Wings Credit Union
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Wings Financial Federal Credit Union is a non-profit, member-owned financial institution headquartered in Apple Valley, Minnesota. The credit union, with assets of more than $2 billion, serves employees in the air transportation industry including employees of AirTran Airways, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways and others. It was chartered in 1938 and is regulated by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
About the company
Wings provides financial services to the employees of more than 50 different airlines, many aviation support companies and every government agency that touches the air transportation industry. Wings operates 18 branch offices around the country including branches in New York, Atlanta, Orlando, Memphis, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle, San Francisco and Honolulu. Most offices are located at or near airports. Wings Financial also offers an ATM network of over 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs coast to coast. The credit union offers an extensive array of online services including membership applications, loan applications, account information and remote deposit available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Wings Financial is the largest credit union based in Minnesota and is among the country's largest credit unions with over $2.2 billion in assets.
Company history
Wings Financial was founded in 1938 as the Northwest Airlines Employees Credit Union by a group of seven Northwest Airlines employees in St. Paul, Minnesota. Assets at the end of 1938 stood at $359. The credit union grew slowly but steadily over its first few years. Significant growth began after World War II as Northwest Airlines expanded across the country and across the Pacific. Between 1945 and 1949, the Credit Union grew nearly 500% in assets fueled by those returning from the war.
Subsequent years saw consistent growth from the credit union. The credit union passed $100 million in assets in 1984 and achieved the $500 million milestone in 1997. In August 2001, the credit union passed $1 billion in assets. In 2004, the credit union decided to expand beyond Northwest Airlines and open its doors to anyone employed in the air transportation industry in the United States. To make this expansion easier, the name of the credit union was changed to Wings Financial Federal Credit Union. Wings Financial has continued to grow and now has over $2.2 billion in assets. Its expansion to the entire air transportation industry has gone well also. Wings Financial is the official credit union for airlines like AirTran Airways, JetBlue Airways, Sun Country Airlines, Omni Air International, Midwest Airlines and Allegiant Air. It also serves regional carriers Pinnacle Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Republic Airways, Compass Airlines and Colgan Air. In total, Wings serves employees working for more than 50 different airlines.
Field of Membership for Wings Financial
Membership is available to most people employed in, retired from, or whose job directly supports the air transportation of people or cargo, immediate family members of persons engaged in such activities, and family members (including household relationships) of a current credit union member. Once becoming a member, membership can be passed to family members. Wings membership is a lifetime benefit-once someone becomes a member, they're always a member, no matter where they work or live.