In our latest legacy video, “Investing in People: Community Trust Credit Union,” you’ll get to hear from members, employees, and partners about the legacy and history of Community Trust Credit Union in Modesto, CA, leading up to its merger with Self-Help. 

Modesto, CA, is a hub for farming and was home to a food processing co-op called Tri Valley Growers, which produced significant portions of the U.S.’s canned tomatoes, olives, and peaches. In the early 1960s, the farm owners in the area who were part of the co-op formed a credit union called the Food Processors Credit Union. 

The credit union provided an opportunity for many of the farm workers, a vast majority of whom were Hispanic/Latino and unbanked, to grow their savings and receive supportive services with a financial institution they trusted.  

In 2001, the credit union separated itself from the food processing industry, changing its name to Community Trust Credit Union and allowing anyone in the area to bank with them. Modesto was a financial desert, so this shift was welcomed by the community and allowed Community Trust to maximize their impact and reach more members. 

We are honored to have merged with Community Trust Credit Union in 2009, allowing them to expand their services and community impact. We are able to get closer to achieving our goal of ownership and economic opportunity for all through the trust and groundwork that credit unions like Community Trust have built over decades. We are grateful to have Community Trust in the Self-Help family and to be able to continue serving the Modesto community.