Civic Federal Credit Union

Whether you work in local government, maintain the services we all depend on, or look out for your neighbors,
Civic is committed to serving you and your community.

Learn about the meaningful work we do from those who know us best

Jeanne Erwin & Ken Noland

Civic Chair & LGFCU Chair

Credit Union Board of Directors

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- Jeanne Erwin

Civic Chair & LGFCU Chair

Credit Union Board of Directors

I love the way that we serve our members. I love the way that we put our members first."

- Jeanne Erwin

Chair, Civic Board of Directors

Areas of Impact

Financial wellness

Helping members feel secure in their financial future.

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Community investment

Working together to build vibrant communities.

Learn More

Your credit union

Finance in service to members and all of North Carolina.

Learn More

Did you know …

We have helped make nearly
185,000
members homeowners

$327 MILLION
invested in the safety of North Carolinians

Returned nearly
$6 MILLION
to associations by donating half of our share of merchant fees

Financial Wellness

What keeps our members up at night? Worrying about money.
But when we dig deeper, we learn it’s not just about their money; they worry about their quality of life.
So we decided it’s not enough for us to just offer affordable products and services. Members need more from us, and since we’re their credit union, we show up. We give more and do more — because it’s the right thing to do.
That’s why we support members with a holistic model of financial wellness. It takes a wide lens to help them build better money habits — including setting goals and exploring the way to reach those goals. And it also takes a commitment from a whole credit union staff willing to help.

Here are some of the stories of members striving for financial wellness, because a BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE IS WITHIN REACH.

Read
Anna's Story

Read
Anna's Story

Anna, who opened a share term certificate

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that member conversations can surprise us.
And that was the result when Civic’s Chief Member Experience Officer Pete VanGraafeiland chatted with Civic member Alan B. in the summer of 2023.
“What started as a simple conversation with Pete helped influence my child to make a good financial decision,” Alan noted.
When Alan learned from Pete that the credit union’s Choice Certificates (also known as “CDs”) offered historic rates for Civic, he perked up. He and his daughter, 14-year-old Anna, had recently talked about “passive income.” Alan thought about opening his own certificate, but it was Anna who first jumped at the chance.
Anna worked hard at her summer job and had been considering what to do with her earnings. She quickly did the math and decided to open a certificate.
But Alan says Anna was a little disappointed when she learned she wouldn’t receive an actual “certificate.” The Civic team heard about Anna’s wish for tangible evidence of her smart savings plan, and created their own “unofficial certificate” to celebrate her decision.
“By creating this opportunity, you allowed my daughter and I to have a great conversation,” Alan said. “And now, the only problem is that my 20- and my 29-year-old children are asking why I didn’t tell them about Civic certificates.”

There is something so grounding about being a homeowner for me. Having a place to always return to, start traditions, and to display my personality, is affirming. There was always something temporary about renting and I never felt rooted. Homeownership is stability and freedom for me.”
- Chamreece D., First-time homebuyer

Our impact by the numbers

Mortgage

Savings

Disclaimer

Members who originated a mortgage with LGFCU instead of financing elsewhere in 2023 saved an average of about $191* per month, equating to about
$66,000*

in interest savings over the life of the loan.

$96 MILLION*
The total interest savings across all members over the life of the loan

* Based on external benchmarking. Rates were compared for LGFCU members who originated a mortgage between 01/01/23 and 10/31/23. The interest rate they would have received with another financial institution was compared to the interest rate they received with LGFCU. The interest savings was calculated on the full amortization of the loan being held to maturity.

$27 MILLION*
The total additional dividends earned across all members with Certificates when held to maturity

* Based on external benchmarking. Rates were compared for all members who opened an STC or Choice Certificate account between 01/01/23 and 10/31/23. The dividends they would have received with another financial institution were compared to the dividends they received with Local Government or Civic Federal Credit Unions. The estimated additional dividends assumes members hold the STCs to maturity.

Members who opened Share Term or Choice Certificates (also known as “CDs”) with the credit unions in 2023 will earn on average an additional
$1,250*

in dividends more than they would have earned with competitive financial institutions when those accounts are held to maturity.

Savings

Disclaimer

Auto

Loan

Savings

Disclaimer

Members who originated an auto loan with the credit unions in 2023 had an average payment savings of about $36* per month, resulting in about
$2,400*

in interest savings over the life of the loan.

