Tricounty Federal Credit Union was started 52 years ago by employees of the Milwaukee Road railroad. It was later expanded to offer membership to anyone living or owning land in Wheatland, Golden Valley, and Meagher Counties.

A credit union is a not for profit financial cooperative, owned and oprated by its members.   Unlike other financial institutions (OFIs), credit unions have no stockholders; instead, they are owned by their member depositors.  When you join a credit union, you become an owner.  After necessary reserve and capial levels are achieved, profits made by credit unions are returned to the member/owner through lower rates on loans, high rates on deposits, and no or low fee services.  In contrast, at an OFI, rates and fees are driven by stockholders who consider their ownership an investment and place more emplasis on profits, not service.

Another distinct difference between a credit union and an OFI is in the leadership of the organization, the board of directors.  At a credit union, the board of directors is elected by the membership of the credit union from within the membership of the credit union.  Upon joining a credit union, you become eligible to vote for the board members who are serving you.  You also become eligible to be a director yourself.  Have you ever been granted these opportunities at an OFI?  We should make you aware, however, that if you run and get elected to the board of a credit union, you may want to consider your salary-zero. That's right!  Unlike board members at an OFI, credit union board and committee members volunteer their time.  Why?  Because being members thenselves, they care about the organization and the membership.  They simiply have the members' best interest in mind.