Valley Federal Credit Union Turns 84

by Tony Vindell/LFN

It was 84 years ago this month when Valley Federal Credit Union opened its doors on Levee Street in Brownsville with three employees.

Today, the financial institution employs about 40 people at its main office on Price Road in Brownsville and at its Harlingen and Raymondville branches.

According to its annual report, VFCU currently has more than $72 million in assets and has made more than $42 million in loans.

The credit union has about 10,000 members and provides most services a bank offers except home loans.

Olga I. Villarrreal, VFCU president and CEO, said it has taken them a long time to get where they are today.

“We are probably the oldest credit union in the Rio Grande Valley,” she said during the credit union annual meeting held Saturday, April 13 at the Amigoland Events Center. “One of the unique things about us is that our members know their loan officers.”

Clifford Rowell, chairman with the credit union supervisory committee, said he first got in contact with the business back in 1986 while seeking what he called a signature loan for $32,000.

“Here you are like a family member,” he said, “not just a number.”

Ray Ortiz, a Los Fresnos resident who serves on Rowell’s committee, said VFCU first opened to provide services to federal employees but evolved into what it is today – a financial institution with a family atmosphere.

He is also a member of Los Fresnos zoning and planning committee and past president of Los Fresnos Chamber of Commerce.