SPONSORED SPECIAL SECTION | REDWOOD CREDIT UNION
75 years and growing A message from Brett Martinez, president & CEO of Redwood Credit Union
I ’m excited to share that this year marks Redwood Credit Union’s 75th anniversary! We’ve been honored to provide affordable financial services and support to our communities for three-quarters of a century, and we will continue to do so for decades to come. As we celebrate this exciting milestone, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on what makes RCU special.
meaningful and sustainable change to ensure current and future generations are strong, resilient and continue to thrive. From our humble beginnings with seven founding members in 1950, we’ve grown to serve nearly half a million members throughout the North Bay and San Francisco. Anyone who lives, works or owns a business in our eight local counties can bank with us, and so can relatives of current RCU members! In addition to full-service banking, RCU offers a variety of other services to enhance your financial well-being, including free financial coaching, wealth management, a comprehensive insurance agency and an auto dealership, just to name a few. While much has changed over the years, one thing remains the same: Our team loves finding the best, most personalized options to help you succeed. In this special section,
RCU is strong, secure and built for
the future. As a not-for-profit cooperative, we are 100% owned by our members and operate solely to elevate the financial well-being of our members and communities, one person at a time. Unlike banks, we are not subject to pressures from investors or stockholders to grow large profits or to concentrate on any one industry or segment, which makes us resilient against economic uncertainty and change. Commitment to our community is a key part of our mission, and we are passionate about advancing
we’ll share some of RCU’s key historical events, take a look into our unique culture, examine the credit union difference, tell stories about our social impact in the community, and highlight our deep commitment to financial education. Please join us as we celebrate 75 years of service and look forward to another 75 years and beyond! n
Redwood Credit Union holds an annual event celebrating team members with at least five years of service. [Photo by Will Bucquoy]
Timeline
2005: RCU Auto Services location opens.
1967: Redwood Credit Union's first building on Administration Drive in Santa Rosa
1982: RCU’s first ATM is celebrated.
1999: RCU introduces online banking and bill pay.
2001: RCU expands services to include insurance, auto brokering and wealth management.
2000: San Francisco branch opens.
1993: First Marin County branch opens in San Rafael.
1982: Credit union changes its name to Redwood Credit
1950: Seven employees of the County of Sonoma form Sonoma County Employees Credit Union (SCECU).
1990: RCU expands to Mendocino
Union (RCU) to reflect growth.
County with a Ukiah branch.
46 NorthBaybiz
January 2025
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