We’re here for the moments that matter most.
At Kalsee Credit Union, we believe that banking should be about more than money. It should be about people. About possibility. About purpose.
Since 1954, we’ve been showing up for our members — not just as a financial institution, but as a trusted partner and a committed neighbor. What started as a small group of National Water Lift employees pooling their resources to help one another has grown into a vibrant, community-centered credit union serving Southwest Michigan.
Over the decades, we’ve evolved. We’ve merged. We’ve embraced technology and expanded our reach. But one thing hasn’t changed: why we do what we do.
That why became our official mission statement — not written in a boardroom, but drawn from the real, personal experiences of our team. It’s inspired by the moments when we step back and think: “This is why I do what I do.”
To build relationships and cultivate financial wellness, empowering people to focus on what matters.
This mission didn’t just come from leadership — it came from the hearts of the people who live it every day.
Guided by Core Values
It’s not enough to do things right, we must do the right things. Integrity means being honest in our relationships with each other and serving as a living example by living the morals and principals we hold true. By acting with integrity we build trust among our staff as well as with our members. Trust is essential in fostering a positive work environment and creating a climate for continued success.
Taking ownership and accepting responsibility are vital characteristics of a valued team member. Being accountable means solving problems and avoiding crisis at the lowest possible level, regardless of the situation. When each team member makes accountability a personal priority, we demonstrate our professionalism and ownership necessary for achieving remarkable results. Personal accountability allows Kalsee to function more efficiently.
Where People Come First
We’re proud to be named one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2023, 2024, and 2025 — because that recognition reflects the values we live every day. We invest in our team with exceptional health coverage, low employee costs, comprehensive wellness programs, and a culture that values every individual. When our people feel supported, they support our members even better.
A Legacy Rooted in Community
Our values didn’t appear overnight — they were shaped by experience.
In 1954, a group of employees at National Water Lift in Kalamazoo came together to solve a problem: their coworkers needed access to fair, affordable financial services. These were hardworking people building lives in postwar Michigan, but traditional banks often didn’t serve them well.
So they built something better.
They formed Lift Line Credit Union, named for the hydraulic lift products they manufactured. With little more than trust and determination, they pooled their money, elected Paul Matyas as treasurer and Account #1 holder, and began issuing small, low-interest loans — from employees, for employees.
That was the beginning of what would become Kalsee Credit Union.
From Roots to Reach
By 1965, the credit union hired its first full-time employee, Robert Moore, who would later serve as CEO for over 40 years. Under his leadership, the credit union expanded its membership and services, adopting the name National Water Lift Employees Credit Union in 1970.
In 1977, Kalsee amended its charter to serve other companies in southeast Kalamazoo — and with that expansion came its current name: Kalsee, short for Kalamazoo South East Employees. A year later, the credit union moved into its own purpose-built facility on Miller Road.
Welcoming Fellow Credit Unions
Over the next three decades, Kalsee welcomed several smaller, company-based credit unions that shared its cooperative spirit and member-first philosophy. These included:
- Interkal Credit Union (1977)
- Eckrich Employees Federal Credit Union (1981)
- Allied Paper Corporation Credit Union (1984)
- Northwest Industrial Credit Union (1990)
- Papermakers Credit Union (1992)
- Simpson Lee Employees Credit Union (2001)
- Battle Creek Building & Trades Employees Credit Union (2006)
- Kalamazoo Gazette Employees Credit Union (2008)
- Kalamazoo Building Trades Credit Union (2017)
A New Era of Membership
We also partnered with regional employers like The Upjohn Company, Stryker Corporation, Checker Motors, Green Bay Packaging, and Durametallic Corporation — bringing financial wellness into workplaces and homes throughout the region.
In 2008, we took a major step forward by adopting a community charter, opening membership to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Allegan, Barry, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, or Van Buren counties.
Today, we carry that legacy forward — grounded in our past, guided by our values, and inspired by every member we serve.
What Makes Us Different
As a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative, everything we do starts and ends with our members. That means:
- Better rates.
- Fewer fees.
- Smarter tools.
- Personal attention you can feel.
But what truly sets us apart is the humanity behind our service — the way our members feel known, cared for, and respected, every time they walk through our doors or log into their account.
Pro Tip:
Join the Kalsee Family
If you live, work, worship, or attend school in Southwest Michigan, you’re eligible to become part of Kalsee Credit Union.
When you join us, you're not just opening an account. You're joining a movement — to bring humanity back to banking, to invest in relationships, and to make financial wellness a shared journey. We’re here for you — in the moments that matter most.
The Empowerment Edit
