Our Story
Times were bad back in 1933. The Great Depression was at its height; jobs and money were scarce. Banks that had survived the crash of 1929 had little cash, and they were not lending it. To save their homes and farms, people were forced to do business with loan sharks at 36% interest.
In the historic and economic circumstances of the Great Depression, Twin City Co-ops Credit Union (TCU), was born in 1934 in response to the pricey and strict loan practices of the remaining banks. The ideals of self-help, people working together to save their money, lending to each other, and paying back their earnings to each other in the form of dividends were the pillars of the new credit union.
Edgar Archer
The idea of a credit union started with Edgar Archer. Archer was an employee of what was then called Midland Cooperative Oil Association. Before starting at Midland, Archer had been out of work for some time, resulting in a number of unpaid bills. Now that Edgar was employed, he applied for loans everywhere, but one by one, he was turned down. He wanted to “do the right thing” and pay his debts.
Edgar did not give up. He had been hearing about an employee credit union, so he thought, why not start one at the Midland?
By February 1934, enough of his fellow workers agreed with Archer, so seven of them applied for a certificate of organization, and by March 13, 1934, they incorporated. Through the foresight of the original founders, the credit union escaped the narrow confines of an employee credit union and has grown significantly because of the doors that he opened.
When TCU opened their doors, the loan maximum was set at $50 with interest at 1% monthly on the unpaid balance. Edgar Archer was the first to apply for and receive a loan.
Driven by Midwestern Values
TCU became SPIRE Credit Union in 2008 and expanded on the ideal of "doing the right thing." Since 1934, we have proudly served the residents of Minnesota and Wisconsin. Currently, SPIRE has nearly 20 branch locations in the Twin Cities Metro area and Greater Minnesota.
Whether you are just starting out in life, own your own business, or are close to retirement, SPIRE would like to be your total financial solution.