Banking can be transparent.

We’ve changed our name so we can grow to serve our members even better and bring what we’ve all loved about Clearwater to more Montanans.

Pursuing growth

As part of our strategic planning process, we identified the need for growth in order to be increasingly competitive for our members and bring values-based banking to more Montanans.

Review our strategic plan »

Changing our name

An 18-month process revealed that while we will always love the name Missoula Federal Credit Union, it hinders a sense of belonging for non-Missoulians and limits our ability to demonstrate our values in new communities.

Explore the research »

Being a force for good

Growth brings advantages that benefit members such as competitive rates, improved technology, and larger business lending limits. And, as we grow, we are able to be a force for good in more communities and in the lives of more Montanans.

Read our annual report »

Banking can be inclusive.

We spent a year and a half considering this change and involved our members, our coworkers, our community, and the people in our new field of membership before our member-elected Board of Directors unanimously approved our new name.

18
Month process
5+
Months of research into need for change
4,500+
Survey participants
500+
Name ideas

Banking can be creative.

We brought together a team of members, staff, and local creatives to brainstorm new names and thoughtfully design our new logo.

The Name

1. Local
Our name celebrates our roots in Missoula County, which is home to both the Clearwater River and Clearwater Lake.

2. Inviting
Water sustains us all, no matter where we’re from. Our new name is universally appealing and a celebration of Montana’s lakes and rivers.

3. Values-based
Our name gives us the opportunity to speak to a key element of our core values: transparency.

Photo of the Clearwater River, Montana, at sunset.

The Logo

Our new logo conveys transparency with the ability to see the mountains through the water drop. The mountains themselves reflect the beauty of our state, and even form an M in honor of our roots here in Missoula.

Drop from the new Clearwater Credit Union Logo.

The Colors

Our new colors are inspired by the Montana State flag, reminding us of both the incredible natural environment that surrounds us as well as the people and industry that have shaped this amazing place we call home.

Montana State Flag and colors.

Banking can be worth celebrating.

We’re working hard to make this change not just easy for our members, but fun as well. Here’s what’s coming next:

Visit Us at a Branch

September 3

We’ll be at each of the branches on Tuesday, September 3 with coffee and treats for members and available to answer any of your questions or concerns.

Be a Force For Good

September 4

The Clearwater team will be “paying it forward” at local businesses every Wednesday in September. Follow us on Instagram @beaforceforgood to track our whereabouts and join us in being a force for good.

A Thirst for Home

September 5

We’ve partnered with Imagine Nation Brewing Company to offer a limited edition Hazy IPA — A Thirst for Home — benefiting the Missoula Home Coalition. Learn more about next Thursday’s launch party and where to purchase the beer here.

Choose Your Cause

September 6

On Friday, September 6th, members who visit a branch can cast their vote in support of the Montana Food Bank Network Feed  Montana Drive or the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Project. For every vote, we’ll donate $1 to the cause.

Cheer on the Griz

September 7

On Saturday, September 7 we’ll be debuting our new name at the Griz game. We’d love to have you there to help cheer us on. And you might even be one of the lucky fans to leave with a limited edition t-shirt.

Hear from Members

September-December

As we introduce Clearwater Credit Union to the community, we’ll be sharing stories from our members about what it looks like to be a force for good. See the latest here.

Issuing new cards

September-December

We’re working hard to make this transition as simple as possible for you. Your checks and cards will continue to work, and new debit and credit cards will be mailed directly to you.

Banking can be clear.

We want to make sure all your questions are answered. Please review the answers to commonly asked questions below and use the form above to share anything else we can help with.

As part of our strategic planning process, we identified the need for growth in order to remain competitive for our members and bring values-based banking to more Montanans. As we grow, we need a name that ensures everyone knows they belong here.

Expanding our field of membership allows us to break free of market size constraints, provide our members with the benefits that come with scale—such as competitive rates, improved technology, and larger business lending limits—and bring values-based banking to more Montanans.

We began legally operating as Clearwater Credit Union on September 3, 2019.

No. We have not merged with another credit union. Same people. Same values. Same mission to be a force for good in banking, in the communities we serve, and in the lives of our members.

Our member-elected Board of Directors has been actively considering whether a name change is the right way forward for our organization for the last year and a half, following our expansion to Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Granite, and Silver Bow counties.  (In fact, the earliest conversations about name change happened in 2002 when we expanded to Lake and Ravalli counties). We have prioritized making this process as thoughtful and inclusive as possible, conducting over 5 months of focused research specifically on the question of whether a name change was necessary, and in that research soliciting member feedback through online and in branch surveys as well as a series of small group conversations.  Once we decided a name change was necessary, we formed a creative team made up of local members, staff-nominated co-workers, and outside professionals to generate the best possible name for the credit union. This research and creative process culminated in the unanimous decision by our member-elected Board of Directors to change our name to Clearwater Credit Union.

We remain federally chartered and federally insured. Removing “Federal” from our name makes it shorter and more pleasing to say, and reduces the tendency to shorten our name to an acronym. (That is, we hope to be known as Clearwater, not CCU). It also gives us the flexibility to become a state-chartered credit union in the future were we to agree together to make that shift.

We began operating as Clearwater Credit Union on September 3, but our organization did not change. Same team. Same values. Same great service. The big difference is that as Clearwater we’ll be better able to grow to serve more communities—and our current members as a result. Over the month of September, you will start to see our new brand reflected in signage and printed materials at our branches and around town. Our website address has also changed, and you’ll be automatically redirected to this new site if you type in our old address.

We’re working hard to make this transition as simple as possible for you. Your checks and cards will continue to work, and new debit and credit cards will be mailed directly to you. These cards will have a new expiration date that will need to be updated where used. There will be no changes to your accounts—same routing number, same account number, same logins—and any existing ACH payments or direct deposits you’ve set up will continue to be processed without any issue.

You can continue to use your old checks as our routing number and your account number will remain unchanged. The next time you need to order new checks, you’ll be provided with ones with our new name and logo. You’re also welcome to bring your old checks into a branch and we’ll replace them with a box of new ones for free.

Yes. Your debit and credit cards will continue to work until you activate the new debit and credit cards we will be mailing you directly. These cards will have a new expiration date that will need to be updated where used.

We encourage you to contact your legal counsel for advice but it is our belief that Clearwater will be recognized as having formerly been named Missoula Federal Credit Union in any legal documents.