Ripco Credit Union

What Ripco Credit Union does

Ripco Credit Union is a state-chartered, not-for-profit cooperative financial institution headquartered in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, serving individuals, families, students, and small businesses across seven northern Wisconsin counties (Oneida, Forest, Florence, Vilas, Langlade, Lincoln, Price). Founded in 1932 as a paper-mill employee association and one of the first credit unions chartered in Wisconsin, the institution has grown to 13,351 members and $187,700,111 in total assets as of its 2025 annual report. It operates four branches — Rhinelander (headquarters), Eagle River, Minocqua (opened October 2024), and a student-run branch at Rhinelander High School — supplemented by drive-thru, mobile app, online banking (It'sMe247 platform), video banking, text banking, audio banking, and a 24/7 chatbot ("Rippy").

Name

Ripco Credit Union

Legal name

Ripco Credit Union

Website

https://ripco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1932

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ripco Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative bank chartered in 1932, serving 13,351 members across seven northern Wisconsin counties with retail and small-business banking, consumer and mortgage lending, and a multi-channel digital platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

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

SIC

Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending products
• Credit union membership
• Deposit account services
• Small business banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Rhinelander

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: Interest earned on vehicle loans (auto, recreational), mortgage loans, home equity products, personal loans, business loans, and credit cards. Primary revenue driver for the credit union.
2. Deposit Account Fees: Various account-related fees including overdraft fees, early withdrawal penalties on CDs, and monthly maintenance fees for accounts below minimum balances.
3. Credit Card Interchange: Transaction fees earned from Cash Rewards Visa card transactions processed through payment networks.
4. Service Charges: Fees for services including wire transfers, official checks, Bill Pay, and other ancillary banking services.
5. REPAY Payment Processing: $8.00 fee for debit card loan payments through REPAY platform; ACH transfers from bank accounts are free.
6. HSA Account Fees: Revenue from Health Savings Accounts including potential administration fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ripco Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative that provides retail and small business banking products and services to individuals, families, and businesses across seven counties in northern Wisconsin. Core offerings include checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, IRAs, HSAs, vehicle and recreational loans, personal loans, mortgages, home equity loans, land loans, credit cards, student loans, and business banking services, delivered through four physical branches and a comprehensive digital banking platform (mobile app, online banking, video/text/audio banking, remote deposit, and digital wallet support).

