Why Showing Up Still Matters in Local Banking
In 1939, Arizona Central Credit Union was founded to serve an unexpected group of members: employees of other credit unions.
At the time, credit union membership rules were so restrictive that employees couldn't necessarily join the institutions where they worked. Arizona Central helped fill that gap, providing financial services to people working in the credit union industry.
Nearly nine decades later, the credit union has evolved considerably. Today, Arizona Central serves approximately 50,000 members through nine branches across the state. But its cooperative roots remain central to how it operates.
In a recent episode of Local First’s Arizona Credit Union Podcast, Arizona Central President and CEO Brian Lee discussed the value of local relationships, the changing role of physical branches and why cooperation matters in building stronger communities.
More Than a Place to Bank
Mobile banking has made everyday financial transactions easier than ever. Members can deposit checks, transfer money and manage accounts without setting foot inside a branch.
But Lee believes physical locations still play an important role, particularly when people need financial guidance, help resolving a problem or simply want to work with someone they know.
Arizona Central operates five branches in the Phoenix metro area, two in Flagstaff, one in Show Low and one in Tucson. Each serves a community with different needs and expectations.
In Show Low, for example, Lee said local business owners particularly value face-to-face relationships. Arizona Central gives its branches flexibility to respond to their communities, including allowing each location to select local nonprofits to invest in.
“I think it's hard to grow in a community if you don't show up there,” Lee said.
For Lee, maintaining a local presence isn't about resisting technology. It's about making sure digital convenience doesn't replace the personal connections that help financial institutions understand and respond to the people they serve.
Cooperation Beyond Competition
Arizona Central's history reflects a defining principle of credit unions: cooperation.
That principle extends beyond individual institutions. Arizona credit unions have a history of working together, whether sharing information about emerging fraud schemes, expanding financial education or helping members connect with the services they need.
Lee pointed to Arizona Credit Union Week, which began as a collaboration among four credit unions and has grown to include nearly 20 participating institutions.
That effort helped inspire the Arizona Credit Union Coalition, a partnership with Local First Arizona that brings credit unions together throughout the year to strengthen financial education, improve access to capital and promote the value of banking locally.
For Lee, the cooperative approach recognizes that no single institution can meet every person's financial needs.
When asked what advice he'd give someone choosing a financial institution, he encouraged them to start by identifying what matters most: low fees, digital convenience, nearby branches or services tailored to their circumstances.
It's an approach that puts people and their priorities first.
And for Arizona Central, it's also a reminder that the value of local banking isn't measured solely by the transactions a financial institution processes, but by the relationships it builds and the communities it continues to show up for.
Watch the full conversation: Hear more from Brian Lee in Local First Arizona's Arizona Credit Union Podcast, including how Arizona Central is addressing housing affordability and working with other credit unions to protect members from fraud.
Explore locally owned credit unions across Arizona at azcreditunions.com
In this episode
Brian Lee is the President and Chief Executive Officer for Arizona Central Credit Union in Phoenix, AZ, serving over 50,000 members throughout the state of Arizona.
He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer at Landings Credit Union. He graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Accounting and worked in public accounting as an auditor. He then became involved with credit unions working for the National Credit Union Administration as a Principal Examiner.
He is a Credit Union Development Educator (CUDE) and has served as a member of several boards and committees on the national and regional level, focusing on credit union leadership development and advocacy. Brian was recently recognized at the Arizona Advocate of the Year by the GoWest Credit Union Association. He has contributed at several events as a speaker, facilitator, and panelist covering diverse topics. Brian is active in his community as a graduate of both the Tempe Leadership and ASU Leadership programs and currently serves on local non-profit boards and committees..
Thomas Barr
Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Local First Arizona
Barr leads strategic initiatives focused on strengthening Arizona's locally owned businesses and locally driven economy.
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