America's Christian Credit Union

Overview

America's Christian Credit Union (ACCU) is a financial cooperative that serves individuals, churches, ministries, businesses, and families across the United States ^[1,9]. As a faith-based banking institution, ACCU pools resources from its members to support initiatives aligned with a biblical worldview and the broader Christian community ^[9]. ACCU provides personal banking and business banking services, including various loan products, mortgages, credit cards, and digital banking options ^[1,9]. The institution emphasizes financial stewardship and a Kingdom impact through its services ^[1].

Company History

America's Christian Credit Union, initially established as Nazarene Credit Union, began its operations in 1958 ^[12,13,14]. Over 65 years, it has provided financial services to Christian individuals and ministries, aiming to support church expansion, ministry building, Christian schools, small businesses, and individuals and families ^[9]. The credit union currently serves over 145,000 members across all 50 states ^[12,13].

Services

ACCU offers a range of personal banking and business banking services. For individuals, these include high-rate deposit accounts, such as savings accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit, alongside low-rate lending services, which include home loans, auto loans, and credit cards ^[9]. The credit union also provides mortgage loans for homes ^[1].

For churches, denominations, schools, and nonprofits, ACCU offers ministry banking solutions like checking accounts with no monthly fees and corporate checking accounts that earn dividends ^[1]. Additional services for ministries include integrated giving and payments through Autobooks for invoicing and online payments, and partnerships with online-giving platforms like My Well ^[1]. Cash management tools such as ACH origination, Remote Deposit Capture, and secure international payments (PayRecs) are also available ^[1]. Ministry lending expertise is offered through church purchase, refinance, and construction loans, supported by a team with extensive commercial lending experience ^[1]. ACCU also provides credit cards tailored for ministry, such as Visa® Ministry Rewards with enhanced points on charitable giving and travel ^[1]. Other financial tools include access to a Corporate Services Portal, Financial Strength Assessments, ratio analysis, and wealth management and investment solutions via Ministry Partners ^[1].

ACCU members have nationwide digital access through online banking and mobile banking, shared branching, and a network of surcharge-free ATMs ^[1], including locations at 7-Eleven, Costco, and Walgreens ^[11]. The credit union is part of the CO-OP Network, providing access to over 5,600 shared branches and 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs across the U.S. ^[10,11]. This network allows members to perform transactions like deposits, withdrawals, loan payments, credit card or loan cash advances, and fund transfers at participating locations ^[11]. ACCU also offers a 24-hour telephone banking service, Call24, for account access and transactions ^[11].

Leadership

America’s Christian Credit Union is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, typically comprising five to nine members who are elected by the membership ^[8]. The Supervisory Committee is responsible for ensuring the accurate presentation of financial statements, adequacy of management procedures, safeguarding members' assets, and overseeing internal control systems ^[8]. This committee also contracts for financial and specialty audits ^[8]. The Chief Officers Group manages the strategic direction and operations, focusing on leadership, financial management, operational efficiency, and member-centric service ^[8]. Key members of the Board of Directors include Board Chair Geoffrey Fellows, Vice Chair Adam Davidson, Secretary Jason Tavarez, Treasurer Daniel Wheeler, and Directors Adele Harrison and Kyle Rodgers ^[8]. The Supervisory Committee includes Chair Keith Cox and Secretary Michelle Norman ^[8]. The Chief Officers Group includes President/CEO Vicki VannBerstein, VP/Chief Operations Officer Patrick Langille, VP/Chief Financial Officer Cindy Morgan, VP/Chief Corporate Banking Officer Joel Santiago, VP/Chief Information Officer Heath Burke, VP/Chief Member Acquisition Officer Andrew Casanova, and VP/Chief Member Services Officer Evamarie Pisani ^[8].

Partnerships

America's Christian Credit Union partners with the Wesleyan Holiness Connection (WHC), providing major funding for WHC gatherings, leadership convenings, and resources that strengthen ministry within their network ^[1]. ACCU also partners with the CO-OP Network to offer members access to over 5,600 shared branches and more than 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide ^[10,11]. For investment and wealth solutions, ACCU collaborates with Ministry Partners ^[1]. Additionally, ACCU works with online-giving partners like My Well to help lower processing costs for ministries ^[1].