About Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union

Since 1933, Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union has provided financial services to the employees and family members of the City of Seattle. Since then, we have expanded our charter to include anyone who lives or works in the state of Washington.

Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative. When individuals become members of a credit union, they become equal shareholders, each with one vote to elect their volunteer Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee. These volunteers oversee a professional management team and overall credit union operations.

The 7 Principles

How Credit Unions are Different from Banks

You have probably heard SMCU referred to as a "financial cooperative" or a "co-op." Seattle is home to a variety of co-ops, like PCC, Madison Market and REI. But what is a co-op, exactly, and what do we all have in common?

A cooperative is an independent group of people who come together to address a common need through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

Members of the co-op own and control the business together with one vote per member, unlike companies run by stockholders who can increase the weight of their vote relative to the number of shares they own. It is this co-operative autonomy and local control that has kept Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union sound and secure in good times and bad.

We are Guided by the Seven Co-operative Principles

SMCU is guided by the 7 Co-operative Principles that date back to some of the earliest co-ops that formed in the 1800s. To this day these principles form the foundation on which cooperatives around the world provide benefits to their members. Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union has adapted these principles to the financial needs and goals of its members; they provide the standard against which the credit union is operated. To learn more about each of our principles visit www.7principles.coop.

Membership Information

Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union (SMCU) provides financial services to anyone who lives or works in the state of Washington including the following groups:

• Employees of the City of Seattle
• Persons who are employed by our partner Select Employer Groups
• Any person related to a current member by blood, marriage (including domestic partners), or adoption, regardless of where that person lives.

How to Join

Anyone who meets these eligibility requirements may join Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union. There are three convenient ways to establish membership:

1. Apply Online
2. Request a membership packet be mailed to you.
3. Visit one of our branches.

 

Through the Co-op Network, our members have access to over 28,000 surcharge-free ATMs around the world. Also, you can visit any of SMCU’s conveniently located ATMs around the Greater Seattle area to withdraw cash, check balances and transfer money between accounts. Many SMCU ATMs also accept deposits.