Question 1

What is Saint John AME Credit Union?

Accepted Answer

Saint John AME Credit Union is a small, community-focused credit union serving members of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church and the surrounding community in Niagara Falls, New York. With approximately 172 members and $192,211 in total assets, this faith-based financial institution provides basic banking services to support the financial needs of its congregation and local residents.

As a Federal Credit Union with a low-income designation, Saint John AME Credit Union is committed to serving underserved populations in the Highland Avenue neighborhood, a historically Black community in Niagara Falls.

Question 2

When was Saint John AME Credit Union founded?

Accepted Answer

While the exact founding date of the credit union is not publicly available, it is closely tied to St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was established in 1906. The church became the first established, ongoing African American church in Niagara Falls, New York.

The credit union was established to serve the financial needs of church members, reflecting the African Methodist Episcopal Church's long-standing tradition of supporting economic empowerment and self-sufficiency within the Black community. Church-based credit unions like Saint John AME emerged from the cooperative movement's belief that faith communities could provide accessible, affordable financial services to members who might otherwise be excluded from mainstream banking.

Question 3

Where is Saint John AME Credit Union headquartered?

Accepted Answer

Saint John AME Credit Union is headquartered at 917 Garden Avenue in Niagara Falls, New York. This location shares its address with St. John AME Church in the Highland Avenue neighborhood, a historically significant area for the African American community in Niagara Falls.

The site holds deep historical significance, as the land where the church and credit union now stand was once a stop on the Underground Railroad, where freedom seekers hid in a cave beneath a house before continuing their journey to Canada.

Question 4

Where does Saint John AME Credit Union operate?

Accepted Answer

Saint John AME Credit Union operates exclusively at its single location at 917 Garden Avenue in Niagara Falls, New York, serving the Niagara County area. As a church-based credit union, membership is typically available to members of St. John AME Church, their families, and individuals who live, work, or worship in the surrounding community.

The credit union has a low-income designation from the NCUA, indicating its commitment to serving economically disadvantaged populations in the Highland Avenue neighborhood and broader Niagara Falls community.

Question 5

What services does Saint John AME Credit Union offer?

Accepted Answer

Saint John AME Credit Union offers traditional credit union services including share accounts (savings), loans, and deposits. With approximately $87,349 in total loans and $161,665 in total deposits, the credit union provides basic financial products to meet the everyday banking needs of its members.

Given its small size and church-based nature, the credit union likely operates on a limited schedule aligned with church activities and relies on a combination of staff and volunteers to provide personalized, community-oriented service. The credit union maintains a loan-to-share ratio of 54%, indicating a conservative lending approach focused on serving member needs while maintaining financial stability.

Question 6

What makes Saint John AME Credit Union unique?

Accepted Answer

Saint John AME Credit Union's distinctiveness stems from its deep roots in the African Methodist Episcopal Church tradition and its commitment to serving a historically underserved community. The credit union operates from a location with profound historical significance—the site of a former Underground Railroad stop—connecting its modern mission of financial empowerment to a legacy of freedom and self-determination.

As one of the few remaining church-based credit unions serving an African American congregation, Saint John AME Credit Union embodies the AME Church's founding principles of self-sufficiency, mutual aid, and community uplift. The church itself has been a center for civil rights activism, having served as headquarters for NAACP rallies, housing discrimination protests, and charitable collections during the civil rights movement.

With its low-income designation, the credit union specifically targets populations that may face barriers to accessing traditional banking services, providing a faith-based alternative rooted in trust, shared values, and community accountability.

Question 7

What type of financial institution is Saint John AME Credit Union?

Accepted Answer

Saint John AME Credit Union is a Federal Credit Union, meaning it operates under a federal charter granted by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and is regulated by federal law. As a credit union, it operates as a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members.

The credit union follows the cooperative principle of "people helping people," where members pool their savings to provide loans to one another. Membership is based on a common bond—in this case, affiliation with St. John AME Church or residence in the surrounding community. Each member has equal voting rights regardless of the amount of money they have on deposit, reflecting the democratic structure of the credit union movement.

With its classification as a credit union serving a low-income community, Saint John AME Credit Union qualifies for special regulatory considerations that support its mission of providing financial services to economically disadvantaged populations.

Saint John AME Credit Union

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About Saint John AME Credit Union in the United States