About Us
About Us
Established in 1936, El Paso Area’s Teachers Federal Credit Union (TFCU) began as a credit union that provided the area’s teachers and their families with quality financial products and services.
Today, TFCU has expanded their charter to everyone in El Paso County! We’re stronger than ever with over 57,000 members and over $607 million in assets—and you can join us! If you live, work, or worship in El Paso County, you’re welcome to join the TFCU family and enjoy all the benefits we have to offer!
With TFCU you won’t need another financial institution.
We offer:
- Personal, customized service
- Great, low loan rates
- High interest dividends
- Free online banking
- Free Mobile Banking
- Mobile Check Deposit
- Free Bill Payer Online
- Competitive rates on mortgages
- Investment services
- Free financial education
- Access to thousands of surcharge-free Allpoint ATMs, worldwide
The Credit Union Difference
What is the credit union difference? It’s simple. We’re better than a bank because we’re a financial cooperative that’s owned by our membership. At a credit union, there are no big shareholders making all the calls. Our members have a direct impact on the direction we take. And credit unions also have a member-elected volunteer Board of Directors that manages every decision with the members’ best interest at the forefront.
TFCU follows the credit union credo of “people helping people”, so any profits we enjoy are returned back to our members in the form of higher dividends, lower fees, lower rates, and more.
Finally, with a credit union, your money has the same stability it would with any traditional bank because your deposits are insured for up to $250,000 by the National Credit Union Administration, or the NCUA.
Vision Statement
Your premier financial institution through trust, education, and excellent member service stimulating personal enrichment and community economic development.
Not a member of TFCU yet? Become a member and open your account online! For more information, visit one of our branches, or call us at 915-843-TFCU (8328), today!
Directors
Board of Directors
Alberto Lopez, Jr. - Director

Alberto Lopez, Jr., has served on the Board of El Paso Area Teachers Federal Credit Union since 1998. During this time, he has also held the position of Board Secretary.
Mr. Lopez is the Assistant Vice President of Institutional Advancement for University Relations at the University of Texas at El Paso. His 29-year career in education began as a high school teacher in Sherman, Texas.
Previous positions include: Executive Director for UTEP's office of External Relations, Director of Recruitment and Scholarships, Assistant Director of External Relations at UTEP, Admissions Counselor for New Mexico State University, Field Researcher for System Development Corporation and other college counselor and director positions.
Armando Novoa - Secretary

Armando Novoa recently joined the TFCU Board after serving over 15 years with the Board of Directors for Golden Key FCU, with the last five years serving as Chairman. Mr. Novoa worked for Safeway for 25 years and at Montana Beverage for 5 years. For the past 15 years, Mr. Novoa has been working in the automotive customer service industry.
Mr. Novoa is very involved in the community having served on the Curriculum Advisory Board at David L. Carrasco Job Corps for three years and part of the Head and Neck Cancer support group at Providence Outpatient Hospital.
Art Jordan - Vice-Chairman

Art Jordan joined the TFCU’s Board in March 2003 and has held the positions of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary during this time. Prior to joining the Board, Mr. Jordan served on the Credit Union’s Nominating Committee for five years.
Mr. Jordan retired in 2008 as the Executive Director of Research, Accountability, and Assessment for the El Paso Independent School District. He began his career with EPISD in 1982 as a math teacher at Bowie High School. He also worked for 12 years as a part-time math instructor at El Paso Community College and 1½ years as a program evaluator for the Head Start Program. Mr. Jordan is an independent educational consultant and is very active in the community.
Charles Hart - Director

Charles Hart, Jr. has served on the El Paso Area Teachers Federal Credit Union’s Board for 14 years. He is the Board Parliamentarian and serves on the Personnel Committee.
Mr. Hart retired from a 41-year career in education as a classroom teacher and administrator. Prior to his retirement, he was the interim Superintendent for Socorro Independent School District from 2006-2007, and the Superintendent for Canutillo Independent School District from 1997-2005. Mr. Hart is the recipient of many awards to include the 2001 Superintendent of the Year for Texas. He continues to be very involved in several community organizations.
Greg Lucas - Director

