Local Banking Made Easy
HOMETOWN PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
TEXAR Federal Credit Union Has Been Serving Texarkana Since 1951
Some institutions measure their commitment to a community in years. TEXAR Federal Credit Union measures its in generations.
What began in 1951 as the Bowie County Teachers Credit Union has grown, through several name changes and more than seven decades of steady service, into one of the region's most trusted financial institutions. The story of TEXAR is, in many ways, the story of Texarkana itself, a community that takes care of its own, that believes neighbors should look out for neighbors, and that understands the difference between a transaction and a relationship.
Over the years, the credit union evolved alongside the community it served. In 1964, it became Bowie-Cass Teachers Credit Union, then Teachers Federal Credit Union in 1996, and finally TEXAR Federal Credit Union in 2001. The name changed, but the mission never did: to serve the financial needs of its members. That mission, simple as it sounds, has been the compass guiding every decision made within the organization for more than 70 years.
Today, under the leadership of President Kelly Mitchell, he and his team carry that mission forward with the same sense of purpose that shaped the institution from its earliest days. TEXAR now operates three offices, employs nearly 100 people, and serves members across six counties, including Bowie, Cass, Little River, Miller, Red River, and Lamar. What once served a small group of local teachers now serves families, individuals, and businesses across the entire region.
And that growth has never come at the expense of the values that made TEXAR what it is.
As a not-for-profit financial cooperative, TEXAR exists for one reason: its members. Unlike traditional banks, which are accountable to shareholders, a credit union is accountable to its members. Every dollar that comes in is analyzed, reinvested, and put to work in ways that benefit members directly, through competitive loan rates, strong dividend returns, and services designed to make financial life easier. At TEXAR, doing right by the member is not a marketing strategy. It is the entire business model.
That philosophy shows up in the products and services TEXAR offers. Whether a member needs a personal loan, an auto loan, a mortgage, a credit card, or a full suite of business banking services, TEXAR has the tools to help. Business members can access equipment financing, lines of credit, real estate loans, and agricultural lending, reflecting the diverse economic fabric of the Texarkana area. On the personal side, checking and savings accounts, debit cards, share certificates, and money market accounts round out an offering that covers every stage of financial life.
Convenience matters too, and TEXAR has invested thoughtfully in making banking accessible without sacrificing the personal touch. The MyTEXAR Teller, available at drive-thru and stand-alone locations, gives members extended access to a live teller from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Members can also bank from anywhere through TEXAR's mobile app and online banking platform, with tools for transfers, bill pay, person-to-person payments, and e-statements. For a community that values both relationships and efficiency, it is exactly the kind of balance worth banking on.
Security is another priority that TEXAR takes seriously. As identity theft and financial fraud continue to rise nationally, TEXAR works to keep its members informed and protected, offering resources and guidance on fraud prevention alongside the day-to-day tools of modern banking.
What makes TEXAR stand out, though, is not any single product or piece of technology. It is the culture. Walk into any of their locations, and you are not a number. You are a member. There is a difference, and it is felt.
For those who have not yet joined, membership is open to residents and workers throughout the six-county service area. Getting started is straightforward, and once you are in, you have access to everything TEXAR has built over more than seven decades of community-focused banking.
Kelly Mitchell and his team are proud of what TEXAR has become and equally committed to where it is headed. In a financial landscape that can feel increasingly impersonal, TEXAR Federal Credit Union remains something worth holding onto: a hometown institution that genuinely puts people first.
At TEXAR Federal Credit Union, it is not just banking. It is local banking made easy, by people who are proud to call Texarkana home.
TEXAR Federal Credit Union
2301 Richmond Road
Texarkana, Texas
903-223-0000
gotexar.com
