Like all cooperatives, we follow seven basic guiding principles: . Voluntary Membership . Democratic Member Control . Member Participation . Autonomy & Independence . Education, Training, and Information . Cooperation among Cooperatives . Concern for Community While many of our members refer to us as "their bank," we're not a bank. We offer the same products and services as a bank, but our structure is different. Altra is a not-for-profit financial cooperative and each member owns one 'share' of the Credit Union; no member has more influence than another. During the Great Depression, Credit Unions introduced themselves to America using the slogan "Not for profit, not for charity, but for service." That principle still applies today because we exist to serve you. Management decisions are based on what's best for our membership - not what will generate the most profit. You, as a member-owner, reap the benefits of membership and strengthen the Credit Union through your participation.