The Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union (or GUASFCU) is a credit union headquartered in Washington, DC, chartered and regulated under the authority of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) of the US federal government. GUASFCU has proudly served the Georgetown community since 1983 and is the nation's largest entirely student-run credit union both in asset size and in membership.
On February 9, 1983, the Georgetown University Student Federal Credit Union (then GUSFCU) was formally chartered by the National Credit Union Administration. At the time, it was "hailed" as a model for future student credit unions. The GUSFCU's founders received permission from the university administration to open on the second floor of the O'Gara building. Georgetown University became the first private university to have an independent, student-run credit union. Initial capital was raised by hundreds of students who pledged a total of approximately $500,000 in deposits, as well as a certificate of deposit by Georgetown University for $100,000.
By 1985, total asset levels exceeded $1,000,000. In 1994, the GUSFCU officially became the Georgetown University Alumni & Student Federal Credit Union (GUASFCU) to better represent its growing alumni base. GUASFCU has grown into the largest entirely student-run financial institution in the United States. In February 2008, GUASFCU celebrated its 25th anniversary. Its current membership base is split between students and alumni, with over 70 percent of the Georgetown community holding accounts. GUASFCU has over $15 million in assets and over 11,000 accounts; additionally, it retains a loan portfolio of approximately $1.8 million, consisting of signature and auto loans.
Through the transition into the 21st century, the GUASFCU continues to make members its main priority, with continued changes to better serve the students and alumni of Georgetown University. Through the introduction of new programs, the Credit Union seeks to become and remain your financial institution long after graduation. What began as a dream in the minds of a few visionary students became a reality with the formation of an institution aimed at providing an affordable variety of financial services to the students and alumni of Georgetown.
