75 years + 75 ways Alabama’s largest credit union has shaped Huntsville [PHOTOS]

Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher

Reading time: 4 minutes

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A group of people work in an early Redstone Credit Union branch office in the 1960s in Huntsville, Alabama
Redstone team members take calls at an early location. (RFCU)

Founded with $55 on Redstone Arsenal in 1951, today Redstone Federal Credit Union is one of the largest federal credit unions in the country and a global financial institution serving almost 650,000 members and holding more than $7.5 billion in assets.

To commemorate Redstone’s 75th birthday in 2026, we compiled 75 facts from a look back on its history and biggest milestones.

Read on to come away richer in knowledge about this longtime member of our community.

How it started + how it’s going

The original branch building of Redstone Federal Credit Union on Redstone Arsenal, which opened in 1951Redstone Federal Credit Union (RFCU) Twickenham Center in Huntsville, Alabama
SLIDE THE ARROWS to see Redstone’s first location in 1951 and the Twickenham branch in 2020 (RFCU)

1-11. Eleven original members launched Redstone, each contributing $5, which they placed in a shoebox.
12. A $5 deposit is still all that’s required for qualified people to become members today.
13-14. Redstone was officially founded on Nov. 28, 1951, as a cooperative financial institution where members are owners, not customers.
15. Redstone’s name reflects the arsenal and Huntsville’s defense roots.

Branching out + cornerstones

Redstone Federal Credit Union Wynn Drive location, purchased in 1975 and expanded and renovated in 2004 before its rmajor expansion and renovation in 2003Redstone Federal Credit Union Wynn Drive location
SLIDE THE ARROWS to see Redstone’s Wynn Drive location before and after its 2003 expansion and renovation. (RFCU)

20-22. A Parkway Shopping Center branch opened in 1961, followed by one at The Mall in 1966 and another at Parkway City Mall in 1976.
23-24. The Sparkman Drive main office was dedicated on Aug. 27, 1967, and served as Redstone’s headquarters for nine years.
25. Redstone purchased its Wynn Drive building from Boeing in 1975 before converting it into its new headquarters in 1976.
26. In 1979, a new Redstone Arsenal Branch opened in the arsenal’s community shopping center.
27-28. Madison’s first branch opened in 1986 on Sullivan Street, and its County Line Road location opened in 2018.
29. A Winn-Dixie in-store branch debuted in 1994.
28. Redstone expanded its Wynn Drive headquarters in 2003.
29-30. Redstone entered Tennessee in 2011 with a Murfreesboro location, which relocated to a larger building in 2017.
31. In 2019, Redstone opened its flagship Rutherford County, Tennessee, location on Medical Center Parkway.
32. Downtown Huntsville’s Twickenham Center opened in 2020.
33. Redstone’s newest branch will open in Cullman in 2026.

Visit the Redstone Federal Credit Union website to see all locations.

People, impacts + milestones

  • A woman uses an adding machine at an early location of Redstone Federal Credit Union in 1958 in Huntsville, Alabama
    A woman uses an adding machine in 1958 (RFCU)
  • Interior of an early Redstone Federal Credit Union location in the 1950s or 1960s
    An early Redstone branch (RFCU)
  • A Redstone Federal Credit Union employee shows different sized televisions offered as prizes in the late 1960s
    Prizes offered in the late 1960s (RFCU)
  • People assemble on the steps of the Redstone Federal Credit Union Sparkman Drive location in Huntsville, which was dedicated in 1967 with a ribbon cutting
    Dedication of the Sparkman Drive location in 1967 (RFCU)
  • A signi in the mid 1900s advertises low cost auto loans through Redstone Federal Credit Union
    An early billboard advertises low cost auto loans (RFCU)
  • Interior of the Redstone Federal Credit Union Sparkman Drive location that opened in 1967 in Huntsville, Alabama
    Interior of the Sparkman Drive location (RFCU)
  • A woman uses a typewriter to complete a report at a Redstone Federal Credit Union office in the 1960s
    A woman completes reports with a typewriter in the late 1960s (RFCU)
  • A man works in a computer data center, the first IT department for Redstone Federal Credit Union in Huntsville, Alabama
    Redstone’s first IT department (RFCU)
  • A man points to a membership growth chart for the years 1951 to 1969 at Redstone Federal Credit Union in Huntsville, Alabama
    Membership growth from 1951-1969 (RFCU)
  • A man shows how to use an early Redstone Federal Credit Union ATM machine
    An early ATM machine (RFCU)
  • A teller greets a member at a location of Redstone Federal Credit Union in the late 1970s or early 1980s
    A teller greets a member in the early 1980s (RFCU)
  • A man greets people to an exhibit booth for Redstone Federal Credit Union in the 1980s or 1990s
    Redstone community expo booth (RFCU)
  • A woman uses an early computer system for Redstone Federal Credit Union in the 1990s
    An early computer program (RFCU)

👆📷👀 SCROLL ABOVE TO SEE LOTS OF HISTORICAL IMAGES OVER REDSTONE’S 75 YEARS

34-36. By 1976, Redstone exceeded $100 million in assets, began offering safe deposit boxes and introduced traditional drive-thru teller service.
37. In 1986, Redstone introduced separate checking and savings accounts for members.
38-40. Satellite ATM stations debuted in 1984 with walk-up and drive-thru access, followed by envelope-free ATMs in 2006, and then ITMs (interactive teller machines) in 2017.
41. Voucher-free banking was launched system-wide in 2018.
42. Redstone supported more than 900 community organizations in 2024, totaling $1.4 million in sponsorships and advertising
43-52. Redstone currently operates 10 in-school branches and programs at the following high schools: Hartselle, Decatur, Austin, Bob Jones, James Clemens, Hazel Green, Mae Jemison, Scottsboro, Siegel and Blackman.
53-55. Three colleges also have branches: Alabama A&M University, Calhoun Community College and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
56-57. Redstone awarded $91,000 in scholarships and spent 950 hours teaching financial literacy in schools in 2024.
58. In 2024, Redstone returned over $28 million to members through givebacks and incentives.
59. Women-owned businesses were awarded $4.5 million contracts by Redstone.
60. Commercial construction loans totaled $86.5 million across 2023 and 2024.

Redstone today

Redstone Federal Credit Union (RFCU) Twickenham Center in Huntsville, Alabama
Redstone’s striking, modern Twickenham Center in Huntsville opened in 2020. (Redstone Federal Credit Union)

61. Redstone holds more than $7.5 billion in assets.
62-64. Redstone operates three LEED-certified branches built with recycled materials, LED lighting, water-saving features and native landscaping: Mills Road, County Line Road and East Athens
65-68. After expanding into Tennessee, the credit union now has four locations in Rutherford County.
69-70. Redstone hosts two large barbecue luncheons for first responders annually, serving over 1,200 home-cooked barbecue meals to first responders in North Alabama and Tennessee in 2025.
71. Redstone continues following its vision to help members, their families and communities achieve financial dreams on a mission to improve members’ and communities’ financial well-being through trusted advice, choices, opportunities and solutions.
72-75: Redstone’s four guiding principles shape future growth: accessibility, high-quality products, member value and community impact.

Interested in learning more about joining this longtime community partner? Visit the Redstone Federal Credit Union website to become a member.

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Lisa Battles
Lisa Battles

Lisa is a content strategist, editor and writer with 25+ years of experience in news, marketing and PR for leading brands in tourism, economic development, media and music. She is a journalism graduate of Auburn University.

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