Westerra Credit Union
Westerra Credit Union is a Colorado-based, member-owned cooperative founded in 1934 offering consumer deposit accounts, mortgages, auto loans, HELOCs, and credit cards to Colorado residents and small businesses, distributed through state branches, a digital and mobile platform, and the CO-OP Shared Branching Network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1934
- HeadquartersLakewood, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Westerra Credit Union does
Westerra Credit Union is a Colorado-based, member-owned cooperative financial institution founded in 1934 by 8 teachers and federally chartered and insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). It operates with 251-500 employees from a Denver-area headquarters, serving Colorado residents and small businesses through physical branch locations across the state, a digital banking platform, and mobile applications for iOS and Android. Westerra monetizes primarily through net interest income on its lending portfolio — including conventional, FHA, VA, and jumbo mortgages, HELOCs, auto loans, credit cards, and specialty products (doctor/dentist, bridge, asset utilization, and non-warrantable condo loans) — supplemented by transaction fees on wires ($20 domestic / $50 international), Courtesy Pay overdraft charges ($25 per item), and minor membership fees. Distribution is amplified through the CO-OP Shared Branching Network, providing members access to 5,600+ shared branches and 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. The credit union pairs core banking with a community-engagement layer (Westerra Cares, $50K in annual school grants, scholarships, financial education via "You Can Learn Money"), and during 2025 it launched a Government Relief Loan product in response to the federal shutdown and underwent a CEO transition, appointing Todd Marksberry as Interim President & CEO. Strategic differentiators include competitive high-yield deposit products (Smart Money Checking up to 6.00% APY on the first $2,000, Money Market Select up to 4.00% APY), a low-fee Everyday Money Checking account, and specialty partnerships including a RENU energy efficiency loan program with the Colorado Clean Energy Fund and CHFA first-time homebuyer loan distribution.
Westerra Credit Union firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Westerra Credit Union
- Legal name
- Westerra Credit Union
- Website
- https://westerracu.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1934
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Westerra Credit Union is a Colorado-based, member-owned cooperative founded in 1934 offering consumer deposit accounts, mortgages, auto loans, HELOCs, and credit cards to Colorado residents and small businesses, distributed through state branches, a digital and mobile platform, and the CO-OP Shared Branching Network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Westerra Credit Union industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Banking (Credit Union)
- NAICS
- Credit Unions (522130), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)
- SIC
- Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus) (FSABAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Employer/Occupational Credit Unions (FSABAEAB), Credit Cards & Revolving Credit (FSABAAAC)
Keywords
Where Westerra Credit Union is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lakewood
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Westerra Credit Union business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Interest Income from Lending: Westerra generates primary revenue through interest earned on loan products including mortgages, auto loans, HELOCs, personal loans, and credit cards. Interest rates vary by product with competitive APRs ranging from 4.99% on HELOCs to 6.546%+ on 30-year fixed mortgages.
- Fee Income: Secondary revenue stream from various account and transaction fees including wire transfer fees ($20 domestic, $50 international), Courtesy Pay fees ($25 per overdraft), monthly maintenance fees on Interest Checking ($10), and various loan-related fees.
- Membership Fees: Minor membership fees including $5 prime share deposit required for account opening. Student accounts subject to general membership fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Monthly | 30-Year Fixed Mortgage - Purchase as low as 6.546% APR |
| Other | Monthly | Jumbo 30-Year Fixed - Purchase as low as 6.270% APR |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Auto Loans - Rates as low as 5.24% APR up to 60 months |
| Usage-based | Monthly | HELOC Select - Promotional rate as low as 4.99% APR for 12 months |
| Hybrid | Monthly | Smart Money Checking - Up to 6.00% APY on first $2,000 |
| Hybrid | Monthly | Money Market Select - Up to 4.00% APY |
| Subscription | Monthly | Interest Checking - Earn up to 0.15% APY |
| Freemium | Monthly | Everyday Money Checking - No monthly fees |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Wire Transfers - $20 domestic, $50 international |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Courtesy Pay - $25 fee per overdraft |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Westerra Credit Union product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Westerra Credit Union is a Colorado-based, member-owned credit union founded in 1934 by 8 teachers that provides personal banking, lending, and digital financial services to Colorado residents. Core offerings include checking and savings accounts (Smart Money Checking, Everyday Money Checking, Interest Checking, Money Market Select), consumer loans (auto, personal, HELOC, home equity), home mortgages (Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo, ARM, Construction, specialty loans), credit cards (Visa and Share Secured Visa), and digital banking tools with mobile deposit, real-time payments, and financial education resources.
Product overview
Westerra Credit Union is a Colorado-based credit union offering a comprehensive suite of financial products organized into three core categories: deposit accounts (Smart Money Checking, Everyday Money Checking, Interest Checking, and Money Market Select savings), lending products (auto loans, conventional/FHA/VA/jumbo/conventional mortgages, construction and renovation loans, HELOCs, home equity and home improvement loans, and specialty products including doctor/dentist loans, bridge loans, and asset utilization loans), and digital banking services (mobile app, digital wallet with Apple/Google/Samsung Pay, wire transfers, P2P payments, and card services). Additional offerings include credit cards (Visa and Share Secured Visa for credit building), student accounts, insurance services, overdraft protection, and community programs (scholarships and school grants). The portfolio includes AutoSMART for vehicle purchases and the RENU Loan Program for energy efficiency. The institution positions itself as a community-focused credit union founded by teachers in 1934, emphasizing member-owned values and financial literacy through its You Can Learn Money platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- You Can Do Money: Company tagline and financial education brand representing the credit union's philosophy of empowering members with financial confidence
Products and services
- Smart Money Checking
Quantifiable outcome
- Members can earn up to $120 per year with Smart Money Checking through 6.00% APY on first $2,000
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Westerra Credit Union
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Westerra Credit Union technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
Feature5 records
Westerra Credit Union partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Colorado Clean Energy Fund - RENU Loan ProgramcoreWesterra partners with the Colorado Clean Energy Fund to offer RENU (Residential Energy Efficiency) Loans for renewable energy home improvements. This partnership provides members with access to low, fixed-interest rate financing for energy efficiency upgrades through a statewide program, positioning Westerra as a green financing option.