$25 MILLION*
The total interest savings across all members over the life of the loan

* Based on external benchmarking. Rates were compared for members who originated an auto loan between 01/01/23 and 10/31/23. The interest rate they would have received with another financial institution was compared to the interest rate they received with the credit unions. The interest savings was calculated on the full amortization of the loan being held to maturity.

$89 MILLION*
The total interest savings across all members

*Based on external benchmarking. Rates were compared for the credit union members who originated a personal loan between 01/01/23 and 10/31/23. The interest rate they would have received with another financial institution was compared to the interest rate they received with the credit unions. For closed-end loans, the interest savings was calculated on the full amortization of the loan being held to maturity. For open-end loans, the interest savings was calculated using the members average balance in 2023 and assuming an average lifecycle of four years.

Members who originated a personal loan with the credit unions in 2023 had an average payment savings of about $65 per month, with a total interest savings of around
$3,800*

over the life of the loan.

Personal

Loans

Disclaimer

Our impact by the numbers

Mortgage

Savings

Disclaimer

Members who originated a mortgage with LGFCU instead of financing elsewhere in 2023 saved an average of about $191* per month, equating to about
$66,000*

in interest savings over the life of the loan.

$96 MILLION*
The total interest savings across all members over the life of the loan

Savings

Disclaimer

$27 MILLION*
The total additional dividends earned across all members with Certificates when held to maturity

Members who opened Share Term or Choice Certificates (also known as “CDs”) with the credit unions in 2023 will earn on average an additional
$1,250*

in dividends more than they would have earned with competitive financial institutions when those accounts are held to maturity.

Auto

Loan

Savings

Disclaimer

Members who originated an auto loan with the credit unions in 2023 had an average payment savings of about $36* per month, resulting in about
$2,400*

in interest savings over the life of the loan.

$25 MILLION*
The total interest savings across all members over the life of the loan

Personal

Loans

Disclaimer

$89 MILLION*
The total interest savings across all members

Members who originated a personal loan with the credit unions in 2023 had an average payment savings of about $65 per month, with a total interest savings of around
$3,800*

over the life of the loan.

Small business testimonials

With Civic, even a small nonprofit can have expert-level financial management. Their dedicated staff has been instrumental in ensuring that our finances are in order. From providing answers to our questions with ease to the seamless integration with QuickBooks, Civic has transformed our financial operations, allowing us to focus on our core mission of recovery support. Civic is more than a bank; it’s a trusted partner in our nonprofit journey.”

- Catherine M.

Executive Director, Roots of Recovery

Civic is 100% customer-centric, and it’s been an awesome experience. And one thing I know from my dealings with Civic is that there’s always somebody there.”

- Rocco R.

Owner, Bounce-To-You, LLC

I’ve never felt like I am just one of their account holders. I’ve always felt like this is a partnership, which is what I love. It's a conversation of how can I help you so that you can help me, and how can we grow together? The conversations that I have are just that, conversations, and it’s solely about anything and everything other than my banking per se. It’s very refreshing to know that someone is interested in my success as equally as I am interested in my own success.”

- Amelia S.

Owner, Amelia Irene Catering

Small business testimonials

- Catherine M.

Executive Director, Roots of Recovery

Civic is 100% customer-centric, and it’s been an awesome experience. And one thing I know from my dealings with Civic is that there’s always somebody there.”

- Rocco R.

Owner, Bounce-To-You, LLC

- Amelia S.

Owner, Amelia Irene Catering

COMMUNITY INVESTMENT

It’s not enough to say our members are at the center of all we do — although they are. We’re pushing further, using finance to help build vibrant towns, cities, and counties across the state. We must be bold because our efforts are significant. We’re a different kind of financial cooperative — one making individual impacts while shifting systems to build a better world. Some may say we’re too ambitious, but we’re not targeting the status quo. We’re aiming for change.

The financial inclusion story

Listen To The Story

LGFCU is a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Community Development Credit Union (CDCU), and a Low-Income Designated Credit Union (LIDCU), which means we are dedicated to promoting financial inclusion through expanding access to financial services and opportunities to help bring people into the financial mainstream. Our certification as a CDFI distinguishes us within the finance environment as a socially responsible financial institution focusing on investing in underserved areas.

