Alaska USA Changing Name to Global Credit Union
The new name reflects its worldwide reach as the credit union’s growth continues.
The $11.9 billion Alaska USA Federal Credit Union announced Thursday that it is dropping its geographically focused name and changing it to the more expansive Global Credit Union. The move came on the heels of the recent update to the credit union’s charter after Global Credit Union merged into Alaska USA – allowing anyone working in the U.S. Department of Defense, anywhere in the world, to join the credit union.
According to a statement from the Anchorage, Alaska-based credit union, it will begin operating as Global Credit Union on April 3. The headquarters will stay in Anchorage and the board of directors and executive team will all remain in place.
In August, Alaska USA and the Spokane, Wash.-based Global Credit Union merged, which created a credit union with 76 physical branches across Washington, Alaska, California, Idaho and Arizona. The merger also included Global’s branches on military bases in Italy.
President/CEO Geoff Lundfelt said despite the name changing, nothing will change for its more than 760,000 members who are located in all 50 states and more than 20 foreign countries.
“As this name change is implemented, our members will continue to receive the products and professional service they have come to know and expect from us,” Lundfelt said. “Our members will also continue to see us in the community as we interact, engage and invest to make our communities a better place to live, work and play. We are excited to welcome this new chapter and we look forward to reinforcing our commitment to our current members and embracing prospective members as we transition to the new name.”
In an email to CU Times, a spokesperson explained the messaging behind the new logo design.
“It was important that we honor and recognize our deep Alaskan roots, because, after all, that is where our journey began. These roots are expressed in the new Global Credit Union design. The ‘A’ in Global is a direct nod to the mountainous geography of the credit union’s Alaska beginnings. The blue and gold colors are also a gesture to the colors on the Alaska state flag. And finally, the gold ‘summit’ of the letter is an arrow, pointing to the future of our members’ financial well-being.”
Credit union officials said its members will begin to see and receive communications about the name change in the coming weeks.