GLCU History

Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Northern Illinois, Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) is committed to financial empowerment for its members and diverse communities. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative with over $1 billion in assets, GLCU is proud to serve more than 80,000 members in Chicagoland and surrounding areas.

As a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union, all the money GLCU makes goes back to our members in the form of smart and simple-to-use products, tools, and services; competitive interest rates; and community investment, such as member scholarships, financial well-being seminars, donation drives, and more.

At the heart of our mission is the credit union philosophy of ‘people helping people,’ with GLCU’s state-of-the-art technology and range of financial solutions in place for one goal: to enable members to live life on their terms.

To make this mission as successful as possible, GLCU focuses on five pillars: Smart Growth, Cultural Transformation, Exceptional Member Service, Financial Empowerment, and Efficiency & Sustainability. With these pillars as a central focus to every aspect of GLCU’s operations, the organization has earned numerous honors and accolades on the national stage.

Some recent recognitions include: the 2022 Community Involvement Gem Award, the first-ever CUES DEI: Catalyst for Change Award in 2021; the 2019 DesJardins Financial Education Awards for leadership on behalf of youth financial literacy and more. The level of excellence and community giveback achieved by the GLCU team is just one of the factors that makes GLCU an industry leader.

As GLCU’s “Great Wave” volunteer program reaches new heights, so does the way it’s able to support members in reaching new levels of financial empowerment, whether through products and services; educational opportunities; robust volunteerism; FREE and objective HUD-approved housing and financial counseling; and more. GLCU is one of fewer than 10 credit unions in the entire country to have a HUD-Approved Housing and Financial Counseling program, which is available to both its members and communities at large.

We’re committed to offering education, tools, and community development programs that make it easy to save, spend, and make a difference in your neighborhoods – and on your terms – whether you’re just starting your financial journey, a seasoned investor, or a savvy small business owner.

Know someone who can benefit from a not-for-profit financial organization that puts them first? Refer them!

Learn more about GLCU’s accounts, educational initiatives, and community development programs here.