More than six decades ago, a small group of educators came together to help their colleagues access the financial support they needed. What began with a cardboard box, a station wagon, and a shared sense of purpose has grown into Peach State Federal Credit Union, serving members through 29 branches across Georgia and South Carolina. Read on to learn how Peach State became the credit union you know today.
Where It All Began
Peach State’s story began on October 31, 1961, when seven employees of Gwinnett County Public Schools came together with a shared vision to create a financial cooperative that could support their fellow educators. At the time, many teachers lacked access to the financial resources they needed to cover everyday expenses, so our founders set out to provide a trusted solution. The goal was to build a cooperative where people could help one another achieve greater financial stability.
Our beginnings were very modest, to say the least. There wasn’t a physical branch, fancy office, or any sophisticated banking systems. Member files were kept in folders inside a cardboard box and deposits were collected as the credit union’s treasurer traveled to schools in his family's station wagon. Eventually, operations moved into a closet at Central Gwinnett Vocational School (now Central Gwinnett HigH School), which became our first official office.
What we lacked in resources, we made up for in purpose.
Serving with Purpose: Expanding Beyond the Original Vision
Peach State is a member-owned financial cooperative. That means the people who have accounts at the credit union are also its member-owners. This structure reflects the broader credit union movement, which was built on the belief that individuals and communities can become financially stronger when they work together.
In our early years, we only offered savings accounts and signature loans (what is known as Personal Loans today). Over the years, we’ve expanded our financial services, providing more savings and lending options to help our members navigate major financial milestones throughout their lives. From opening their first savings account to buying a car, a home, starting a business, and preparing for retirement, we’ve helped our members afford the lives they aspire to achieve.
Notable Milestones
Our growth is measured in more than just numbers. It’s determined by the lives we’ve impacted, the financial goals we’ve helped people achieve, and the communities we’ve helped strengthen along the way.
Today, Peach State serves more than 70,000 members across Georgia and South Carolina through 29 branches, carrying forward the same mission that began with just a cardboard box and a station wagon.
From humbled beginnings to becoming a trusted financial institution for thousands of members, our history is marked by meaningful milestones and purposeful growth. Each chapter reflects our commitment to serving members, strengthening communities, and staying true to the ‘People Helping People’ philosophy that has guided us from the very beginning.
- 1961: The founding members – James Shewmake, Irving Levy, Adrin Staton, Lyle Coker, B.B. Harris, Crawford Puckett, Henry Boddie – met at Mr. Shewmake's house to formalize the credit union.
- 1973: Peach State hired its first full-time employee, Peggy Kilgroe who remains part of the credit union more than 50 years later.
- 1981: Reached $1 million in total assets.
- 1986: Hired its first paid CEO.
- 1997: Opened its first branch outside of Gwinnett County.
- 2012: Changed its name from Gwinnett Teachers Federal Credit Union to Peach State Federal Credit Union to better reflect its growing membership and service area.
- 2016: Expanded services into South Carolina and opened its first student-run branch at Central Gwinnett High School.
- 2019: The Peach State FCU C.A.R.E.S. Visa Debit Card Program was established as a way to put charitable contributions, and support of the arts and education on a self-sustaining path for the future.
- 2021: The Peach State FCU C.A.R.E.S. Foundation was established with a goal of helping its neighbors with contributions throughout the credit union's service area.
- 2024: Reached $1 billion in total assets.
Living the Philosophy of 'People Helping People'
To truly understand our history, it helps to understand what makes credit unions different from other financial institutions. As member-owned financial cooperatives, credit unions serve their member-owners rather than outside shareholders. They are built on 19th-century cooperative principles and a philosophy that believes people can achieve more when they work together, share resources, and help one another build stronger financial futures.
That philosophy remains central to who we are. 'People Helping People' is reflected in our affordable products and services, our commitment to financial literacy and education, our community involvement, and the personal service we provide. Each branch, product, and community initiative is another way we help members reach their goals.
Community Commitment – The Peach State FCU C.A.R.E.S. Foundation
Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our member-owners, and we’re guided by our core values: commitment, community, education, integrity, passion, respect, service, teamwork, and trust. These values extend beyond financial services by helping our members and serving our communities through the Peach State FCU C.A.R.E.S. Foundation.
The heart of Peach State is found in our dedication to: Community, Arts, Responsibility, Education, and Service. In 2019, we created our C.A.R.E.S. Visa Debit Card Program to help establish a self-sustainable source for community support. The program, supports the Peach State FCU C.A.R.E.S. Foundation – which was established in 2021 to help support nonprofits, schools, the arts and efforts to address food insecurity throughout the communities we serve. Every time our members make a purchase with their Peach State Debit Card, we donate a nickel to the C.A.R.E.S. Foundation.1 That means every time a member makes a purchase with their Peach State Debit Card, they are helping to support their very own communities!
Since 2019, we have donated more than $3 million and supported over 300 organizations.
From helping schools and educators to providing resources for local nonprofits and community organizations, these efforts reflect a belief that financial well-being and community go hand in hand. When people have access to financial resources, education and support, they have greater opportunities to pursue their goals. And when communities have organizations willing to support them, everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Celebrating the Legacy that Continues
Our history isn’t just a timeline of names, dates, and milestones; it’s a story about people: the educators who had the vision to start a credit union, the employees who helped it grow, the members who placed their trust in us and the communities that have shaped our journey.
While the original cardboard box has since been replaced by modern banking systems and a growing branch network, the purpose behind it has never changed. Through every stage of growth, one principle has remained the same: people come first. The journey from humble beginnings to where we stand today is something worth celebrating, but the best part of our story is that it's still being written.
Check out our full history from the families of two of our founding members, former Board members, our first full-time employee, and our President/CEO, Marshall Boutwell in this video.
1 $0.05 per transaction of Peach State Federal Credit Union’s merchant interchange income from our Visa Debit Card program is used to benefit the communities we serve. We will determine where/how funds are disbursed. This does not affect members’ accounts, nor will any member information be disclosed. You will not incur any additional fees or charges from this program. Merchant interchange income is derived from fees that a merchant pays to accept credit/debit card payments. The C.A.R.E.S. program may or may not apply to ATM transactions, certain commercial transactions, or other transactions not processed by Visa.
