Northeast Credit Union

What Northeast Credit Union does

Lighthouse Credit Union, originally founded in 1936 as Northeast Credit Union, is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative financial institution headquartered in Dover, New Hampshire, serving consumers and small businesses across the New England region. The credit union operates as a not-for-profit entity insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) under NMLS 784812 and offers a full-service retail and commercial banking platform spanning checking and savings accounts, share certificates, two proprietary credit card products (the Lighthouse Anchor Visa for credit builders and the Lighthouse Navigator Visa for rewards), a comprehensive mortgage and consumer lending suite (mortgages, construction, home equity, home improvement, ADU renovation, auto, boat/RV, motorcycle, credit builder, debt consolidation, personal, and student loans), and small business banking including checking, savings, credit cards, lines of credit, real estate loans, SBA loans, and term loans. Ancillary services include insurance (life, health, Medicare, vehicle, property) and wealth management (retirement, investment, education planning), delivered through partnerships.

The underlying technology stack centers on a digital banking platform accessible at secure.lighthousecu.org, a native mobile application for iOS and Android supporting remote check deposit, bill payments, transfers, and account management, and a MeridianLink-powered self-service online account opening workflow. A guest biller payment system allows loan payments without login. The credit union distributes through a regional branch network across New England plus digital channels, with marketing and acquisition supported by a multi-platform social presence (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube), an enhanced referral program, community nonprofit partnerships, and SEO-driven web acquisition.

Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on the consumer and commercial loan portfolio, with supplementary streams from deposit account fees, interchange on credit and debit card transactions, and referral/commission income from insurance and wealth management partners. The membership model requires only a $5 minimum deposit in the Lighthouse Savings share account, and core checking products carry no monthly fees or minimum balance requirements. Pricing is anchored by competitive loan rates, no-fee deposit accounts, and credit card APRs ranging from 12.74% to 15.74% based on product and creditworthiness.

Name

Northeast Credit Union

Legal name

Lighthouse Federal Credit Union

Website

https://necu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Lighthouse Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned New England credit union offering consumer and small business banking, mortgages, credit cards, lending, insurance, and wealth management through branches and digital channels.

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)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cooperative Banks (Member-Owned Commercial/Retail) (FSABAEAF)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending products
• Credit union membership
• Mortgage and home loans
• Small business banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Dover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income - Consumer Loans: The credit union generates revenue primarily through interest earned on consumer loans including mortgages, home equity loans, auto loans, personal loans, and credit cards. Interest rates range from 12.74% to 15.74% APR for credit cards based on creditworthiness.
2. Interest Income - Business Loans: Revenue from commercial lending including business checking, lines of credit, real estate loans, SBA loans, and term loans for small businesses.
3. Deposit Account Fees and Services: Fees from checking and savings account services, including courtesy pay services and potentially other banking fees.
4. Financial Solutions Services: Revenue from wealth management, retirement planning, investment services, insurance services (life & health, Medicare, vehicle, property), and education planning services offered through partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Northeast Credit Union, operating as Lighthouse Credit Union, is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative that provides consumer and small business financial services. It offers deposit accounts (checking, savings, share certificates), credit cards, mortgages and home loans, vehicle loans, personal financing, student loans, and business banking products, supplemented by insurance, wealth management, and digital banking channels.

Product overview

Lighthouse Credit Union is a New England-based financial institution offering a comprehensive suite of banking products through a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core offerings include personal checking and savings accounts (Lighthouse Checking, Lighthouse Savings, Lighthouse Premium Savings, Share Certificates), credit cards (Lighthouse Anchor Visa Card for credit building, Lighthouse Navigator Visa Card for rewards), and diverse lending products spanning home loans (Mortgages, Construction Loans, Home Equity Loans, Home Improvement Loans, ADU Home Renovation Loans), vehicle loans (Auto, Boat & RV, Motorcycle & Powersports), and personal financing (Credit Builder Loans, Debt Consolidation Loans, Personal Loans, Granite Edvance Student Loan Program). Business services include Business Checking, Business Savings, Business Credit Card, and business lending (Lines of Credit, Real Estate Loans, SBA Loans, Term Loans). The credit union provides supplementary financial services including Insurance (Life & Health, Medicare, Vehicle, Property), Wealth Management (Retirement Planning, Investment Services, Education Planning), and Digital Banking including a Mobile App for deposits, payments, and transfers. The organization focuses on community impact through reinvested earnings supporting local programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lighthouse Anchor Visa Card: Credit card designed for building credit with no annual fee, featuring low rates (12.74% to 15.74% APR).
• Lighthouse Navigator Visa Card
• Lighthouse Checking
• Lighthouse Rewards Checking
• Lighthouse Savings
• Lighthouse Premium Savings
• Share Certificates
• Granite Edvance Student Loan Program
• Pathways Buyer Program