$222M

Loans in Persistent Poverty Counties (PPCs)

$2.3B

Loan portfolio in CDFI Target Markets,* which equates to more than 71% of our overall loan portfolio

79%

First-time Homebuyer Loans made in CDFI Target Markets*

*Areas identified by the CDFI Fund within the organization’s service area that lack access to loans, equity investments, and/or financial services.

We’re involved in member communities

Local government employees and their families are the heart of Civic and LGFCU membership. Our Membership Development team is on the go each day in local government units and member communities statewide.
Hear more about our impact in 2023.

See the Impact

2,163

coordinating touch points and meetings with local government agencies, departments and hospitals

financial wellness seminars

110

orientations and benefit wellness fairs that informed local government employees

shred events

& 3

e-recycling events

that protect your personal information and our planet

conferences across the state that advocated for the credit union

promoting the credit union at community outreach efforts and events

UNC School of Government partnership

Local Government and Civic Federal Credit Unions’ long-standing partnership with the UNC School of Government builds on the credit unions’ mission to improve the lives of North Carolinians. The partnership enhances economic development in local communities, fosters leadership in public service, and provides professional development scholarships for local government professionals.
Hear more about our partnership from Dean Aimee Wall.

See the Impact

1,250+

scholarship recipients

$1 MILLION+

in scholarships awarded

536

Civic Fellows graduates

375

local government entities impacted

220+

projects funded across North Carolina

Changing North Carolina one heart at a time

Civic Local Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of our credit unions, awarding grants to North Carolina-based nonprofits addressing challenges in health care, housing, human services and hunger.
Since 2021, Civic Local Foundation has awarded 22 community grants totaling $550,000 to support North Carolina nonprofits focused on addressing needs in health care, housing, human services and hunger. Additionally, since the inception of the credit unions’ scholarship program, nearly $3 million dollars in scholarships have been awarded to credit union members attending professional development courses and higher education.
See the highlights for this year’s impact:

UP TO

in grants annually

UP TO

in scholarships annually

MORE THAN

in employee donations

“As a Civic scholarship recipient, it is an honor and privilege to represent not only students but families of government employees. Being awarded such a large financial support acknowledges my hard work and dedication to school and community.

– Mikayla W. Student Scholarship Recipient of the Year 2023

Civic Local Foundation honored the people and organizations that inspired us in 2023. Take a moment to meet those who are moving North Carolina forward.

View a recap from the Inspiration Celebration festivities

Supporting our partners and associations

For more than a decade, the credit unions have awarded scholarships to law enforcement professionals who might not otherwise have the means to participate.
North Carolina State University offers two key professional programs for local law enforcement leaders in the state.

The Law Enforcement Executive Program

The Administrative Officers Management Program

These programs help law enforcement professionals build their proficiency as managers of public service and as stewards of responsible protective services in our communities.

READ Jim's Testimonial

Jim Brunet

Associate Professor and Public Safety Leadership Initiative Director

Affinity card program

One of the ways the credit unions gives back to its membership is through our custom debit card program, affiliated with some of our partner associations. With each purchase made using one of these affinity debit cards, we donate 50% of our share of net merchant fees directly to programs sponsored by these organizations.

North Carolina Association of Rescue & Emergency Medical Services (NCAR&EMS)

See Card

North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association (NCSFA)

See Card

North Carolina Recreation and Park Association (NCRPA)

See Card

North Carolina Association of Rescue & Emergency Medical Services (NCAR&EMS)

Number of cardholders

Total paid since inception of program

NCAR & EMS Affinity Debit Card Program
The credit union’s Debit Card for rescue and EMS enables us to donate to the North Carolina Association of Rescue & Emergency Medical Services (NCAR&EMS) every time card users make a purchase. This allows the credit union to help fund training, scholarship and benefits for NCAR&EMS members.

Learn More

When we started our business lending program nearly 20 years ago, we could not have imagined the credit union would one day become a lender of choice for volunteer fire departments across the state. To date, we have financed more than
$327M WORTH OF FIREFIGHTER GEAR, AND APPARATUS
along with the upgrade or construction of dozens of new fire stations. Departments across the state say financing with the credit union saves money for them and the communities they serve. Watch the video below to see how our work with the fire service means better outcomes for all North Carolinians.

