Celebrating 60 years
Southeast Strong

Started by Teachers and Public Workers,
Rooted in the Tongass National Forest

1954
The Ketchikan Pulp and Paper Company builds the Ketchikan Pulp Mill with nearly 1,000 workers, many of whom moved to Ketchikan for the project. Many workers brought families which presented a great strain on local schools. The high school was built, the elementary was expanded and teachers were in high demand.
1956
The Sitka pulp mill was purchased by the Alaska Pulp Corporation. Pulp mill workers from around the U.S. and Canada flocked to Sitka with their families because they were promised journeyman status within six months. During the peak of the pulp mill’s operation, 450 residents were employed.

1960
A group of Alaska Pulp Corporation workers, many of whom had credit unions at their previous workplaces, resolve to build their own credit union in Sitka. On July 5, 1960 the worker’s efforts paid off. They were approved for a credit union charter aptly named the Alaska Lumber & Pulp (A.L.P.) Federal Credit Union.

1963
A group of teachers and public workers start Tongass Federal Credit Union because their financial needs were not being met by local banks. The Treasurer of the Ketchikan Pulp Employees Credit Union presided over the first TFCU organizational meeting - a demonstration of the spirit of cooperation among credit unions.

1985
In 1985, A.L.P. Federal Credit Union became a community-chartered credit union, allowing membership to local residents as well as employees of the pulp mill.

1999
2001
TFCU became a community-chartered credit union, allowing membership to people living in Ketchikan, Prince of Wales Island census area and the Wrangell-Petersburg census area.

2005
TFCU opened our first branch outside of Ketchikan, in Metlakatla. In 2023, TFCU has over 1,100 members in Metlakatla.
2006

2008 - 2022
2009

2017
2020

2022
Given our shared history and commitment to Southeast Alaska, in 2021 ALPS FCU and Tongass FCU proposed a merger to combine our resources and bring better service and products to all of Southeast.

2023
We’re all looking forward to an exciting year celebrating our 60th anniversary of Southeast Strong and consolidating with ALPS FCU!
February 2023
On February 1, 2023 ALPS FCU and Tongass FCU merged into one credit union under the TFCU name!
February 2023
Our Juneau branch opens!
Spring 2023
Anticipated Yakutat microsite opening.
August 1, 2023
System conversion with ALPS complete!
