A Culture of Community Trust

Community Trust Credit Union and Self-Help Credit Union

In 2009, Self-Help Federal Credit Union merged with Community Trust Credit Union in Modesto, California. The merger linked Self-Help’s newly chartered west coast federal credit union (established in 2008) with a well-established and culturally significant credit union that first began serving members in 1961.

The Mexican immigrant experience plays a large part in the evolution of Community Trust Credit Union, as does industrial agriculture and migrant farm labor.

In this video we trace the history of Community Trust Credit Union through interviews with a number of deeply engaging credit union members, across multiple generations. Key credit union staff who helped shape the direction of the credit union, going back to 1980, also make appearances. Visuals include rare archival images, touching personal photos, and current-day video including drone footage.

Self-Help FCU's 2009 merger with Community Trust CU was Self-Help’s second west coast credit union partnership. It was also Self-Help’s first significant investment in a largely Spanish-speaking community. Since then, Self-Help has grown its commitment to immigrant communities across the U.S., but Community Trust Credit Union will always have the distinction of being Self-Help FCU’s first.