Our Credit Union's History Explore the History of Milestones Federal Credit Union

Milestones Federal Credit Union, originally known as Lewiston Municipal Federal Credit Union, was established on October 14, 1944. The seven founding members were Jean Charles Boucher, Julien W. Deshaies, Adrien O. Anctil, Lucien Lebel, Albert W. Langelier, Romario Giguere, and Cyprien A. Levesque. The credit union initially served the municipal employees of Lewiston, Maine. In its first year, the credit union had assets totaling $12,161.84 and 253 members.

By its 10th anniversary in 1954, the credit union had become an integral part of the community, offering loans for a variety of needs. A news article from that year highlighted the diverse purposes of these loans, including an unusual loan for the purchase of a riding horse and another for hay to feed the horse.

For the first two decades, until 1964, the credit union operated out of the Room 10, the Treasurer’s office, at Lewiston City Hall. That year, operations moved to Room 306 at City Hall, led by Mrs. Jeannine McGraw, a long-serving city employee, who managed the one-person credit union.

In 1975, the credit union was honored with a Milestone Award from the National Credit Union Administration, recognizing over 30 years of dedicated service to its members by both volunteer officials and employees. This award notably foreshadowed the future rebranding of the credit union.

In July 1987, the credit union held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new location at 291 Pine Street in Lewiston. Operations officially began at this location on November 30, 1987, and it remains the credit union’s home today. To accommodate growth in lending and account servicing, the building was expanded in 2006.

In October 2021, the credit union rebranded to its current name, Milestones Federal Credit Union, reflecting its broader mission and vision. Despite the name change, the credit union’s mission has remained consistent: to serve the community, particularly Lewiston and Auburn municipal employees and their families while evolving to meet the changing needs of its members while maintaining strong ties to its roots.

On June 12, 2024, Milestones Federal Credit Union underwent a charter change, expanding the membership eligibility to include anyone who lives, works, attends school, volunteers, or worships in Androscoggin or Cumberland County. This expansion creates the opportunity to offer Milestones’ personalized service to a larger audience while honoring the strong foundation upon which it was built.