Our History
CUNA, Inc. founded CUNA Credit Union, known today as Summit Credit Union, on September 17, 1935 in Madison, Wisconsin to serve the credit union movement and anyone else who was in need of credit union services. This unique charter was granted by the Wisconsin bank commissioner in 1935.
Our first location was in our sponsor company, in the Filene House. Credit union movement pioneers and organizers Thomas Doig and Roy Bergengren were early advocates for the formation of CUNA Credit Union to ensure all people everywhere had access to credit union membership. Back then, employees of a credit union could not borrow from their credit union. Our credit union was there to ensure that employees could still receive their product needs from a credit union and that state leagues across the country had access to a credit union for their banking needs.
Shortly after establishing our credit union, CUNA Mutual was formed to provide insurances and other services to credit unions and became one of our sponsor groups in addition to CUNA, Inc. We expanded to other credit union entities as they were created, including World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU), Credit Union Executive Society (CUES) and Filene and expanded to serve anyone, anywhere.
In 2005, CUNA Credit Union changed its name to Great Wisconsin Credit Union (GWCU) and then, in 2008, changed its name to Summit Credit Union, merging in the former Summit Credit Union (originally State Capitol Employees Credit Union), maintaining CUNA/Great Wisconsin’s original charter and field of membership.
At Summit, we believe anyone can be financially successful. We are especially passionate about serving women who want to improve their financial lives and contribute to a strong and thriving community.
Our purpose is to help women and their families avoid poverty in retirement by building wealth, making good financial decisions, and reducing stress through making it easy.
Summit is a leader in financial education. We meet people where they are and provide services, tools and guidance to make day-to-day money management easier, more fun and more impactful.
