X
America's Christian CU
America's Christian Credit Union

ACCU History

In May of 1958, five men embarked on a mission to serve the financial needs of approximately 500 Nazarene ministers within the state of California. They pooled $135 and together organized a state-chartered credit union, which was originally called Nazarene Ministers’ Credit Union.

As their financial services increased, the credit union expanded to include laymen. The founders believed they could make a difference by providing valued financial services to the fellowship of Nazarenes. In the true spirit of compassion, they even felt they could help good people with low income obtain loans and establish credit where they would otherwise be unable. It was literally Nazarenes helping other Nazarenes.

Together, by joining resources, the principle of sowing and reaping could really flourish. Each individual was actually helping the entire membership earn more on savings, and save more on interest when making loans. Their cooperative effort could actually be summed up in the phrase: “Not for profit, not for charity, but for service.”

Thus, when you join America’s Christian Credit Union, you gain so much more than a partner for all your financial needs. You gain that, and peace of mind knowing our not-for-profit operations exist to serve the work of God.

Timeline of Events
Opened for business as “Nazarene Ministers Credit Union of California” in Whittier, CA with five men and $135. T.R. Partee served as our inaugural President.
1958
Expanded membership base to include Southwest Educational zone of the Nazarene Church and became “Nazarene Credit Union”, with the philosophy “Not for profit, not for charity, but for service”
1969
1967
Celebrated the $1 million mark at the Annual Meeting at Knott’s Berry Farm
1972
Converted from a state charter to a federal charter – allowing funds to be federally insured -- and changed our name to “Nazarene Federal Credit Union”
Moved to a bigger office in Whittier, CA, as growth of our credit union continued rapidly
1975
Moved to a new, larger building in Brea, CA, with all the amenities needed to serve a growing membership
1985
1979
Premiered a new technology called the “ATM card” through Exchange ATM Network
1986
Mendell L. Thompson promoted to President/CEO, the 2nd in our credit union’s history
NCUA approves our credit union serving members in all educational regions of the Nazarene Church throughout the United States, including faculty, staff, and students of the Nazarene universities, colleges, and seminary
1989
Joined the California credit union ATM Co-Op
1992
1991
Changed charters to allow us to lend to churches and ministries and reverted our name back to “Nazarene Credit Union.”
1999
Debuted our first Internet home banking products -- Naz-Link (Internet Home Banking) and Bill-Payer -- essentially building a branch at each member’s computer
Changed our name to “America's Christian Credit Union” in order to serve churches who were looking to work with a Christian financial institution, allowing us to expand beyond our Nazarene membership base
2003
Celebrated our 50th Anniversary
2008
2005
Moved into new Home Office in Glendora, CA
2008
Formed strategic partnership with CCM/Medi-Share, bringing in 13,000 new members
Adoption Loan is introduced and becomes a popular product
2009
New “Live the Mission” outreach campaign is launched
2015
2013
Underwent core computer system conversion from Fiserv Summit to FIS Miser
2015
Mendell Thompson elected to the Adoption Hall of Fame by the prestigious National Council for Adoption
New ACCU smartphone app combines mobile banking, bill-pay, and remote deposit
2015
Introduction of our premier credit card product: VISA® Signature Rewards
2018
2018
Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) bestows its Philanthropy Award upon Mendell and ACCU, after ACCU commissioned a comprehensive study of the benefits of Christian higher education on the nation’s economic and social well-being
2020
March 23 - Vicki VannBerstein becomes the new President/CEO of ACCU, the third in our credit union’s history, replacing Mendell Thompson
July/August - Assisted in funding over $57 million in loans for the Paycheck Protection Program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020
2020
September - 2000th Adoption Loan funded since the program's creation in 2009