Cornerstone Credit Union was founded in 1939 as MICRO SWITCH Employees' Credit Union and has operated as a community-focused financial cooperative for over 85 years. The organization is governed by an unpaid volunteer board of directors elected democratically by members at annual meetings. Today, Cornerstone serves more than 13,600 members across northwest Illinois (Boone, Bureau, Carroll, JoDaviess, Ogle, Lee, Stephenson, Whiteside, and Winnebago Counties) and southern Wisconsin (Green and Rock Counties), with membership also available to family members of current members.
Cornerstone Credit Union offers a comprehensive suite of financial products including deposit accounts for adults, youth, and businesses; multiple loan types including auto loans (new/used), mortgages, personal loans, and home equity loans; online banking with bill pay functionality; mobile banking; shared branching access; and ATM network fee context access. Their current loan rates (as of April 1, 2026) include new/used auto at 4.88% APR, used auto (2013-2022) at 6.99% APR, and credit card specials at 2.99% APR.
As a credit union, Cornerstone distinguishes itself through its not-for-profit cooperative structure where members are owners with voting rights. The organization emphasizes "People Helping People" through community involvement, financial education resources, scam awareness programming, video libraries, and monthly radio broadcasts. They recently modernized their online banking platform (updated May 18, 2026) and provide dedicated member support via phone at 1-800-711-3277 and 833-596-0754.
Cornerstone Credit Union is best suited for individuals living or working in their geographic service area who value member ownership and community-focused banking. Primary considerations include geographic service area restrictions and the assumption that rates and terms are competitive for borrowers who meet provider criteria, though the website provides limited comparative context.