Jennifer Wright

Arsenal Credit Union prides itself on the service it gives to its 32,000 members. Helping individuals and small businesses with their financial needs is what ACU is all about. Unlike a bank, the credit union is structured as a not-for-profit organization and shares its net earnings with its members in the form of better rates and fewer/lower fees. Everyone with money on deposit at Arsenal owns the credit union and is treated equally. Those who live or work in St. Louis County, St. Louis City, or Jefferson County are eligible to join and do business with Arsenal CU. The credit union also serves four counties (St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, and Randolph) in Illinois as well as select employee groups in the St. Louis area such as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the St. Louis VA Medical Center. Arsenal offers tremendous convenience to its members -- free access to their accounts at six branches in the St. Louis area that offer extended business hours, 50+ local shared branches, 250+ local CO-OP Network ATMs, 5,700+ shared branches nationwide and nearly 30,000 CO-OP Network ATMs throughout the country. In addition, Arsenal offers free online banking/bill pay, mobile banking, mobile check deposit, text message banking, and banking by phone. Unlike many big banks, Arsenal offers totally free checking accounts, debit cards with rewards, financial education resources in its branches and on its website, special savings programs and benefits for youth and teens, and unique products such as Go Green Loans and Interest-Refund Auto Loans. Deposits are federally insured to at least $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a U.S. Government Agency.