About Us
The Mission of Allied Federal Credit Union is:
To Provide Quality Financial Services to the Communities We Serve.
The History of AFCU
In 1965 a handful of City of Arlington employees had the foresight and determination to provide a benefit to their co-workers that would assist them in becoming financially secure. They met with representatives of the National Credit Union Administration to charter AFCU. The Credit Union’s field of membership was restricted to those individuals working for the City of Arlington and their family members. The first volunteer board of directors consisted of the employees signing the charter, and AFCU was operated and managed from within the City of Arlington payroll department. Consistent savings through payroll deduction was critical in the early years, and the Credit Union philosophy of “People Helping People” was truly evident. City employees of means were often asked to deposit funds into their accounts so that their subordinates or co-workers in need could borrow. The Credit Union saying “no one borrows until someone saves” certainly rang true then, as it does today.
In the late 1970s the field of membership was expanded when the North Central Texas Council of Governments and Trinity River Authority of Texas requested that membership in AFCU be open to their employees as well. Field of membership expansions in the 1980s included employees of the City of Mansfield and Electrocom Automation (now Siemens), and by 1997 AFCU’s membership roles included over 70 select employee groups.
In 1998 Arlington Federal was granted a community charter to serve the community of Arlington, and Federal approval to expand membership into the community of Mansfield was granted in 2001.
In 2014 Arlington Federal Credit Union changed it’s name to Allied Federal Credit Union to encompass the charter that reached City of Arlington, City of Mansfield, Pantego and Dalworthington Gardens.
Credit Union Q & A
What is a Credit Union?
A credit union is a cooperative, not-for-profit financial institution organized to promote thrift and provide credit to members. It is member-owned and controlled through a board of directors elected by the membership. The board serves on a volunteer basis and may hire a management team to run the credit union. The board also establishes and revises policy, sets dividend and loan rates, and directs certain operations. The result: members are provided with a safe, convenient place to save and borrow at reasonable rates at an institution which exists to benefit them, not to make a profit.
Who owns a credit union?
Most financial institutions are owned by stockholders, who own a part of the institution and intend on making money from their investment. A credit union doesn’t operate in that manner. Rather, each credit union member owns one “share” of the organization. The user of credit union services is also an owner, and is even entitled to vote on important issues, such as the election of member representatives to serve on the board of directors.
How did credit unions start?
The first credit union cooperatives started in Germany over a century ago. Today, credit unions are found everywhere in the world. The credit union movement started in this country in Manchester, New Hampshire. There, the St. Mary’s Cooperative Credit Association, a church-affiliated credit union, opened its doors in 1909. Today, one in every three Americans is a credit union member.
What is the purpose of a credit union?
The primary purpose in furthering their goal of service is to encourage members to save money. Another purpose is to offer loans to members. In fact, credit unions have traditionally made loans to people of ordinary means. Credit unions can charge lower rates for loans (as well as pay higher dividends on savings) because they are nonprofit cooperatives. Rather than paying profits to stockholders, credit unions return earnings to members in the form of dividends or improved services.
Are savings deposits insured?
Yes. All savings accounts are insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. The insurance coverage is provided through NCUA, the National Credit Union Administration, an agency of the federal government.
Who can join a credit union?
A credit union exists to serve a specific group of people, such as a group of employees, a community, or the members of a professional or religious group. This is called a “field of membership.” The field of membership may include where they live, where they work, or their membership in a social or economic group. For example, as a credit union in Arlington and Mansfield, AFCU can accept members who live, work, or worship in Arlington, Mansfield, Dalworthington Gardens, or Pantego.