Product overview

Ripco Credit Union offers a comprehensive suite of financial products and services organized as a unified banking platform with multiple product categories. Personal banking includes checking accounts (Everyday, Rewards, Teen), savings accounts (Everyday Savings, Savers Sweepstakes, Christmas Club, Kids Club, Money Market), health savings accounts, and IRAs. Lending products encompass vehicle loans, recreational loans, flexible personal loans, Kwik Cash Line of Credit, student loans, Cash Rewards VISA credit card, mortgage loans, home equity products, and land loans. Business banking features business checking, business savings, and business loans with BizLink platform access. Digital banking services include mobile banking app, online banking through It'sMe247, A2A and P2P transfers, remote deposit, early deposit, tap to pay, round-up savings, audio banking, video banking, and digital wallet integration with Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Additional services include insurance products through TruStage, financial management services, financial wellness through GreenPath, REPAY payment services, GAP protection, Hometown Heroes Program, Community Cash Back Program, and referral rewards. The credit union serves members in seven counties of northern Wisconsin through four branch locations and comprehensive digital banking channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Everyday Checking No-fee checking account for individuals with no minimum opening deposit, unlimited debit card swipes, free online and mobile banking, free e-statements, free person-to-person payments, and surcharge-free ATM access at Alliance One and CO-OP network locations.
• Rewards Checking Interest-bearing checking account that earns dividends when a $250 minimum balance is maintained, with dividends compounded and credited monthly at tiered APYs.
• Teen Checking Checking account for members age 12-18 featuring ATM fee reimbursement up to $10/month and 24-hour eAlerts and eNotices.
• Everyday Savings Savings account with interest earned quarterly when balance exceeds $25, offering access to thousands of no-fee ATMs.
• Savers Sweepstakes Prize-linked savings program where primary account holders earn entries into monthly, quarterly, and annual cash prize drawings based on deposit activity.
• Christmas Club Holiday savings account with $1 minimum opening deposit and automatic balance transfer to checking or savings at the end of October.
• Kids Club Savings account for young savers ages 0-12 earning 2.02% APY on the first $500, with personalized ID, welcome gifts, and museum day pass.
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Tax-advantaged medical savings accounts with Ripco MasterMoney HSA debit card and checks for individuals with high deductible health plans.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) Traditional and Roth IRA options with IRA CD terms ranging from 12 to 48 months, offering tax advantages for retirement savings.
• Money Market Account Savings account with higher returns than regular savings, featuring no fees if minimum balance is maintained and daily dividend calculation.
• New and Used Vehicle Loans Auto financing up to 100% vehicle value with easy pre-approval, competitive rates, flexible terms, no prepayment penalties, and Rate Match Program for members.
• Recreational Loans Financing for recreational vehicles including motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, RVs, boats, jet skis, snowmobiles, campers, and horse trailers.
• Flexible Personal Loans Unsecured personal loans with fixed rates, flexible terms, no collateral required, and fast local approvals for various purposes including home repairs, medical expenses, and debt consolidation.
• Kwik Cash Line of Credit Revolving line of credit with flexible funds access for emergencies and planned purchases, including overdraft protection option for checking accounts.
• Student Loans Education financing through partnership with ISL Education Lending including student loans, family support loans, and refinancing options, plus access to scholarships.
• Cash Rewards VISA Credit card earning cash back on every purchase with no annual fee, auto rental damage protection, extended warranty protection, and travel assistance.
• Mortgage Loans Fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage options including 15-Year Fixed at 5.25% APR, with home refinancing and construction financing available.
• Home Equity Loans and HELOC Home equity financing options including Home Equity Loan with fixed rates and HELOC with flexible access to funds, currently featuring waived $325 processing fee and no annual fee.
• Land Loans Financing for vacant and improved land purchases with flexible terms and local expertise for raw, buildable property or land with existing infrastructure.
• Financial Management Services Financial planning services through partnership with Ben Casselberry offering retirement planning, insurance, savings analysis, and IRA/401(k) rollover guidance.
• Business Checking Business checking with first 100 deposited items free per month and access to the BizLink business banking platform.
• Business Savings Business savings account with $5 minimum opening deposit and quarterly interest earned.
• Business Loans Business lending solutions including real estate, equipment financing, expansion, vehicle loans, working capital, and lines of credit.
• BizLink Business banking platform providing bill payment, remote deposit capture, and 24/7 online and mobile banking access for small businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Home loan rates as low as 5.25% APR on 15-year fixed mortgages
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ISL Education LendingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide affordable student loans, family support loans, and refinancing options. ISL Education Lending is a nonprofit organization offering lower-cost education loans. Ripco earns referral compensation for loan customers referred to ISL.
• GreenPath Financial WellnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree, confidential financial wellness resource available to all Ripco members. GreenPath counselors provide financial education, debt management, credit counseling, and personalized financial planning. Available via phone or website.
• Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSecurities and advisory services offered through this FINRA/SIPC member firm. Ben Casselberry provides in-house retirement planning, insurance, and savings specialist services at Ripco's Eagle River branch.
• TruStageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance products offered through TruStage partnership including accidental death & dismemberment, auto insurance, and property insurance. Ripco members receive access to insurance coverage options.
• Assurance PlusminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvider of Auto Advantage Program (AAP) insurance solutions. Helps protect members' major vehicle purchases through innovative insurance products.
• CO-OP Credit Union NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationSurcharge-free ATM network providing access to 30,000+ ATMs nationwide. Enables Ripco members to access their accounts at credit unions and retail locations across the US and Canada.
• Alliance One ATM NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationAdditional surcharge-free ATM network complementing CO-OP. Provides Ripco members additional fee-free access points nationwide.
• Wisconsin Credit Union LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState trade association facilitating the Saver's Sweepstakes prize-linked savings program. Ripco participates in monthly, quarterly, and annual cash prize drawings through this program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Forward Bank: Wisconsin-based community bank serving central and northern Wisconsin with full retail, business, mortgage, and treasury banking products—overlapping customer base and product offering for consumers and small businesses in the Northwoods region.
• IncredibleBank: Wausau, WI-based community bank (formerly Bay Bank) operating in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with consumer, business, and mortgage lending—comparable rural Wisconsin target market with overlapping member demographics.

Broad incumbents

• UW Credit Union: Madison, WI-based credit union operating across Wisconsin with full consumer/business banking plus lending products—competing indirectly with Ripco for Wisconsin members via digital channels while serving a broader statewide membership base.
• Connexus Credit Union: Wisconsin-headquartered credit union operating across multiple states with a much larger asset base, offering full-service consumer and business banking, indirect auto lending, and digital channels—a broad incumbent that competes for the same Wisconsin member pool though with materially greater scale.
• Nicolet National Bank: Green Bay-based community bank with significant presence across northern and northeastern Wisconsin—same geographic market with consumer and business banking, mortgage, and treasury services; substantially larger and more diversified than Ripco.
• BMO Harris Bank: Major U.S. commercial bank with strong Wisconsin presence including rural northern markets; competes for the same deposits, mortgages, auto loans, and business banking relationships as Ripco but offers national scale, broader product set, and institutional capital raising capabilities.
• Capital Credit Union: Green Bay, WI-based community credit union serving northeast Wisconsin with consumer deposits, lending, and business banking—overlapping with Ripco's broader Wisconsin geographic orbit and overlapping product set, though larger in scale and employee headcount.

Direct peers

• CoVantage Credit Union: Wisconsin-based community credit union of comparable size and structure, serving northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan with similar deposit, lending, and digital banking offerings across multiple branches—directly comparable in scale, geography, and member-owned cooperative model.
• Prevail Bank: Wausau, WI-based community bank serving central and northern Wisconsin with deposit accounts, mortgages, consumer lending, and business banking—directly comparable in scale, rural Wisconsin focus, and community-anchored customer base.
• Citizens Community Federal: Altoona, WI-based community bank focused on consumer and agricultural lending across the upper Midwest with branches in northern Wisconsin—directly comparable community-banking model targeting similar rural northern Wisconsin customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Ripco-Credit-Union/131711333592218
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ripco-credit-union
• Instagraminstagram.com/ripcocreditunion/?hl=en
• TikToktiktok.com/@ripco_credit_union
• Xx.com/ripcocu

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Ripco Credit Union