HISTORY
Salal was founded in Seattle as a not-for-profit financial institution by Group Health employees in 1948 and was originally named Group Health Credit Union. We exclusively served employees of Group Health and select employee groups until our charter opened in 2003, allowing anyone who lives or works in Washington State to become a member. Over the years, our membership grew more diverse. In 2010 we changed our name to Salal Credit Union.
WHY SALAL?
The name Salal comes from a beautiful, sturdy evergreen plant found abundantly in the Pacific Northwest. Salal was once an essential food source for indigenous people and was valued for its healing properties. We felt Salal was a nice tribute to both our roots in healthcare and the beautiful place we call home. To us, it symbolizes strength, stability, and healing. Taking care of our members and giving them a stress-free banking experience is our top priority.
TODAY
Salal is now one of the larger credit unions in Washington State with more than $975 million in assets and over 52,000 members. Based in Seattle, WA, we have branches in First Hill, Northgate, Bellevue, and Tukwila. We are a full-service financial institution predominantly serving residents of Washington State. Through our business and indirect lending program, we also service members in other states.
There are many easy ways to qualify for Salal membership. You can live, work, or worship in Washington. You can live or work in Multnomah, Clackamas, Marion, Columbia, Douglas, Washington, Deschutes, Linn, and Lane counties in Oregon. You can also qualify by being a member of the Salal Foundation or the People’s Memorial Association.
We operate four distinct lines of business – retail banking, business services, mortgages, and dealer direct lending – which provide a wide range of deposit and loan products.