Credit Union cuts ribbon at new headquarters in Alexandria

A few drops of rain didn’t stop the United States Senate Federal Credit Union (USSFCU) from celebrating the opening Wednesday evening of its new flagship branch headquarters across from Braddock Place metro station in Alexandria.

Bank executives gathered for photos after hearing from Alexandria Mayor Justin Wilson, Alexandria Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Joe Haggerty and others.

“I know you’ve been looking forward to it for a long time, and it’s finally here,” Haggerty said. “It has been a long journey to this new building and to this day.”

The new head office building is located at 1310 Braddock Place and is called the Bertie Bowman Building.

The building previously housed the National Industries for the Blind (before this organization constructed a new building near Potomac Yard).

The Federal Senate Credit Union began in the 1930s when nine U.S. senators created the credit union with just $ 45 each. Today, the credit union has over 41,000 members and over $ 750 million in assets.

Bertie H. Bowman is a legendary Capitol Hill staff member for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Senate’s longest-serving Federal Credit Union board member. It was featured on CBS News earlier this year.

Bank officers and members of the Board of Directors celebrated him for his exceptional dedication to the organization. He recently obtained the status of emeritus member of the board of directors.

Bowman is the longest-serving member of the USSFCU board, with 46 years on the board, including two terms as president. His integrity, vision and leadership have helped grow the credit union from a few million assets to over $ 1 billion, USSFCU noted in a press release.

“It is with all my heart and gratitude that the USSFCU honors Mr. Bertie Bowman as the first and only member of the organization’s board of directors to receive emeritus status for his extended service to the Senate. United States and the Federal Credit Union of the United States Senate. “

РTimoth̩e Anderson | President and CEO of USSFCU

“It is with all my heart and gratitude that the USSFCU honors Mr. Bertie Bowman as the first and only member of the organization’s board of directors to receive emeritus status for his extended service in the United States Senate and to the Federal Credit Union of the United States Senate, ”said USSFCU President and CEO Timothy Anderson. “He embodies the philosophy of credit unions to help people. The Credit Union would not be the institution it is today without Mr. Bowman’s advice. “

Bowman’s service to the Credit Union began in 1966 as a member of the Credit Committee. Upon joining the Board of Directors in 1975, Bowman’s longevity in service to the institution far surpasses anyone else in the organization to this day.

Bowman is also the longest-serving staff member in US Senate history with over 65 years of service on Capitol Hill. USSFCU caught the nation’s attention in 2019 when it announced that its new headquarters would be dedicated in honor of the legendary icon of Capitol Hill. A construction ceremony held in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Room at the Dirksen Senate Office Building served as a very fitting setting that paid tribute to the decades of service Bowman provided to the Relations Committee foreigners.

Bowman, standing alongside his colleagues, senators and other members of the USSFCU board of directors, expressed his heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in the new Credit Union headquarters and how honored he was that the building bears his name. He also mentioned his long and rich journey from a small town in South Carolina to sweeping the steps of the Capitol and rising through the ranks to become the coordinator of hearings for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“He truly deserves all the accolades he has received and this unique Distinguished Status honors all he has accomplished for the USSFCU and its members.”

– Jay Moore | Chairman of the Board of Directors of the USSFCU

“I haven’t had the privilege of knowing Bertie in as many years as the others, but it didn’t take me long to see his character, integrity and dedication to serving others,” said Jay Moore. , president of the board of directors of the USSFCU. “He truly deserves all the accolades he has received and this unique Distinguished Status honors all he has accomplished for the USSFCU and its members.”

While Bowman will set aside the traditional responsibilities of a USSFCU board member, this new emeritus status guarantees him a permanent position with the USSFCU.

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