Gregory Lucas has served as a Board of Director for Golden Key FCU since 2010. He held the position of secretary and also served on their ALCO committee. He recently joined the TFCU Board of Directors and will bring over 18 years of experience from the retail grocery business from Safeway Foods, Inc. and Furr’s, Inc.
Mr. Lucas is currently on his 24th year at Frito Lay as District Manager.
Lillian Crouch - Chairman
Lillian Crouch has served on the El Paso Area Teachers Federal Credit Union’s Board since 1992 and has held several officer positions to include Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Board Liaison to the Supervisory Committee.
Mrs. Crouch was a public school employee for the El Paso Independent School District for 29 years. During her career, she was an elementary teacher and junior high school principal. She retired from the district as the Executive Director or Human Resources. She currently serves on several community boards and is the recipient of several community awards.
Rene Chavez - Director

Rene Chavez has been a member of TFCU for over 30 years and served on the credit union’s Supervisory Committee from July 2007 to October 2015 before becoming a Board Member. Mr. Chavez attended UTEP and the University of Phoenix and has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Organizational Management. He worked for Socorro ISD from 1997 to 2010 where he served as a Compensation Officer, a Payroll Manager and 8 years as a Director of Human Resources.
In August of 2010 Mr. Chavez was named the Director of Human Resources for the Clint ISD and in 2017 was named Chief Human Resources Officer for Clint ISD. He continues to work in this capacity today. He has also taught business management and organizational behavior courses at the University of Phoenix.
Rene Vargas - Director

Rene Vargas, a native El Pasoan, graduated from Riverside High School. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served with the Marine Corps Air Wing Division. He was honorably discharged after serving six years of active and inactive duty. Upon returning home, he acquired an associate’s degree in electronics and began his career as an electronic technician.
He also attended UTEP and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration concentrating in accounting. He has over 20 years experience in accounting and business and is currently employed by Socorro I.S.D. as the Accounting Officer. Mr. Vargas has been a member of TFCU since 2000 and has served on the Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee since January of 2007.
Richard Perez - Treasurer

Richard Perez has been a member of TFCU for over 42 years. Prior to his Board appointment in July 2006, he served on the Credit Union’s Nominating Committee for three years. He retired from the El Paso Independent School District after a 30-year career as a teacher and administrator. He is currently an independent test administrator for several schools and businesses, and a part-time adjunct professor for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi University.
Supervisory Committee
Heber Moya - Member

John Alarcon - Member

Rene Vargas - Chairman

Richard Romero - Member

Management
- Max Villaronga, President/CEO
- Robert L. Rusk, Jr., Chief Financial Officer
- Martha Silva, Vice-President, Consumer Lending
- Dana Cassolopez, Vice-President, Marketing
- Eliana Avila,Vice President, Human Resources
- Patricia L. Alvarado, Vice-President, Operations
- Elizabeth Zamora, Vice-President, Compliance
- Nick Horak, Vice-President, Information Technology
- Rick Pustejovsky, Vice-President, Real Estate and Business Lending
Holidays
TFCU WILL CLOSE IN OBSERVANCE OF THE FOLLOWING HOLIDAY SCHEDULE IN 2018
January
Monday - January 1 (New Year's Day Observance)
Monday - January 15 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
February
Monday - February 19 (Presidents' Day)
March
Saturday - March 31 (Easter Observance)
May
Monday - May 28 (Memorial Day)
July
Wednesday - July 4 (Independence Day)
September
Monday - September 3 (Labor Day)
October
Monday - October 8 (Columbus Day)
November
Monday - November 12 (Veterans Day)
Thursday - November 22 (Thanksgiving Day)
December
Monday - December 24 (Half Day Christmas Eve)
Tuesday - December 25 (Christmas Day)