Name

Bell Credit Union

Legal name

Bell Credit Union

Website

https://bellcu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (522130), Credit Card Issuing (52221)

SIC

Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Employer/Occupational Credit Unions (FSABAEAB), Branch & In-Person Banking (Teller/ATM Networks) (FSABAAAE), Credit Cards & Revolving Credit (FSABAAAC)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending products
• Share savings accounts
• Vehicle loan financing
• Member-owned credit union

Headquarters

HQ city

Hutchinson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: The credit union earns interest income on all types of loans including vehicle loans, student loans (in partnership with Sallie Mae), personal/signature loans, and credit cards. Interest rates vary by credit tier and collateral type, with APRs ranging from 3.75% for new vehicle loans to 17.75% for lower-tier signature loans.
2. Share Draft (Checking) Account Fees: Revenue from account-related fees including excessive transaction fees (over 50 checks/month), early account closing fees, check copies, stop payments, and NSF/overdraft charges.
3. Convenience Service Fees: Fees charged for convenience services including ATM/debit card replacements, cashier's checks, check cashing, counter checks, dormant account fees, wire transfers, money orders, Visa gift/travel cards, and fax/copy services.
4. Share Certificate and Savings Interest Spreads: The credit union pays out interest on deposits (share savings, money market, IRAs, share certificates) at published APYs while earning higher rates on loans, generating net interest margin. Share certificate rates range from 0.60% to 4.06% APY.
5. Credit Card Interest: VISA credit card interest income at 10.90% APR on outstanding balances.
6. Third-Party Insurance and Warranty Referrals: Referral fees from partnerships including TruStage insurance products and Route 66 Extended Vehicle Warranty, and GAP coverage sales ($400 per vehicle).
7. GAP Coverage: Guaranteed Auto Protection coverage sold for $400 per vehicle, regardless of financed amount or loan length. Pays the difference between market value and loan balance if vehicle is totaled.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bell Credit Union is a member-owned cooperative financial institution that delivers retail banking products and consumer loans to individuals and families in eight Kansas counties. Its core offerings encompass share savings accounts, share draft checking, money market accounts, share certificates and IRAs, new and used vehicle loans, signature loans, Sallie Mae-partnered student loans, a 10.90% APR VISA credit card, GAP coverage, and TruStage insurance referrals, all delivered through a single Hutchinson, KS branch combined with a 24/7 Member Access online and mobile banking platform.

Product overview

Bell Credit Union operates as a traditional credit union offering a comprehensive suite of financial products organized around core banking services. The primary product is the Member Access online and mobile banking platform, which serves as the digital hub for account management. The core deposit products include Share Savings, Share Draft Checking, Money Market, Share Certificates (CDs), and Individual Retirement Accounts. Lending products encompass Vehicle Loans for new/used vehicles and recreational vehicles, and a Sallie Mae partnership for student loans. Credit offerings include a VISA credit card with Score rewards. Insurance and protection products include GAP Coverage and TruStage insurance. Additional services include calculators for loans and savings, Email Statements, Discount Travel & Entertainment Program, and various fee-based convenience services. The product architecture is unified around the credit union's member-owned cooperative model, with all offerings designed to serve members in Reno, Stafford, Rice, Kingman, McPherson, Harvey, Pratt, and Sedgwick Counties in Kansas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Member Access Online and Mobile Banking 24/7 web-based and mobile banking platform that enables members to view account activity, transfer funds between savings and checking, make loan payments, view checks written and deposits, request withdrawals, and conduct remote mobile deposits. Available through the bellcu.com Member Access portal and native iOS and Android apps.
• Share Savings Account Primary savings account that establishes credit union membership with a $25 minimum opening deposit and 0.25% APY. Required as the foundation account for any member.
• Special Shares Account Separate savings account distinct from the main Share Savings, usable for any purpose and earning 0.25% APY.
• Christmas Club Account Savings account designed for payroll-deduction contributions throughout the year, with funds disbursed in November for holiday expenses, earning 0.25% APY.
• Money Market Shares Account Tiered-rate savings account with rates from 1.00% to 2.02% APY depending on balance, requiring a $1,500 minimum to earn interest.
• Share Certificates (CDs) Certificates of Deposit with terms from 6 to 36 months, APYs ranging from 0.60% to 4.06% (with promotional 13-month and 19-month terms), minimum $500-$1,000 balance required, and early withdrawal penalties apply.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Retirement savings accounts including Traditional, Roth, and Educational IRAs, plus IRA Certificate Investments, earning 2.02% APY with potential tax deductions and deferred taxation on accumulated interest.
• Share Draft Checking Checking account with no monthly service charge when writing under 50 checks per month, no minimum balance requirement, debit card access to CO-OP Network ATMs, and free Club Checks for members aged 55+.
• Vehicle Loans Financing for new and used vehicles and recreational vehicles including boats, motorcycles, and ATVs, with APRs starting at 3.75% for Tier A new vehicles, pre-approval before dealer visits, NADA vehicle valuation, CarFax reports, optional GAP coverage, and a rate-match guarantee.
• Sallie Mae Student Loans Student loan referral program offering Sallie Mae Smart Option Student Loans for undergraduate, graduate, career training, and professional students with multiple repayment options, no origination fees, and no prepayment penalties; loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank.
• VISA Credit Card Low-rate VISA credit card at 10.90% APR with Scorecard Rewards points redeemable for incentive gifts, mobile/online account management through ezcardinfo.com, and after-hours customer service at 1-800-322-8472.
• GAP Coverage Guaranteed Auto Protection that pays the difference between the vehicle's market value and the loan balance if the vehicle is totaled due to accident or theft, priced at a flat $400 per vehicle regardless of financed amount or loan length, available for vehicles less than 18 years old.
• Email Statements Paperless statement delivery via secure email notification that delivers statements to members as soon as they are generated, eliminating mail delivery delays.
• Convenience Services Fee-based services including ATM/debit card replacement ($5), CarFax ($15), cashier's checks ($3), check cashing, check copies, counter checks, dormant account fees, duplicate statements, early closing fees, excessive checking transaction fees, fax/photocopies, garnishment/tax levy processing, loan administration fees, loose coin counting, mailed receipts, money orders ($1), NSF overdraft fees, outgoing wires ($18), returned deposit check fees, stop payments ($25), address/email changes, Visa gift cards ($3), and Visa travel cards ($5).
• TruStage Insurance Program Insurance products offered through the TruStage Trustage Insurance Program, including auto, life, and home insurance, marketed to credit union members as 'insurance the credit union way.'
• eGuard Fraud Protection Security layer implemented through the credit union's data processor to prevent fraudulent transactions; members receive a one-time passcode via text message or knowledge-based verification (zip code, mother's maiden name, date of birth) when making online purchases, with no wireless number on file triggering the knowledge-based verification flow.

