Our Mission
Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union delivers professional financial services with a personal, hometown touch. We value our relationships with each of our members, from those opening their first checking accounts to those applying for home loans. As a credit union, our business decisions are grounded in benefiting our membership. Everything we do, we do for you.
Our History
Rooted in Anaconda. Built by Working People. Growing with Southwest Montana.
The story of Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union begins in Anaconda during the city’s heyday as a copper-smelting boomtown.
In 1941, a group of hardworking smeltermen began looking for a better way to manage and protect the money they earned through long, demanding hours on the job. Their vision was simple: create a financial cooperative where working people could save, borrow, and help one another build a stronger financial future.
A Vision Takes Shape
John Morris led the effort, bringing the idea of a credit union to the Anaconda Mill & Smeltermen’s Union. His belief in the benefits of a credit union convinced a group of fellow workers to join the effort.
Fellow smelterman Percy Sundberg helped move the idea forward by reaching out to credit unions in Spokane, Washington, Salt Lake City, and other communities to learn how they operated and gather information.
Patrick J. “Packy” Dolan, secretary of the Smeltermen’s Union, provided another important push. He reached out to union members and gathered 44 signatures from individuals interested in becoming credit union members—enough to form the core group needed to apply for a federal charter.
The historic charter application bears the signatures of John Morris, Percy Sundberg, Patrick J. “Packy” Dolan, Albert Powdrill Sr., Steve Wimsett, Einar Forsman, John Lenihan, and Rick Dolan.
Their efforts became a reality on March 29, 1941, when the Anaconda Federal Credit Union was officially created. John Morris became the credit union’s first member.
The first officers were:
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Albert Powdrill Sr. — President
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Fred Grey — Vice President
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Michael Spelman — Treasurer
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Hans S. Hansen — Secretary/Clerk
In those early days, the credit union shared space with the Smeltermen’s Union Office and operated with borrowed equipment. Much of its work was carried out by smeltermen who divided their time between their jobs at the smelter and serving their fellow members.
Growing Through the Years
The early years were not without challenges. Many people watched from the sidelines, hesitant to commit to this new financial cooperative. But perseverance paid off.
By 1945, the credit union had grown to more than $40,000 in assets. Two employees were hired, the credit union moved out of the Smeltermen’s Union Office, and the organization entered a period of continued growth.
That growth continued for decades. In 1958, the credit union built a new facility at 112 E. Commercial Avenue in downtown Anaconda.
The credit union remained there for 50 years, becoming a familiar and trusted part of the Anaconda community. In 2008, the organization moved into a new, modern facility at 1035 W. Park Avenue, providing additional space and updated facilities to serve its growing membership.
Expanding to Butte
Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union has also maintained a strong presence in Butte for generations.
The credit union first began serving the Mining City in 1964. Originally located on Dakota Street, the Butte operation eventually moved to Harrison Avenue, where a new facility was later constructed.
In September 2019, the credit union opened its current Butte location at 1925 Elizabeth Warren Avenue, continuing a tradition of serving Butte-area members that stretches back more than half a century.
From a Workplace Credit Union to a Community Credit Union
The credit union’s membership has evolved along with the communities we serve.
Originally established to serve employees of the Anaconda Company, the credit union later expanded its membership to include railroad workers, Butte laborers, and others throughout the area.
In 1999, the credit union became a community-chartered financial institution, opening membership to people who “live, work, attend school, worship, perform volunteer services, or participate in associations headquartered” within Deer Lodge and Silver Bow counties.
As Southwest Montana continued to grow and change, so did the credit union.
Today, Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union serves members across seven Montana counties, including:
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Deer Lodge County — Anaconda
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Silver Bow County — Butte
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Granite County — Philipsburg
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Powell County — Deer Lodge
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Jefferson County — Whitehall
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Beaverhead County — Wisdom and Wise River
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Madison County — Ennis and Virginia City
A New Chapter: 2025
In 2025, Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union entered an exciting new chapter when we merged with High Peaks Federal Credit Union.
The merger brought together two organizations with a shared commitment to serving their members and communities. Through the merger, Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union expanded its presence into Dillon, Sheridan, and Whitehall, Montana, adding three new branch locations and welcoming new members and communities into the Southwest Montana Community Federal Credit Union family.
Today, our expanded presence allows us to serve members across an even greater portion of Southwest Montana, while continuing the same cooperative philosophy that has guided us since 1941.
A Legacy of Community
What began in 1941 with a small group of smeltermen looking for a better way to manage their hard-earned money has grown into a community-focused financial institution serving people throughout Southwest Montana.
More than 80 years later, the names and faces have changed, our communities have expanded, and our organization has continued to evolve. But the purpose remains much the same: people helping people.
From our beginnings alongside the Anaconda smelter to our branches throughout Southwest Montana, our history is built on the dedication of our members, employees, volunteers, and communities.
The 2025 merger with High Peaks Federal Credit Union represents another important milestone in that history—bringing together shared values, new communities, and new opportunities while strengthening our ability to serve the people of Southwest Montana.
We are proud of where we came from, grateful for those who built the foundation, and excited about the future we are building together.
