IQ Credit Union
iQ Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Vancouver, Washington. Founded in 1940, it operates in southwest Washington and Oregon and is part of the United States credit union system. The organization provides retail financial services and operates student run campus branches in regional high schools.[1][2]
History
Origins and early development
Credit union activity associated with iQ Credit Union traces its origins to profession based cooperative financial institutions operating in Clark County during the mid 20th century. Contemporary newspaper reporting documents the Clark County Teachers Credit Union, an organization formed to serve local educators through cooperative savings and lending services.[3]
Articles from the 1940s describe the credit union’s membership meetings, elected officers, loan activity, and dividend distributions, reflecting its role as a financial institution rooted in the local education community.[4]
During the same period, local reporting also documented other employer-based credit unions in the region, including Crown Camas Federal Credit Union (later becomes Lacamas Credit Union), which served employees of the Camas paper mill and had accumulated more than $100,000 in assets by 1946.[5]
Together, these organizations demonstrate the presence of education and employer-based credit unions in Clark County during the formative period of the United States credit union movement.[6]
Institutional growth and facilities
By the early 1960s, regional reporting described multiple credit unions operating from shared facilities in Vancouver, including a building referred to as the Credit Union Center on East Evergreen Boulevard. Coverage of open houses and public events identified credit unions serving educators, paper mill workers, machinists, and federal employees operating from the site.[7]
Subsequent coverage in The Columbian over the following decades referenced continued institutional growth, including branch openings, expanded consumer services, and increased membership within the region.[8][9]
Rebranding and consolidation
In 2004, the organization then known as Clark County School Employees Credit Union changed its name to iQ Credit Union, marking a rebranding as its membership base and range of services continued to expand.[10]
In January 2014, iQ Credit Union and Lacamas Community Credit Union announced plans to merge, with the consolidation expected to be completed later that year.[11] In June 2014, The Columbian reported that members of Lacamas Community Credit Union approved the merger through a membership vote, with the consolidation taking effect on July 1, 2014.[12]
The merger expanded iQ Credit Union’s presence in east Clark County, including the Camas and Washougal communities, and combined the operations of the two locally based credit unions.[13][14]
Operations
iQ Credit Union operates branch locations across southwest Washington and the Portland metropolitan area. Its services include consumer banking products typical of United States credit unions, such as savings and checking accounts, loans, and financial education services.[15]
In addition to traditional branch offices, the organization operates campus-based branches within high schools as part of its education focused programming.[16][17]
Programs
Student run campus branches
iQ Credit Union operates student run campus branches at several high schools in southwest Washington. These branches are located within school campuses and are operated by students under supervision, providing experience in financial services operations for high school students.[18]
A 2018 report by the Portland Business Journal described the campus branch model as part of a broader effort to provide experiential learning opportunities and introduce students to careers in financial services.[19]
The program has also been covered by regional outlets including the Vancouver Business Journal and The Reflector, which have reported on student roles, branch operations, and campus branch openings and renovations, including locations at Battle Ground High School and Prairie High School.[20][21]
Community involvement
iQ Credit Union’s community involvement has been reported by the GoWest Credit Union Association, which in 2024 described the organization’s nonprofit partnerships, volunteer activity, and charitable contributions. Coverage highlighted financial education initiatives and local community support programs.[22]
The organization also participates in cooperative credit union fundraising efforts, including programs associated with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.[23]
Recognition
In 2021, The Oregonian and OregonLive included iQ Credit Union in their annual Top Workplaces rankings for Oregon and southwest Washington, based on employee survey data.[24]
In 2024, the GoWest Credit Union Association reported that iQ Credit Union placed sixth in the Portland Business Journal Philanthropy Awards in the large company category, recognizing charitable giving and community grants.[25]
This article "IQ Credit Union" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:IQ Credit Union. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ "Overview of regional credit union services". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington.
- ↑ "Credit union operations and services overview". Portland Business Journal. Portland, Oregon.
- ↑ "Teacher credit group elects officers". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. 1940s.
- ↑ "Teachers credit union reports on loans and dividends". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. 1940s.
- ↑ "Camas group's funds grow". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. December 20, 1946.
- ↑ "History of credit unions in Clark County". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. 1940s.
- ↑ "Credit Union Center open house". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. December 14, 1961.
- ↑ "Credit union opens new branch". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. 1970s.
- ↑ "Credit union expands services and membership". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. 1980s–1990s. Check date values in:
|date=(help) - ↑ "Clark County School Employees Credit Union changes name to iQ Credit Union". Vancouver Business Journal. Vancouver, Washington. 2004.
- ↑ "iQ Credit Union, Lacamas Community Credit Union announce merger plans". Vancouver Business Journal. Vancouver, Washington. January 2014.
- ↑ "Lacamas Community Credit Union members approve merger". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. June 2014.
- ↑ "iQ Credit Union, Lacamas Community Credit Union announce merger plans". Vancouver Business Journal. Vancouver, Washington. January 2014.
- ↑ "Lacamas Community Credit Union members approve merger". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. June 2014.
- ↑ "Credit union operations and services overview". Portland Business Journal. Portland, Oregon.
- ↑ "Student run credit union branches operate on high school campuses". Vancouver Business Journal. Vancouver, Washington.
- ↑ "High school campus branches offer financial education". Portland Business Journal. Portland, Oregon.
- ↑ "Students gain banking experience through campus credit union". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington.
- ↑ "Credit union campus branches provide experiential learning". Portland Business Journal. Portland, Oregon. 2018.
- ↑ "Campus credit union branches expand student roles". Vancouver Business Journal. Vancouver, Washington.
- ↑ "Battle Ground and Prairie high schools host credit union branches". The Reflector. Battle Ground, Washington.
- ↑ "iQ Credit Union reports community impact and volunteer efforts". GoWest Credit Union Association. 2024.
- ↑ "iQ Credit Union reports community impact and volunteer efforts". GoWest Credit Union Association. 2024.
- ↑ "Top Workplaces winners announced". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. 2021.
- ↑ "Philanthropy Awards recognize regional giving". GoWest Credit Union Association. 2024.
