Tech Credit Union celebrates 90 years of serving the community

On Friday, June 12, Tech Credit Union (Tech CU) branches Region wide celebrated the credit union’s 90th anniversary.

Tech Credit Union is a non for profit financial institution that serves residents all across the Region. The credit union was established on June 12th, 1936, as Carnegie-Illinois Steel Employees Gary Works Federal Credit Union to serve Gary’s growing population of steel mill workers. The institution takes pride in its union roots and continues to serve union and nonunion clients, providing them with a personal, human relationship that bigger banks fail to foster.

Christian Rosenthal, the Assistant Branch Manager of Tech Credit Union’s Crown Point Branch, believes their relationship-focused banking is the reason they’ve survived and thrived over the last 90 years.

“We really lead with our hearts. We want to know what your struggles are, what’s keeping you up at night. The very first thing this morning, I had someone come in, and they had two trees in their yard because of the storms last night. I’m glad that they’re coming to me immediately, trying to see what their game plan is. All of us at Tech Credit Union are leading that same way,” Rosenthal said.

Rosenthal is passionate about Tech Credit Union’s people-driven approach. He has personally taken part in many of their community events, with the hopes of helping Northwest Indiana residents fix and learn more about their personal finances.

One event Rosenthal attended on behalf of Tech Credit Union was Lowell High School’s career day. It still sticks out as a core memory to Rosenthal because of how much he saw his high school self in the students.

“They don’t teach you about money in high school,” Rosenthal said. “That was a gap within myself as a teenager. I was that kid who didn’t know what to do. I tell them, ‘The best you can do is have some type of relationship with your banker.’”

Tech Credit Union Branches took time out of their day to celebrate the institution’s long history. Employees helped themselves to cookies and slices of cake. The building’s interior was decorated for the occasion, with streamers hung up on the walls and balloons weighted to the tables.

“While all 11 branches are celebrating our 90th anniversary, the focus is really on giving back to our members and the communities we serve,” Rosenthal said.

Tech Credit Union’s 90-year anniversary is a testament to the company’s people-first policy. Tech Credit Union has navigated nearly a century of changing economic conditions, with its strong relationships with members playing a key role in its longevity.

“We have their backs,” Rosenthal said. “We’re committed to helping our members through everyday challenges by sitting down with them, reviewing their finances, and building a plan for their future.”

For more information on Tech Credit Union, visit techcu.org.