First Entertainment Credit Union

What First Entertainment Credit Union does

First Entertainment Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative founded in 1967 and headquartered in Hollywood, California. It serves the entertainment-industry workforce in Los Angeles, including members of the major Hollywood guilds (IATSE, SAG-AFTRA, WGA, DGA, PGA) and employees of the major studios (Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, Paramount). The institution holds approximately $2 billion in assets under management, serves roughly 90,000 members, and employs in the range of 217 to 250 staff across seven branches in Los Angeles County, three of which sit directly on studio lots.

The credit union offers a full retail banking stack — checking, savings, money market and share certificate accounts; consumer, auto, mortgage, HELOC and credit card lending; plus wealth and investment advisory services. Distribution is hybrid: physical branches, on-lot satellite offices, online and mobile banking, and access to 33,000+ surcharge-free ATMs nationally through the CO-OP Shared Branch / Allpoint network. Revenue mechanics follow the standard credit-union model — net interest margin on the loan book funded by member deposits, plus interchange, loan-origination and service-fee income. As a 501(c)(14) cooperative, First Entertainment has no outside equity holders; net earnings are reinvested in member services, technology, or distributed as patronage dividends.

In January 2026 the credit union launched a new digital-first division called CineFi in partnership with core/digital banking vendor Nymbus, signaling a strategic push beyond its on-lot, guild-affiliated member base. The operating cadence of recent C-suite refreshes (a new CFO, COO, CPO, CIO joining CEO Stephen Owen, in seat since 2022) and recurring inclusion on the LA Times' Top Credit Unions list and Great Place to Work certifications point to incremental professionalization rather than transformation.

Name

First Entertainment Credit Union

Legal name

First Entertainment Credit Union

Website

https://firstent.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

First Entertainment Credit Union is a member-owned cooperative serving entertainment-industry professionals, including Hollywood guild members and studio employees, with roughly $2 billion in assets and about 90,000 members across seven Los Angeles County branches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Credit Union Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213), Credit Card Issuing (522210)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus) (FSABAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Credit Cards & Revolving Credit (FSABAAAC)

Keywords

• Credit union banking
• Consumer lending
• Home equity loans
• Digital banking
• Vehicle financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Primary revenue stream from interest earned on loans (vehicle loans, home loans, personal loans, credit cards) and securities. Credit union returns profits to members through better rates and lower fees.
2. Fee Income: Overdraft protection fees, wire transfer fees, and other service charges. However, First Entertainment positions itself as low-fee with many accounts having no monthly maintenance fees.
3. ATM Network Revenue: Revenue from surcharge fees collected when members use non-network ATMs, partially offset by fee rebate programs.
4. Interchange Revenue: Revenue from debit and credit card transaction interchange fees on purchases made by members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

First Entertainment Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned credit union that provides retail banking, consumer lending, credit cards, and digital banking services to entertainment industry professionals and their families. The institution serves nearly 90,000 members with $2 billion in assets through seven Los Angeles County branches (including on-studio-lot locations at Warner Bros., Sony, and Paramount), a digital division called CineFi, and a 33,000+ ATM network. Core offerings include checking and savings accounts, vehicle and home loans, credit cards, union dues loans, and business banking products.

Product overview

First Entertainment Credit Union operates as a single financial services platform serving entertainment industry professionals with a comprehensive suite of banking products. The core offerings include Value Checking and First500 Savings accounts, alongside specialized products like Union Dues Loans designed for gig workers in entertainment. The credit union has launched CineFi as a digital-first sub-brand for the creative community, while The A-List provides relationship-based tiered banking for higher-balance members. Additional products span credit cards (Platinum Visa), home loans, vehicle loans, business banking services, and term certificates. All products are accessible through 24/7 digital banking with physical branch locations at major studio lots including Warner Bros., Sony, and Paramount.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CineFi: A digital banking platform and division of First Entertainment Credit Union designed exclusively for entertainment industry professionals including film crews, content creators, influencers, musicians, and independent artists. Offers high-yield checking and savings accounts with no fees, no minimums, ATM reimbursements, and no foreign transaction fees.
• The A-List

Products and services

• Value Checking Fee-free checking account with no monthly maintenance fees, no minimum balances, no foreign transaction fees, expedited payroll access up to 3 days early, up to $15 monthly ATM surcharge rebates for members with $1,000+ direct deposits, and 0.25% ARM discount with autopay.
• First500 Savings Tiered savings account offering 5.00% APY interest rate on the first $500 in balance when certain requirements are met, designed to encourage savings among entertainment industry members.
• High-Yield Savings Account Personal savings account with competitive interest rates, part of the personal savings product suite for members.
• Term Certificates Certificate of deposit accounts including a 13-month term certificate offering 4.90% APY, providing members with fixed-rate savings options.
• The A-List Relationship Banking Program Two-tiered relationship-based banking program: A-List Select for members with $50,000+ combined average daily balances and A-List Reserve for $200,000+ balances, providing enhanced savings earnings, discounted auto and home lending rates, and dedicated service team.
• Union Dues Loans Specialized loan product designed to help entertainment industry professionals pay union dues and maintain guild membership in organizations such as SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, WGA, and DGA.
• Platinum Visa Credit Card Credit card offering rates as low as 8.90% APR, providing members with access to credit tailored to entertainment professionals' financial patterns.
• Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit Home equity products offering rates as low as 7.25% APR, allowing members to leverage home equity for various financial needs.
• Vehicle Loans Auto loan products including purchase financing, lease buyouts, and refinance options with discounted rates for qualifying members.
• Business Checking Business checking accounts designed for entertainment industry businesses, with features tailored to small business banking needs.
• Commercial Real Estate Loan Loans for commercial real estate purchases and financing for entertainment industry businesses.
• CineFi Digital Banking Platform Fully digital credit union platform serving entertainment professionals including TV, film, music, gaming, and content creators. Offers high-yield checking and savings with no fees, no minimums, ATM reimbursements, and no foreign transaction fees, designed for project-to-project and gig-to-gig income structures.
• Digital Banking Comprehensive online and mobile banking platform providing 24/7 access to accounts, transfers, bill pay, mobile check deposit, and account management through iOS and Android apps with digital wallet support.
• Money Market Savings Money market savings account providing competitive interest rates with check-writing privileges for personal banking customers.
• Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Retirement savings account product for entertainment industry professionals and members planning for retirement.
• Youth Savings Account Savings account designed for students and young members entering the entertainment industry.
• Personal Insurance Personal insurance products offered as part of the credit union's member services suite.

