Since 1936, It’s Been All About You
On May 20, 1936, during the Great Depression, a small group of employees from the Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Company came together with a simple but powerful idea: by pooling their resources, they could help one another achieve financial stability.
What began as the Lincoln Telephone Employees Cooperative Credit Association has grown into MembersOwn Credit Union, serving members across southeast Nebraska for more than 90 years.
Our Cooperative Foundation
In 1936, access to affordable financial services wasn’t always easy. Traditional banks often weren’t designed to meet the needs of working families, especially during the economic uncertainty of the Great Depression. Thirteen employees of the Lincoln Telephone & Telegraph Company decided to create something different.
The Articles of Association were signed on May 20, 1936, officially establishing the credit union. Membership was originally limited to Lincoln Telephone employees, who purchased a share in the cooperative and became both members and owners.
From the beginning, the credit union existed for one purpose: to encourage saving and provide responsible, affordable loans to fellow employees. Every decision was made with members’ best interests in mind, laying the foundation for the organization we are today.
Growing Through Partnership
As southeast Nebraska changed, so did we.
Throughout the decades, MembersOwn expanded its membership and services to meet the changing needs of the communities we serve.
Strategic mergers strengthened our ability to provide more products, greater convenience, and expanded opportunities while preserving the cooperative values that defined our beginning.
Our history includes several organizations that shared the same commitment to serving their members.
Each milestone represents a continued commitment to helping more people experience the benefits of credit union membership.
- 1936 – Lincoln Telephone Employees Cooperative Credit Association is founded.
- 1948 – Store Kraft Employees Credit Union is chartered.
- 1952 – Bankers Life of Nebraska Employees Credit Union is founded.
- 1962 – Gage County Federal Credit Union is chartered.
- 1995 – Gage County Federal Credit Union and Store Kraft Employees Credit Union merge to form Southeast Nebraska Federal Credit Union.
- 1996 – Lincoln Telephone Employees Cooperative Credit Association becomes Aliant Credit Union.
- 2008 – Aliant Credit Union merges with Southeast Nebraska Federal Credit Union, expanding into Beatrice.
- 2009 – The combined organization becomes MembersOwn Credit Union.
- 2014 – MembersOwn welcomes Ameritas Employees Credit Union, strengthening membership and services.
- 2019 – Membership eligibility expands to serve communities across ten southeast Nebraska counties.
Our Story Continues With You
The founders who signed our Articles of Association in 1936 could never have imagined everything their small cooperative would become.
What hasn’t changed is the reason they started it.
For more than 90 years, MembersOwn Credit Union has remained committed to putting members first, building lasting relationships, and helping people achieve financial success.
Our history is something we’re proud of.
Our future is one we’re excited to build together.
Because at MembersOwn, it’s always been all about you.