Credit Union
“A credit union is the financial industry’s best kept secret!”
A credit union is a sacred place. It is a financial cooperative with a unique fiscal responsibility. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, a credit union exists to serve its members and the community. “A credit union is the financial industry’s best kept secret!” Darius Wise shared enthusiastically. Wise is the President and CEO of Red Rocks Credit Union and is passionate about people seeing Red Rocks Credit Union as a local ally, helping people navigate their individual financial realities.
“We are a trusted advisor, provide tailored solutions, and offer unparalleled service,” Wise responded with his signature calm and reassuring tone when asked what makes Red Rocks Credit Union different. He acknowledges big banks offer big tech, but what a local credit union can provide is a place where people feel seen, known, and valued. One of the founding members of Red Rocks Credit Union is Glenn, whose Polaroid picture Wise keeps on his desk as a reminder of the personal nature of their mission. Glenn has been a member of Red Rocks Credit Union for 47 years.
The most common misconception confronted by Wise is that the credit union is restricted to a specific group of individuals. Red Rocks Credit Union is available to anyone who lives in Colorado. “We’re local,” Wise says with sincerity, “wherever you live, work, or worship, if you are a Coloradan, you can join.”
Red Rocks Federal Credit Union began when 11 Martin Marietta Aerospace employees came together to establish a financial cooperative for their colleagues in 1979. The credit union officially opened in 1980. Over the years, the credit union has grown with the Denver metro area. Red Rocks Credit Union helped found the Chamber of Commerce of Highlands Ranch in 2000, which initially operated from inside the branch building. Red Rocks Credit Union serves nearly 18,000 members like Glenn who have found it to be a place of sound and secure financial services.
The attention to personal and local is woven through the fabric of the credit union. The Red Rocks Credit Union Foundation is a renewed local commitment to nonprofit community partnerships. The foundation focuses on the next generation by meeting essential needs of children in the community. Its work is focused on food security, safe and stable shelter, mental and physical health, and financial literacy through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations.
“Our mission is to enrich the lives of our members,” Wise shares with conviction. A credit union is a financial institution rooted in place for the good of its neighbors and neighborhoods. In a cultural moment when financial institutions are often marred by mistrust, Wise winsomely communicates Red Rocks Credit Union is a place where someone will know your name, provide you with trusted advice, and be a credible guide for the various seasons and stages of your financial life. A place where, like Glenn, you feel seen, known, and valued. A credit union is a sacred place.
Thank you to Darius Wise for his leadership across multiple sectors in our city and his enthusiastic contribution to this article.
