Alaska USA history

In 1953, after the separation of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson, the credit union expanded its field of membership to include officers and enlisted personnel.

In 1959, almost 100 years after the purchase of Alaska, became the 49th State.

In 1968 oil is discovered in Prudhoe Bay and plans begin to build a pipeline to the North Slope to recover it.

In 1969 a group of petroleum companies paid the state nearly $1 billion in oil land revenues, but the proposed pipeline across the eastern Brooks Range, interior plains, and southern ranges to Valdez created heated controversies between industry, government, and conservationists.

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) is passed in 1971, giving Alaska Natives land and capital, as well as establishing the Native Corporations.

1972 To better reflect its service to active duty and retired military throughout Alaska, the credit union changes its name to Alaska Command Federal Credit Union and opens a branch on Adak, Alaska.

In order to effectively serve members who transferred out of Alaska, the Member Service Center was established in 1973.

1974 As the Alaska economy grows and diversifies, Alaska USA’s field of membership extends to include workers of the TransAlaska Pipeline service companies and shareholders of 10 of the Alaska Regional Native Corporations.

To reflect this growing field of membership, Alaska USA adopted its current name in 1975.

1976 Alaska USA is one of the first federal credit unions in the nation to offer checking accounts.

1978 Alaska USA is the first federal credit union to offer 30-year mortgage loans.

1979 As Alaska USA expands its Member Service Network and develops new services, it becomes an attractive merger partner for smaller credit unions.

1981 Alaska USA is selected by the Department of Defense and NCUA as the credit union to serve United States military personnel at Clark Air Base in the Philippines.

1982 The NCUA authorizes credit union affiliation for occupational and associational groups that were without credit union services.

The credit union entered the Pacific Northwest market in 1983 by merging with Whidbey Federal Credit Union in Oak Harbor.

Alaska USA Insurance Brokers was founded in 1986 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.

In 1989 an oil tanker known as the Exxon Valdez runs into a reef in the Prince William Sound, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil along 1,500 miles of coastline.

1992 Alaska USA Mortgage Company is established and now operates more than 19 offices throughout Alaska, in the Pacific Northwest, and in California's Victor Valley.

1994 With services expanding and technology advancing, Anchorage becomes home to the Member Service Center.

1995 Alaska USA introduces Alaska’s first online account access program, Personal Branch.

1997 Alaska USA introduces branches in retail locations that are open seven days a week to better serve the needs of working members.

1998 Alaska USA Trust Company is established in response to members’ needs for investment and trust administration services.

2003 The Alaska USA Foundation is established.

2004 Alaska USA develops a full portfolio of services designed for business members.

The name was changed to Alaska USA Insurance Brokers in 2005.

Yet another spill, the largest in the history of the pipeline, occurred in 2006 when a transit pipe at BP’s Prudhoe Bay facility ruptured, spreading more than a quarter million gallons (one million litres) of oil onto the tundra.

2007 UltraBranch Mobile and eStatements were introduced.

2008 Alaska USA Title Agency is established, providing title and escrow closing services in Alaska.

Alaska USA expanded into California's San Bernardino County in 2009 by acquiring the High Desert Federal Credit Union of Apple Valley, California, and the Members Own Federal Credit Union of Victorville, California.

From its inception, Alaska USA Insurance Brokers offered coverage to individuals throughout Alaska and in 2010, opened operations in Washington state.

2011 Alaska USA introduces the Alaska USA app for mobile devices, which ultimately replaces UltraBranch Mobile.

In 2014, Alaska USA opened its first Arizona branch in Glendale.

2015 The Member Service Center becomes available 24/7, 365 days a year, with member service representatives taking member calls around the clock.

2016 Alaska USA Insurance Brokers Commercial line is sold to Acrisure.

2018 Alaska USA opens its Operations Center in Glendale, Arizona.

In 2020, they further expanded in Arizona with the acquisition of the seven branches of TCF Bank in the area.

Roughly a year later the Republican-controlled Congress passed legislation that lifted the longtime ban on oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and in January 2021 Obama’s successor, Republican Donald Trump, oversaw the sale of oil-drilling leases in the refuge.