The History of America's Credit Unions
Trax Credit Union
Florida
Est. Date:
June 8, 1935
Previous Names:
Tampa A.C.L. Employees Federal Credit Union, Tampa SCL Employees Federal Credit Union, Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union, Trax Credit Union
Locations:
Tampa, FL,
Temple Terrace, FL,
Ruskin, FL,
Brandon, FL,
Plant City, FL,
Riverview, FL,
Zephryhills, FL,
Lakeland, FL,
Lakeland, FL,
Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union, now known as Trax Credit Union, was originally chartered on June 8, 1935, as Tampa A.C.L. Employees Federal Credit Union to serve employees of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. The credit union was founded in Tampa after a meeting organized by Claude Orchard of the Farm Credit Administration, where fourteen railroad employees signed the charter and each pledged $5 to a share account. From those modest beginnings—operating out of a desk in the railroad freight office—the organization began its mission as a not-for-profit financial cooperative dedicated to helping railroad workers manage their finances and access affordable credit.
History
Over the decades, the credit union grew alongside the railroad industry and adapted to changes within it. When the Seaboard Air Line Railroad merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad in 1967 to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, the credit union changed its name to Tampa SCL Employees Federal Credit Union to reflect the new railroad structure. During this time the organization expanded services, adopted new technologies such as data processing and credit card programs, and opened additional offices to serve members across the region. Growth accelerated through mergers with other small credit unions and by expanding membership to include additional employee groups.
In 1984, the organization adopted the name Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union to better represent its expanding field of membership beyond railroad employees. Charter conversions between federal and state oversight in the 1990s and early 2000s allowed the credit union to continue serving existing members while welcoming new select employee groups. The railroad industry itself continued to consolidate, eventually forming CSX Transportation in 1986, whose employees remain a key part of the membership base. In October 2021, the organization rebranded as Trax Credit Union, modernizing its name while honoring its long-standing railroad heritage and commitment to serving members throughout the Tampa Bay region.
Original Main Office
2nd Main Office
Current Main Office