North Star Community Credit Union

What North Star Community Credit Union does

North Star Community Credit Union (NSCCU) is a member-owned financial cooperative founded in 1943 and headquartered in Maddock, North Dakota. The credit union serves consumers, agricultural producers, military personnel at Minot Air Force Base, and youth segments across North Dakota, with membership eligibility defined by geographic proximity to branch locations. Its offerings span deposits (savings, checking under the Star and Star+ Rewards tiers, share certificates at promotional rates of 3.60% APY for 14 months, IRA, HSA), consumer credit (credit cards, personal loans, CometCash, balance transfers, auto and specialty vehicle loans with up to $1,000 cash back incentive, real estate loans), commercial and agricultural lending, prepaid and gift cards, safe deposit boxes, and an estate planning tool. Digital channels include the Anytime Online platform and a native mobile application supporting iOS, iPad, Apple Watch, and Android, with biometric login, mobile check deposit, real-time person-to-person payments, and accessibility features for neurodiverse users. FinTech integrations include SavvyMoney for credit score monitoring and (as of November 2025) Equipifi for debit-card Buy Now, Pay Later — the first such program in North Dakota.

The business model is built on three revenue streams: net interest income from the lending portfolio (consumer, agricultural, commercial, real estate), dividend expense on member deposits, and transaction and service fees including interchange and BNPL-related charges. Pricing is positioned as member-friendly with no monthly fee on Star Checking, a low fixed monthly fee on Star+ Rewards, a 0.99% APR introductory offer on home improvement credit card balances, and a low $10 minimum opening deposit for checking accounts. Distribution is omnichannel: 11 branches plus 2 standalone ATMs across North Dakota (including a dedicated on-base branch and on-base ATMs at Minot AFB), MoneyPass and CO-OP network surcharge-free ATM access, online applications, and the mobile app. Marketing relies on community engagement (scholarships, donations, sponsorships), blog content on financial wellness, organic social (Facebook, Instagram), quarterly newsletters, and a Refer-a-Friend program. The institution is NCUA-insured, member-governed, and operates without a parent company or external equity backing; the leadership team comprises CEO Bob Herrington, retiring COO Joann Bergrud (effective December 31, 2026), and VP of Operations Yvonne Fossen.

Name

North Star Community Credit Union

Legal name

North Star Community Credit Union

Website

https://northstarccu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1943

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

North Star Community Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Maddock, North Dakota, serving North Dakota residents, agricultural producers, military personnel at Minot Air Force Base, and youth and families through 13 branches, digital banking, and a full product suite including deposits, consumer and ag lending, and the state's first debit BNPL program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141), Commercial Banks, Nec (6029)

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
• Agricultural loan financing
• Community credit union
• Digital banking platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Maddock

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Deposit Taking: Accepts member deposits including savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates of deposit, IRA and HSA accounts. Members earn dividends (interest) on deposited funds.
2. Lending Operations: Provides various loan products including auto loans, specialty vehicle loans, personal loans, real estate loans, agricultural loans, commercial loans, and credit cards. Generates interest income from loan portfolios.
3. Service Fees: Generates revenue from various service fees including ATM fees (though emphasizing fee-free network), potentially overdraft fees, and other account service charges. Checking accounts offer Star and Star+ reward tiers.
4. BNPL Program: Debit card Buy Now, Pay Later program enabling members to split purchases into installments. Revenue generated through transaction fees and member convenience charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

North Star Community Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative providing deposit products (savings, checking, share certificates, IRAs/HSAs, youth accounts), a full lending suite (auto, specialty vehicle, personal, real estate, agricultural, and commercial loans, plus credit cards and CometCash), and digital banking services (Anytime Online and mobile app). It serves individuals, agricultural producers, and military families across North Dakota through 11 branches, 2 standalone ATMs, and surcharge-free access to the MoneyPass and CO-OP networks.

Product overview

North Star Community Credit Union offers a comprehensive suite of financial products and services through a unified platform. Core offerings include savings and checking accounts, certificates of deposit, IRAs and HSAs, credit cards, and various loan products (auto, personal, real estate, agricultural, and commercial). The credit union has modernized its digital banking with the Anytime Online platform and mobile app, which includes integrated features like BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) powered by Equipifi and SavvyMoney credit monitoring. The product portfolio serves individual members, families, farmers, and businesses across North Dakota.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Anytime Online: Digital banking platform and mobile app for online and mobile account access, featuring account management, fund transfers, bill payments, and check deposits.
• Star Checking
• Star+ Rewards Checking
• CometCash Loan

