Our History

More than seventy years ago, a small group of men and women gathered on the grounds of what was then the Gulfport VA Medical Center to share their common vision of an improved financial future. Their dreams then were much like ours' today -- a nice home in a safe neighborhood, reliable transportation, and the opportunity to provide a college education for their children and a secure retirement for themselves. These U.S. Veterans Facility employees envisioned a not-for-profit financial system in which those who accumulated savings would create a source of loans for those who desired them, thereby enabling both savers and borrowers to realize their financial dreams. The resulting cooperative became the U.S. Veterans Facility Federal Credit Union on April 3, 1935; the same year the Federal Credit Union Act came into Law. The Credit Union was granted Federal Charter #242, the second lowest charter number in the state of Mississippi. The Credit Union's original logo depicted a circle enclosing a seagull in flight and proudly proclaimed the original charter date of 1935.

For the first eighteen years, from 1935 to 1953, Mr. J. H. Kirby served as the Credit Union's manager. A night supervisor for nursing assistants at the Veterans Facility, this dedicated individual operated the Credit Union in his free time. Legend has it that the assets of the Credit Union were first housed in an old suitcase that Mr. Kirby carried on his rounds. Only later was the Credit Union granted an actual office…in the VA facility's laundry. During these years, the Credit Union was open only to those employees of the U.S. Veterans Facility and members of their immediate families. In 1961, the field of membership was changed to include employees of the Canteen Service at the VA. In 1969, the charter was further amended to include employees of various other employer groups who petitioned for membership.

Throughout the 1970's, 80's, and early 90's the Credit Union's membership and service offerings grew as employer groups like Harrison County, the City of Gulfport, Casino Magic, and Bay-Waveland Schools helped their employees realize their dreams by providing them with the not-for-profit Credit Union advantage. The Credit Union reached out to the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast Community area by opening branch offices in Biloxi and Bay St. Louis, as well as Gulfport. Despite the inclusion of new employer groups, the Credit Union continued to be known as the Gulfport VA Credit Union and retained its familiar seagull logo.

By the mid-1990's, the Credit Union had become a full-service financial institution. Despite confusion over its name, the Gulfport VA Federal Credit Union was becoming well known in the community. The Credit Union was awarded both the state and national Dora Maxwell awards for community contribution, the Harrison County small business of the year award for economic excellence, and the Mississippi Moonshot award for membership growth. In keeping with its mission of improving its members' quality of life, the Credit Union's leadership emphasized community involvement through civic and professional organizations such as the Coast Chamber Of Commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis, Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community Advertising Federation, and Gulfport Job Corps Community Council; as well as charitable organizations such as United Way, March Of Dimes, American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts, and more.

By the late 1990's, the Credit Union's membership represented over 200 employer groups and spanned a geographic area that included five coastal cities and two counties. However, the fact that membership was still limited to those specific employer groups left many in the community without Credit Union access. Therefore, in 1999, the Credit Union became the first in the nation to receive a dual-county community charter under the historic Membership Access Act of 1998.

The community charter enables the Credit Union to serve anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Harrison or Hancock County. To coincide with the new charter, the Credit Union's name was changed to the Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union to better reflect the community served by the Credit Union. A new logo was developed that retains the historic seagull but is updated with an enhanced wing span and extended wave line, representing the expanded community now served by the Credit Union. Our tagline, which is "Stop dreaming. Start Living." serves to remind both employees and members alike that the Credit Union is driven by the same dream today as in 1935 when a handful of VA employees first envisioned it. At Gulf Coast Community Federal Credit Union, our success is intrinsically tied to our members' quality of life: One Coast, One Community, One Dream.