Credit unions are member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperatives organized by and for people with a common bond. Unlike other financial institutions owned by stockholders and controlled by paid boards, credit unions are operated by its members and mostly volunteer boards. This allows credit unions to pay higher dividends, offer lower loan rates and less service fees. Garden Island FCU was founded in 1938 as Lihue Federal Credit Union under the sponsorship of The Lihue (Sugar) Plantation Company. Membership was limited to the employees of the company and its affiliates. We later expanded our field of membership to serve the Lihue community then expanded even wider to serve the entire island.