Time Flies When You’re Making a Difference
started by Uniroyal Tire Company employees in 1964, Royal Credit Union reflects on six decades of Member-first service
![ROYAL CREDIT UNION’S FOCUS ON SERVING MEMBERS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAS REMAINED CONSTANT OVER THE PAST 60 YEARS.](/uploads/image/article/347/051/347051/photos_1080x/157558_web_rcu.jpg)
For longtime locals, the Royal Credit Union logo is practically part of the Chippewa Valley landscape. The roaring Chippewa River past the lush bank of Phoenix Park, feet away from the credit union’s downtown Eau Claire headquarters; the historic bridges that have connected community members together for decades, some for centuries; and the royal blue logo of the Eau Claire-founded credit union, created 60 years ago.
Royal Credit Union was brought to life on April 14, 1964, and in its first year welcomed 100 Members – Uniroyal employees and their families. The credit union existed solely inside the factory for its first eight years. In 1972, Royal opened its first office outside the factory on the corner of Birch Street and Hastings Way and began serving employees from other companies.
Thanks to the people – its Members – Royal’s Membership rapidly expanded and led to a community charter in 1975, meaning anyone who lived in the area could join. This was a major turning point, marking the start of Royal’s ongoing commitment to community partnerships in Eau Claire and beyond.
Today, Royal serves over 300,000 Members in West Central Wisconsin, Eastern Minnesota, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro area. Locally, about 10 locations serve the Chippewa Valley and thousands of community members. Throughout its six decades of service, Royal is known to have consistently faced challenges head-on, embraced changes, and maintained its top-tier service.
Since its first eight years operating out of the Uniroyal Tire Company, Royal Credit Union’s core purpose has remained steadfast: to create a positive impact in the lives it touches.
That purpose stretches beyond the walls of its offices and into the communities it serves in various ways, including Royal’s nonprofit RCU Foundation. Created in 2012, the RCU Foundation has awarded more than $10 million in grant funds to organizations across Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota for the benefit of the arts, education, and health. To help Royal celebrate 60 years of commitment to creating a positive impact, the community is invited to a special event in October!
Join Royal’s 60th Anniversary Celebration!
WHERE: The Brewing Projekt (1807 N. Oxford Ave., Eau Claire)
WHEN: Saturday, Oct 12, 12-3pm
WHO: Open to the public and free to attend!
This free celebration is open to all and will feature band The Whitesidewalls, food trucks, gift baskets, and a special Royal brew from The Brewing Projekt. The first 500 attendees will get a free commemorative pint glass and drink ticket.
Royal Credit Union
26 Wisconsin + Minnesota offices
(800) 341-9911
RCU.org