Every October, we celebrate International Credit Union Day, marking the perfect time to honor credit unions and their positive impact on local communities.

Did you know that people have celebrated International Credit Union Day since 1948? Much has changed since then, when Harry Truman was president, Ben Hogan won two golf majors and Jimmy Stewart dominated Hollywood. Seventy-five years ago, credit unions were on a mission to bring financial inclusion, security, and well-being to people all over the world.

And, 75 years later, our mission remains the same. Sebasticook Valley Federal Credit Union didn’t exist in 1948, but we opened five years later, with a singular commitment to serve our community. In 1953, the employees of Northeast Shoe Co. Inc. formed a financial cooperative called “Maine Aire Federal Credit Union,” providing shoe factory workers and their immediate family members — our original “Field of Membership” — with an opportunity to accumulate savings and access credit for their various endeavors.

Over the decades, our philosophy has always been simple: “Not for profit, not for charity, but for service.” This includes financial offerings like:

  • Checking accounts
  • Savings accounts
  • Mortgages
  • Home equity loans
  • Consumer collateral loans
  • Signature loans
  • VISA-backed credit lines
  • Draft lines of credit

We also offer a wide range of youth products, serving the next generation of Mainers. Young, old, and everyone in between, our “Field of Membership” has expanded to more than 11,000 people across six counties in Maine.

Our thousands of members mean everything to us. That’s why we are proud to celebrate International Credit Union Day and Sebasticook Valley FCU’s 70th anniversary this month with our membership. Here’s to another 70 years of shared prosperity —community by community.