Boise State University Student Union Building to Be Renamed After Westmark Credit Union in $8.5 Million Idaho Deal
Boise State University’s student union building in Idaho is getting a new name — and the university is getting $8.5 million to go along with it. The State Board of Education has officially approved a naming rights agreement that will rebrand the facility as the Boise State University Westmark Student Union Building, with Idaho-based Westmark Credit Union paying more than $8.5 million over 10 years for the rights.
Background: How the Deal Came Together
The partnership did not happen overnight. Boise State University says it hired an outside consultant to evaluate potential naming rights partners, including a benchmarking process that compared similar assets at peer universities across the United States. After that review, the university settled on Westmark Credit Union as its preferred partner.
The State Board of Education gave the Boise State-Westmark agreement preliminary approval back in February before granting final approval last week. The multi-step review process reflects the scale of the arrangement — a decade-long financial commitment that will reshape how students, faculty, and visitors identify one of the most prominent buildings on the Boise campus.
In addition to the naming rights, Westmark Credit Union will be permitted to open a branch inside the student union building, giving students direct access to financial services in a high-traffic campus location. For a credit union whose stated mission centers on financial education and community access, the placement makes strategic sense.
Who Is Westmark Credit Union?
Westmark is not a newcomer to Idaho. Founded in 1954, the credit union has grown to serve approximately 80,000 members through 15 branches across the state. Unlike for-profit banks, credit unions operate as member-owned financial cooperatives, which often positions them as community-focused institutions aligned with local values and needs.
Westmark Credit Union President and CEO Mike Schenck emphasized that alignment in a university news release: “This partnership advances our mission to elevate financial well-being by meeting people where they are — providing accessible financial guidance, education, and tools that support real-life decisions.”
For Boise State, the partnership represents an opportunity to bring a financial institution with deep Idaho roots directly into the student experience. Boise State interim President Jeremiah Shinn echoed that sentiment, stating: “Westmark Credit Union brings a longstanding commitment to education and community that aligns closely with our mission.”
Impact on Ada County Residents and Boise State Students
From a fiscal standpoint, the $8.5 million naming rights deal represents a meaningful revenue stream for Boise State — one that does not rely on tuition increases or additional government spending. For Ada County taxpayers who support the university through public funding, private partnerships like this one offer a way to generate institutional revenue without drawing from the public till.
For students, the presence of a Westmark branch inside the renamed student union building could offer practical benefits: convenient access to banking, credit counseling, and financial literacy resources on campus. As costs continue to climb across the Treasure Valley, students navigating tuition, housing, and everyday expenses may find an in-building financial services option genuinely useful.
The broader Boise business community may also take note. Deals of this scale — where a locally rooted Idaho company invests in a flagship state institution — reflect the kind of homegrown enterprise and community commitment that helps keep economic activity within the state rather than sending it elsewhere.
What Comes Next
With final State Board of Education approval now in hand, Boise State and Westmark Credit Union can move forward with implementing the agreement. The university has not yet announced a specific timeline for when the building’s new signage and official name will go into effect, or when the Westmark branch inside the student union will open for business.
Students, faculty, and community members interested in updates on the transition can monitor official announcements from Boise State University and Westmark Credit Union. Additional details about the partnership structure may also be reviewed through the State Board of Education, which oversees major contractual agreements involving Idaho’s public universities.