For long-time member Pat Westrick, Arbor isn’t just a place to bank, it’s woven into the story of her family. Her dad, James (Jim) Fetterolf, was one of Arbor’s very first managers, back when the credit union looked much different from what it does today.
Arbor began in 1935, founded by nine Kalamazoo educators who simply wanted to help one another. In those early days, the credit union, known then as Kalamazoo City Teacher’s Credit Union, then Kalamazoo County School Employees Credit Union, ran right out of a classroom at Kalamazoo Central High School. A few years later, Jim stepped into the role of the cooperative’s first part-time manager, helping it grow one member at a time.
Pat remembers those stories well.
Her dad talked about running the credit union from the closet of his classroom, squeezing operations in between teaching duties. Later, the work moved to a building just across from the school. “For a long time, the credit union was basically a side job for my dad,” Pat says. “It was so small back then, and he still had his full-time teaching job.”
She and her siblings occasionally pitched in, earning a penny per envelope as they helped stuff mailings. It’s a memory she recalls with a smile.
What hasn’t changed over the years is the way Jim connected with people. “My dad was well-known and loved in the community,” Pat shared. “He was always trying to help others through the credit union, with his students, and through volunteering. I think he would be so proud of how far the credit union has grown while keeping the community feel he brought to the credit union.”
From those humble classroom beginnings to serving communities across Michigan today, Arbor has continued to hold onto that same welcoming, community-first spirit. Pat still feels it every time she visits. “Everyone is always so nice and friendly when I come in,” she said. “They truly want what’s best for people and for the community.”
Pat eventually followed her dad into education, becoming a teacher herself. One of her favorite memories? Teaching her 4th and 5th graders how to write a check with help from Arbor (known then as ECCU), which provided the class with checkbooks and registers. “I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of cool things because of Arbor,” she said. “I’ve never had another credit union because I’ve never needed one; Arbor has always taken care of me.”
To Pat and to all our members, thank you for letting us be part of your lives for over 90 years. We look forward to serving you, your families, and your communities for many years to come.