More than 60 years after its founding to serve employees of anauto body maker, April 4 marked the debut of Auto Body CreditUnion's new name: Astera CreditUnion.

The Lansing, Mich.-based credit union said the transition is theculmination of nearly a year's worth of meetings, planning anddevelopment. As the new moniker makes its debut, Astera is notforgetting its roots, according to Jeff Croff, vice president ofmarketing.

“While the name may change, our commitment to providing the bestfinancial solutions for the working men and women of mid-Michiganremain the same,” Croff said.

Sixty-two years ago, the credit union formed as workers losttheir homes, cars and furnishings to their lenders during a workstoppage at Fisher Auto Body, according to the Astera website. Oneworker, John Tome, contacted the president of UAW Local 602 to helporganize a credit union, which was chartered Jan. 8, 1949 asLansing Fisher Federal Credit Union.

The cooperative underwent several name changes over the yearsincluding Lansing Fisher Employees Federal Credit Union, Auto-BodyEmployees Federal Credit Union, Auto Body Federal Credit Union andfinally becoming state-chartered Auto Body Credit Union before itsnew name, Astera.

The $150 million credit union serves more than 23,000members.