TAPCO www.tapcocu.org, Achieves Major Milestone Award-Winning Credit Union Celebrates 75 Years

July 21, 2009 - PRLog -- (Tacoma, Wash.) TAPCO Credit Union, www.tapcocu.org, is observing its 75th anniversary as a model of consistency in providing service and affordable loan rates for thousands of its members in Tacoma and throughout Pierce County.

Each member has a voice in how TAPCO operates. Member participation keeps TAPCO focused on the national founding members' vision of "People Helping People."

TAPCO was one of the first financial institutions to provide secure and free mobile banking, online banking and bill pay at www.tapcocu.org. That’s in addition to its six convenient locations, affordable loan programs and other valuable financial services.

“We appreciate the opportunity to serve our members for the last 75 years,” said TAPCO CEO John Bechtholt. “We pledge to continue our ongoing efforts to be relevant and financially secure for our valued members. TAPCO’s employees and Board of Directors work hard as people helping people to justify our motto: It’s Where You Belong.”

Actually, TAPCO is legendary for providing quality service to its valued members, such as award-winning community service, affordable loan products, and consistent high ratings for financial soundness.  TAPCO continues to earn high ratings for being a healthy credit union from BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading independent bank rating and research firm.
TAPCO has also repeatedly been named recipient of the ''Dora Maxwell Award for Social Responsibility.'' Ms. Maxwell is well-regarded for her efforts to help the needy in the nation’s early credit union movement.
TAPCO received this social responsibility honor on multiple occasions for its work with organizations, including Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital, Law Enforcement Youth Camp http://www.leyc.org for disadvantaged youth, and for a program to aid the Washington State Council of Firefighters Burn Foundation http://www.wscff.org .
TAPCO has also been instrumental in helping other important causes, such as Tacoma/Pierce County Crime Stoppers, http://www.i91.ctc.edu/crimestoppers/; Tacoma-Pierce County Chaplaincy, www.t-pcc.org; and Biz Kid$, a financial literacy program for children, which airs on PBS station, KBTC. TAPCO was also instrumental in establishing Biz Kid$ as a nationwide PBS program.
TAPCO was established the same year when the credit union movement began during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s innovative “New Deal.” He signed The Federal Credit Union Act into law on June 26, 1934.
TAPCO members’ savings are federally insured to at least $250,000 by the United States government and National Credit Union Administration (NCUSIF), a U.S. government agency. NCUSIF insures the savings of more than 86 million members in the nation’s federal credit unions. It’s worth noting NCUA is supported by credit unions, not federal tax dollars.
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Why Join a Credit Union?
Credit unions are member-owned cooperative financial institutions that are historically organized around a common bond, such as an employer. Credit unions, unlike banks, are not-for-profit organizations existing only to serve their members. This enables them to pay favorable rates on savings accounts and charge competitively priced, low interest on loans.

Why Join TAPCO?
TAPCO Credit Union has a long and rich history in Pierce County. Founded in 1934 by nine City of Tacoma employees, TAPCO has grown to over 24,000 members.
Each member has a voice in how TAPCO operates. Member participation keeps TAPCO focused on the founding members' vision of "People Helping People."
How Does TAPCO Operate?
While maintaining a professional staff to run daily operations, TAPCO is governed by a Board of Directors that establishes and reviews policy. The Directors are TAPCO members who are elected by the membership and serve without pay. Every member has one vote, regardless of how much he or she has on deposit. At TAPCO, there is no select group of shareholders that profits more than anyone else. All members profit, individually and collectively.

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TAPCO Credit Union has been serving its members since 1934 in the Tacoma-Pierce County, Washington area. Offer full line of financial products and services. Known for award-winning customer service, low loan rates, fewer fees and friendly professional staff. Offers great rates for new and used auto loans, mortgages, home equity loans, credit cards, free online banking, bill pay, mobile banking, terrific Kids Club, free senior checking account, and many more products and services. TAPCO is very involved in its community by participating in many local events. Won several awards for its community spirit, fundraising efforts, and for being social responsible.