It all started seventy years ago with a small group of visionary GE employees—help people afford life. We’re proud of our humble beginnings. We’ve stayed true to our founding principles, giving everyone the opportunity to achieve financial wellness. Over the years we’ve seen our share of changes because banking has changed since 1952. What started as a small Membership closed to a GE plant has flourished into a thriving community-based credit union with over 43,000 Members. Our growth over the years has improved our ability to serve and give back to the communities we cherish so deeply. 

Here are some ways we’re giving back so everyone in our community has a chance to build a financially stronger future:

The Excite Foundation—Our foundation is dedicated to partnering with organizations to establish and expand sustainable Children’s Savings Account (CSA) programs and provide meaningful support and fundraising for our communities affected by economic inequality and natural disasters. Our CSA accounts are designed to help improve the chance that children living in low-income areas will attend college and earn a degree. So far, 626 savings accounts have been opened for first grade children and we plan to expand on that this year.

Community Development Financial Institution—Also known as CDFI, the US Department of Treasury recognized Excite Credit Union for its history of providing 60% of its loans to low and moderate income Members. This designation gives us the ability to apply for additional federal grant funding each year, increasing our lending efforts to those who need it most. 

Cape Fear Region Community Work—In 2021, we rolled out our Mobile Branch, which is a branch on wheels. This allowed us to go directly into underserved communities, bringing affordable financial services and education to neighborhoods who’ve been disproportionately shut out of mainstream banking. We’re bolstering our partnerships with community organizations like Wilmington Housing Authority and Coastal Horizons, putting words into action. Furthermore, we’re providing our team members with paid volunteer benefits to give back to the nonprofits they’re passionate about. Don’t be surprised to see our purple volunteer shirts at a nonprofit near and dear to you!

A New Headquarters—We’ve recently moved our headquarters to a new location in San Jose, CA. Though the move was not far from the old location, it better positions us to build relationships in neighborhoods who would benefit from a credit union. This new location will become a hub to share socially-conscious ideas, partner with community leaders, and train a new generation of people-helping-people.

If there’s one thing to know about Excite Credit Union, it’s that we give everyone the chance to build a financially stronger future. If you stop by one of our Wilmington locations, you might be speaking with a neighbor or a friend, but most importantly, someone dedicated to helping you improve your financial life. The banking landscape might have changed over the past 70 years, but our commitment to building stronger communities has remained steadfast—and we look forward to the next 70 years of doing even more.