Firefighters First Credit Union

What Firefighters First Credit Union does

Firefighters First Credit Union (FFCU) is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative credit union founded in 1935 in Los Angeles as the Los Angeles Firemen's Credit Union and rebranded to its current name on March 31, 2014, to reflect its national service area. The institution is the self-described largest U.S. credit union exclusively serving firefighters and their families, with over $2.10 billion in assets, 65,000+ members drawn from 1,154 fire departments, 20 physical branches across six states (Arizona, California, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington), and a headcount of 101-250. FFCU is governed by a board composed primarily of active and retired firefighters and is federally insured by the NCUA.

FFCU operates a full-service retail and business banking platform, including checking, savings, money market, share certificates, and IRAs; a three-tier Visa credit card lineup (Classic 0.5%, Platinum 1%, Signature 2% cashback); personal loans (auto, motorcycle, RV, boat, ATV, jet ski, signature, secured, fire station, and emergency relief); and a deep home lending suite spanning fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages, FHA, VA, construction, land, HELOC, reverse mortgages, plus proprietary retention programs (Rate Drop, Move & Save). Adjacent member services include Firehouse Financial wealth management (via LPL Financial referral), Firefighter Insurance Services, Firefighters First Tax/Bookkeeping/Payroll, and Trust Services. Digital channels are delivered through the FireFirstCU mobile app, an online banking platform, the FireSync shift calendar app, Zelle, Apple/Google/Samsung Pay, remote check deposit, SMS text banking, video chat, and push notifications. Distribution combines physical branches, a national toll-free/virtual branch, and an Advocate Council network of firefighter ambassadors in 15+ states.

The business model is a classic credit union net-interest-income engine funded by member deposits and deployed across consumer and mortgage lending, supplemented by interchange, mortgage origination, and referral fee income. Pricing varies by product and member creditworthiness: credit cards carry no annual, balance transfer, cash advance, or foreign transaction fees; auto loans start at 4.24-4.49% APR; share certificates at 3.80% APY (12-month); 30-year fixed mortgages from 6.5% APR; 7/1 ARM first-time homebuyer loans with no PMI and 3% down. Member ownership is reinforced by an annual profit-sharing program that returned over $5 million in 2025 (versus $2.1M in 2022), and a Fire Family Foundation providing scholarships ($50K awarded), disaster relief, and mental health support.

Name

Firefighters First Credit Union

Legal name

Firefighters First Credit Union

Website

https://firefightersfirstcu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Firefighters First Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned credit union founded in 1935 that exclusively serves U.S. firefighters and their families, operating $2.1B+ in assets, 65,000+ members across 1,154 fire departments, and 20 branches in 6 states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Credit Union Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213), Credit Unions (522130), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)

akta.pro primary industry

Employer/Occupational Credit Unions (FSABAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Sector & Municipal Credit Unions (FSABAEAK), Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending
• Credit union membership
• Home loan financing
• Deposit account products

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices20 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income from Lending: The primary revenue stream comes from interest earned on loan products including mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, credit cards, and business loans. The credit union offers competitive rates on various loan products including fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages, vehicle loans, and credit cards with cashback rewards.
2. Deposit Account Fees and Services: Revenue from various deposit account services including checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and share certificates (CDs). Members earn dividends on savings while the credit union uses these deposits for lending activities.
3. Credit Card Fees and Interchange: Revenue generated from credit card usage including interchange fees from merchants and annual/per-transaction fees. The credit union offers Classic Visa, Platinum Visa, and Visa Signature cards with varying cashback reward rates (0.5%, 1%, and 2% respectively).
4. Mortgage Origination and Servicing: Revenue from mortgage origination, refinancing, and servicing activities including the Move & Save program, Rate Drop program, and various mortgage products including conventional, FHA, VA, and construction loans.
5. Business Services: Business checking, savings, money market accounts, commercial loans, merchant card services, Zelle for business, and bundled services including tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll services.
6. Investment and Insurance Referral Fees: Referral relationships with LPL Financial for investment and securities services, Firefighter Insurance Services for insurance products, and Firehouse Financial for wealth management. Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial with referral arrangements in place.
7. Profit Sharing Program Distribution: Annual profit-sharing program that distributes earnings back to members based on their banking relationship, savings dollars, and loans held. In 2025, over $5 million was distributed to members. This represents a return of profits rather than revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Firefighters First Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative credit union that provides retail banking products exclusively to firefighters and their families nationwide. Its core offerings include personal deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, share certificates, IRAs), three tiers of Visa credit cards with cashback rewards, an extensive vehicle-loan lineup, mortgages and home equity products, business banking for fire-related entities, plus member-only investment, insurance, tax, payroll, and trust services delivered through owned brands and partners.