Products and services

• Lighthouse Checking Everyday checking account with no monthly fees and no minimum balance requirements for individual members.
• Lighthouse Rewards Checking Rewards-earning checking account offering cash back or similar incentives for eligible members.
• Lighthouse Savings Basic savings account requiring a minimum $5 deposit to establish credit union membership.
• Lighthouse Premium Savings Premium savings account offering enhanced interest rates for larger balances held by members.
• Share Certificates Term savings certificates with fixed interest rates and defined maturity periods.
• Lighthouse Anchor Visa Card Credit-building Visa card with no annual fee and APR ranging from 12.74% to 15.74%, targeted at members starting or rebuilding credit.
• Lighthouse Navigator Visa Card Rewards Visa card offering cash back on purchases with no annual fee options for members.
• Mortgages Home mortgage loans for purchasing residential property by individual members.
• Construction Loans Financing for new home construction projects, provided to members building residential property.
• Home Equity Loans Loans secured by available equity in a member-owned residential property.
• Home Improvement Loans Financing for residential renovation and home improvement projects.
• ADU Home Renovation Loans Specialized loans for construction or renovation of accessory dwelling units.
• Auto Loans Vehicle financing for purchasing automobiles, available to individual members.
• Boat and RV Loans Financing for boats and recreational vehicles for credit union members.
• Motorcycle and Powersports Loans Loans for motorcycles and other powersports vehicles for members.
• Credit Builder Loans Loans designed to help members establish or improve credit history.
• Debt Consolidation Loans Loans to combine multiple debts into a single monthly payment for members.
• Personal Loans Unsecured personal loans for various individual financial needs.
• Granite Edvance Student Loan Program Student loan program offering education financing and refinancing for members.
• Business Checking Checking account tailored for small business banking needs.
• Business Savings Savings account for business deposits and reserves.
• Business Credit Card Credit card product designed for business expenses.
• Business Lines of Credit Revolving credit lines for business operational needs.
• Business Real Estate Loans Financing for commercial property acquisition and development by business members.
• SBA Loans Small Business Administration-backed loans for qualified small businesses.
• Business Term Loans Fixed-term loans for specific business investments and expenses.
• Insurance Services Insurance products including life and health, Medicare, vehicle, and property coverage offered to members through partnerships.
• Wealth Management Financial planning services including retirement planning, investment services, and education planning offered to members.
• Digital Banking Online banking platform enabling members to manage accounts, make secure payments, and deposit checks 24/7.
• Lighthouse Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android enabling remote check deposits, bill payments, and money transfers.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lighthouse Credit Union FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation is the charitable arm of the credit union, focused on community impact through partnerships with nonprofits and local organizations supporting affordable housing, food access, and community enrichment programs in New England.
• Nonprofit and Local Government OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with nonprofits and local government to support affordable housing initiatives and help community members find homes and essential shelter.
• EdvestinUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEdvestinU Refinance Program offered through Granite Edvance Student Loan Program, enabling student loan refinancing options for members.
• Pathways Buyer ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst-time home buyer program providing education and support for members purchasing their first home.
• NCUA (National Credit Union Administration)coreOthersFederal regulatory agency that insures and supervises credit unions. Lighthouse Credit Union is federally insured by NCUA.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Service Credit Union: New Hampshire-based member-owned credit union serving military and consumer members across New England with a comparable full-service suite of deposit, lending, and digital products. Closest comparable peer given overlapping geography, federal charter status, and similar scale.
• Bellwether Community Credit Union: New Hampshire-based community credit union offering consumer and business banking across southern New Hampshire and nearby Massachusetts. Directly comparable in regional footprint, member-owned structure, and full-service product offering.
• Triangle Credit Union: New Hampshire-based member-owned cooperative serving northern New England with checking, savings, mortgage, and business products. Highly comparable on geographic focus, federal charter status, and community credit union positioning.
• St. Mary's Bank: Manchester, NH-based federally chartered credit union — the oldest credit union in the United States. Directly comparable community credit union serving New Hampshire consumers and businesses with full banking products.
• Granite State Credit Union: New Hampshire-headquartered community credit union offering consumer and business banking across the state. Directly comparable on geography, scale, and full-service product platform.
• Members First Credit Union of New Hampshire: New Hampshire community credit union offering deposit accounts, lending, and digital banking to individuals and businesses across the region. Directly comparable as a same-state cooperative with overlapping product set.

Broad incumbents

• Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU): Massachusetts-based, one of the largest credit unions in New England with a digitally-forward, multi-state charter. Comparable in core product set and cooperative structure but materially larger and more digitally scaled.
• Hanscom Federal Credit Union: Massachusetts-based federal credit union serving military-affiliated members across New England and beyond. Comparable product set (checking, mortgages, business banking, wealth) with broader field of membership and larger scale.
• Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed): One of the largest U.S. credit unions, federally chartered, offering consumer banking, mortgages, and credit cards nationally. Comparable product portfolio and federal charter; differs in national scope and much larger asset base.

Regional players

• Bethpage Federal Credit Union: New York-based federal credit union operating primarily outside New England with a similar full-service deposit, lending, and digital platform. Comparable cooperative model and federal charter but geographically non-overlapping.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Northeast Credit Union