisions of an act established by the 73rd Congress. At that time, the field of membership was limited to employees of two Emporia cooperatives (the Emporia Consumers Grocery Cooperative and the Lyon County Oil Cooperative). There were 28 original members whose assets totaled $28.88.

In June of 1957, the Emporia State College employees were added to the field of membership and the name was changed to Emporia State College Employees and Consumers Federal Credit Union. So began a long and fruitful relationship with what is now known as Emporia State University. With time comes change. And, while the credit union philosophy flourished, a final name change came in August, 1974 to what we know today- Emporia State Federal Credit Union.

The credit union has continued to grow, adding the school districts of Greenwood, Coffey, Chase, Osage and Morris counties in 1982. In 1988, a merger with Lyon County Teachers Credit Union complemented our educational bond. In that same year, we added members of the ESU Alumni Association that live in Lyon and the surrounding five counties.  In January, 2009 we added employees and students attending Flint Hills Technical College in Emporia.  In July, 2010 we added the employees of Newman Regional Health who work in, or are paid or supervised from Emporia, KS.

From the minutes of the first annual report in January, 1938 George C. Johnson, President of the Board of Directors, writes:

“The past six months have shown that the principle of democratic control of savings and credit is both sound and wise. As a group and as individuals your board wishes for you, as they wish for themselves, a new year in which, through your credit union, you may work steadily toward a more equitable and secure hold on the good things of life.”

Those words are as true today as they were then. Emporia State Federal Credit Union continues to be a financially sound member owned institution. We have a solid foundation upon which we are continually building to provide our members with the financial tools they need for today, tomorrow and for their future.