Humble beginnings

Employees of National Lead Company, a chemical plant in Lemay, saw the need for a not-for-profit financial institution to serve the personal financial needs of fellow production workers and maintenance workers in early 1954.

Bob Hood, managing director of the Missouri Credit Union League and at one time an employee of National Lead Company, helped establish the credit union, along with Charles Pingleton and others.

Official paperwork for the business was submitted to the State of Missouri on March 30, 1954, and our state charter was approved on April 2 by then-Secretary of State Walter H. Toberman. Seven individuals¹ each deposited $5.00 to get the credit union started.

Today, more than 9,000 individuals and their family members trust us as their financial services partner. Over the years we've transitioned from being tied to a single employee group to a community base. In 1978 we began serving two ZIP codes, 63125 and 63129. Today, we serve people who live and work in defined, broader geographic areas in Missouri: St. Louis County, St. Louis City, Jefferson County and Franklin County, or who work for one of 49 select employee groups within our field of membership.

Why we exist

The purpose of the credit union, as stated in our original bylaws which we still follow today, is to:

• Promote thrift among our members, by affording them an opportunity for accumulating their savings;
• Create for them a source of credit at fair and reasonable rates of interest;
• Provide the opportunity for the members to use and control their money for their mutual benefit;
• Educate members in the prudent use of money and credit;
• Operate in the spirit of cooperation and not for profit;
• Improve the community in which we operate;
• Provide other fiscal and financial services at a reasonable cost.

Our name & locations

Originally known as Local 1744 Credit Union, we changed our name in 1964 to NALCO² Credit Union and then to Century Credit Union in 1997 after a merger with First American Credit Union.

Many other names were considered before "Century" was adopted. The curent name came up in conversation over dinner and drinks at a Casa Gallardo restaurant between the credit union’s president and the owner of a local credit union advertising agency. (Margarita Credit Union or The Big Enchilada Credit Union were never considered.)

Our first branch was at 3628 Wisconsin Avenue in the city of St. Louis. In August 1959, we moved to a store-front location at 9606 South Broadway to be closer to the industrial plant of our original sponsor group. In July 1968, we moved into a new, free-standing branch at 433 East Arlee, which was just 200 feet from the main entrance of National Lead. We were one of few credit unions in Missouri at that time to own its building rather than rent or lease space.

In 1978, the plant closed. Three years later, we moved into the Metropolitan Building at 1540 Lemay Ferry Road, which has remained our main office ever since. During renovations to the building before we occupied it in May 1981, we temporarily operated out of the Carafiols Shopping Area at 3193 Lemay Ferry Road. Around 2014, we purchased a bar located next door to our main office. We tore down the bar, called Wild's Palace of Poison, and added a drive-up, parking lot and new wing on the north side of our building. A second branch was later opened in Arnold, at 3920 Jeffco Boulevard.

Growth over the years

It took 16 years for us to reach $1 million in assets (1969). By 1984, we had grown to $5 million. Subsequent growth was more rapid, as reflected below:

• 1995: $10 million

• 2000: $25 million

• 2008: $50 million

• 2018: $100 million

• 2022: $150 million

Recognition & awards

Century has been recognized with 5-star "Superior" ratings for its financial strength from BauerFinancial, an independent financial ratings firm, every quarter since December 31, 1994. Criteria used includes the capital ratio; profitability/loss trend; evaluating the level of delinquent loans, chargeoffs and repossessed assets; the market vs. book value of the investment portfolio; and historical data and liquidity. Financial institutions with 4- and 5-star ratings are recommended by BauerFinancial.

S&P Global Market Intelligence, a provider of informational services and solutions to global markets, has recognized Century for its oustanding financial performance each of the past three years (2021-2023), ranking us as one of the 100 best-performing credit unions in the United States.

We have been the highest-rated financial institution ("A") in St. Louis by Weiss for several years. In 2024, we were a finalist for Best Credit Union in St. Louis in the "A-List" Readers' Choice Awards competition sponsored by St. Louis Magazine.

At the state level, we have received two Dora Maxwell Social Responsiblity Awards for our community involvement efforts.

From Feed My People, the credit union received a Guardian Angel Award for its generous support of the food pantry.

In August 2015, Century received a Commercial Beautification Award from the Lemay Chamber of Commerce.

¹Frank Kapeller, Joe Limpert, Evie Lee Miler, S.A. Blandford Jr., Lawrence L. Newcomer, Anthony P. Peil and Willie Adams.

²National Lead Company (NALCO) was a New Jersey corporation founded in 1891 that managed mining operations and became a major supplier of lead to paint companies before shifting its focus to supply titanium dioxide, an increasingly popular choice for pigments and other manufacturing processes. National Lead operated and maintained facilities in St. Louis, known as the Titanium Pigment Division, until 1978 when it was closed. While it’s unknown how many people worked at the plant when the credit union was organized, there were approximately 1,400 employees a decade later. Earlier that same decade, National Lead changed its corporate name to NL Industries, and today is a diversified holding company.