For 75 years...

We’ve stayed true to our mission from the very beginning: to help those in need, to serve, and to lift the lives of others. Unlike traditional financial institutions, credit unions are different—we’re owned by our members, by you. That means we exist to give people a chance when others may turn them away.

Our story began in 1950, when credit was a luxury few could afford. Buying a home or a car was out of reach for many. That’s when a group of dedicated employees at Alcoa Davenport Works (now Arconic) in Riverdale, Iowa, came together in a small basement room and founded what was then the Alcoa Employees Credit Union. Their goal was simple: to support one another. These volunteers worked extra hours to provide small but meaningful loans—sometimes to help a coworker buy coal for heat, other times to help a family make a down payment on a home.

Fast forward 75 years, and Ascentra has grown to serve more than 40,000 members across 20 counties in Iowa and Illinois. With nine branches located in Clinton, Muscatine and the Quad Cities, our reach has expanded—but our heart remains the same. We live by the motto “Listening, caring, doing what’s right.” It's not just a slogan—it’s our way of meeting our member's and community's needs.

We don’t just provide financial services; we walk alongside our members—coaching, educating, and supporting them every step of the way. We believe in building stronger communities because that’s what makes us different. That’s what makes us Ascentra.