“Big enough to serve … small enough to care.” That’s our motto. That’s what we do.
We are not the largest credit union in the area, but we don’t want to be. We are small enough to know our members – your name, your face, your voice on the phone. We strive to understand your individual needs and take the time to help you with your financial decisions.
We are a member-owned cooperative. Our Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee are all volunteers, elected by members, who give their time and talent to ensure the safe, sound operation of the credit union.
Join us – we’d love to have you!
Our history
In the early 1950s the printer’s union of Guard Publishing negotiated with their employers to organize a credit union. Several printers had belonged to credit unions before and felt the employees of the R-G could benefit. And on Nov. 8, 1954, the Emerald Empire Federal Credit Union was organized with about 25 original members.
The credit union had many obstacles to overcome in its first decade. There was no permanent office, no regular hours and a lack of capital. The hard working part-time treasurer literally ran the credit union out of his coat pocket.
But the credit union grew, slowly but steadily, through nothing more than word of mouth. After some time, the wife of the treasurer set up regular office hours, and the newspaper allowed the credit union to have a desk in the basement behind the rolls of newsprint, as well as a closet in which to store the records. The credit union eventually rented a room at the paper for $65 a month.
Then, in May 1976, after more than two decade in business, the credit union got its own official home, at 1065 High St., in a building across the street from The Register-Guard. We stayed there until February 1998, when we moved to the current Gateway office in conjunction with the newspaper’s move from downtown Eugene to Chad Drive.
In 2017, McKenzie Valley Credit Union merged with the RGFCU and broadened our field of membership. In 2019, due to our largely changing field of membership, we changed our name to the Emerald Empire Federal Credit Union.
September 2024, the EEFCU received its approval to once again change our membership charter to a Community Charter. This provides us with the opportunity to provide our services to anyone, as mentioned above, in Lane County, Oregon.
Our mission
- To provide members with low rates on loans and a high return on their savings as well as other financial services based upon co-operative principles.
- To provide our members with a convenient, friendly atmosphere and offer them the opportunity to achieve a higher standard of living with a feeling of ownership of the credit union.
- To ensure that funds deposited are managed in a productive and prudent way.
- To implement innovative and progressive new programs which benefit the membership and strengthen the organization.
- To provide “positively outrageous service” to our members – to not just satisfy their needs, but to delight them in giving more than expected.