AltaOne Federal Credit Union was started in 1947 by a group of nine employees of the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) in China Lake, California. The original NOTS Employees Federal Credit Union had a field of membership limited only to the Navy, government, and contracted employees of the China Lake Naval Station and their family members. Unsecured loans to members could not exceed $50 and secured loans could not exceed $2,000. Growth came fast, after a year in operation the NOTS Employees Federal Credit Union had 616 members with assets of $37,160. After ten years, there were 3,269 members and assets were approaching $1 million. As more people moved to the area and formed a community beyond the gates of the naval station, the membership of the credit union was broadened to include other federal employees and retirees living in the area as well as credit union employees. This pattern of inclusion and community has been the hallmark of AltaOne for more than 50 years. In 1968, the name was changed to Naval Weapons Center Federal Credit Union and the field of membership expanded to encompass more of the community. During the 1970's, a permanent office was built at Richmond Road and King Streets on China Lake's Naval Base. The first office outside of the base was also opened in Ridgecrest. In 1978, the Boron branch office was added through the acquisition of the U.S. Borax Boron Employees Federal Credit Union. The continued growth of the credit union in the 1980's saw assets grow to $137 million and the ever-changing field of membership expanded again. In 1983, a merger with the Kern Valley Community Federal Credit Union provided a branch in Kernville. The Lake Isabella facility was opened in 1985. In 1989, the name was changed to reflect the credit union's transition from an employee-based membership to a community-based one, NWC Community Federal Credit Union. This name change was followed up with the dedication and occupation of a new Corporate Office located on the corner of Rader Street and China Lake Boulevard in Ridgecrest. During the early 1990's, the California City branch was opened. Multiple services were added throughout the decade, which are still in use today. The name AltaOne Federal Credit Union, adopted in July 2000, represents the culmination of efforts to serve the broad community of Kern, Inyo, Mono and Northern San Bernardino Counties with the wide array of services offered by AltaOne. AltaOne experienced more growth in 2001 opening new doors in Bishop, California. An ATM located inside Lee's Frontier Chevron in Lone Pine is accessible for AltaOne members traveling on Highway 395 as well as members who live in Lone Pine. During the second half of 2001, ATMs were also added at Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest and the AM/PM Mini-Market located at 586 North Main Street in Bishop. An expansion of AltaOne's Corporate Office began in October, to better meet the growing memberships' needs; that project was completed in 2003.
In 2002, AltaOne added another ATM to the Highway 395 corridor at the Big Pine Chevron, as well as an ATM at Albertsons South in Ridgecrest. AltaOne Financial Services, LLC, a subsidiary of the Credit Union, was also created that year, to assist AltaOne members and non-members alike with financial planning and investing services. Securities are offered through XCU Capital Corporation, Inc., Member NASD., SIPC. During the first part of 2003, AltaOne introduced Business Loan Services for all Business members, and expanded those services with the addition of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans in 2004. This new product line positions AltaOne to truly be a "one-stop shop" for all members. The VoiceOne audio response system with voice recognition technology also was introduced to the membership in 2003. VoiceOne allows members to receive account information without having to remember transaction codes. In July 2006, the Lone Pine branch opened to serve members with Mammoth planned to open in September 2006. This expands the number of branches to 11 for members’ easy access up and down the Eastern Sierras. "As the provider of choice for financial services in its communities, AltaOne Federal Credit Union is dedicated to the Credit Union Spirit of neighbor helping neighbor," states AltaOne's vision statement. The original sense of neighborly responsibility that initiated the Credit Union at China Lake has been melded to a professional organization capable of meeting the variety of needs facing their members. AltaOne is always ready to work with members on individual, personal needs. AltaOne's strength and professionalism over the last 59 years has led to growth that has reached an asset size of greater than $450 million and more than 41,000 members. The nine original members who opened the "desk drawer" credit union in 1947 could not have foreseen just how big their creation would become. Surely, these members would be pleased that the community spirit in which it was created is the living legacy of AltaOne Federal Credit Union.