STCU

Washington

Est. Date:

October 1934

Previous Names:

Spokane Teachers Credit Union

Locations:

Airway Heights, Brewster, Cheney, Chewelah, Clarkston, College Place, Richland, Colville, Coulee City, Coulee Dam, Creston, Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Newport, Kettle Falls, Kennewick, Coeur d’Alene, Dalton Gardens, Hayden, Ponderay, Post Falls, Rathdrum, Baker City, Elgin, Enterprise, Hermiston, Joseph, La Grande, Pendleton

STCU is a not for profit, member owned financial cooperative founded in the 1930s by a group of Spokane schoolteachers, nine women and one man, who believed their community could accomplish more by supporting one another. Built on that spirit of cooperation, STCU has grown from a small, volunteer run credit union into one of the Inland Northwest’s most trusted financial institutions. Today, STCU serves a growing and diverse membership across Central and Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and Northeastern Oregon, while staying true to its educator roots and its commitment to financial empowerment, community partnership, and genuine member care.

History

STCU’s story began in 1934, when a group of Spokane teachers came together during the Great Depression to create a safe, fair place for educators to save and borrow. With unemployment high and resources scarce, these teachers pooled their funds, kept first in a shoebox before the board approved $8.50 to purchase a safe. Early members could deposit only modest amounts each month and borrow up to one month’s wages, reflecting the careful stewardship that helped STCU grow through challenging times.
In 1964, STCU moved from its small space inside Lewis and Clark High School into its first standalone building, marking the beginning of a new era of growth. Over the following decades, STCU broadened its field of membership, embracing new technologies including the launch of online banking in the 1990s. Steady expansion throughout the Inland Northwest, including many small rural communities, reflects its long-term commitment to serving the region with integrity and care.
Throughout its evolution, STCU has remained deeply connected to its educator heritage and the cooperative values that shaped its earliest days. The credit union continues to invest in classroom grants, financial education, scholarships, and nonprofit partnerships that strengthen local communities. Today, STCU serves hundreds of thousands of members, manages billions of dollars in assets, and operates more than 50 branches in three states, yet its purpose remains the same: to help people build brighter financial futures through compassion, expertise, and the spirit of “people helping people.”

An early home of Spokane Teachers Credit Union, reflecting the educator led beginnings and cooperative spirit that shaped STCU’s foundation.

STCU employees supporting a local Women’s Build project, demonstrating our long standing commitment to service, partnership, and strengthening the communities we call home.

STCU staff celebrating community spirit at a local parade, proudly representing our Here for Good Foundation and the people we serve.