Backbone Coalition Expands as Credit Unions Across the Country Join Effort to Inform and Empower Consumers

With 23 coalition members from Maine to California, Backbone is growing and generating wins for the credit union movement.

PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN – Backbone — a nationwide coalition aimed at highlighting credit unions’ essential role in empowering people and serving communities — has experienced surging growth in recent weeks, adding new members from across the spectrum of the credit union movement.

The coalition now boasts 23 members, touching every region of the country and underscoring the value of collaboration in sharing the industry’s story with the American people. Among the coalition’s new members are Washington-based BECU, West Virginia-based Element FCU, Wright-Patt Credit Union, Inc. in Ohio, and Tarrant County’s Credit Union in Texas.

“The strength of our movement lies in our collaboration and cooperation,” Element FCU CEO Linda Bodie said. “Backbone is unifying credit unions around our shared story and sharing that story with the audiences that need to hear it.”

Backbone’s expanding membership coincides with increasing visibility for the coalition. Recent coverage in outlets ranging from Forbes and US News & World Report to Parents Magazine and the Money Girl and Priceless Tay podcasts has highlighted credit unions’ unique commitment to walking with families through good times and bad.

The coalition’s efforts are expanding beyond earned media as well, with a media company offering to develop free ads about Backbone and credit unions’ impact on our communities across the U.S.

“Credit unions have always been more than financial institutions — we’re trusted partners in our members’ lives,” Redwood Credit Union President and CEO Brett Martinez said. “We’ve long felt like the transformative power of credit unions is one of the best-kept secrets in financial services, so we’re excited to partner with Backbone and elevate the conversation around our life-changing work, which shouldn’t be a secret to anyone!”

With the new additions, Backbone encompasses 23 credit unions across 15 states, as well as the GoWest Credit Union Association and The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates.

“We’re growing, our momentum is building, and we’re just getting started,” said Tansley Stearns, president and ceo of Michigan-based Community Financial Credit Union and Backbone coalition leader. “In a time of challenge and uncertainty, we’re raising awareness and engagement with consumers nationwide. Credit unions can be an answer to economic strain and a financial partner for life. Backbone stands to ensure Americans know we will walk with them.”

The newest members of Backbone are:  

• BECU (Washington)
• Element Federal Credit Union (West Virginia) 
• Evergreen Credit Union (Maine)
• First Tech Federal Credit Union (Oregon)
• The League of Credit Unions & Affiliates (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia)
• Merck Employees Federal Credit Union (New Jersey)
• Redwood Credit Union (California)
• Rivermark Community Credit Union (Oregon)
• Tarrant County’s Credit Union (Texas)
• Wright-Patt Credit Union, Inc. (Ohio)

Backbone’s membership also includes:

• Cardinal Credit Union (Ohio)
• Community Financial Credit Union (Michigan)
• Credit Union 1 (Alaska)
• Ent Credit Union (Colorado)
• Everwise Credit Union (Indiana)
• FourLeaf Federal Credit Union (New York)
• GoWest Credit Union Association (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming)
• OneAZ Credit Union (Arizona)
• SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union (California)
• Vantage West Credit Union (Arizona)
• Verity Credit Union (Washington)
• WEOKIE Federal Credit Union (Oklahoma)
• Westerra Credit Union (Colorado)

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About Backbone:

Backbone is a coalition of credit unions championing everyday Americans and their economic and overall health. Fairness and access matter in personal finance, and credit unions put people first. Through education and storytelling, the coalition aims to increase understanding of credit unions’ purpose, services, and benefits—especially for those overlooked by traditional banking institutions. Backbone is committed to building support for credit unions’ essential role that prioritizes people over profits and invests in local communities.