Who We Are

For more than 90 years, we’ve been helping people achieve financial well-being while evolving to meet the changing needs of our members and communities.

What began as a small credit union serving a single group of California employees has grown into a modern, purpose-driven financial institution with more than $1 billion in assets and more than 54,000 members nationwide. And throughout every chapter of our history, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to putting people first.

Our story began on April 20, 1936, when a small group of dedicated employees from San Diego’s Division of Highways established a credit union to serve their financial needs. Chartered by the State of California, the organization was originally known as California State Employees Credit Union #17.

As our membership grew, so did our commitment to serve a broader public sector. Over the next several decades, membership opportunities expanded to include all California state employees and the faculty and staff at many of California’s colleges and universities.

By 1971, our membership had grown far beyond our original roots and we sought to create a new name that better reflected who we served: University and State Employees Credit Union (USECU).

In the years that followed, our field of membership continued to grow. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, membership was extended to include California state and university employees, as well as individuals who lived, worked, worshiped, or attended school within the communities we serve throughout San Diego, Sacramento, Yolo, Alameda, and Santa Clara counties.

As our membership evolved, so did the way we served them. We lead the way in digital banking innovation by becoming an early adopter of cutting-edge technologies that are now everyday conveniences, including online banking, mobile banking, and mobile check deposit.

By 2019, it became clear that our organization had outgrown the USECU name. It no longer reflected the diversity of our membership, the breadth of our services, or the future we envisioned.

Following extensive research, member feedback, and thoughtful planning, we launch our new name BluPeak in 2022. The name BluPeak honors the natural beauty of California—from its blue coastline to its majestic mountain peaks—but it also represents something deeper. It reflects our belief that financial success and positive social impact can go hand in hand.

Today, our purpose is more than banking. We are dedicated to creating a world where access to clean water has no limits, empowering our members to make a meaningful difference through their everyday financial lives. Every account opened, every purchase made, and every interaction with BluPeak has the potential to create a ripple of positive change.

2025 Annual Report

Today, BluPeak proudly serves more than 54,000 members with over $1 billion in assets, with five branches throughout California and is supported by industry leading digital banking technology that allows members to bank whenever and wherever they choose.

As we look toward the future, we remain committed to innovation, exceptional service, and creating lasting impact—for our members, our communities, and the world beyond.

The BluPeak Board of Directors is a diverse group of individuals elected by the membership to three-year terms. As a true democratic representative group, each member has one vote in guiding the credit union and works collaboratively as a whole.

Matt Adams, Chair
Beverly Randez, Vice Chair
David Ely, Director
Harry Le Grande, Director
Les Overman, Director
Mike Daniels, Director
Kim Harvey, Director
Kirk Tramble, Associate Director

Just like the Board, the Supervisory Committee comprises member volunteers elected by the membership. These committee members are responsible for oversight of the audit process, ensuring the safety and soundness of the credit union.

Steve St. Marie, Committee Chair
Angelina Hendricks, Committee Member
Gail Friedt, Committee Member

The volunteers who serve on our Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee partner with our senior management, offering leadership, professional expertise and ideas for the entire credit union’s benefit. In return, volunteers receive valuable leadership experience, financial services industry and management education, networking and travel opportunities, and the satisfaction that comes from helping ensure the continuity and evolution of BluPeak.

Volunteers play an essential role in our corporate governance, and in helping BluPeak realize its vision.

Interested in volunteering? Email us at nominations@blupeak.com.