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Eastman Credit Union (ECU) is celebrating 90 years of service. Chartered on September 10, 1934, and opening with only a makeshift office in Building 75 on the Tennessee Eastman Co. plant site, ECU’s founders had a vision for providing members a better way.

“From day one, we’ve focused on what was best for our members, and doing that has always led us in the right direction,” said Kelly Price, ECU’s president and CEO.

According to ECU’s records, the news of the credit union grew quickly among workers. Over the years, ECU has become one of the largest credit unions in Tennessee and the nation. 

“We grew because of our members, and our focus always puts our members first. Generations have turned to ECU for their financial needs, and it’s a privilege to help them,” said Price.

ECU is celebrating the service milestone with a campaign focusing on stories shared by members and staff. ECU offered members and staff an opportunity to share their stories and for a few to be included in the 90th-anniversary celebration.

“We received hundreds of entries. What members shared in these stories was humbling and inspiring. The credit union motto is people helping people, and our employees embrace this philosophy,” said Price.

Several members shared that ECU helped them at times when they needed it most or had nowhere to turn. Likewise, ECU employees shared that helping members was why they loved their jobs.

“Our employees are special people. They take the time to get to know their members,” said Price.

Among the memorable stories in the Better Way Contest was one from a couple whose son, Sammy, was born prematurely with conditions requiring one parent to stay home.

“We made a decision during Sammy’s stay in the NICU to quit one of our jobs so one of us could keep Sammy safe at home. This cut our income in half for a time. I knew we were only looking at a year before our savings ran out and we needed to consider selling our biggest expense, our home. With two incomes, we were always comfortable. But we were more than willing to sacrifice things to give Sammy the best chance possible.

When the time came near, though, I was sad about selling our home. So, I made a desperate call to ECU. I asked if there was any way we could save on our mortgage. I was shocked when the answer was ‘yes.’ Their compassion and problem-solving skills allowed us just enough room in the budget to keep our home.

Now, our home is so much more than it used to be. It’s full of toys and more love than I ever imagined. I look back on that time in our life, and I smile. While it was life-altering, scary, and uncertain, ECU took so many of those fears away. By keeping our home, Sammy was able to attend the best special needs program since we still live in their district. It changed our life and quite literally gave Sammy better opportunities and a better quality of life,” said an ECU member.

“Everyone has a story and a financial journey.  Not everyone has a story like this one, but many do.  Whether it’s putting members at ease or being their champion on their journey, offering members a better way will always be rewarding,” said Price.

Credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions designed to serve and return profits to members through improved services, better rates, and dividends. In doing so, ECU has created products and services that meet various members’ needs. As a result, ECU offers unique products like checking accounts that return dividends on all balances with no minimum balance requirement, mortgages with 100% financing options, low-dollar low-interest rate loans, and the Extraordinary Dividend, which has returned $193 million to members since 1998.