Founded in 1951 in Chicago, the IAA Credit Union has spent 75 years helping members strengthen their financial futures. Now headquartered in Bloomington, IAACU serves members nationwide while maintaining a long-standing focus on supporting Illinois Farm Bureau members.
“Seventy-five years is a pretty big deal,” says Nick Brooks, IAACU CEO. “It’s a significant milestone for any business, but especially for a smaller financial institution. In an industry marked by consolidation, our strong membership base and steady growth have put us in a position of financial strength and allowed us to grow organically.”
75 Years in the Making
The IAA Credit Union was originally established to serve employees of the IFB with a mission to build financial relationships that enrich members’ lives. That mission still rings true today, standing the test of time.
“A lot has changed since 1951, but our mission remains simple,” Brooks says. “We are dedicated to delivering exceptional value through competitive rates, low fees and personalized service.”
As the IFB Family of Companies grew, IAACU evolved alongside it, expanding membership eligibility to employees of affiliated organizations such as COUNTRY Financial and GROWMARK, members of the IFB, customers and patrons of affiliated companies – including COUNTRY policyholders – and their immediate family members.
“This field of membership is something unique to our credit union,” Brooks says.
Built to Evolve
Over the years, IAACU has grown in its offerings. In addition to traditional savings accounts, members have access to checking accounts and loan options, including auto, home, personal and credit card products, as well as business lending solutions.
“We started offering small business and commercial loans about 10 years ago,” Brooks says. “We really wanted to support our small business community members in the Bloomington/Normal area, as well as COUNTRY Financial reps across the country who want to purchase office space for operations. This line of business helped us do that.”
The company also recognizes the value of financial literacy early in life, offering a suite of products designed for youth such as early savings accounts and low-interest-rate car loans.
In the last decade, IAACU has made a big investment in technology, ensuring members can easily do business safely from anywhere.
“We want to continue to grow organically through a closed-membership network, and investing in the proper technology allows us to continue to do that,” Brooks says.
See more: Learn How COUNTRY Financial and Its Partners Support Agriculture
A Legacy of Service
As the industry continues to change, IAACU will too, but Brooks notes they don’t plan to forget their history.
“The industry will continue to change, and we’ll change with it,” he says. “But our success over the last 75 years was built on strong leadership, support from the family of companies and the loyalty of our members – and that foundation remains just as important today.”
At the beginning of 2026, IAACU was ranked 96th out of 4,374 credit unions across the country by Callahan and Associates Return of Member metric. This reflects the company’s commitment to providing competitive rates, low fees and unparalleled member benefits.
“That’s the top 2% in the country,” Brooks says. “I’m pretty proud of that, and our team is, too. It shows that we really care about our members and have their trust.”
IAACU’s 75-year partnership with IFB is built on a shared legacy of trust, community and mutual support. Together, they’ve cultivated a lasting relationship that prioritizes the needs of the members.
To explore the many benefits of IAACU membership, visit iaacu.org.
