The History of America's Credit Unions
Wauna Federal Credit Union was chartered over 50 years ago by a group of local residents who were employees of the Crown Zellerbach Paper Company (now known as Georgia Pacific Paper Company), located in Wauna, Oregon. As the popularity of our Credit Union grew, more and more area residents requested the opportunity to join our little movement.
History
Wauna Credit Union was formed in the breakroom of the Crown Zellerbach Wauna Paper Mill on March 15th 1967. "Wauna" means "God of the Columbia River" in Klickitat Native American. 7 millworkers came together to draft the charter, having identified a virtual financial dessert in their small community where no other financial institutions existed at the time.
These millworkers believed in the value of the cooperative system and the value of financial thrift. Since 1967, Wauna Credit Union has been a pillar of its community, sharing in the successes and setbacks of the daily lives of our neighbors and friends. And, while the WCU story is not necessarily unique, the people and areas we serve definitely are. Today, we serve more than 27,000 members throughout rural areas outside of Portland and along the Oregon Coast into the State of Washington.
"We have listeners" billboard advertisement from the 1980's.
Construction of our current headquarters, circa 1980.
Fun at our annual meeting, 1970s.