Lighthouse Credit Union

What Lighthouse Credit Union does

Lighthouse Credit Union (legal name Lighthouse Federal Credit Union) is a member-owned, not-for-profit federal credit union founded in 1936 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine and now headquartered in Dover, New Hampshire. Operating under a federal charter granted by the NCUA, the institution manages approximately $2 billion in assets, serves more than 165,000 members, and runs a 17-branch network across New Hampshire and Maine. It rebranded from Northeast Credit Union in 2024 and converted from a state to a federal charter in the same year, broadening its permissible field of membership.

The product set centers on core retail deposits (Lighthouse Checking, Rewards Checking with 1% cash back, Savings, Premium Savings, and Share Certificates up to 4.00% APY), consumer credit (Anchor and Navigator Visa cards, mortgages, home equity, HELOC, auto/boat/RV/motorcycle loans, personal and credit-builder loans), and a full small-business suite (Business Checking, SBA loans, term loans, lines of credit, real estate loans). Wealth management and insurance are delivered through subsidiaries and partnerships: Lighthouse Wealth Advisors, powered by Cetera Financial Institutions, provides investment and retirement services across multiple states including CT, RI, FL, and VT, while TruStage, COVR, and NHSaves provide insurance and energy-efficiency loan distribution. The technology stack is conventional third-party (MeridianLink for onboarding, Biller Payments and LoansPQ for servicing, DocuSign for e-signature, Benefits Plus for member discounts) layered onto a member-facing mobile app on iOS and Android and shared CO-OP network access to 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs.

Revenue mechanics are typical of a cooperative depository institution: net interest income from mortgage, consumer, and business lending is the primary stream, with secondary income from account fees (e.g., $5/month Rewards Checking, overdraft transfers), credit card interchange, and referral/royalty economics from wealth-management, insurance, and utility-loan partnerships. The Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation, supported by a share of Premium Savings balances and corporate giving, conducts community programs in food security, affordable housing, and education that function as brand and member-acquisition investments rather than revenue lines.

Name

Lighthouse Credit Union

Legal name

Lighthouse Federal Credit Union

Website

https://lighthousecu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Lighthouse Credit Union is a member-owned, federally chartered credit union serving more than 165,000 members through 17 branches in New Hampshire and Maine, offering retail banking, mortgages, consumer and business loans, and wealth management via a Cetera partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (522130)

SIC

Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus) (FSABAEAA)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Mortgage lending
• Consumer lending
• Business banking
• Wealth management

Headquarters

HQ city

Dover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Primary revenue stream from interest earned on loans including mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, home equity loans, and business loans. Interest rates vary by product type and creditworthiness.
2. Fee Income: Various banking fees including overdraft protection transfer fees, credit card fees, and other service charges. Some accounts have fee structures such as $5 monthly for Rewards Checking with waiver options.
3. Wealth Management Partnership: Partnership with Cetera Financial Group for investment and wealth management services through Lighthouse Wealth Advisors, providing investment products, retirement planning, and insurance solutions.
4. Insurance Services: Partnership with TruStage for insurance products including life, AD&D, auto and home insurance. Also offers Medicare consulting services and vehicle insurance through partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lighthouse Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit federal credit union that provides retail banking, lending, and financial services to consumers, small businesses, and homebuyers. Its core offerings include checking and savings accounts, share certificates, Visa credit cards, mortgages, home equity, auto and personal loans, SBA and business banking, plus wealth management through Lighthouse Wealth Advisors (a Cetera partnership) and insurance products through TruStage.

