HAMPTON -- Why should you consider joining Seacoast Credit Union? Because of its history. Seacoast Credit Union at 887 Lafayette Road in Hampton was started in 1966 when the credit union's founder, Peter Brooks, had a vision to provide a co-operative means of saving and lending to the employees of the SAU 21 school district.

From that point, the credit union grew steadily, becoming a full service institution and eventually moving to their own location at 728 Lafayette Road. During this time the credit unions' charter was expanded to service various business groups in the Seacoast area.

The expansion in January of 1997 allowed the credit union to convert their charter from Federal to State in order to maintain the ability to add new members from their existing member groups. In addition, they have a convenient Seabrook location, at 68 Lafayette Road to better serve their members across the Seacoast.

Continually in search of new ways to serve their community and their membership, yet remaining true to their original mission, the Credit Union just recently has wrapped up negotiations to open a branch in the Winnacunnet High School. This full-service branch will allow Seacoast to not only provide an additional convenient location for their members and the SAU 21 school district; it will also provide a valuable experience to students, who will be able to fmd career training and employment, as well as academic credit, in the branch.

This commitment to partnership with the community and support of area educational needs echoes the active role played by Hampton's citizens in these important areas.

Now Seacoast Credit Union offers a full range of products to its members including consumer loans, mortgages, savings accounts, children's savings accounts, Christmas clubs, CoastLINE-24 hour account access, payroll deduction — the list goes on and on.

And if that's not enough to make you consider joining Seacoast Credit Union, do so because of the credit union difference. There are several good reasons why credit unions are the fastest growing financial institutions in America:

1. A credit union is a financial cooperative which offers virtually all of the services any bank offers, but with better interest rates and lower fees.

2. Credit unions are owned by their members and because there are no outside stockholders, a credit union exists solely to meet their members' needs.

3. Credit unions provide greater service. For the last ten years, credit unions have been rated Number One in customer satisfaction by the consumer survey published in American Banker.

4. Credit unions are safe. All accounts are Federally insured up to $100,000 by the NCUA, a U.S. government agency.

5. Finally, once you, become a member, you remain a member for life, even if you are no longer associated with the sponsor group that made you eligible.

Throughout the years, one thing has remained constant at the Seacoast Credit Union -- the vision to be not the largest but the best credit union it could be. And today, more than ever, Seacoast Credit Union is dedicated to providing the best financial services possible to its members.

Seacoast Credit Union's membership includes numerous groups within a 25-mile radius. Call to see if your group is already included or how you may become part of the Seacoast Credit Union family of members.

Seacoast Credit Union is located at 887 Lafayette Road, Hampton. Call them at 926-5653, FAX 929-4001 in Hampton, 474-9090, FAX 474-7791 in Seabrook; and now, Seacoast is on the Web, too, with their Web site located at www.Seacoastcu.com, and you may email them at sacu@tiac.net.