BrightBridge Credit Union (BrightBridge) is a state-chartered community credit union with $2.4 billion in assets and headquartered in Lawrence, Massachusetts. BrightBridge currently serves approximately 118,000 members, primarily in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut. BrightBridge operates 23 retail branches located in Amesbury, Bridgewater, Brookline, Danvers, Dorchester, Fairhaven, Haverhill, Hanover, Lawrence, Marlborough, Methuen, North Andover, Plymouth, Quincy, Springfield, Tewksbury, Waltham, West Springfield and Worcester, Mass., plus Plaistow and Seabrook, N.H. and Enfield, CT. BrightBridge also serves many employer groups, including two major Massachusetts employers, Raytheon Technologies and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. BrightBridge offers a wide range of savings and loan products, commercial services and digital banking to meet the financial needs of a growing member base.
The BrightBridge Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, public charitable foundation affiliated with BrightBridge Credit Union that fosters financial wellness and promotes financial literacy and community involvement. Founded in 2011, the BrightBridge Foundation is a natural outgrowth of the Credit Union’s commitment to community activities and financial literacy as a key component of financial health efforts.
Our dedicated Board of Directors & Management team puts you first in all we do.
1955: MVCU is founded as the Communications Workers Employee Credit Union by Union Local 1365 in North Andover, MA. The name quickly changed to Merrimack Valley Credit Union. G. Harvey Ellis was our first General Manager.
1962: We reached the $1 million in assets milestone! Duncan MacLeod is now the General Manager.
1990s: Our field of membership opened up to serve more than 200 employer groups in the Merrimack Valley as well as their family members.
2005: MVCU converted to a community charter, allowing us to serve eligible members in the Merrimack Valley. Peter J. Matthews Jr. is the President & CEO.
2007: Our Corporate Office moved to Lawrence, MA, and we have five branches.
2016: We opened our sixth branch in Seabrook, NH.
2018: MVCU became a state-chartered credit union.
2019: MVCU merged with Bridgewater Credit Union, allowing us to serve members both in the Merrimack Valley and the south-shore region of Massachusetts. John J. Howard became our President & CEO.
2020: MVCU merged with the Ocean Spray Employees Federal Credit Union, expanding our field of membership to include all Ocean Spray employees and contract growers.
2021: MVCU expanded the field of membership to include additional counties in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
2023: MVCU merged with RTN Federal Credit Union to welcome 40,000 additional members of RTN's Select Employer Groups and community members.
2025: MVCU merged with Cabot Boston Credit Union, providing 800 new members with a wider choice of products and services as well as greater convenience.
2025: MVCU becomes BrightBridge Credit Union.
2026: BrightBridge Credit Union (BrightBridge) merges with Arrha Credit Union (Arrha). The newly merged credit union will operate under the BrightBridge Credit Union name with 23 retail branches, combined assets of nearly $2.4 billion and approximately 125,000 members.
We are a financially sound and well-capitalized credit union. What this means is that we can expand the products and services we offer to better fit your financial needs. Despite our growth, our passion for serving our members has never wavered. We have your best interest at heart!
News
BrightBridge Credit Union (BrightBridge) is proud to announce that it has been named “Best Credit Union, Merrimack Valley & Southern New Hampshire” in the Eagle-Tribune’s Best of 2026 community voting contest. The annual awards recognize outstanding local businesses and organizations, with winners selected through votes cast by community members throughout the region. The recognition is especially meaningful because it comes directly from the members and communities BrightBridge serves every day. The award spans the Merrimack Valley and Southern New Hampshire region, where BrightBridge operates eight branch locations and maintains a longstanding commitment to helping individuals, families and businesses achieve their financial goals.
BrightBridge Credit Union (BrightBridge) is pleased to announce that Theresa Hayes, BrightBridge Senior Vice President of Digital Banking & Data Management, is named as a finalist in Credit Union Times’ Luminaries Awards, Class of 2026, in the Rising Star category.
BrightBridge Credit Union (BrightBridge) recently hosted four free Shred Day events across its branch network, helping community members safely dispose of sensitive documents while connecting with team members. The events were held at the credit union's branches in Hanover, Lawrence, Waltham and Springfield as part of BrightBridge's commitment to providing convenient access to community-focused services.
BrightBridge Credit Union's (BrightBridge) Senior Vice President of Digital Banking and Data Management Theresa Hayes was featured as a speaker at the New England Financial Marketing Association (NEFMA) Fall Conference, where she shared insights on leading digital transformation initiatives while maintaining a member-first approach.
BrightBridge Credit Union (BrightBridge) team members supported two important causes the weekend of Sept. 19: the 2026 Walk for Hope Fall Festival benefiting Lazarus House Ministries and the Walk for Sickle Cell Disease benefiting the Massachusetts Sickle Cell Association. On Saturday, the credit union was a $2,500 Walking Partner Sponsor of the Walk for Hope Fall Festival, an annual fundraiser that supports the work of Lazarus House Ministries.
