Eastman Credit Union

What Eastman Credit Union does

Eastman Credit Union (ECU) is a member-owned financial cooperative founded in 1934 and headquartered at 2021 Meadowview Lane, Kingsport, Tennessee. Originally established to serve Eastman Chemical Company employees, ECU has grown into the largest credit union in Tennessee and ranks among the top 40 largest credit unions in the United States, serving more than 350,000 members. The institution operates 30 branch locations across East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and East Texas, complemented by 75+ ECU-owned ATMs and access to 56,200+ fee-free ATMs through the Allpoint and Presto networks. ECU is federally insured by the NCUA up to $250,000 per account and operates under the Equal Housing Opportunity framework.

ECU delivers a full-service retail and commercial banking platform organized across five pillars: deposit banking (Beyond Free Checking, savings, money market, investment certificates); lending (auto, mortgage, home equity, personal, RV and powersports, equipment, student, business, commercial real estate, and indirect lending at dealerships); credit and debit cards (Visa Platinum Preferred, Cash Rewards, Classic, Visa Secure, plus debit cards with mobile wallet support); planning and investing (Traditional/Roth IRAs, ECU Asset Management via LPL Financial, and Guided Wealth Portfolios); and business banking (business checking, online banking, treasury management, and commercial lending). Digital delivery runs through the ECU Mobile App, ECU Online web platform, ECU Cards App, ECU PhoneLink telephone banking, and integrations with Zelle, REPAY, SavvyMoney, and Ellie Mae. Subsidiaries ECU Title & Escrow and ECU Asset Management extend the platform into real estate settlement and wealth management, respectively.

Revenue is generated primarily through net interest margin on the lending portfolio (auto, mortgage, personal, RV/powersports, equipment, business, and credit card loans) funded by member deposits (checking, savings, money market, and investment certificates), with additional fee income from traditional banking services and referral economics from the LPL Financial investment partnership. ECU has returned over $225 million to members through its Extraordinary Dividend program, reflecting the cooperative mutual model in which profits are redistributed rather than extracted by external shareholders. Marketing and member acquisition leverage community events, financial wellness education through the Banzai and GreenPath partnerships in 250+ schools, content marketing, and a 24/7 member contact center, supported by 501-1000 employees across the three-state footprint.

Name

Eastman Credit Union

Legal name

Eastman Credit Union

Website

https://ecu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Eastman Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative founded in 1934 and headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, serving 350,000+ members across Tennessee, Virginia, and Texas through 30 branches and a full digital banking platform offering deposits, lending, credit cards, and investment services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213), Credit Card Issuing (522210)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141), National Commercial Banks (6021)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Employer/Occupational Credit Unions (FSABAEAB), Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL), General Purpose Credit Cards (FSAKABAA)

Keywords

• Consumer banking services
• Consumer loan products
• Mortgage and home equity lending
• Small business banking
• Credit union membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingsport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices33 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Lending: ECU generates revenue primarily through interest earned on loans including auto loans, mortgages, personal loans, RV/powersports loans, business loans, and credit cards. Rates vary by product type and member creditworthiness.
2. Deposit Interest: Credit union accepts member deposits (checking, savings, money market, investment certificates) and pays dividends. The spread between loan rates and deposit rates generates revenue.
3. Fee-based Services: Various banking services including wire transfers, certified checks, foreign currency exchange, and other traditional banking services may generate fee revenue.
4. ECU Asset Management: Investment services and financial consulting offered through partnership with LPL Financial, generating revenue through referred members accessing investment products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Eastman Credit Union is a member-owned credit union providing retail and commercial financial services to over 350,000 members across Tennessee, Virginia, and Texas. Its core offering is a full-service deposit and lending suite — consumer checking, savings, money market and certificate accounts, Visa credit and debit cards, plus auto, mortgage, home equity, personal, RV/powersports, equipment, and student loans — supplemented by business banking, retirement accounts, investment services through LPL Financial, and digital banking via the ECU Mobile App and ECU Online platform.

Product overview

Eastman Credit Union (ECU) is a federally insured, full-service financial institution serving over 350,000 members across Tennessee, Southwest Virginia, and East Texas. Its product portfolio is organized around five core pillars: (1) Deposit Banking — including Beyond Free Checking, Personal Savings, Money Market, and Investment Certificates, all accessible through ECU Digital Banking (ECU Mobile app and ECU Online web platform) and supported by Online Statements and Remote Deposit features; (2) Lending — a broad loan suite spanning auto loans, mortgage loans (including home equity and ECU Title & Escrow), personal loans, RV & powersports loans, equipment loans, student loans, and indirect lending through dealerships; (3) Credit & Debit Cards — Visa credit cards (Platinum Preferred, Cash Rewards, Classic, Visa Secure) and debit cards, all managed through the ECU Cards App with fraud alerts and mobile wallet support; (4) Plan & Invest — Individual Retirement Accounts (Traditional, Roth, Educational), ECU Asset Management (offered through LPL Financial), and Investment Certificates; and (5) Business Banking — Business Checking, Business Online Banking, Treasury Management, Business Loans, Commercial Real Estate, and Indirect Lending for merchants. Add-on products include GAP Plans, Mechanical Repair Coverage, ECU Loan Guardian payment protection, a Financial Wellness platform (GreenPath and Banzai), digital banking tutorials, an online calculators suite, ECU PhoneLink, and the ECU Security Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beyond Free Checking: Free checking account with no minimum balance requirements and dividends on all balances
• ECU Title & Escrow (ECUTE)
• ECU Asset Management (ECUAM)
• ECU Loan Guardian
• Guided Wealth Portfolios

