Visterra Credit Union Celebrates 60th Anniversary

Visterra Credit Union, a full-service financial institution locally headquartered in Moreno Valley, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this month. Visterra Credit Union, originally chartered as March Federal Credit Union on October 23, 1953, began its legacy on March Air Force Base. The credit union opened with five members and one loan of $50. Their field of membership consisted of strictly military personnel and their families. While Visterra CU has since grown to 32,000 members and has become a community credit union, they are proud to serve still as the official credit union for March Air Reserve Base. In 1980, the credit union’s headquarters moved to its current location on the corner of Cactus and Graham in Moreno Valley. At that time, the Credit Union began serving Small Employer Groups (SEGs) along with military personnel. In December of 1998, the credit union’s name was changed to March Community Credit Union, at which time they began serving anyone who lived or worked in Western Riverside County. This change was followed by the opening of their second branch in Corona in 2001. In 2006, the credit union changed its name from March Community Credit Union to Visterra Credit Union better to reflect their strategic vision. During this time period, Visterra’s field of membership was also changed to accept anyone living or working in Riverside County. A third branch was added in Murrieta in 2006, followed by a merger with Raincross Credit Union in 2007, adding a fourth branch in the city of Riverside. Visterra CU opened their 5th branch in the Stoneridge Towne Centre in 2008, their second in Moreno Valley. Not only has Visterra Credit Union served the financial needs of Riverside County communities for the past 60 years, their biggest give-back is their time. Employees from Visterra CU donate over 1,000 hours of their time annually. They sit on local boards including Riverside Chamber of Commerce, Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce, Perris Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army, Moreno Valley Optimist, and March Field Air Museum. Their employees chair committees and local events and every Wednesday two of their employees are sent out to deliver food to home-bound seniors through Riverside Meals on Wheels. They adopt schools, read to students weekly, participate in a teen adviser/mentor program, and volunteer on March Air Reserve Base for their annual picnics and at the deployment center all hours of the day and night. Visterra Credit Union celebrates their 60th anniversary this month and will be offering a $60 Visa gift card to anyone who funds an auto loan with them during October, as well as Ontario Reign tickets to members who refer new members to open a checking account. Additional details about the promotions can be found at www.visterracu.org. A huge used-car event is planned for Saturday, Oct. 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their Main branch located at 23540 Cactus Avenue, Moreno Valley. Those purchasing cars can expect rates as low as 1.79 percent APR OAC and $750 over Kelley Blue Book on trade-ins. Additionally, a Member Appreciation Day will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 23, from 10 .m. to 2 p.m. at all Visterra Credit Union branches. Members will receive a commemorative gift during this event while supplies last.