As Seen in Forbes & Fortune Massachusetts’s Leading Credit Unions
Published on April 30, 2025
•3 min read
A Century of Service
"Everything we do revolves around the concept of 'people helping people,'" says Robert Cashman, president and CEO of Metro Credit Union. "As a not-for-profit financial institution, we have a different structure and philosophy than you would find at a bank. This gives us the opportunity to create products and services for our members rather than generating the highest profits for shareholders."
Founded in 1926, Metro Credit Union is the largest state-chartered credit union in Massachusetts. Serving more than 220,000 members, the credit union boasts 18 locations throughout the Greater Boston area. Over his more than 40 years at the credit union, Cashman has seen Metro’s community-driven model benefit countless individuals, families, and small businesses.
"We've grown and thrived over the last century because we've stuck to our founding principles," Cashman says. "We are owned by our members, and we're here to serve them. Any revenue we make is returned to them in the form of better rates on deposit accounts, lower fees, and more affordable loans."
Metro’s member-focused approach allows the credit union to respond quickly to changing trends and new challenges. This is most evident in the adoption of new technologies, from 24x7 virtual digital assistants to a digital branch office where members can conduct business via video chat and sign paperwork electronically.
"We have a 'brick and click' strategy," Cashman says. "The idea is to be accessible for our members wherever they need us, either at physical locations or through our online options. We are always looking for ways to make things easier and more convenient."
The Business of Building Community
Another way that Metro seeks to support the communities it serves is through its business banking and lending programs. The credit union partners with local businesses, from commercial homebuilders to mom-and-pop shops, and provides banking services, as well as growth strategy opportunities through lending.
"Our business accounts and commercial loans are one more way of helping people along their financial journey," says Cashman. "We're a Small Business Administration lender, which allows us to support a wide range of businesses, including those owned by women and people of color. Our Business Checking options offer significant value-added benefits and are accessible to businesses of all sizes, including minority-owned businesses at no cost. It's all part of our mission to help people throughout their financial journey."
This inclusive approach has also helped Metro build strong relationships with charities and nonprofit organizations throughout Massachusetts, donating hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars every year. The credit union has invested heavily in outreach to unbanked populations, offering free financial education resources, tailored deposit and lending opportunities to help with building credit or purchasing a first home, and bilingual staff to help non-English-speaking members feel more comfortable and confident in their financial decisions. It's all part of building better communities, Cashman explains.
"We're always looking at ways to pay it forward," says Cashman. "We take great pride in our members' success stories, and we want to see their communities prosper. We've done this for nearly 100 years, and we look forward to continuing our work into the next century."
