Maps Credit Union
| File:Maps Credit Union Logo.svg | |
| Template:Easy CSS image crop Maps Credit Union Chemeketa Branch | |
| Formerly | Salem Public School Teachers Credit Union |
|---|---|
| Company type | Credit union |
| Industry | Financial services |
| Founded | June 6, 1935 |
| Founders | 20 teachers from the Salem School District |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Willamette Valley, Oregon |
| Products | Banking services |
Number of employees | 336 (2023) |
| Website | www |
Based in Salem, Oregon, Maps Credit Union was originally established in 1935 under the name Salem Public School Teachers Credit Union. Initially dedicated to serving educators and school staff, the credit union broadened its membership eligibility in 2008 to include all residents within Oregon's Willamette Valley. Today, it maintains a network of ten branches throughout the region.
History
The credit union was founded on June 6, 1935, by a group of twenty teachers from the Salem School District along with staff from Willamette University. Membership began with a $5 share fee. Harry Johnson, who was principal at Salem Senior High School, took on the role of the first treasurer and operated the credit union’s activities from his office at the high school before moving operations to his residence in 1955.
The inaugural official branch opened its doors in 1958 on State Street and relocated three years later to Commercial Street. The branch on Hines Street, which commenced operations in 1977, continues to serve members today.
In a groundbreaking development in 2014, Maps became the first financial institution in Oregon to offer banking solutions to cannabis-related businesses. This strategic initiative established Maps as a frontrunner in navigating banking services for emerging sectors within the state’s regulatory environment. Chief Operating Officer Rachel Pross provided testimony before the United States Congress advocating for the SAFE Banking Act and highlighted Maps’ regulatory compliance experience as a benchmark for cannabis industry banking.
Name Changes
The organization began as Salem Public School Teachers Credit Union but changed its name to Marion-Polk Teachers Credit Union in 1956 when eligibility expanded to include faculty and students from Western Oregon University. In 1976, following a "Name Your Credit Union" contest, it was renamed Marion & Polk Schools Credit Union. The institution officially embraced its widely recognized nickname, Maps, in 2011 and introduced a new logo featuring dot shapes that symbolize points on a map, replacing the previous schoolhouse emblem.
The Maps Community Foundation
Established in 2011 by Maps Credit Union, the Maps Community Foundation aims to support educational initiatives and foster economic growth throughout the Mid-Willamette Valley. Primarily funded through contributions generated by the credit union’s Free Community Checking program, the foundation donated $130,000 to local causes in 2021.
In 2022, Maps launched The Dot, a coffee shop located within its High Street Branch in downtown Salem, Oregon. This venture was created to provide additional financial support for the foundation’s community efforts.