The History of America's Credit Unions
In 1963, a group of local people at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, decided to help other people by starting a credit union and loaning them money at a lower rate than banks. Their philosophy of "People Helping People" created a solid foundation for a great credit union.
History
In 1963, a group of Western Kentucky University faculty and staff decided to help other people at WKU by loaning them money. The group determined a credit union was the best way to serve others. Western Kentucky State Credit Union was Incorporated and approved by the Department of Banking in January 1963. A merger with United Teachers Federal Credit Union in 1984 included employees of all educational institutions within the counties of Allen, Barren, Butler, Cumberland, Edmonson, Logan, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Simson, Todd, and Warren counties. On February 28, 1992, approval was given by the Department of Financial Institutions to change the name from Western Kentucky State Credit Union to Service One Credit Union. Along with WKU employees, students and alumni, and Select Employee Groups, the change helped the credit union serve the Barren River Development District (B.R.A.D.D.) as a field of membership. November 2002, Service One merged with Bowling Green Federal Employees Federal Credit Union and added federal employees to Service One's field of membership in counties we currently serve (B.R.A.D.D.), plus Trigg and Christian counties. January 2012, individual membership eligibility was approved based upon the common bond of a person's daily activities, and interactions within a community shall be open to individuals who live, work, or worship within counties defined as the Barren River Area Development District as established by KRS147A.05. In 2009, Service One utilized green building practices as prescribed by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program. A few of the most innovative features of the Campbell Lane Branch include a living "Green Roof System" for added roof insulation, a Bioretention Basin that controls stormwater runoff, reclaimed wood timbers from a historic mill, which eliminated the need for a sprinkler system, and the first commercially-installed Nanogel-insulated windows. Service One was the first financial institution to utilize cash-recycling machines in 2009, which streamlined service and eliminated the need for cash drawers for its member service personnel.
