The Westerra Story
By Teachers. For Teachers.
90 years ago, 8 teachers came together with a goal: to create a credit union that would support their fellow educators. Today, that mission continues. We’re a not-for-profit, member-owned community committed to seeing our community of Coloradans succeed.
A financial community empowering members to achieve their dreams.
Our credit union was formed by eight school teachers who pooled their funds in 1934 to be able to make loans to other teachers. These visionary leaders created DPS Credit Union, a not-for-profit financial cooperative, owned and controlled by the members who use its services. Its purpose was to put the members first when offering financial services and treat them as valued owners. Today, the credit union remains focused on that same mission and purpose.
The credit union’s name was changed to Westerra Credit Union in 2006 to better reflect its growing and diverse membership. DPS Credit Union and Safeway Rocky Mountain Credit Union merged in 2005, followed by the merger of Gateway Credit Union in 2006, Jeffco Credit Union in 2009, the Sheet Metal Workers #9 Credit Union in 2013, and Mapleton Public Schools Credit Union in 2019.
Each credit union brought a shared commitment to meeting members’ needs — and a strong local heritage. In 1951, the Safeway Rocky Mountain Credit Union was chartered to serve employees of Safeway. In the same year, Gateway Credit Union was chartered to serve Lowry Air Force Base. With the closure of Lowry, the credit union expanded to also serve the City of Aurora. Jeffco Credit Union was formed in 1948 to serve the Jefferson County school employees’ community. Over the years, each credit union grew exponentially. Today, Westerra Credit Union ranks among the top 150 credit unions in the United States.
Membership is open to those who live or work in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas or Jefferson county, Colorado; City of Aurora, Colorado; Denver Public Schools, Jeffco Public Schools and Mapleton Public Schools employees, students, graduates, retirees and family; Safeway Corporation employees and family; Sheet Metal Workers #9 Union members and family; other employee groups and family. Westerra Credit Union’s total assets exceed $1.5 billion and the credit union serves more than 120,000 members.
As a member of Westerra Credit Union, you are an owner and a shareholder. As an owner, credit union profits are returned to you in the form of competitive loan rates, higher savings rates and lower fees for services, and used to enhance products and services.
Westerra Credit Union is a well-capitalized solid financial institution. You have the security of knowing savings are federally insured up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Individual Retirement Accounts are federally insured up to an additional $250,000 per member. Westerra is chartered and regulated by the Colorado Division of Financial Services.
During more than 85 years of operation, we have greatly expanded our products and services to meet the changing needs of our members. But our “people helping people” philosophy remains the same. Our highly professional, knowledgeable and friendly staff is dedicated to serving our members. What differentiates Westerra Credit Union from others is our low fees and top-notch service.
