COMMUNITYWIDE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION was started in September of 1967. It's original charter name was West Washington Association Federal Credit Union, and it served primarily the inner city residents of South Bend. It took the combined efforts of concerned citizens and seed money from the Catholic Church to start this credit union. The first charter member was Father Daniel Peil. It was apparent that there was a need for financial services at a minimum expense along with counsel and education for the people in South Bend. The philosophy of our credit union was then and still remains "People helping People".

In September of 1975, Ben Johnson became Manager of the credit union. He felt that the credit union should reach more people and, therefore changed the name to St. Joseph County Community Federal Credit Union. He canvassed area employers and set up payroll deductions to the credit union for many of them. This brought credit union services to many more residents. Ben Johnson's work was instrumental in the development of the credit union at that time. He later left this area to take a position with the National Credit Union Administration in Washington, D. C.

In October of 1978, Credit Union Service Center was named manager of the credit union and its office was moved into the building at 740 S. Chapin Street, South Bend. At this time, the credit union was a very small and struggling credit union. However, with new management and new directors, many ex-citing things began to happen.

In December 1980, the Allied Products Federal Credit Union joined with St. Joseph County Community FCU. This welcome addition helped start the credit union to gain in size and strength.

In 1981, changes were being planned that would set the stage for the future growth and success of the credit union. The directors and members of three credit unions agreed that a merger would be in their best interest. On January 1, 1982, AMG Federal Credit Union and White Farm Employees Federal Credit Union merged into Community (St. Joseph County) FCU. Even though its assets were only $1.7 million, this combined unit was soon able to offer many new benefits and services to its members that were previously not possible.

Since then, a number of other credit union's also merged with the credit union. Those credit unions were:

The credit union continued to grow with the addition of each of these groups, but much additional growth was realized from persons in the community who recognized the high value of the financial services that were being offered and decided to join the credit union.

The name of the credit union was changed in 1985 to COMMUNITYWIDE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION. This name was chosen because many persons throughout the community recognized the high value of the financial services that were offered and decided to join the credit union.

As Communitywide grew in size and strength, it actively served its members by offering new products and services.

April 1982