About Us
Sunward serves communities across the Southwest.
In 1948, 15 employees of Sandia National Laboratories saw the need for a credit union in Albuquerque. Since then, Sunward has been dedicated to offering high value and outstanding personal service. Today, we not only serve SNL employees and their family members, but also the employees and families of more than 1,400 partner companies and others. Learn who can join.
Sunward is one of New Mexico’s largest credit unions, serving over 175,000 members and managing more than $4.2 billion in assets with a footprint that spans 16 branches across the Southwest, including California’s Bay Area and Durango, Colorado.
As a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative that exists solely to serve its members, Sunward offers competitive rates on certificates, credit cards, home loans and auto loans, and savings and checking accounts. We don’t focus on making profits and paying stockholders. Instead, we use earnings to lower loan rates, raise savings rates, and reduce fees. Sunward offers the mortgages, consumer loans, and secure deposit accounts you need for financial success.
Credit unions all share the same philosophy: people helping people. We pride ourselves on serving members, not only as a financial institution, but also through financial education, community, and charitable causes.
Annual Reports
Sunward annual reports include interviews with our Board Chairperson and President/CEO, information on our financial performance, and member profiles.
View our most recent annual report.
Board of Directors & Supervisory Committee
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sunward is governed by a Board of 9 volunteers elected by the membership. The Board has the general direction and control of the affairs of this credit union and is responsible for performing all the duties customarily performed by Boards of Directors.
THE SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE
The Supervisory Committee is composed of three to five members as specified in the Bylaws and each Committee member is appointed to serve a one-year term. The Supervisory Committee may also include alternate members appointed by the Chairperson of the Board of Directors. The Supervisory Committee is appointed annually by the Board of Directors and its authority and responsibilities can be traced to the National Credit Union Administration’s (NCUA) Rules and Regulations Part 715 (Supervisory Committee Audits and Verifications), Title I Section 1761d of the Federal Credit Union Act and Article IX of the Sunward Bylaws.
If you have questions or concerns, we will address them promptly. You can submit concerns regarding Credit Union policies and procedures, conflicts of interest, and/or fraud to: Sunward Supervisory Committee, PO Box 13045, Albuquerque, NM 87191.
Community Engagement at Sunward
Community is where our purpose begins.
At Sunward, community isn’t a program, it’s our purpose. From Livermore, CA to Durango, CO and to every corner of New Mexico, we invest in the people and places we serve. Every partnership, volunteer effort, and dollar reflects our commitment to building thriving and resilient communities.
Our Pillars of Impact
Economic Development
We’re proud to strengthen local economies and support small businesses. In Durango, we partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to launch the Small Business Scholarship Program, helping local entrepreneurs access tools to grow and succeed.
Through the United Way of North Central New Mexico, our support expanded access to financial services for working families. The ALICE Data Initiative and Tax Help NM programs empowered households to make informed financial decisions, reduce strain, and achieve greater stability.
Education
Financial education is empowerment. Through CNM Ingenuity, Sunward employees and community members are building stronger financial wellness foundations. Our Sunward Scholarship celebrates students pursuing education with passion and purpose.
We also proudly invest in Brillante, CNM’s early childhood center at Explora, serving children ages 2–5. With its STEAM-rich, play-based curriculum inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, Brillante supports CNM student-parents through accessible, high-quality childcare allowing families to learn, grow, and move toward economic stability.
Basic Needs
Meeting essential needs is at the heart of who we are. From hosting community drives in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories to creating care kits for Indigenous families in Farmington, Sunward shows up where we’re needed most.
We were honored to provide food for a Saranam Alumni Gathering, creating a warm space for families to connect, share their journeys, and build brighter futures. And through our partnership with NM United and the Somos Unidos Foundation, our support help underserved children in the South Valley play, learn, and thrive. Partnering with UNM Running Medicine celebrates Indigenous health and wellness, fostering inclusion, pride, and community connection.
Community in Action
This year, over 200 Sunward employees joined the Lobo Cancer Challenge, raising nearly $40,000 for cancer research and patient care, proving that when we come together, we can make extraordinary things happen.
Our Promise
We live our values every day:
Put Members First. Be Gritty. Be Accountable. Do the Right Thing. Be Better Every Day.
Together, we’re building a movement of compassion, connection, and growth, one that moves us all Sunward.
Helpful Links