Grand Trunk (Battle Creek) Employees Federal Credit Union was founded in January of 1945 by a group of railroad employees of the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company. The purpose was to provide financial services to railroaders and their families. Membership quickly grew to 70 members in the first two months of operating. Board meetings were held in the Assembly Room of the Main Office Building at the Roundhouse and deposits were made with Deputy Collectors at the different railroad locations. The Board of Directors decided it was time to start looking for a location for a credit union office. The Shop Hospital Building behind the Heavy/Running Repair Shop would soon be too small if membership continued to grow.
In 1959, a location was chosen. The Board of Directors offered to buy land and an office, previously owned by Rieth-Riley Construction Company, from the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company. This became our credit union home at 1275 Raymond Rd N in Battle Creek, Michigan. This is currently our credit union home and only physical location.
Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company was purchased by Canadian National in 1971. Our field of membership was expanded to include CN railroaders and their families, allowing us to provide a financial home for an even larger membership base.
In September of 1995, our assets had grown to $22.2 million and a decision was made to add on to the building. We were continuing our goal of being a full-service credit union for railroaders and their immediate families. Generations of railroaders were joining our membership and creating a strong need for expansion. The building underwent major remodeling. Our office was doubled in size and a drive-thru was added onto the building.
Assets continued to grow to over $27 million by March of 2000 and membership was still steadily growing. Over the next 10-15 years, numerous technological advances have been made to provide our membership with more convenient banking options, including online and mobile banking. A partnership with XTend provided our membership with over 250 different locations to access their account. This is a huge convenience to our traveling railroaders, giving them access to their accounts through other credit unions throughout the state.
To this day we remain a closed membership credit union with assets over $32 million. Our Board of Directors are voted on and chosen by our membership. Being a closed membership, we have a small hometown feeling and provide a family-like atmosphere to our members. We strongly believe in the “People Helping People” philosophy. Grand Trunk (Battle Creek) Employees Federal Credit Union looks forward to continuing our mission of building relationships with generations of railroaders and their families in order to be the home of trust, confidence, and financial education for all financial needs.