.png){kind=logo} | |
 GECU corporate building | |
| Company type | Credit union |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial services |
| Founded | 1932 |
Key people | Crystal Long, President & CEO |
| Products | Savings;checking;consumer loans;mortgages; credit cards,online banking |
| Total assets | $4.2 BillionUSD (2022) |
Number of employees | 900+ |
| Website | gecu |
GECU[1] is a federal charteredcredit union headquartered inEl Paso, Texas. GECU is regulated under the authority of theNational Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and each of their members is an owner who has a vote and a share in the credit union.
GECU is the oldest credit union formed inEl Paso, Texas.[2] In 1932, eleven El Pasocivil servants pooled $5 each to form a credit union inside of thebroom closet of El Paso's federal building.[1][3] In one year, the capital funds of the credit union had increased to $1305.[4] In 1947 there were 135 members which grew to 690 members in 1950.[5] In 1956, a new building was opened to accommodate customer growth, which had increased to 5,500 members.[6] By 2011, there were more than 297,000 members with $1.5 billion in deposits.[3]
T.C. "Ted" Prewitt served as GECU's president starting in 1988.[7]Harriet May[broken anchor], who started working as ateller at GECU in 1974,[7] became the CEO in 1996.[8] Crystal Long took over as CEO in 2011, recommended by May and later elected by the credit union board.[9] Others involved with GECU includedRaymond Telles andAdolfo Loera who served as early directors.[10] Loera served as the first treasurer of GECU.[11]
A GECU branch run by students was opened inCanutillo High School in 2007.[12] A second student-run branch was opened atDel Valle High School in 2008.[13] In 2016, another branch was opened inCoronado High School.[14]
Members of GECU must either reside or work inEl Paso County, be related to a current member, or work as a civil service employee in the US.[15] In 2023, GECU was given permission by theNational Credit Union Administration to expand services into additional counties in Texas and intoNew Mexico.[16]