Growing Our Impact
Sometimes, destiny comes along thanks to necessity. That’s how Clearwater Credit Union got its start. Eight Missoula police officers pooled their resources and established a credit union to help one another buy simple necessities, like a new refrigerator or a used car. Nearly 70 years later, we’re still fulfilling that mission—just on a broader scale.
In late 2024, the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) approved Clearwater’s request to add an additional 20 counties to our field of membership. That means Montanans who live, work, worship, attend school, or participate in a membership-based organization in 37 Western and Central Montana communities are eligible for Clearwater membership.
For Clearwater’s President and CEO, Jack Lawson, that expansion is all part of the plan. “We’re transforming and growing our organization to bring values-based banking to more Montanans and to help build thriving, sustainable communities across the state.
As Montana’s largest CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution), serving low-income and marginalized households and offering them access to the deposit accounts, loans, and education they need to prosper is a fundamental part of Clearwater’s mission.
That access includes offering modern, easy-to-use digital banking tools that empower our members to bank from anywhere they have an internet connection. In 2024, we significantly enhanced our digital banking services, empowering members to do virtually everything they can do within a physical branch through their PC, tablet, or mobile device.
That said, we believe branch locations are still an important way for us to be part of local communities and to provide access to banking services. In addition to opening a new branch building in uptown Butte in the first months of 2025, we opened two new branches in 2024, one in downtown Bozeman and a temporary location in downtown Great Falls. Temporary because we also purchased land in Great Falls and plan to open a new, permanent location at the corner of 1st Ave N and Park Drive by late 2027.
“Ultimately, our goal is to bring values-based banking to all Montanans,” said Jack Lawson, “We will continue to grow our reach and impact, one member, one community at a time.”