Leading Edge Credit Union will celebrate its 40th year on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at the Fulda American Legion, Fulda, MN. The annual member meeting will include a 5 p.m. Social Hour with appetizers and a 6 p.m. meal and meeting.
Chad Merrihew, CEO and President of Leading Edge Credit Union since August of 2019, stated, “40 years ago, a handful of community members had a dream and a shared belief that their community needed something more. From their vision, Leading Edge Credit Union was founded during a time of banking challenges. Today, that dream has grown into a credit union serving more than 12,000 members across southwest Minnesota and northwest Iowa. As we celebrate that milestone, we are honoring the vision and determination of those who started it, while also celebrating the Fulda community where our story began.
We are grateful for the members, employees, and communities who have been part of our journey. We feel incredibly blessed to look back on all we have accomplished in our first 40 years and even more excited to look ahead to the next 40.”
Leading Edge Credit Union, (formerly known as Fulda Area Credit Union) opened in Fulda on September 15, 1986. It was the nation’s first new agricultural credit union in over 30 years.
Fulda Area Credit Union was a community response to the February 1986 closing of the Citizens State Bank of Fulda. The closure left a financial gap in the community that left residents and farmers without access to reliable banking services and agricultural financing.
A local group of Fulda residents began planning an alternative way to jumpstart their local economy. After much research, many meetings with interested, dedicated groups and politicians, and putting all the pieces in place, Fulda Area Credit Union quickly grew to be a successful cooperative.
The grand opening was recognized as our nation’s first new agricultural credit union since the Great Depression era. Fulda Area Credit Union provided a vital lifeline to southwestern Minnesota.
A name change from Fulda Area Credit Union to Leading Edge Credit Union took place on July 1, 2022.
Over the past four decades, the membership has expanded well past 12,000 members. Branches operate in Fulda, Worthington, Windom, Jackson, and Marshall, along with an office located inside the JBS plant in Worthington.
Members from twenty counties are served by Leading Edge Credit Union. Those include Murray, Nobles, Cottonwood, Jackson, Rock, Pipestone, Watonwan, Martin, Redwood, Brown, Lincoln, Lyon, Blue Earth, Faribault, and Nicollet. Counties in Iowa are listed as Lyon, Dickinson, Osceola, Emmet, and Kossuth.
Leading Edge Credit Union states that, “Membership is open to anyone who lives or works within our field of membership in southwestern Minnesota and northwest Iowa encompassing twenty counties.
The current Board of Directors for Leading Edge Credit Union includes Randy Donahue - Board Chairman; Mike Loosbrock - Vice Chairman; Cheryl Janssen - Secretary/Treasurer; Phyllis Brunk - Board Member; Nelson Bonilla - Board Member. Additional Supervisory Committee members are Judy Christians - Supervisory Committee Chairman and Rodney Byam - Supervisory Committee Member.
