Alltru Credit Union Named Top Credit Union in St. Louis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Laura Woods – Vice President of Brand and Product Strategy (636) 916-8303; lwoods@alltrucu.org
ST. LOUIS, MO (Nov. 25, 2025) – Alltru Credit Union has been named to the 2025 Top Credit Unions in St. Louis List by the St. Louis Business Journal, reflecting the region’s growing reliance on financial institutions that reinvest in local communities and expand access to fair and affordable banking services.
“This recognition matters because scale strengthens impact,” said Laura Woods, Vice President of Brand and Product Strategy at Alltru Credit Union. “As we grow, we can deploy more affordable loans, reduce reliance on predatory financial products, and support long-term financial mobility in communities that have been overlooked for decades. Our size is not the achievement, what our size enables us to do in the community is the achievement.”
Lending and Access Outcomes Grounded in Community Need
Alltru’s lending and account access initiatives are intentionally directed toward households and areas where financial exclusion is most prevalent:
- In 2024, Alltru opened more than 5,400 new savings and checking accounts for individuals living in low-income census tracts, empowering long-term financial sustainability.
- In 2024, Alltru provided over $69 million in loans for people living in low-income census tracts, supporting transportation access, credit rebuilding, debt consolidation, and emergency expense stabilization.
Alltru utilizes Relationship Lending, that goes beyond traditional credit scoring to evaluate a member’s full financial story. Through structured, conversation-based interviews, Relationship Lending allows Alltru to consider income stability, spending patterns, and personal circumstances, not just a number on a credit report. This approach encourages accurate lending decisions, supports ongoing credit coaching, and deepens long-term member relationships while maintaining responsible risk management.
“Credit scores tell us where a person has been, not where they’re going,” said Michelle Rosner, Chief Executive Officer of Alltru Credit Union. “Relationship Lending allows us to sit down with members, understand their real situations, and lend in a way that supports stability and progress, not setbacks. Our goal is to provide options when others only see a credit score. We understand that bad things happen to good people and our priority is on the people, not just the bottom-line.”
- As of October 1, 2025, over 64.6% of Alltru’s loans deployed in 2025 were in CDFI-designated census tracts, ensuring capital reaches neighborhoods where traditional lenders have historically overlooked or been given limited access.
The opening of Alltru’s fifth branch in Florissant this year, its third in a CDFI-designated census tract, further expands access to fair and affordable banking services in parts of the region where accessible banking presence has declined.
Supporting Local Workers Through Economic Disruption
Founded in 1968 by members of the International Association of Machinists District 837, Alltru continues to serve the region’s labor community. During the recent Boeing strike in Berkeley, Alltru provided a zero-interest Boeing Strike Loan to help affected workers maintain financial stability throughout the work stoppage.
“Helping people through tough times is simply the right thing to do,” Rosner added. “Job loss, divorce, illness. Life happens, and families need support they can count on. When people have access to fair and responsive banking options, it lifts the whole community. And even as other institutions leave Downtown St. Louis, we have chosen to stay and to grow in places like Florissant because these communities deserve a financial partner who will stand with them for the long haul.”
About the List
The St. Louis Business Journal’s 2025 Top Credit Unions in St. Louis List recognizes credit unions with significant deposit strength and local branch presence across the metropolitan region.
About Alltru Credit Union
Alltru Federal Credit Union was chartered in 1968 as District 837 Credit Union by the International Association of Machinist Union members employed by McDonnell Douglas in North County St. Louis. Alltru is full-service Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) whose mission is to improve the financial well-being of its members. With over 40,500 members and more than $380 million in assets, Alltru has provided members with a full line of dependable financial products and services for 57 years. For more information about Alltru Credit Union, visit https://alltrucu.org/.
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