- AutoSMARTsupportingAutoSMART is an online vehicle marketplace powered by credit unions that helps members find new or used vehicles at dealerships. Through this partnership, Westerra members can research vehicles, get trade-in values, access member pricing through fleet buyer relationships, and secure auto financing through Westerra.
- CO-OP Shared Branching NetworkcoreCO-OP Shared Branching is a national network enabling credit union members to conduct transactions at any participating credit union branch nationwide. Westerra members gain access to 5,600+ shared branches and 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs across the U.S., extending service beyond local branches.
- Colorado Homeownership CoalitionsupportingWesterra financially supports the Colorado Homeownership Coalition which provides mortgage assistance to individuals and families. Since 2019, Westerra has committed up to $10,000 annually in donations to help people stay in their homes. In 2019 specifically, Westerra donated $7,640 to help people stay in their homes.
- NADA Used Car GuidessupportingPartnership providing NADA Used Car Guide values and research tools to help auto loan members understand vehicle values for trade-ins and purchases through the AutoSMART platform.
- CHFA (Colorado Housing and Finance Authority)coreWesterra offers CHFA loan programs for first-time homebuyers in Colorado, including down payment assistance options and competitive interest rates through the state housing authority. CHFA loans are highlighted as a pathway to homeownership for first-time buyers.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Westerra Credit Union competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bellco Credit Union: Colorado-based community credit union with a similar member-owned model, comparable deposit/lending products, and direct competition for the same Denver-area consumer and small business members.
- Canvas Credit Union: Colorado community credit union with overlapping personal banking, mortgage, and auto loan products and similar member-focused digital banking capabilities.
- Elevations Credit Union: Boulder-headquartered Colorado credit union serving a similar geographic footprint, with overlapping checking, mortgage, and HELOC offerings and comparable member-owned positioning.
- ENT Credit Union: One of Colorado's largest credit unions, providing direct competition across the same deposit, mortgage, and consumer lending categories, with broader branch reach across the Front Range.
- Premier Members Credit Union: Boulder/Denver-based Colorado credit union with comparable member-owned structure and competing deposit, lending, and digital banking product set.
Broad incumbents
- Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU): Large national digital-first credit union offering high-yield checking and consumer lending, providing a benchmark for digital member experience that Westerra's mobile stack must match.
- Alliant Credit Union: Large national digital-first credit union that competes for Colorado members remotely with high-yield checking and savings, exerting pressure on local deposit pricing.
- SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: Larger educator-focused credit union analogous to Westerra's teacher-originated charter, illustrating the strategic archetype and scale benchmarks for an occupational/community blend CU.
- Navy Federal Credit Union: Largest U.S. credit union by assets, serving as a structural benchmark for member-owned scale, digital capabilities, and product breadth across deposits, mortgages, and consumer lending.
Emerging players
- SoFi Bank (SoFi Technologies): Digital-first consumer bank competing for high-yield deposit and consumer lending relationships from Colorado residents, intensifying direct competition on rate and mobile UX.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Westerra Credit Union social profiles
Digital presenceWesterra Credit Union compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Westerra Credit Union financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Westerra Credit Union leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Westerra Credit Union funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Westerra Credit Union M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Westerra Credit Union
What does Westerra Credit Union do?
Westerra Credit Union is a Colorado-based, member-owned credit union founded in 1934 by 8 teachers that provides personal banking, lending, and digital financial services to Colorado residents. Core offerings include checking and savings accounts (Smart Money Checking, Everyday Money Checking, Interest Checking, Money Market Select), consumer loans (auto, personal, HELOC, home equity), home mortgages (Conventional, FHA, VA, Jumbo, ARM, Construction, specialty loans), credit cards (Visa and Share Secured Visa), and digital banking tools with mobile deposit, real-time payments, and financial education resources.
Is Westerra Credit Union a public or private company?
Westerra Credit Union is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Westerra Credit Union founded?
Westerra Credit Union was founded in 1934. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Westerra Credit Union based?
Westerra Credit Union is headquartered in Lakewood, United States, in the North America region.
How does Westerra Credit Union make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Interest Income from Lending is the primary driver. The others are fee Income and membership Fees.
Who are Westerra Credit Union's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bellco Credit Union, Canvas Credit Union, Elevations Credit Union, ENT Credit Union and Premier Members Credit Union. Broad incumbents are Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU), Alliant Credit Union, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and Navy Federal Credit Union. SoFi Bank (SoFi Technologies) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Westerra Credit Union have an API?
No public API is recorded for Westerra Credit Union.
What industry is Westerra Credit Union in?
Westerra Credit Union's product category is Retail Banking (Credit Union). Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABAEAA, Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus), with a secondary code of FSABAEAB, Employer/Occupational Credit Unions. Its NAICS code is 522130 and its SIC code is 6035.