Quantifiable outcome

• Auto loan rates as low as 3.75% APR for new vehicles (Tier A credit)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sallie MaecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBell Credit Union partners with Sallie Mae to offer student loans for undergraduate, graduate, career training, and professional students. Products include Smart Option Student Loan for undergraduate students. Bell Credit Union refers members to Sallie Mae and receives compensation for each referral. Loans are made by Sallie Mae Bank, not Bell Credit Union. No origination fees and no prepayment penalties on offered products.
• TruStage (Trustage Insurance Program)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTruStage insurance products offered through the Trustage Insurance Program, providing auto, life, and other insurance coverage marketed to credit union members as 'insurance the credit union way.' Promoted through the credit union's news and member communications.
• CO-OP NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationCO-OP Network provides surcharge-free ATM access to Bell Credit Union members at over 30,000 ATMs in the United States and Canada. Bell CU debit cards work at CO-OP Network terminals for cash withdrawals, deposits, and transfers.
• Love My Credit Union RewardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBell Credit Union participates in the Love My Credit Union Rewards program, offering members discounts on flights, hotels, rental cars, concerts, parks, and more.
• Scorecard RewardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVISA credit card participates in the Scorecard Rewards program where each purchase earns points redeemable for gifts through www.scorecardrewards.com. Points-earning loyalty program tied to the credit card product.
• SmartSource Solutions, LLCminorOthersWebsite development and hosting provider powering the bellcu.com website.
• Kansas Credit Union Association (KCUA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBell Credit Union is affiliated with the Kansas Credit Union Association (kcua.coop), which provides regulatory support, advocacy, and resources for Kansas credit unions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Meritrust Credit Union: Wichita, Kansas-based community credit union serving similar consumer and auto lending needs across central Kansas. Directly comparable in product mix (deposits, vehicle loans, credit cards), regulatory structure (NCUA-insured cooperative), and target member demographic.
• Wichita Federal Credit Union: Wichita-based Kansas credit union serving consumer and small-business members with deposits, loans, and digital banking. Comparable in regional Kansas footprint, NCUA-regulated structure, and community focus.
• Mainstreet Credit Union: Kansas-based community credit union with a comparable full-service deposit and consumer lending offering. Closely aligned in scale, NCUA-insured cooperative structure, and Midwestern community-banking orientation.
• Sunflower Credit Union: Kansas-headquartered community credit union offering deposit accounts, vehicle loans, and consumer credit products to Kansas residents. Comparable in geographic focus, cooperative ownership model, and product breadth.
• Mid American Credit Union: Kansas-based community credit union offering consumer deposits, vehicle loans, and member-owned cooperative banking services. Comparable in scale, geography, and product offering.

Broad incumbents

• Alliant Credit Union: Large Illinois-based digital-first credit union serving members nationwide with high-yield savings, credit cards, and consumer loans. Comparable product portfolio but operates at materially greater scale with a digital-native model that competes for the same Kansas members.
• Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU): Massachusetts-based digital-first credit union with national membership and a broad suite of consumer lending and deposit products. Comparable in core offerings (deposits, auto loans, credit cards) but operates at much greater scale and with a more mature digital platform.
• Connexus Credit Union: Large Wisconsin-headquartered credit union with national digital reach, offering high-yield deposits, vehicle loans, and consumer credit products. Comparable in core product categories, but operates at substantially greater scale with broader geographic reach than Bell.

Regional players

• Kansas State University Federal Credit Union: University-affiliated Kansas credit union serving the K-State community in Manhattan, KS. Comparable in scale and Kansas geography, with a more narrowly defined (university/employer) field of membership that parallels Bell's original Southwestern Bell charter.
• University of Kansas Credit Union: Lawrence, Kansas-based credit union serving the KU community. Comparable in NCUA-insured cooperative structure and Kansas operating geography, with a university-affiliated membership field.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bellcreditunion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bell-credit-union

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Bell Credit Union