Stories from our vault

Long-time members still recall marveling at Second Federal's ornate vaults when they were children.

Since 2004, Self-Help Credit Union and Self-Help Federal Credit Union have merged with over 20 financial institutions. When these credit unions and banks joined us, they brought their own unique histories. Many were started by groups such as farmworkers, employers, blue-collar workers, people of color and people of faith. They served manufacturing and hospital workers, teachers, African Americans, immigrants and others in low-income or rural communities.

Here we are preserving these histories with short documentary videos honoring the legacies we at Self-Help have inherited in recent years. We rely on archival materials and interviews with people who still remember how these institutions started, the struggles their members faced, and successes in helping families build better futures.

Click on the photos below or use the drop-down navigation to check out the legacy stories of the credit unions and banks that have become part of the Self-Help family over the years.

There are lots more to come, so be sure to check back with us.