Products and services

• Savings Accounts Standard savings accounts for members to deposit and grow funds with competitive rates. Offered to individual members across the North Dakota branch footprint.
• Share Certificates (Certificate of Deposit) Term-deposit share certificates with fixed terms and guaranteed returns, including a summer promotional 3.60% APY for 14 months. Available to members seeking higher-yield deposits.
• IRA and HSA Accounts Individual Retirement Accounts and Health Savings Accounts for tax-advantaged long-term savings. Available to individual members.
• Youth Accounts Savings accounts designed for children and teenagers to develop healthy financial habits. Targets youth and family members within the eligibility area.
• Payment (Checking) Accounts Checking accounts including the free Star Checking tier (with nationwide Fee-Free ATM network and debit card round-up) and the premium Star+ Rewards Checking (with ATM fee refunds and higher dividends). Targets consumer members with as little as a $10 opening deposit.
• Buy Now, Pay Later (Debit BNPL) Debit-card Buy Now, Pay Later program allowing members to split purchases into installments or receive funds in advance, integrated within mobile and online banking platforms. First such program in North Dakota, powered by Equipifi.
• Credit Cards Credit card products including special rate offers such as 0.99% APR for 6 months on home improvement purchases and balance transfer options. Available to individual members.
• Prepaid and Gift Cards Prepaid cards and gift cards for convenient spending and gifting, available to members and non-members for purchase.
• Auto Loans Vehicle loans for purchasing automobiles at low rates. Promotional offer includes up to $1,000 cash back for members moving an auto or specialty vehicle loan to NSCCU.
• Specialty Vehicle Loans Loans for specialty vehicles including recreational vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, and other non-standard vehicles. Available to consumer members.
• CometCash Loan Short-term, payday-style personal loan product offered by the credit union to members needing fast access to funds.
• Personal Loans Unsecured personal loans for general expenses, debt consolidation, or major purchases. Available to credit-union members.
• Real Estate Loans Mortgage and home equity loans for purchasing or refinancing real estate properties, including a First-Time Homebuyer resource program. Targets consumer members.
• Ag Loans Customized agricultural loans for family farms and producers, including operating lines of credit, equipment, and farm real-estate financing at competitive rates. Backed by experienced Ag Loan Officers. NSCCU has served local agricultural producers for over 80 years.
• Commercial Loans Business lending products for commercial enterprises, including operating capital and business expansion financing for local businesses across the branch footprint.
• Safe Deposit Boxes Secure physical storage solution for valuable documents and items, available at branch locations for members.
• Anytime Online Digital Banking Platform Full-service online banking platform providing account management, money transfers, bill payments, check deposits, statement access, real-time Person-to-Person payments, and biometric login, available 24/7 via web browser.
• North Star CCU Mobile App Native mobile banking app for iOS, Android, and Apple Watch featuring fingerprint/Face ID login, Quick Balance viewing, fund transfers, loan payments, mobile check deposit, bill pay, and neurodiverse accessibility options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Asset growth from under $80 million (2005) to over $411 million (2022)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EquipificoreTechnology or Integration · 12 November 2025Equipifi powers North Star Community Credit Union's debit BNPL program, the first in North Dakota. The partnership enables members to split purchases into installments or receive funds in advance on eligible debit card purchases, integrated within NSCCU's mobile and online banking platforms.
• MoneyPasscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoneyPass ATM network partnership provides NSCCU members surcharge-free cash withdrawals at thousands of MoneyPass ATM locations nationwide, enhancing member accessibility beyond branch locations.
• CO-OP NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCO-OP credit union network partnership enables NSCCU members to access surcharge-free ATMs at CO-OP network locations, providing additional fee-free cash access for members.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Starion Bank: Starion Bank is a North Dakota-chartered community bank operating across the state with consumer, business, and ag lending. Its community-banking model and overlapping North Dakota footprint position it as a broad incumbent peer to NSCCU.
• Gate City Bank: Gate City Bank is a large mutual community bank headquartered in Fargo, ND with statewide coverage in deposits, lending, and mortgage services. As a much larger established regional incumbent, it competes head-on with NSCCU across multiple product lines and geographies.
• First International Bank & Trust: First International Bank & Trust is a community bank serving North Dakota and surrounding states with consumer, commercial, and agricultural banking products. It competes directly for NSCCU's ag and consumer members while operating at significantly larger scale.

Regional players

• Alerus Financial: Alerus Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in Grand Forks, ND offering banking, mortgage, retirement, and wealth services across the upper Midwest. While broader in scope, it serves overlapping North Dakota retail and commercial customers, making it a relevant regional peer.

Direct peers

• Bell Credit Union: Bell Credit Union is a North Dakota-based community credit union providing consumer and agricultural lending, deposits, and digital banking. Its branch network, membership eligibility, and product mix are highly comparable to NSCCU's footprint.
• Town & Country Credit Union: Town & Country Credit Union is a member-owned cooperative headquartered in Minot, ND serving North Dakota communities with deposit, lending, and digital banking products. Overlapping branch geography, similar member base, and comparable community credit union positioning make it the most directly comparable peer.
• Western Cooperative Credit Union: Western Cooperative Credit Union is a member-owned cooperative serving western North Dakota and Montana with a strong agricultural lending focus. Its rural, ag-centric franchise overlaps directly with NSCCU's 80-year farm lending heritage.
• Cornerstone Credit Union: Cornerstone Credit Union operates multiple branches across the upper Midwest with a community-based, member-owned model similar to NSCCU. Its consumer and agricultural lending mix, multi-branch geography, and digital-first strategy closely mirror North Star's profile.
• Capital Credit Union: Capital Credit Union, based in Bismarck, ND, is another North Dakota community credit union offering deposit accounts, consumer loans, and digital banking services. Comparable member demographics, branch-based service model, and similar tier make it a direct peer.

Emerging players

• AgCountry Farm Credit Services: AgCountry Farm Credit Services is a Farm Credit System lender serving farmers and ranchers in eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. While structurally different (system-affiliated FCS lender), it competes directly for NSCCU's agricultural borrowers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nsccu
• Instagraminstagram.com/northstarccu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-star-community-credit-union

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 North Star Community Credit Union