Mission and History

Dakota Star Federal Credit Union is a full-service federal credit union located in Rapid City, South Dakota. We offer a complete menu of financial products and services to our members. Because we are a not-for-profit credit union, all of our proceeds are returned to our members in the form of higher yields on their savings and lower rates on their loans. We also offer a complete complement of financial services in addition to our savings and loan products. This includes free checking accounts, credit and debit cards, and internet banking. We believe what sets us apart from other financial institutions is ownership. Dakota Star Federal Credit Union is owned by our members. That means each member has a voice in how the credit union is run. We are also proud of the outstanding personal service we strive to provide.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide competitive financial and related services in a professional and friendly atmosphere. To insure growth and confidence in our credit union and reflect a good image in the community. To maintain a challenging and rewarding atmosphere and encourage the personal growth of the employees. To be flexible in responding to and accepting changes in trends and conditions. To always consider the credit union philosophy of "Good Old Fashioned Service" to our members in all our deliberations and decisions.

Our History

Dakota Star Federal Credit Union was established in 1952 in Rapid City, South Dakota, as Buckingham Employee Federal Credit Union. Originally, our credit union was founded to serve the employees of Buckingham Wood Products. Over the years, things changed as the credit union grew. We began serving other select employee groups whose employees needed credit union service, and the credit union grew. In 1975, we changed our name to United Building Trades Federal Credit Union and began serving people who worked in the building trades industry.

In 2001, we changed our name to Dakota Star Federal Credit Union to better reflect the people and the region we serve. By becoming a Community Credit Union, we now serve everyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Pennington County!

In 2021, we amended our charter to serve everyone who lives, worships, works, and attends school in and businesses and other legal entities located in Custer, Fall River, Lawrence, Meade, or Pennington Counties in South Dakota. After years of sharing space and renting space, we also opened our very own second location at 1636 E St Patrick St to go along with our main office at 3122 W St Louis St in Rapid City.