Service 1st
Service 1st Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, NCUA-insured cooperative headquartered in Danville, Pennsylvania, serving over 40,500 consumer and business members across 12 branches with checking, lending, credit cards, and digital banking.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersDanville, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Service 1st does
Service 1st Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, federally chartered and NCUA-insured credit union headquartered in Danville, Pennsylvania. Founded on August 25, 1975 as Geisinger Employees Federal Credit Union by a group of Geisinger Medical Center employees (including founding member Barbara Criswell), it has grown over 50 years into a community financial institution serving more than 40,500 members across central and northeastern Pennsylvania through 12 branch locations and digital channels, with a future 13th branch planned in Berwick.
The credit union delivers a full suite of consumer and commercial banking products. Personal banking offerings include checking (Personal Checking, Better Choice Checking), savings, certificates (CDs) with terms from 3 to 60 months, money market accounts, health savings accounts, IRAs, vehicle loans (rates advertised as low as 4.59% APR), mortgages, home equity loans, personal loans, student loans, and the Visa Platinum Credit Card with a Buy 1st Pay Later installment feature. Business banking covers business checking and savings, commercial real estate loans, small business loans, merchant card services, and online wire services. Distribution relies on a regional branch network supplemented by mobile and online banking, an Allpoint surcharge-free ATM network, virtual appointments via a Digital Center, and a basic virtual financial assistant.
Service 1st operates as a not-for-profit financial cooperative, generating revenue primarily through net interest margin on loans and deposit-funded lending, supplemented by service fees (overdraft, wire transfers, etc.) and merchant card processing for business members. It employs 101-250 staff and markets through community sponsorships, educational partnerships (e.g., financial reality fairs with PALCO FCU and the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education), radio partnerships (94.1 WQKX), and direct member acquisition via select employee groups and online applications. Leadership includes President/CEO Mike Thomas and a C-suite spanning CIO, CLO, CAO, CXO, CFO, and Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer Christopher Court.
Service 1st firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Service 1st
- Legal name
- Service 1st Federal Credit Union
- Website
- https://service1.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Service 1st Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, NCUA-insured cooperative headquartered in Danville, Pennsylvania, serving over 40,500 consumer and business members across 12 branches with checking, lending, credit cards, and digital banking.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Service 1st industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Banking (Credit Union)
- NAICS
- Credit Unions (522130)
- SIC
- Personal Credit Institutions (6141)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus) (FSABAEAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL), Employer/Occupational Credit Unions (FSABAEAB)
Keywords
Where Service 1st is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Danville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices13 records
Markets served
Service 1st business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Loan Products: Service 1st generates revenue primarily through interest-bearing loan products including auto loans, mortgages, home equity loans, personal loans, student loans, and credit cards. The credit union offers competitive rates such as auto loans as low as 4.59% APR.
- Deposit Products: Revenue is generated from deposit products including savings accounts, certificates (CDs), money market accounts, health savings accounts, and individual retirement accounts (IRAs). These deposits provide the funding pool for lending activities.
- Service Fees: Various service fees including overdraft protection, wire transfers, and other banking services contribute to revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Auto Loans |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Vehicle Loans |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Home Equity Products |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Certificates (CDs) |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Money Market Accounts |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | VISA Platinum Credit Card |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Service 1st product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Service 1st Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, federally insured not-for-profit financial cooperative offering a full suite of personal and business banking products. Core offerings include deposit accounts (checking, savings, CDs, money market, HSA, IRA), consumer and commercial loans (auto, mortgage, home equity, personal, student, small business, commercial real estate), a VISA Platinum credit card with a Buy 1st Pay Later installment feature, merchant card services, and retirement/investment services, delivered through 12 branch locations across Pennsylvania plus digital and mobile banking channels.
Product overview
Service 1st Federal Credit Union operates as a member-owned financial institution offering a comprehensive suite of banking and lending products organized into personal banking (credit cards, auto loans, mortgages, home equity, personal loans, student loans, checking, savings, certificates, money market accounts, and HSAs), business banking (commercial real estate loans, small business loans, business checking and savings, merchant card services), and retirement/investment services (IRAs and investment center). The credit union differentiates through digital banking channels including mobile banking, online banking with bill pay, and a virtual financial assistant. The flagship Visa Platinum credit card features a Buy 1st Pay Later installment option, and the organization emphasizes community involvement with programs like the Outstanding Teacher Awards and financial education initiatives. The portfolio includes specialized products like youth accounts and Better Choice Checking, supported by a network of 13 branch locations across Pennsylvania.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- VISA Platinum Credit Card Flagship credit card offering VISA Platinum with a Buy 1st Pay Later installment payment option for qualifying purchases, available to personal and business members.
- Auto and Vehicle Loans Vehicle financing for new, used, or refinanced vehicles with rates as low as 4.59% APR and financing available at over 100 local dealers.
- Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit Home equity lending products including fixed rate line of credit allowing members to borrow against their home's equity.
- Mortgage Loans Residential mortgage financing for purchasing or refinancing homes.
- Personal Loans Unsecured personal loans for members' general borrowing needs.
- Student Loans Student loan products to finance higher education expenses.
- Personal Checking Personal checking account with a VISA debit card, online bill pay, direct deposit, and overdraft protection options.
- Personal Savings Basic savings account products for personal financial goals and emergency funds.
- Certificates (CDs) Certificate of Deposit products with terms from 3 to 60 months offering competitive fixed rates, including youth certificate options.
- Money Market Accounts Premium and Platinum tier money market accounts offering higher interest rates with tiered benefits.
- Health Savings Accounts (HSA) Tax-advantaged health savings accounts for individuals with high-deductible health plans.
- Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) Traditional and Roth IRA products for retirement savings with tax-advantaged growth.
