Sen. Blanco honors Raiz Federal Credit Union’s 90 years of service

EL PASO, Texas — Texas Sen. César Blanco has honored Raiz Federal Credit Union with a special resolution recognizing the institution’s 90-year history and its longstanding community presence in El Paso.

The recognition came during Raiz’s anniversary celebration, marking nine decades since the credit union was founded by seven El Paso educators as El Paso Teachers Federal Credit Union. The institution has since grown into a $1 billion credit union serving tens of thousands of members, with reported membership figures ranging from 76,000 to 79,000 members and reach extending to 19 states.

A Credit-Union Legacy

Blanco, a Democrat representing El Paso, highlighted the cooperative’s origins and growth in remarks accompanying the resolution.

“If you look at the history of Raiz, it started with seven teachers,” Blanco said. “Fast forward 90 years, 79,000 members.” He characterized the growth as evidence of credit unions’ continuing importance in the Borderland region and praised Raiz as a visible community partner.

Raiz began in 1936 as a financial cooperative created to help local educators access loans and financial services. Its evolution from a teacher-focused institution into a broader community credit union reflects the traditional credit-union model: member ownership, local service and reinvestment in the communities served.

Community Investment Focus

Beyond deposit and lending services, Raiz has emphasized financial education, scholarships, grants and employee volunteerism through partnerships with schools, nonprofits and community organizations, according to the credit union.

Alejandro Yu said the institution’s local role has become a central part of its legacy. “Being local for over 90 years and impacting so many families throughout those years has been something that for us is a legacy that we continue to build on every day,” he said.

The credit union’s anniversary follows other recent public recognition. In June, El Paso County’s Commissioners Court also adopted a resolution commemorating Raiz’s nine decades of work related to financial inclusion, education, innovation and community investment. That resolution cited the credit union’s support for schools, nonprofits, healthcare partners, workforce development and financial-education initiatives.

Looking Toward 100

Max Villaronga, Raiz’s president and CEO, said the governmental recognition carried particular meaning because it reflected the community that shaped the credit union.

“For 90 years, our members have trusted us to grow with them,” Villaronga said. “Our best tribute is to keep moving forward, investing in our people, technology, and community to serve members wherever they are in life.”

As Raiz heads toward its centennial, its challenge will be to maintain that community-oriented identity while expanding digital capabilities and serving a wider membership base. For debt collection, credit and consumer-finance professionals, the anniversary is also a reminder of the continuing role community financial institutions can play in financial capability, credit access and local economic resilience.