Arsenal Credit Union

Arsenal Credit Union was founded in August 1948 as Aero Chart Credit Union, organized to serve employees of a U.S. government agency then known as the Aero Chart Service, Plant and Store (now the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, or NGA). The name changed to Arsenal Credit Union in 1952,[1] a tribute to what NGA's current campus, along the banks of the Mississippi River in south St. Louis, used to be known as the "St. Louis Arsenal" back in the country's Civil War days. During this time, the site had warehoused small arms, artillery, gun carriages, ammunition and gunpowder.[2]

In Missouri, membership is open to those who live or work in St. Louis County, Jefferson County, Franklin County, Washington County, St. Francois County, and Ste. Genevieve County. The credit union also offers membership in Illinois, which is available to those who live or work in St. Clair County, Madison County, Monroe County, and Randolph County. Arsenal also serves those who live or work in select ZIP codes in Jasper County (64801), Miller County (65026), Camden County (65049 & 65065), and Morgan County (65072) in the state of Missouri. Those who have a parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child, grandchild, spouse, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, first cousin or legal guardian who is eligible to be an Arsenal member can join through them. This includes steps, in-laws and legally adoptive relationships.[3]

Those employed by or who have retired from the NGA, and those who work for the Department of Veterans Affairs (Veterans Administration) are also eligible to join. Those who belong to the following labor organizations can join the credit union:

• Bakers, Confectioners, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 4
• Communication Workers of America (CWA) 4217
• Iron Workers Local 396
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Illinois
• United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 534

Arsenal Credit Union has four public locations in the following St. Louis metro areas: Arnold, Webster Groves, Florissant, and in Swansea, Illinois. It also maintains a branch on the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) campus just south of downtown St. Louis that is accessible only to NGA employees.[4]

In addition, ACU is part of the Shared Branch network, meaning members can access their accounts at more than 50 other credit union shared branch locations in the St. Louis metro area and more than 5,000 nationwide.[5] It is a member of the CO-OP Network of ATMs, giving members access to more than 250 fee-free ATMs in the St. Louis area and nearly 30,000 nationwide.[6]

Arsenal Credit Union offers a full complement of loans, savings accounts, and checking accounts for its members. It offers a Totally Free Checking account.[7]

In addition to consumer services, ACU offers loans, deposit accounts, and cash management products for local small businesses. As of August 2016, ACU had more than 1,100 small business members in the St. Louis area.[8]