Spokane Teachers Credit Union
| Company type | Credit union |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial services |
| Founded | October 1934 |
| Founder | Ernie McElvain |
| Headquarters | Spokane , United States |
Area served | Washington, North Idaho, Oregon |
Key people | Lindsey Myhre (CEO and President) |
| Products | Banking, online banking, credit cards (Mastercard) |
| Website | www |
Spokane Teachers Credit Union (STCU) is a credit union chartered to serve members in Washington, North Idaho, and Oregon, overseen by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). Eligibility for membership extends to those who reside, are employed, worship, or attend educational institutions within Washington or designated northern Idaho counties.
Established in October 1934 by Ernie McElvain, STCU currently supports over 304,000 members with assets surpassing $6 billion, ranking it as the third-largest credit union in Washington based on asset volume. It has earned repeated accolades as Best Bank/Credit Union from 2006 through 2010 and Best Credit Union from 2011 to 2024 in The Inlander’s "Best of the Inland Northwest" reader polls.
Services
With 49 branch locations throughout Eastern and Central Washington as well as North Idaho, STCU has maintained a strong physical presence. The credit union launched online banking services in 1997 and revamped its digital platform in 2010 to include advanced capabilities such as account notifications, secure member communication, and external account transfers.
As part of the CO-OP Financial Services network, STCU members enjoy surcharge-free access to nearly 30,000 ATMs worldwide. In 2015, the institution switched from Visa to Mastercard to adopt EMV chip card technology for enhanced security.
In 2024, STCU announced a strategic partnership with Community Bank aimed at expanding its footprint across Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and Northeast Oregon.
History
The inception of STCU dates back to 1934 when Ernie McElvain, a teacher at Spokane's Lewis and Clark High School, founded the credit union. Initially operating from a modest room within the school with limited resources, it concluded its first year with a membership of 120 and assets totaling $4,000.
By 1964, STCU had opened its first standalone office located at 106 W. Nora in Spokane. At that point, membership had grown to 2,078 individuals with assets reaching $1.5 million.
On August 13, 2024, STCU revealed plans to acquire all assets and liabilities of Oregon-based Community Bank, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval. This acquisition broadened STCU’s service area into Oregon and southeastern Washington.
Leadership/Governance
On July 9, 2025, Lindsey Myhre was appointed as the sixth CEO and President in STCU’s history by its Board of Directors. Myhre began her tenure at STCU in 2000 as an Accounting Assistant and steadily progressed through various management positions before joining senior leadership ranks in 2015. Prior to her interim CEO and CFO appointment in May 2025, she held roles as CFO and EVP.
A native of Colville near Spokane, Washington, Myhre earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Western Washington University and an MBA from Western Governors University. In 2023, she was honored by American Banker as one of The Most Powerful Women in Credit Unions.
Since 2016, Myhre has contributed her expertise on the board of Partners INW, an organization dedicated to assisting vulnerable families across Eastern Washington and North Idaho. She also served as Past Chair and Past Treasurer of Spokane’s University District Development Association and remains engaged with the University District Public Development Authority. Additionally, she volunteers as president of the Booster Club for East Valley School District.