Products and services

• ECU Beyond Free Checking A fee-free personal checking account for individual members with no minimum balance requirement, dividends paid on all balances, free debit card, and access to 56,200+ surcharge-free ATMs through Allpoint and Presto networks.
• Personal Savings Accounts A suite of savings accounts for individual members including Regular Savings, Christmas Club, Stash Your Cash, Health Savings Account (HSA), and Money Market Account, each tailored to different savings goals and earning tiered monthly dividends.
• Visa Credit Cards A portfolio of consumer Visa credit cards for ECU members including Platinum Preferred (fixed 9.90% APR), Cash Rewards (1%+ cash back, 12.90%-17.90% APR), Classic (variable 11.25%-18.00% APR), and Visa Secure credit-builder, with no annual fees and no international transaction fees.
• ECU Debit Cards Free Visa debit cards issued with Beyond Free Checking accounts, featuring EMV chip technology, contactless payments, 24/7 fraud monitoring, text fraud alerts, and support for Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay mobile wallets.
• ECU Digital Banking (ECU Mobile App & ECU Online) A unified digital banking platform comprising the ECU Mobile App (iOS/Android) and ECU Online (web) for members, offering account management, remote deposit capture, Zelle person-to-person transfers, SavvyMoney credit score monitoring, bill pay, money management tools, and interactive digital banking tutorials.
• Auto Loans New and used auto financing for individual members with APRs from 4.750%, terms up to 120 months, up to 125% financing including tax/title, online pre-qualification, electronic signature closing, and optional GAP coverage and mechanical repair coverage add-ons.
• Mortgage Loans Comprehensive mortgage suite for home purchase and refinance including 15- and 30-year Fixed Rate, 5/1 and 7/1 ARM, FHA, USDA (100% LTV), VA, Construction loans, ECU 100 Mortgage (100% LTV, no MI), ECU Choice (for professionals), ECU Cost Cutter, ECU Purchase Plus (up to 105% LTV), and First Time Home Buyers Program.
• Home Equity Loans & Lines of Credit Home equity loan products for members, including fixed-rate home equity loans with 5-, 10-, or 15-year terms and a home equity line of credit (HELOC) with a 15-year draw period and 20-year interest-only repayment option, with rates tied to prime and an 18% maximum APR cap.
• ECU Title & Escrow (ECUTE) A full-service real estate settlement company operated by ECU, offering title examination, title insurance, closing services, deed recording, and cash closings at select ECU branch locations for buyers and sellers.
• Personal Loans Unsecured personal loans for members at fixed rates from 8.450% APR with terms up to 84 months, including personal lines of credit at 11.850% APR, share/certificate secured loans, and accessibility loans for medical equipment or accessible transportation.
• RV & Powersports Loans Recreational vehicle and powersports financing for members covering boats, motorhomes, travel trailers, motorcycles, ATVs, and personal watercraft, with rates from 5.650% APR, terms up to 180 months, and up to 100% financing.
• Equipment Loans Fixed-rate equipment financing for commercial and personal equipment including tractors, construction machinery, trailers, landscaping equipment, forklifts, delivery vehicles, and golf carts, with terms up to 15 years and up to 100% financing for used equipment.
• Student Loans Student lending products for members and their families including a Student Line of Credit (4.400%-5.900% APR), Student Consolidation Loans (5.250%-7.750% APR), and Student Loan Advance requests, with interest-only repayment options available until graduation.
• GAP Plans Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) coverage that bridges the gap between what a member's auto insurance pays and the outstanding loan balance if a vehicle is declared a total loss due to accident or theft.
• Mechanical Repair Coverage Extended service contract that covers certain out-of-pocket repair expenses after the factory warranty expires, available as an add-on to ECU auto loans.
• ECU Loan Guardian A loan payment protection product that helps relieve the financial burden of a loan when income may be reduced or lost due to unexpected life events such as disability, unemployment, or death.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Tax-advantaged retirement savings vehicles for members including Traditional IRA (tax-deductible contributions, tax-deferred growth), Roth IRA (after-tax contributions, tax-free qualified withdrawals), and Educational IRA/Coverdell ESA for education expenses.
• ECU Asset Management A full-service investment program offered by ECU in partnership with LPL Financial, providing retirement planning, mutual funds, tax-deferred annuities, college savings plans, comprehensive financial analysis, business retirement plans, stocks, bonds, and Guided Wealth Portfolios for automated investing.
• Investment Certificates Share certificates (CDs) for members with terms from 30 days to 6 years, rates up to 3.80% APY, minimum deposits of $2,500 (30-364 days) or $1,000 (365+ days), and federally insured up to $250,000 by NCUA. Includes Lifeline Savers Certificate ($100 minimum) and HSA Certificate.
• Business Checking Business checking accounts for businesses of all types including sole proprietors, LLCs, corporations, and non-profits, with documentation requirements outlined for various entity structures and supported by Business Online Banking and Treasury Management tools.
