In 2016, using a $4M allocation from St. Louis Development Corporation (CDE), SLCCU opened a new branch on Union and a Wealth Accumulation Center on Gravois, allowing it to serve an additional 10,000 low-income persons. At all facilities, SLCCU provides free or low-cost checking and savings accounts, small dollar loans, used auto loans, home loans, affordable check cashing services, financial education and more. The Union Branch is on the site of the former Gateway Bank, established in 1965 as the first African American owned and operated bank in Missouri.
With the closing of Gateway Bank, the surrounding predominantly low-income African American community was left unbanked. Thanks to the new branch opening this community has access to financial services.
The Wealth Accumulation Center contains 3 separate enterprises that offer financial education and services. The Excel Center offers free benefits analysis, financial and life skills coaching, tax preparation services and referrals to nonprofit partners as well as affordable financial services. The SLCCU transaction hub provides basic account services. And, the RedDough Money Center offers low-cost, small dollar loans, check cashing, money transfers through a nonprofit model that returns all proceeds to the surrounding community in the form of free financial education, matched savings programs and more. Collectively, the St. John and Union branches and Wealth Accumulation Center provide robust life skills education and mainstream financial services to underbanked and unbanked populations.