Thursday, June 27, 2024, marked 80 years of service for Valley Oak Credit Union located in Tulare County, California.

Established in 1944, by a local co-op grocer George Burcham in idyllic Three Rivers, California, Valley Oak Credit Union was established to serve the agricultural workers of Tulare County and its communities, even operating out of a garage at one point as so many successful startups tend to do. Today, Valley Oak services communities within Tulare and Madera Counties with over 6,500 members and close to $80M in assets.

“The resolve of Valley Oak Credit Union remains strong and true,” states the Credit Union’s President/CEO Alan Cortum. “We aim to provide service with integrity so our members may have financial stability for a lifetime.”

To mark the milestone, all three of Valley Oak’s locations and their staff hosted their members and communities with a weekslong celebration of loan and savings specials, sweet treats, drawings for prizes – as well as a ribbon cutting ceremony led by the Tulare Chamber of Commerce. Along with several representatives from the Chamber, local businesses and other community members, Valley Oak also received words and certificates of recognition during the ceremony from Josh Golden, a representative from the office of California State Senator Honorable Melissa Hurtado, 16th Senate District; Patrick Burks, representative for the office of Supervisor Pete Vander Poel District Two; Matt Gee, representative for Devon Mathis, 33rd Assembly District California State Legislature; Mathew Casarez representative from the office of California State Senator 12th District Shannon Grove; and Terry Sayre, City of Tulare Mayor.

“I was born in 1945, so soon I’ll be 80 years old, so I know the longevity and what that means as a lifetime for me, and that you’ve been in business,” expressed Sayre. “We’d like to show our appreciation with giving you a certificate of recognition in celebration of your 80th anniversary and thank you for choosing Tulare as one of your locations.” Sayre continues, “To provide employment opportunities for our citizens and our residents and opportunities for them to prosper and your investment in our community is greatly appreciated. Congratulations and best wishes and continued success, thank you so much.”

“With a new Tulare branch opening before the end of 2024, along with our Three Rivers and Visalia locations and staff – we are looking forward to continuing our efforts to help our communities grow, and to continuing to support our wonderful staff, many of which have been with the Credit Union for over 20-years,” explained Cortum. “Since the beginning, Valley Oak Credit Union has been rooted in the financial health and well-being of our members from generation to generation – and that vision continues to this day and beyond.”