• Treasury Management Services Cash management and treasury services for business members including tools for managing cash flow, collections, and disbursements, delivered alongside Business Online Banking.
• Business Loans Commercial lending products for businesses including business auto loans (from 5.95% APR), business equipment loans (from 7.00% APR), commercial real estate loans, and investment property loans.
• Commercial Real Estate Loans Financing for commercial real estate acquisitions, development, and refinancing for business members and investors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 350,000+ members served across three states
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• REPAYcoreTechnology or IntegrationECU partnered with REPAY to enable online loan payments using accounts from other financial institutions. Members can register and make payments using account/routing numbers from their existing banks.
• GreenPath Financial WellnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECU provides members free access to GreenPath's financial wellness services including financial counseling, debt management, housing counseling, and identity theft protection. Members can access these services at no cost.
• BanzaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECU partners with Banzai to provide financial literacy curriculum to schools in their service area. ECU sponsors free educational resources for elementary, middle, and high school classrooms, reaching over 250 schools across Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
• LPL FinancialcoreTechnology or IntegrationECU provides investment services through partnership with LPL Financial, offering retirement planning, mutual funds, tax-deferred annuities, college savings plans, and financial consulting through ECU Asset Management. LPL provides the platform and registered representatives.
• Allpoint ATM NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationECU members enjoy fee-free access to over 56,200 ATMs through the Allpoint network in addition to 75+ ECU-owned ATMs.
• Presto ATM NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationECU members enjoy fee-free access to Presto ATMs in addition to the Allpoint network and ECU-owned ATMs, providing extensive surcharge-free ATM access nationwide.
• ZellecoreTechnology or IntegrationECU integrated Zelle for real-time money transfers, allowing members to send and receive money directly through ECU Mobile and Online banking.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationECU offers Visa-branded credit and debit cards with fraud protection, rewards programs, and contactless payment capabilities through Visa's payment network.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Navy Federal Credit Union: Largest U.S. credit union with an employer-affiliated (military) origin and full-service consumer/mortgage/card platform. Directly comparable to ECU on member-owned cooperative structure, broad product suite, and large regional/national member base.
• State Employees' Credit Union (SECU): Large state-based credit union offering deposit, lending, credit card, and investment services to a defined membership group. Comparable to ECU on cooperative model, comprehensive product suite, and significant regional scale.
• BECU (Boeing Employees Credit Union): Originally an employer-based credit union (Boeing) that has since expanded to community membership. Comparable to ECU on employer-affiliated heritage that opened to broader community and a similar full-service banking offering.
• Golden 1 Credit Union: Large California-based credit union offering deposit, lending, credit card, and investment services. Comparable to ECU as a top-tier state-headquartered credit union with broad consumer and business banking products.
• Suncoast Credit Union: Florida-based credit union with comprehensive consumer, mortgage, business, and investment services. Comparable to ECU in scale, member-owned cooperative structure, and full-service retail banking model.
• America First Credit Union: Large Utah-based credit union serving consumer and business members across multiple states. Directly comparable to ECU on multi-state regional footprint, broad lending suite, and large member base.
• SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: California-based credit union originally serving school employees but now open to broader community. Comparable to ECU on employer-affiliated origin that expanded to community membership and on full-service banking platform.
• Lake Michigan Credit Union: Michigan-based credit union offering full-service consumer and business banking. Comparable to ECU on cooperative member-owned structure, broad product suite, and community-banking positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Wells Fargo: Large national bank with broad retail, mortgage, credit card, and wealth management offerings. Competes with ECU for the same consumer and small business deposit/lending relationships in ECU's tri-state footprint.

Regional players

• First Horizon Bank: Tennessee-headquartered regional bank with consumer, mortgage, and business banking. Direct overlap with ECU in the Tennessee geography and on consumer/commercial product suites.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLpqT68o7p0oG6bNH07YYtA
• Facebookfacebook.com/EastmanCreditUnion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eastman-credit-union
• Instagraminstagram.com/eastmancreditunion
• Xx.com/ecubesideyou

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Eastman Credit Union