Credit Union 1 Opens Wasilla Branch
The Wasilla branch of Credit Union 1 opened April 4 with a champagne toast and drawing for one lucky member to win a new four-wheeler.
Photo Credit: Alaska Business
With a champagne toast and takeaway swag, Credit Union 1 (CU1) officially opened its first Wasilla branch Friday at 290 East Railroad Avenue, near Three Rivers Fly and Tackle. The new branch employs four tellers, two loan officers, and two managers. The building includes upstairs work pods for CU1 employees who don’t have public-facing jobs but need a local office space, such as on snowy days when an Anchorage commute isn’t ideal.
Three New Branches in 2025, and Maybe More
CU1 celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022, having been established in 1952 as Anchorage Teachers Federal Credit Union. Today it serves nearly 100,000 members and has about $1.4 billion in assets. It opened a new branch February 14 in Kotzebue, inside that community’s new Alaska Commercial Company store. CU1 plans to open another branch in Skagway later this month, bringing its branch count to fifteen.
That number may soon grow, if state and federal industry regulators and credit union members approve the sale of Fairbanks-based MAC Federal Credit Union to CU1. Combined, the two credit unions will have more than 112,000 members, nineteen locations and $1.9 billion in assets.
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CU1 President and CEO Mark Burgess says it will take up to seven months for the regulatory approval process and member vote to happen, assuming everything goes as planned. At that point, CU1 and MAC will work out how to integrate the two credit unions, a process that should be completed in 2026.
Fairbanks-based MAC already has two locations in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough; it opened a branch on the east side of Wasilla, near the Lowe’s hardware store, in 2021 and a Palmer branch in 2022. CU1 broke ground on its Wasilla branch in 2023. Burgess says he believes CU1 and MAC have enough Valley members to support all three locations.
Making Connections, Supporting Dreams
Credit Union 1 President Mark Burgess toasts the opening of the Wasilla Credit Union 1 branch, the company’s fourteenth location.
Photo Credit: Alaska Business
Wasilla Credit Union 1 Branch Manager Karie Tiffany greets those in attendance at the April 4 branch grand opening.
Photo Credit: Alaska Business
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At the grand opening, Burgess thanked those who made it possible, from the architects at Spark Design to the builders at Cadence General.
“Today’s event is special because it’s not just about opening a new branch, it’s about celebrating the partnerships and community spirit that made this possible,” Burgess said at the grand opening. “Wasilla is a community that embodies growth, resilience, and a strong sense of connection.”
Bears in cups, along with hats and other swag, were available to those in attendance at the Wasilla Credit Union 1 grand opening.
Photo Credit: Alaska Business
Wasilla CU1 Branch Manager Karie Tiffany added, “Being part of the Credit Union 1 is about more than just offering financial services. It’s about building connections, supporting our neighbors and making a positive impact right here in Wasilla.”
In addition to speeches, CU1 offered birch slabs piled with charcuterie, fruits, cheeses, and cake slices from Alaskan Events and Catering, along with tiny teddy bears in Mat-Su Valley CU1 mugs, ball caps, and other swag. A sweepstakes for credit union members to win a 2024 Can-Am Outlander XT 850 four-wheeler is ongoing through April 19.
Leading the crowd in a champagne toast, Burgess said, “Here’s to the future of the Wasilla branch. May it be a place where connections are made, dreams are supported, and our community continues to thrive. We’re honored to be here, and we look forward to growing together for many years to come.”
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