YOUR CREDIT UNION

Members told us their top needs include convenient access to accounts, competitive rates, and platform security. And as we make changes to stay ahead of the technology curve, we’ve elevated those priorities.
Even our members’ actions have told us that they’re ready to bank differently: In 2023, more than 83% of member transactions were completed outside the branch. That trend has encouraged us to offer more non-branch channels, increasing other options for reaching us, and reducing overall costs. The result is that members have more ways than ever to reach us, and we can offer better rates and products.
Part of our enhanced technology profile has resulted in fortified security practices and infrastructure, ensuring that members can confidently connect to our channels.

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Reach us in more ways than ever!

Your credit union’s security practices exceed industry standards.

Beyond the branch

of current transactions are non-branch (online, phone, app)

ATM

Branch

Call Center

Digital

Values & Sustainability

Civic partners with local governments across North Carolina, driven by an organizational focus on values and sustainability. Our vision of being an industry-leading credit union isn’t just about offering top tier products and services. We see a range of challenges faced by local governments across the state. Many of these become opportunities when we consider solutions like alternative energy, affordable housing, and community investments.
Civic is engaging, learning, and modeling the efforts required by a modern organization to be a leader in addressing these issues.

In 2023 the Civic solar array produced165 MWhs+(megawatt hours)

Civic headquarters in Raleigh, a LEED Gold-certified facility

one megawatt hour can…

Power the average American home for 1.2 months
Drive an electric vehicle 3,600 miles
Power 2 60-watt lightbulbs non-stop for a year
Toast 89,000 slices of bread
Run 2 modern refrigerators for a year

165 megawatt hours can…

Power the average American home for 16.5 years
Drive an electric vehicle 594,000 miles
Power 330 60-watt lightbulbs non-stop for a year
Toast 14,685,000 slices of bread
Run 330 modern refrigerators for a year

2BEEHIVES

40,000+ bees per hive

2.5miles of pollination radius around Civic headquarters

The following strategic partners help Civic and LGFCU work toward our sustainability initiatives

NCSEA is the leading nonprofit organization driving public policy and market development for clean energy. NCSEA’s work enables clean energy jobs, economic opportunities, and aﬀordable energy options for North Carolinians.

The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) is an international network of front-runner organizations and leaders in the banking industry using finance to serve people and the planet.

EarthShare NC inspires and provides opportunities for individuals and corporations to actively participate with our member nonprofits to create healthy and sustainable communities across North Carolina.

NC Forever is a unique coalition of businesses and nonprofit organizations that share a commitment to the conservation of our state's land and water resources.

0kg

of greenhouse gas emissions avoided from Civic EV charging stations
That’s like planting 325 trees and letting them grow for 10 years

0LBS

of waste diverted

0LBS

of compost donated to local community gardens and food shelters w/ gardens (102 garden partners)

0LBS

of CO2 avoided, which is equivalent to 1,224 miles not driven

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI)

Our differences make us stronger, and every staff member is welcomed as an individual contributor. Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are baked into who we are and what we do, and we’re working to be better.

Volunteer engagement

We’re a member-owned cooperative, and that means we serve you best when your voice is heard. We’re grateful to our volunteers who join the conversation, advocating for fellow members and helping us shape the future of our credit union.

Operational Management Committee members

Asset Liability Management Committee volunteers

Supervisory Committee members

Board of Directors

Loan Review Committee members

638

Advisory Council members

638

Advisory Council members

We’re setting a new standard for financial institutions in North Carolina — one that delivers positive change for local communities and improves our corner of the world.

– Ken Noland, Chair, LGFCU Board of Directors

Employer of choice

Everything we do starts with people. We provide rewarding opportunities, hire the right talent, and create an inclusive work environment so that our teams can remain steadfast in our commitment to members.

Volunteer impact

700

Volunteer hours by employees in 2023

$20,881

Savings in paid labor for nonprofit organizations

Our impact across the state

Local government employees and their families are the heart of Civic and LGFCU membership. Click through the map to learn how we’re changing lives and communities in every county of our great state.

