The Credit Union the Catholic Church Helped Build Is Now Approaching $1 Billion
What happens when the Catholic Church, the Urban League, and community leaders come together to provide financial services to families of modest means—and that mission endures for nearly 60 years?
Meet CommunityWide Federal Credit Union—the South Bend, Indiana-based financial institution that was founded in 1967 with seed deposits from the Catholic Church and a mission to serve residents of modest means. What started as a small credit union serving one neighborhood has grown into a nearly $1 billion institution with ten offices across Northern Indiana.
But despite its growth, CommunityWide has never forgotten why it exists: to serve working families with affordable financial services, just as its founders—including the Catholic community—intended.
Born from Catholic Social Teaching
The story of CommunityWide begins in January 1967, when community leaders chartered a credit union to serve the near northwest side of South Bend.
The mission was clear: provide financial services to residents of modest means—families who might not be well-served by traditional banks.
The credit union received critical early support from:
- The Catholic Church — Providing seed deposits to get the institution started
- The Model Cities program — Federal support for urban renewal
- Other community organizations — Local leaders investing in their neighbors
This coalition reflected Catholic social teaching in action: the Church supporting an institution designed to serve the common good and provide dignified access to financial services for working families.
Surviving and Growing Through Partnership
Like many small credit unions, CommunityWide faced challenges in its early years. By 1978, the credit union was struggling with inadequate size and equity—the financial fundamentals needed to survive.
Rather than close its doors, CommunityWide joined the CU Service Center, which provided management support and combined resources with other small credit unions. This partnership stabilized operations and set the stage for growth.
Between 1982 and 1985, CommunityWide merged with several small employer-based credit unions:
- White Farm Equipment Federal Credit Union
- AM General Federal Credit Union
- Allied Products Federal Credit Union
These mergers expanded services, improved efficiency, and brought new members into the CommunityWide family—while preserving the original mission of serving working families.
Ten Offices Serving Northern Indiana
What began as a single location has grown into a regional network of ten offices serving communities across Northern Indiana:
- South Bend — Where it all began
- Mishawaka — Neighboring community
- Granger — Growing suburb
- Elkhart — Manufacturing heartland
- Goshen — Serving Elkhart County
- Warsaw — Kosciusko County location
- Plymouth — Marshall County presence
This expansion happened gradually through the 1990s and 2000s, with CommunityWide constructing new offices to improve accessibility for members. Each location extends the original mission to new communities.
What Credit Unions Do Differently
CommunityWide is a credit union, not a bank—and the difference matters.
Member-Owned Credit union members are owners, not customers. Profits return to members through better rates and lower fees.
Not-for-Profit Credit unions exist to serve members, not shareholders. There's no pressure to maximize profits at members' expense.
Community-Focused Credit unions are chartered to serve specific communities. CommunityWide exists for Northern Indiana families.
Mission-Driven The original mission—serving families of modest means—remains central to operations nearly 60 years later.
For Catholics seeking financial services aligned with their values, credit unions like CommunityWide offer an alternative to profit-maximizing banks.
Services for Every Stage of Life
CommunityWide offers comprehensive financial services for members:
Savings and Checking Accounts designed for real families, with competitive rates and low fees.
Loans Auto loans, personal loans, and home equity products at member-friendly rates.
Mortgages Helping families achieve homeownership in Northern Indiana communities.
Business Services Supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Financial Education Resources to help members make wise financial decisions.
Approaching $1 Billion—Without Losing the Mission
Today, CommunityWide is approaching the $1 billion asset mark—a testament to decades of growth and member trust.
But growth hasn't changed the fundamental mission. CommunityWide remains:
- Dedicated to serving members of limited means
- Rooted in the communities it serves
- Committed to the cooperative credit union model
- Connected to its founding values
The Catholic Church's original investment in this institution has multiplied many times over—not just in dollars, but in the families served and the financial dignity provided.
Why This Matters
CommunityWide is a living case study in Catholic social teaching put into practice. In 1967, the Catholic Church provided seed deposits to launch a credit union for working families on the near northwest side of South Bend — families who were underserved by traditional banks. Nearly sixty years later, that seed has grown into a nearly $1 billion institution with ten offices across Northern Indiana, still operating as a member-owned cooperative, still focused on families of modest means. It is one of the clearest examples in our directory of what happens when the Church invests in the financial dignity of ordinary people and the institution stays true to its founding mission.
How You Can Support
- Join CommunityWide: If you live in Northern Indiana, visit comwide.com to become a member
- Consider credit unions: Wherever you live, research local credit unions as alternatives to big banks
- Share the story: Help others understand the difference between credit unions and banks
- Support cooperative finance: Catholic social teaching supports economic models that serve the common good
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Do you bank with a credit union? Have you experienced the difference from traditional banks? Drop a comment below—we'd love to hear your experience!
Find CommunityWide Federal Credit Union:
- Website: comwide.com
- Locations: Ten offices across Northern Indiana
- Phone: Check website for local branch numbers
- Service Area: South Bend, Mishawaka, Granger, Elkhart, Goshen, Warsaw, Plymouth
- DCB Listing: Find CommunityWide Federal Credit Union on Discover Catholic Business
Sources: CommunityWide Federal Credit Union, Credit Unions Online