Bellco

In 1936, a group of employees at Mountain Bell Telephone Company in Denver, Colorado, established a financial cooperative. This entity, now known as Bellco Credit Union, was founded on the principle of people helping people with their financial needs. Unlike a traditional bank, the credit union's structure meant its members were also its owners, a model designed to return profits to members through better rates and fewer fees. The organization maintained its focus on serving employees of specific groups for many years. A significant operational shift occurred in 2003 when Bellco merged with First Choice Community Federal Credit Union. This event was noteworthy as it expanded Bellco's membership eligibility to all residents of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, marking a move towards a broader community focus. This merger increased the combined assets to $1.35 billion and the membership to 138,000. Further acquisitions followed, including the 2008 merger with the struggling Great American Community CU, which added 4,500 members and expanded Bellco's presence in several Colorado counties. Today, Bellco is one of the largest credit unions in Colorado, serving over 368,000 members with assets exceeding $8 billion. Its journey from a small employee credit union to a major community-based financial institution illustrates a consistent path of strategic growth through mergers.