- Business Checking Commercial checking accounts designed for business operations with features including merchant services and online wire capabilities.
- Business Savings Business savings accounts for managing business finances and reserves.
- Commercial Real Estate Loans Commercial lending products for business real estate acquisition, development, or refinancing.
- Small Business Loans Financing solutions for small business needs including working capital and equipment.
- Business VISA Credit Card Business-purpose VISA credit card for commercial members.
- Merchant Card Services Payment processing services that enable business members to accept card payments from customers.
- Youth Accounts Banking products designed for young members including youth savings and youth certificates with special rates.
- Better Choice Checking Specialized checking account with enhanced features for specific member segments.
- Retirement & Investment Center Retirement planning services including investment advice, Medicare education seminars, and IRA management.
Quantifiable outcome
- Serving over 40,500+ members with personalized service across 12 branch locations
Companies that use Service 1st
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Service 1st technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Service 1st partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 94.1 WQKXcorePartnership with local radio station 94.1 WQKX to present Outstanding Teacher Awards to local educators. Each award recipient selects a school club/organization to receive a $1,000 donation.
- CrossState Credit Union AssociationcoreService 1st's Chief Information Officer Jay Reed was elected as Vice Chair of CrossState Credit Union Association and CrossState Solutions Board of Directors. CrossState is the regional credit union association serving Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
- Bloomsburg Theatre EnsembleminorService 1st is proud to sponsor Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble's production of Little Women as part of their Season 48.
- Foundation for Free Enterprise EducationminorService 1st partnered with the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education and PALCO Federal Credit Union to host five financial reality fairs at Lycoming College and Penn College for Pennsylvania students.
- PALCO Federal Credit UnionminorService 1st partnered with PALCO Federal Credit Union and the Foundation for Free Enterprise Education to host financial reality fairs for approximately 1900 students.
- CSIU Work Foundations+minorService 1st partnered with CSIU Work Foundations+ to host the Financial Services & You Seminar aimed at educating individuals with disabilities, their families, friends, and caretakers.
- CrossState Credit Union FoundationminorThree Service 1st team members completed the Enhanced Financial Counseling Certification Program (FiCEP) through the CrossState Credit Union Foundation.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Service 1st competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Members 1st Federal Credit Union: Pennsylvania-headquartered community credit union offering a similar suite of consumer and business banking products (loans, deposits, credit cards) across a multi-county PA footprint. Closest direct comparable in scale, charter type, and product mix to Service 1st.
- PSECU (Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union): Large Pennsylvania-based, member-owned credit union offering consumer loans, mortgages, credit cards, and deposit products to a defined membership group. Directly comparable business model and core product set, with a statewide footprint that overlaps Service 1st's territory.
- Belco Community Credit Union: Central Pennsylvania community credit union offering personal and business banking products including loans, deposit accounts, and digital banking. Comparable in size, geography, and member-owned cooperative structure to Service 1st.
- Citadel Federal Credit Union: Pennsylvania-based credit union providing personal and business banking, mortgages, and credit cards to members across the mid-Atlantic. Comparable product portfolio and member-cooperative model with overlapping PA footprint.
- Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union: Pennsylvania-headquartered community credit union offering consumer loans, mortgages, credit cards, and deposit products. Similar community-charter positioning and comparable scale, making it a relevant peer for benchmarking growth and product mix.
Regional players
- Penn Community Bank: Pennsylvania-headquartered community bank offering consumer and business banking, mortgages, and deposit products across the greater Philadelphia and Bucks County region. Comparable retail banking product set but operates as a bank rather than a credit union and in a different geography within PA.
- Mid Penn Bank: Pennsylvania-based community bank with branches across central PA offering consumer and commercial banking, mortgages, and business lending. Direct competitor for consumer deposits and small-business lending in many of the same PA markets as Service 1st, though structured as a bank rather than a credit union.
- Journey Bank: Pennsylvania-based community bank providing personal and business banking products across central and northeastern PA markets that overlap with Service 1st's branch footprint. Comparable in community-banking positioning but operates as a chartered bank.
- F&M Trust:
Broad incumbents
- First Commonwealth Bank: Larger Pennsylvania-headquartered regional bank with a statewide network of branches offering consumer, mortgage, and commercial banking products. Competes with Service 1st for retail deposits, mortgages, and small-business relationships across PA but at meaningfully greater scale and breadth.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Service 1st social profiles
Digital presenceService 1st compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Service 1st financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Service 1st leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Service 1st funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Service 1st M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Service 1st
What does Service 1st do?
Service 1st Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, federally insured not-for-profit financial cooperative offering a full suite of personal and business banking products. Core offerings include deposit accounts (checking, savings, CDs, money market, HSA, IRA), consumer and commercial loans (auto, mortgage, home equity, personal, student, small business, commercial real estate), a VISA Platinum credit card with a Buy 1st Pay Later installment feature, merchant card services, and retirement/investment services, delivered through 12 branch locations across Pennsylvania plus digital and mobile banking channels.
Is Service 1st a public or private company?
Service 1st is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Service 1st founded?
Service 1st was founded in 1975. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Service 1st based?
Service 1st is headquartered in Danville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Service 1st make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Loan Products are the primary driver. The others are deposit Products and service Fees.
Who are Service 1st's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Members 1st Federal Credit Union, PSECU (Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union), Belco Community Credit Union, Citadel Federal Credit Union and Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union. Regional players are Penn Community Bank, Mid Penn Bank, Journey Bank and F&M Trust. First Commonwealth Bank is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Service 1st have an API?
No public API is recorded for Service 1st.
What industry is Service 1st in?
Service 1st's product category is Retail Banking (Credit Union). Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABAEAA, Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus), with a secondary code of FSAKAAAL, Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment). Its NAICS code is 522130 and its SIC code is 6141.