History of Freedom
The Beginning
Freedom Credit Union was originally charted in 1922 as the Western Massachusetts Telephone Workers Credit Union. From a small office in the telephone company building on Worthington Street, the credit union grew until it found its home on Springfield's Main Street. As a result of telephone company downsizing and reorganization, the credit union chose to expand to include select employee groups, companies in Hampden County that were approved by our Board of Directors to form a credit union partnership with, and offer credit union membership to through the workplace to their employees.
Growth
As demand for the benefits of a credit union grew, we applied for a community charter. In January of 2001, membership eligibility was greatly expanded to include anyone who lived or worked in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, or Berkshire counties.
In January 2004, the membership voted to change the credit union's name to Freedom Credit Union. This name better reflects the current demographics of our membership.
Expansion
Our Northampton Branch came about through a merger with FHBT (Franklin Hampshire Building Trades Credit Union) in May of 2004. In November of that same year we opened our Chicopee Branch
A merger with Four Rivers Federal Credit Union in October of 2005 gave us our branches in South Deerfield and Turners Falls.
Two more branches opened in 2009. In June we opened our Greenfield Branch (which absorbed our South Deerfield Branch) and in September we opened our Feeding Hills Branch.
Our latest branch opened June of 2010 in Easthampton, providing members with two locations in Hampshire County.
Freedom Credit Union now boasts seven branches all along the I-91 corridor.