STATEWIDE IMPACT:

12,685kg

Greenhouse gases avoided through our Civic EV charging stations

$1M

in professional development scholarships to members attending classes at the UNC School of Government

in community grants awarded to NC nonprofits since the creation of our Foundation

165 MWHs

produced by solar panels—enough to toast 14,685,000 slices of bread!

$222M

in loans within Persistent Poverty Counties

North Carolinians own homes today through our mortgage programs

staff volunteer hours, saving NC nonprofits nearly $21,000 in paid labor

$3M

in scholarships awarded since the beginning of all scholarship programs

$327M

in business loans to NC Volunteer Fire Departments since program inception

Our impact across the state

Local government employees and their families are the heart of Civic and LGFCU membership. Select from the list below to learn how we’re changing lives and communities in every county of our great state.

STATEWIDE IMPACT:

12,685kg

Greenhouse gases avoided through our Civic EV charging stations

$1M

in professional development scholarships to members attending classes at the UNC School of Government

in community grants awarded to NC nonprofits since the creation of our Foundation

165 MWHs

produced by solar panels—enough to toast 14,685,000 slices of bread!

$222M

in loans within Persistent Poverty Counties

North Carolinians own homes today through our mortgage programs

staff volunteer hours, saving NC nonprofits nearly $21,000 in paid labor

$3M

in scholarships awarded since the beginning of all scholarship programs

$327M

in business loans to NC Volunteer Fire Departments since program inception

Future goals

As a financial cooperative serving local governments and communities across North Carolina, we strive to lessen our environmental impact, learn from our members, and identify our role in preserving resources for future generations. We’re building a community of people united in an effort to make positive contributions for our communities, our neighbors, and the environment.

This is our vision

Physical footprint across NC

LEARN MORE

Physical footprint across NC

What the future looks like:
CIVIC BRANCHES &
CO-LOCATIONS

Murphy

Cherokee County

Asheville

Buncombe County

Hickory

Catawba County

Durham

Durham County

Charlotte

Mecklenburg County

Greensboro

Guilford County

Raleigh

Wake County

Lumberton

Robeson County

Wilmington

New Hanover County

Greenville

Pitt County

Ahoskie

Hertford County

Newton

Catawba County

Gastonia

Gaston County

Surf City

Onslow and Pender County

Civic Vans

LEARN MORE

Civic Vans

We’re hitting the road to visit towns across our state!
You could say we’re “driven” to serve you!

Branches, ATMs, retail access

LEARN MORE

Branches, ATMs, retail access

We will offer cash solutions for deposits and withdrawals across the state

CO-OP shared branches/ATMs
ATM networks
Retail deposit access with merchants you know
Civic branches

Environmentally friendly

LEARN MORE

Environmentally friendly

Our blueprint includes leveraging operational efficiencies, resource conservation, alternative energy, and financial solutions that encourage informed energy consumption.

Strategic plan

LEARN MORE

Strategic plan

View Strategic Plan

This is our vision

Physical footprint across NC

What the future looks like:
CIVIC BRANCHES &
CO-LOCATIONS

Murphy

Cherokee County

Asheville

Buncombe County

Hickory

Catawba County

Durham

Durham County

Charlotte

Mecklenburg County

Greensboro

Guilford County

Raleigh

Wake County

Lumberton

Robeson County

Wilmington

New Hanover County

Greenville

Pitt County

Ahoskie

Hertford County

Newton

Catawba County

Gastonia

Gaston County

Surf City

Onslow and Pender County

Civic Vans

We’re hitting the road to visit towns across our state!
You could say we’re “driven” to serve you!

Branches, ATMs, retail access

We will offer cash solutions for deposits and withdrawals across the state

CO-OP shared branches/ATMs
ATM networks
Retail deposit access with merchants you know
Civic branches

Environmentally friendly

Our blueprint includes leveraging operational efficiencies, resource conservation, alternative energy, and financial solutions that encourage informed energy consumption.

Strategic plan

View Strategic Plan

Listen to what Ashley has to say

Ashley Ruffin

Chief Impact Officer

“Our impact across the state is significant. While we serve more than 400,000 members, bringing them affordable financial solutions, we’re not just a credit union. We are a community partner, allocating resources to individuals and communities, building sustainability into our work, and using finance for good.”
Tell us about our impact in your area, or reach out to help us make an even bigger impact.