OSWEGO, Ill. — Earthmover Credit Union is excited to announce that its Pace Checking Account was officially certified by the national Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) as meeting the Bank On National Accounts Standards (2025–2026). The national safe account standards, co-created by consumer advocates, leading national non-profit organizations, civic leaders and other financial institutions, designate both core and strongly recommended features that ensure low cost, high functionality and consumer safety.

“We are both honored and excited to be part of the Bank On Illinois coalition, and to offer a Bank On certified account,” said Earthmover Credit Union Vice President of Member Experience Amy Hart. “Our Pace Checking offers a secure, affordable banking solution, while playing a role fostering meaningful connections within our community.”

Key features of Pace Checking include no minimum balance or monthly fees, no overdraft or nonsufficient fund fees, the ability to pay bills and make purchases, and convenient 24/7 access. Pace Checking is available to all Earthmover Credit Union members.

“The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund is delighted to award its national Bank On account certification to Earthmover Credit Union’s Pace Checking,” said Jonathan Mintz, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund. “Pace Checking offers northeastern Illinois residents who are looking to improve their finances a safe, affordable and truly mainstream banking product to access and manage their money. Earthmover’s offering of this terrific account brings them into the forefront of national banking access efforts, and we thank them.”

The goal of Bank On is to ensure that everyone has access to safe and affordable financial products and services. The Bank On National Account Standards identify critical product features for appropriate bank or credit union accounts, making it easier for local coalitions across the country to connect consumers to accounts that meet their needs.

Pace Checking is available to all Earthmover Credit Union members. With the addition of Pace Checking, accounts that meet Bank On National Account Standards are now available at over 46,000 branches in all 50 states and Washington, DC; financial institutions with Bank On certified accounts already comprise two-thirds of the national deposit market share. In addition to Pace Checking, there are almost 500 other Bank On certified accounts available at financial institutions across the country. Data collected by the CFE Fund in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis through Bank On’s national reporting platform shows that these accounts are meeting consumers’ needs; since their offering, millions of consumers have opened Bank On certified accounts, with approximately 85% of them opened by consumers new to the financial institutions.
The CFE Fund leads the national Bank On movement, supporting 100 local coalitions working to connect individuals and families to the financial mainstream through partnerships between governments, financial institutions, and community organizations. To learn more about Bank On and the National Account Standards click here, or follow the conversation on Bluesky @cfefund.bsky.social #BankOn.

About Earthmover Credit Union
ECU is a not-for-profit full-service banking institution that has been serving its members for over 60 years. Membership is available to anyone living or working in one of the following counties: Kendall, Kane, DuPage, Will, LaSalle, DeKalb and Grundy. As a not-for-profit organization, Earthmover returns its earnings to its members through lower loan rates, higher savings rates, lower fees and more. ECU currently provides banking services to over 30,000 members at its six branch offices, located in Yorkville, Montgomery, Oswego, Aurora and North Aurora, as well as a student-run branch in the Oswego High School. For more information, please contact ECU at 630-844-4950 or log onto www.earthmovercu.com.

About the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)
The CFE Fund supports municipal efforts to improve the financial stability of households by leveraging opportunities unique to local government. By translating cutting-edge experience with large-scale programs, research, and policy in cities of all sizes, the CFE Fund assists mayors and other local leaders to identify, develop, fund, implement, and research pilots and programs that help families build assets and make the most of their financial resources. The CFE Fund is currently working in almost 145 cities and counties, and has disbursed over $69 million to local governments and their partners to support these efforts. For more information, please visit http://www.cfefund.org/ or follow us on Bluesky at @cfefund.bsky.social.

About Bank On
The CFE Fund’s national Bank On movement supports local coalition and financial institution efforts to connect consumers to safe, affordable banking accounts as a fundamental component of financial stability. Already, almost 500 accounts at banks and credit unions nationwide – representing over two-thirds of the national deposit market share – are certified as meeting the Bank On National Account Standards, which designate both core and strongly recommended features that ensure low cost, no surprise fees, high functionality, and consumer safety. More than 100 Bank On coalitions across the country are working to connect unbanked and underbanked individuals to certified accounts, often through leveraging large-scale government program and payment opportunities. Visit www.joinbankon.org for more information.
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