| ValleyStone Credit Union® humbly began on
November 12, 1937, when 50 working men and women of the Fiberloid plant in Springfield
pooled $1,225 as the Fiberloid Credit Union's first assets. In those days people
didn't make or save much money, but they agreed to save a little bit of their
paychecks each week to build up reserves. Saving was unique for most people, and
this plan started a good lifetime habit. Loan limits were $50 and records were
handwritten. There was a single cash drawer, and operations existed in a single
room of a cramped seven room building.
Through
the 40s the first full-time office manager was hired and payroll
deductions were started. By 1955, just 18 years after it's founding,
the credit union had accumulated it's first million dollars in assets,
and the credit union's name was changed to Monsanto Employees Credit
Union, due to the Monsanto Company's purchase of Fiberloid.
The
60s started with about $2 million in assets, which grew to over $5 million by
the end of the decade. Throughout the 70s, assets grew at the rate of about $1
million per year.
1987 marked Monsanto Employees Credit Union's 50th
anniversary. At that time, a staff of 6 was handling an average
of $1 million of business over the counter every month. An independent
building to house credit union operations had been erected, and
a worldwide ATM network connected 3,384 Monsanto Employees Credit
Union members with access to their money whenever they were.
Today
we are living in a world of direct deposits and internet account
access, which provides members 365/24/7 accessibility to their money.
As part of a credit union cooperative, we have pioneered financial
institution trends with fee-free accounts and loans. Decision making
remains local though, so members enjoy the luxury of quick turnarounds
on loans. With $79 Million in assets and over 5,000 members, we
have come a long way from our humble beginnings.
We now have a community charter, so membership has been opened up
to anyone living or working in Hampden, Hampshire or Franklin Counties,
as well as their family members. We also took the huge step of relocating
ourselves within the community. Since not all of our members work
on the Solutia plant site anymore, it is in the best interests of
everybody to be more centrally located and accessible.
On November 25, 2003, we broke
ground on our new headquarters at 2002 Boston Road in Wilbraham,
across the street from the Home Depot. On December 13, 2004 we opened
the doors for business at or new location.
Our new name, ValleyStone Credit Union® in 2005, reflects our beginnings in the Pioneer Valley and the strength of our credit union and the strength of the community within the Pioneer Valley.

Federally insured by NCUA
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