North Central was established in 1956 as North Central State Employees Credit Union conducted out of, at the time, the official treasurer’s home. The first building was built in 1970 in Roscommon, MI. In 1975 the credit union name changed to North Central Governmental Credit union and merged with Top Seven Credit Union in 1980. In 1985 we became North Central Area Credit Union and opened our Houghton Lake Branch. Merging with Standish Community Credit Union in 1990 and built the Grayling, MI branch. With this growth we built an administration building in Houghton Lake and shortly thereafter becoming a full service credit union, also servicing school branches. In 2017 we rebranded to freshen up our branches and in 2023 merged with First United Credit Union, adding our 6th building in Grandville, MI.
Our Vision Statement
Our vision reflects our commitment to being a trusted financial partner, ensuring the success of our members and communities. Grounded in Knowledgeable, Engaged, and Innovative, these values guide every interaction and decision, ensuring security, empowerment, and forward-thinking solutions.
Knowledgeable- We equip our team with expertise and continuous training to provide insightful financial guidance. By fostering financial literacy, we empower our members to make informed decisions with confidence.
Engaged- We build meaningful relationships by actively listening, collaborating, and ensuring every member feels valued. Our commitment to engagement creates positive experiences that support financial success.
Innovative- We embrace change, seek modern solutions, and enhance services to meet evolving needs. By staying ahead, we provide accessible, cutting-edge financial tools that simplify and strengthen our members’ financial journeys.
Through knowledge, engagement, and innovation, we fulfill our vision—serving as a dynamic financial partner dedicated to empowering success.
The Credit Union Philosophy
Credit unions are democratically owned and controlled institutions based on People Helping People principles. Credit union boards of directors are elected by the members; each member has one vote, regardless of how much money they have. Only members may serve as directors, and directors serve without compensation. Credit unions have no outside stockholders, so after reserves are set aside, earnings are returned to members in the form of higher dividends on savings, lower loan rates, and lower cost for services.
Our Official Family
Board of Directors
Stephen Witt, Chair
Karen Wietzke, Vice Chair
Eric Hamp, Treasurer
Koreen Pray, Secretary
Megan Barnes, Director
Dave DenBoer, Director
Mark Derylo, Director
Laurie Hull, Director
Tom Moreau, Director
Tony Russo, Director
Angie Zylstra, Director
Our Management Team
Mark Richter, President/CEO
Tammy Schwalm, COO
Michelle Ross, CFO
Kelly McCarthy-Tubbs, CXO
Philip Jacques, CLO
To contact any members of the Board, please write to:
North Central Area Credit Union
ATTN: Board of Directors
P.O. Box 817
Houghton Lake, MI 48629
To contact our Management Team, please call (989) 910-5135 ext 5119