Product overview

Lighthouse Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution offering a comprehensive suite of banking and financial services. The product portfolio centers on core deposit products (Lighthouse Checking, Lighthouse Rewards Checking, Lighthouse Savings, Lighthouse Premium Savings, Share Certificates), credit products (Lighthouse Anchor Visa and Navigator Visa credit cards, mortgages, construction loans, home equity products, auto/vehicle loans, personal loans), and business banking services (Business Checking, Business Savings, Business Credit Card, SBA Loans, Lines of Credit, Term Loans). The organization also provides wealth management through Lighthouse Wealth Advisors (a Cetera partnership), insurance services via TruStage and COVR, and digital banking tools. A Benefits Plus program offers member discounts, while the Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation manages community giving in affordable housing, food security, and education. The credit union operates primarily in New Hampshire and Maine with 17 branches serving over 165,000 members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lighthouse Wealth Advisors: Member-focused investment program providing wealth management, retirement planning, investment services, and insurance solutions through partnership with Cetera Investment Services.
• Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation

Products and services

• Lighthouse Checking Everyday checking account with no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements, offering overdraft protection (Courtesy Pay) and digital banking tools for individual members.
• Lighthouse Rewards Checking Rewards checking account paying 1% cash back on up to $5,000 in eligible debit card purchases per month (capped at $50/month), with $5 monthly fee waived at $2,500 average daily balance.
• Lighthouse Savings Basic share savings account requiring $5 minimum deposit to establish membership, paying 0.01% APY on all balances.
• Lighthouse Premium Savings Tiered high-yield savings account paying up to 2.48% APY depending on balance, with a charitable donation component to the Lighthouse Foundation based on average balance.
• Share Certificates Fixed-rate certificate accounts with terms from 6 to 60 months and APYs ranging from 2.47% to 4.00%, requiring a $500 minimum opening balance.
• Lighthouse Anchor Visa Card Visa credit card with no annual fee designed for members building or rebuilding credit, with a variable APR around 12.49%.
• Lighthouse Navigator Visa Card Rewards Visa credit card earning cash back on every purchase, with a variable APR starting at 15.49%.
• Mortgages Home purchase mortgage loans including 30-year, 20-year, and 15-year fixed-rate options plus adjustable-rate mortgages, with example 30-year fixed at 6.375% (6.586% APR).
• Construction Loans 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 12-month interest-only construction period, followed by fully amortized repayment, for new home builds in NH, MA, ME, or VT.
• Home Equity Loans & HELOC Second-lien fixed-rate home equity loans up to $400,000 with terms up to 180 months starting at 5.89% APR, plus an interest-only HELOC with a 10-year draw and 15-year payback starting at 6.75% APR.
• Home Improvement Loans Personal loans for home improvements including Home Heating Loans (5.69% APR), NHSaves Energy Efficiency Loans (0-2% APR for utility customers), and No Equity Loans.
• ADU Home Renovation Loans Fixed home renovation loans up to $200,000 for Accessory Dwelling Unit construction with a 9-month interest-only construction period, available only for homes in NH, MA, ME, or VT.
• Auto Loans New and used auto loans for model years 2014-2026 with terms up to 96 months and APRs starting at 5.19% for 2026-2024 models.
• Boat & RV Loans Recreational vehicle and boat loans with terms up to 180 months and APRs starting at 8.19%.
• Motorcycle & Powersports Loans ATV, motorcycle, and powersports loans with terms up to 72 months and APRs starting at 6.19%.
• Credit Builder Loans Secured personal loans from $500 to $2,000 at 7.69% APR designed to help members establish or rebuild credit history.
• Debt Consolidation Loans Personal loans used to consolidate existing debt into a single payment, with APRs up to 18% based on creditworthiness.
• Personal Loans Unsecured signature personal loans up to $75,000 with terms up to 60 months and APRs starting at 11.69%.
• Granite Edvance Student Loan Program Student loan program available to New Hampshire and Maine residents attending eligible institutions, offered in partnership with Granite Edvance.
• Pathways Buyer Program First-time homebuyer program allowing 100% LTV mortgages without PMI by engaging a friend or family member to fund a Pathways 60-Month Certificate as additional collateral.
• Business Checking Business banking account paying 0.01% APY on balances of $5,000 or more, designed for small business owners in NH and ME.
• Business Savings

Quantifiable outcome

• $2.2 million in assistance to 465 federal workers during government shutdown
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered important, minor, core and standard.

