What is a Credit Union?

A credit union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned and operated by its members. The members pool their financial assets to provide funds for loans to themselves and their fellow members. In addition, the credit union offers a wide variety of financial services. Credit unions are financial cooperatives which service groups of people who share something in common, such as where they work, live; attend school, volunteer, or go to church.

As a cooperative, a credit union is unique in the financial world. Credit unions exist to serve their members. The credit union is owned and directed by its members and is dedicated to the credit union philosophy of "people helping people". Rather than paying profits to stockholders, credit unions return earnings to members in the form of dividends and improved member services at rates frequently more favorable than available at commercial lenders.

Northland Area FCU offers its members the ability to have up to 100 different accounts.
The accounts can be used for a college fund, Christmas savings, checking, vacation, home purchases, retirement, etc. The only requirement is that you need to be a member of NAFCU and have a minimum of $5.00 on deposit at all times in your primary share.
There is no minimum balance on any other account.

Northland’s Field of Membership is as follows:

1. Persons who live, work, worship, or attend school in and businesses and other legal entities in Alabaster, AuSable, Baldwin, Burleigh, Grant, Oscoda, Plainfield, Reno, Sherman, Tawas, or Wilber Townships, or the cities of East Tawas and Tawas City in Iosco County, Michigan
2. Persons who live, work, worship, or attend school in and businesses and other legal entities in Crawford, Oscoda, or Roscommon Counties, Michigan
3. Persons who live, work, worship, or attend school in and businesses and other legal entities in Arenac, AuGres, Mason, Sims, Turner or Whitney Townships in Arenac County, Michigan
4. Persons who live, work, worship or attend school in and businesses and other legal entities in Alcona County
5. Persons who live, work, worship or attend school in and businesses and other legal entities in Ogemaw County, Michigan
6. Spouses of persons who died while within the field of membership of this credit union
7. Employees of this credit union
8. Volunteers in the community
9. Members of the immediate family and household
10. Organizations of such persons  

Make the switch easy!  Click Here for our new account "Switch Kit"

Northland Area Federal Credit Union History

In 1957, a small group of people gathered in an office on Wurtsmith Air Force Base to discuss the possibility of starting a credit union. After extensive discussions with federal regulators and a Michigan Credit Union League consultant, it was decided a credit union would be of great benefit to U.S. Air Force personnel, their families, and government employees working on Wurtsmith AFB. With great expectations, each person present offered a contribution of $5.00 and with less than $100.00 total; Wurtsmith Federal Credit Union was born.

On October 23, 1957, the doors opened to a total of 48 members, and over the next fifty years, Wurtsmith encountered many changes. By 1964, the credit union reached the million-dollar asset plateau, and because of its continuously growing membership, the credit union moved off of Wurtsmith AFB in 1969.In 1977, after merging with Oscoda Sacred Heart CU and Tawas Community CU, our charter changed and Wurtsmith Federal became Wurtsmith Community Federal Credit Union.

After the closing of Wurtsmith AFB located in Oscoda, it was decided that we needed a new name which would more accurately describe the total membership. On October 1991 our name was changed to Northland Area Federal Credit Union.

Since 1957, we have been serving our communities with the best financial products available, and today, 13 branches proudly serve over 33,000 members with in our seven county areas. Within our 51 years of serving our communities, Northland has become a family tradition.