Ascentra Credit Union has once again been named to the Forbes list of America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions.
Ascentra, headquartered in downtown Bettendorf, announced the prestigious recognition Wednesday, July 8, in a news release. Forbes revealed the 2026 list in June. To view the entire list, visit Forbes website here.
“We’re honored to be recognized as one of America’s Best-in-State Credit Unions for 2026,” Ascentra President and CEO Linda Andry said. “This achievement reflects the trust our members place in us and the meaningful connections we’re proud to build within our communities every day.”
Forbes compiles the list in partnership with Statista, a leading global provider of market data and industry rankings. It highlights credit unions that excel in delivering trusted, high-quality financial services and strong member experiences at the local level.
Ascentra also made the Best-In-State list in 2022, when it was ranked as the No. 1 credit union in Iowa, and again was ranked in 2023. This year, Ascentra ranked No. 2 in Iowa, behind Veridian Credit Union, Waterloo.
The America’s Best-In-State Credit Unions 2026 ranking is based on an independent survey of thousands of U.S. consumers, as well as publicly available reviews. To be eligible, credit unions must have received a minimum number of evaluations, with awardees averaging more than 635 evaluations.
The ranking focuses on institutions that operate in 14 states or fewer and are not online-only providers. The award underscores the importance of strong regional and community-based financial relationships.
Institutions are evaluated based on key criteria including customer satisfaction, trust, financial advice, digital services, terms and conditions, and member service. Rankings are determined by analyzing overall performance and member sentiment. Top-performing credit unions in each state are recognized. The number of awards varies by state based on population size and the number of eligible institutions.
Ascentra expansion
“We remain committed to helping our members and the communities we serve grow stronger together,” Ms. Andry said in announcing the 2026 Forbes honor.
The new ranking comes on the heels of Ascentra breaking ground in late May on a new branch in West Rock Island. Ms. Andry and other Ascentra leaders joined the construction team and City of Rock Island officials for the project’s ceremonial start. The branch’s construction will be led by a team, including Russell, Legat Architects, IMEG and Crawford Co.
The project is a huge boost for the Rock Island neighborhood, which now lacks any full-service financial services provider. The $2.7 million project is being built in the shadows of the neighborhood’s Martin Luther King Center and is the first new commercial development project since the West End Revitalization (WER) grassroots effort was launched in 2023.
Dozens of supporters and believers of west Rock Island were on hand at the construction site at 600 11th St. when the first shovels of dirt were thrown. More than once the development was described as a “great day for west Rock Island” and a project that “is much more than a building.”
At the groundbreaking, Ms. Andry said the project represents Ascentra’s continued commitment to the Quad Cities and its philosophy of “people helping people.”
“Today isn’t about Ascentra building a branch. It is about being part of a plan that was created by members of this community,” she told the crowd. “Credit unions are owned by their members and this is your financial institution. This is your branch and this is your hard work and passion coming alive.”
Founded in 1950, today Ascentra has more than $595 million in assets and nine Quad Cities in Bettendorf, Davenport and Moline as well as in Clinton and Muscatine, Iowa.