• SNAPBack SeacoastimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Food distribution partnership converting Dover headquarters into a food distribution site to supplement local food pantries during times of high demand and government challenges.
• Friends of the Portsmouth Harbor LighthousesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 July 2025Lighthouse Credit Union contributed $5,000 as first donor to National Lighthouse Day capital campaign to raise $100,000 for critical repairs to historic Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses.
• Cetera Financial Group / Cetera Investment ServicescoreTechnology or Integration · 17 December 2024Partnership for delivery of member-focused investment program through Lighthouse Wealth Advisors. Cetera provides brokerage services, investment products, and technology platform for wealth management services. Represents Cetera's network of nearly 500 financial institutions with 99% retention rate as of October 2024.
• New Hampshire Food BankimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of $125,000 Foundation donation as part of food insecurity initiatives. One of several nonprofit partners receiving support.
• Good Shepherd Food BankimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaine-based food bank receiving Foundation donation as part of $125,000 food insecurity initiative.
• Red's Good VibesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit receiving Foundation support as part of food insecurity donations.
• American Lighthouse FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent organization of Friends of the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses; Lighthouse Credit Union supports preservation efforts through donations.
• Maine Affordable Housing CoalitionimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to expand affordable housing awareness and resources in Maine, aligning with Foundation's focus areas.
• TruStage InsurancestandardTechnology or IntegrationProvides life insurance, AD&D, auto and home insurance products through TruStage Insurance Agency. Customer satisfaction rating of 4.7 stars.
• NHSaves (Eversource and other utility partners)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy efficiency loan program through Home Performance program. Eversource customers eligible for 0% APR loans; other NHSaves partners eligible for 2% APR loans.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eastern Bank: Eastern Bank is a large Massachusetts-based community-oriented bank with branches extending into New Hampshire, offering consumer, mortgage, wealth, and business banking products that overlap with Lighthouse's portfolio at greater scale.

Regional players

• Pentucket Bank / Haverhill Bank: Haverhill Bank and similar New England community banks provide consumer, mortgage, and small business banking products in adjacent MA/NH markets, competing with Lighthouse for cross-border consumers and small businesses.

Direct peers

• St. Mary's Bank: St. Mary's Bank is a NH-based, member-owned community credit union/bank offering a comparable consumer, mortgage, and business product suite, competing for the same New Hampshire members as Lighthouse.
• Bellwether Community Credit Union: Bellwether Community Credit Union is a NH-based community credit union serving members with a similar consumer deposit, mortgage, and business banking product set, directly competing with Lighthouse in southern NH and the Seacoast.
• Service Credit Union: Service Credit Union is a New Hampshire-based, military-affiliated community credit union with significantly larger assets, offering a comparable consumer/business lending and deposit product mix to Lighthouse across the same NH/ME geography.
• Maine State Credit Union: Maine State Credit Union is a Maine-based community credit union offering consumer, mortgage, and business banking products, competing for the same Southern Maine and Seacoast members as Lighthouse.
• Atlantic Federal Credit Union: Atlantic Federal Credit Union is a Maine-based community credit union providing consumer and mortgage products in geographic markets that overlap with Lighthouse's Maine footprint.
• New Hampshire Federal Credit Union: New Hampshire Federal Credit Union is a community-based federal credit union in NH providing consumer and mortgage products, competing with Lighthouse for member relationships across the state.
• Partners Credit Union: Partners Credit Union is a New England community credit union offering a similar suite of consumer deposits, mortgages, and personal lending products, competing with Lighthouse for the same regional member base.
• Ocean Communities Federal Credit Union: Ocean Communities Federal Credit Union is a Maine-based community credit union offering similar deposit, consumer lending, and mortgage products to members in markets overlapping with Lighthouse's Maine branches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lighthouse_cu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lighthouse_cu
• Facebookfacebook.com/lighthousecu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lighthouse-cu
• Instagraminstagram.com/lighthouse_cu

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lighthouse Credit Union