Quantifiable outcome

• $7 million in financial solutions provided during WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes ($1 million/month in emergency loans, deferments, fee waivers)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Women in EntertainmentcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 June 2026Proud sponsor of the 9th Annual Women in Entertainment Summit bringing together industry leaders to explore topics including women's leadership, storytelling, and empowering next generation.
• CineGear ExpocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 June 2026Exhibitor at CineGear Expo technology exhibition, connecting with creative community at premier industry gathering for media technology and equipment.
• NymbuscoreTechnology or Integration · 21 January 2026Partnership with Nymbus, a cloud-based vertical banking platform provider, to launch CineFi - the first fully digital credit union for entertainment professionals. Combines First Entertainment's entertainment industry expertise with Nymbus' technology platform.
• PBS SoCal - FINE CUT Festival of FilmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Lead sponsor for 26th season of PBS SoCal's FINE CUT Festival of Films, contributing $10,000 in savings deposits to student filmmaker winners. Provides financial workshop sessions for emerging filmmakers.
• Warner Bros. EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025Host partner for FINE CUT Mentor Workshop, providing space for student filmmakers to engage with industry professionals in directing, writing, producing, and animation tracks.
• Hollywood Climate SummitminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 May 2025Support of 2025 Hollywood Climate Summit championing green initiatives in entertainment, standing with storytellers and crews driving climate action.
• Producers Guild of America (PGA) Members FundcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 March 2025Wildfire relief donation recipient in partnership with Entertainment Community Fund to support PGA members affected by Los Angeles wildfires.
• Writers Guild of America (WGA) Members FundcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 March 2025Wildfire relief donation recipient in partnership with Entertainment Community Fund supporting WGA members affected by Los Angeles wildfires.
• Directors Guild (DGA) FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 March 2025Wildfire relief donation in partnership with Motion Picture Television Fund to support DGA members impacted by Los Angeles wildfires.
• IATSE Disaster Relief FundcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 March 2025Wildfire relief donation to IATSE Walsh/Di Tolpa/Spivak Disaster Emergency Fund supporting IATSE Local 892 (Costume Designers Guild) members displaced by wildfires.
• Children's Hospital Los AngelesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2024Credit Unions for Kids partnership raising $28,962 through fundraising efforts with dollar-for-dollar donation matching to support pediatric healthcare.
• Young Workers Session (MPTF)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 June 2023Partnership with MPTF NextGen Board to support young entertainment workers engagement initiatives and professional development.
• The Academy of Magical Arts (Magic Castle)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2023Financial partnership providing Academy of Magical Arts members access to First Entertainment financial products and educational resources tailored for entertainers. Partnership began with sponsorship of Academy of Magical Arts Award Show.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Alliant Credit Union: Large digital-first credit union with nationwide reach via online membership. Represents the digital-first model that CineFi is positioning against, with strong app experience and no branch dependency.

Regional players

• Kinecta Federal Credit Union: Long-standing Southern California credit union with multiple branches in the LA market. Geographic overlap with First Entertainment and similar full-service banking offerings, though serving a broader community.
• California Credit Union: California-based credit union serving select employee groups and families with full-service banking. Comparable California geographic focus and credit union cooperative structure, though broader membership base.
• Logix Federal Credit Union: LA-area credit union with multiple branches serving Southern California. Direct geographic overlap with First Entertainment's branch network and similar product suite, though not specialized to entertainment.

Others

• Entertainment Community Fund: Non-profit organization (formerly MPTF) providing social services and financial support to entertainment industry professionals. Functionally adjacent — supports the same member base with charitable rather than banking services, and has been a partner of First Entertainment.

Direct peers

• Actors Federal Credit Union: Long-standing New York-based credit union serving performing arts professionals. Closest analog in serving the entertainment/performing arts community with specialized products, though smaller in scale.
• First Tech Federal Credit Union: Industry-affinity credit union serving technology employees, closely analogous to how First Entertainment serves entertainment professionals. Comparable community-anchored credit union model with tailored products for a defined professional community.

Broad incumbents

• OnPoint Community Credit Union: Large Pacific Northwest community credit union with $8B+ in assets. CEO Stephen Owen previously served here. Comparable community-anchored credit union model with similar relationship-based banking and digital offerings.
• SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: California's largest credit union, serving school employees and families with $25B+ in assets. Comparable affinity-based membership model with strong regional presence and relationship-based banking tiers.
• Patelco Credit Union: Bay Area-based credit union with California-wide digital reach. Comparable in offering relationship-based banking tiers and digital-first services, and competes for California residents and entertainment-adjacent professionals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/firstent
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FirstEntertainmentCU
• Facebookfacebook.com/FirstEntertainment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-entertainment-credit-union
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstent

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about First Entertainment Credit Union