Product overview

Firefighters First Credit Union operates as a full-service financial institution exclusively serving firefighters and their families across 15+ states. The organization offers a comprehensive platform of products including core deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, share certificates, IRAs), three-tier Visa credit card products (Classic with 0.5% cashback, Platinum with 1% cashback, and Signature with 2% cashback), personal loans (signature, secured, auto, motorcycle, RV, boat, ATV, jet ski, fire station, emergency relief), home lending (fixed and adjustable mortgages, FHA, VA, construction, land, HELOC, reverse mortgages, Move & Save rate transfer, RateDrop modification), business services (checking, savings, money market, certificates, loans, credit cards, merchant services), and complementary services (Firehouse Financial investments, Firefighter Insurance Services, Tax/Bookkeeping/Payroll services, Trust Services). Digital banking is delivered through the FireFirstCU mobile app and online banking platform, featuring Zelle person-to-person payments, Apple Pay/Google Pay/Samsung Pay contactless payments, remote check deposit, push notifications, and text alerts. The credit union also offers the FireSync app for shift calendar management and provides financial education resources including calculators, seminars, Fire Kids program, and scholarships. The organization distributed over $5 million in 2025 profit sharing and has served members for over 90 years since its 1935 founding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FireSync: A shift calendar app for firefighters to manage schedules, track time off, and share schedules with family.
• Firehouse Financial
• Firefighters First Tax Services

Products and services

• Checking Accounts Personal checking accounts with no monthly fees, direct deposit, and ATM access designed for Fire Family members who are active, retired, or volunteer firefighters and their families.
• Savings Accounts Personal savings accounts paying competitive dividend rates to Fire Family members holding member shares at the credit union.
• Money Market Account Variable-rate savings product offering higher yields on larger balances while maintaining accessibility for member deposits.
• Share Certificates Term deposit accounts with fixed dividend rates and various maturity terms, including a 12-month share certificate at 3.80% APY, providing guaranteed returns for members.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts including Traditional and Roth IRA options for long-term retirement planning by Fire Family members.
• Classic Visa Credit Card Entry-level credit card offering 0.5% cashback rewards with an 11.99% fixed APR on purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances, with no annual fee, no balance transfer fee, no cash advance fee, and no foreign transaction fee.
• Platinum Visa Credit Card Mid-tier credit card offering 1% cashback rewards with variable APR of 8.99%-16.99% based on creditworthiness, with enhanced purchase protections and no annual fee.
• Visa Signature Credit Card Premium credit card offering 2% cashback rewards with variable APR of 14.49%-17.99%, premier benefits including concierge services, cellphone protection, and travel offers, with no annual fee.
• Auto Loans Financing for new and used automobiles with promotional rates as low as 4.49% APR for up to 60 months, fast approvals, and flexible terms tailored to Fire Family members.
• Motorcycle Loans Specialized financing for motorcycle purchases at competitive rates available to Fire Family members.
• Recreational Vehicle (RV) Loans Financing for recreational vehicles including motorhomes and travel trailers at rates starting at 7.49% APR.
• Boat Loans Marine vessel financing for boat purchases with terms and rates tailored to Fire Family members.
• ATV Loans All-terrain vehicle financing for members seeking off-road vehicle purchases.
• Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski) Loans Financing for personal watercraft including jet skis and similar water vehicles.
• Signature Loans Unsecured personal loans based on creditworthiness for various member needs without collateral requirements.
• Secured Loans Collateral-backed personal loans offering potentially lower rates by using member savings or share certificates as security.
• Fire Station Loans Specialized loan product for firefighters to finance fire station-related needs or equipment.
• Emergency Relief Loans Financial assistance loans for members facing unexpected hardships or emergency situations.
• Personal Lines of Credit Revolving personal credit lines allowing members to borrow up to a set limit and pay interest only on amounts used.
• Fixed Rate Mortgages Traditional mortgage loans with fixed interest rates and consistent monthly payments throughout the loan term, available in 15-year and 30-year options for Fire Family home purchases.
• First-Time Homebuyer 7/1 ARM Adjustable rate mortgage with a 7-year fixed period and annual adjustments thereafter, featuring no PMI requirement with 3% down payment, 60-day rate lock, and flexible qualification for first-time buyers.
• RateDrop Program Mortgage rate modification program allowing members to lower their existing Firefighters First mortgage rate to current market rates with no appraisal, no income documentation, no additional paperwork, and no closing required ($1,000 fee for loans under $832,750).
• Move & Save Mortgage Program allowing members to carry their existing Firefighters First mortgage rate to a new home purchase, locked in for 3 full years, protecting against rising market rates.
• Vacation Home Mortgages 15-year fixed rate mortgage financing for vacation or second homes, limited to buyers planning future occupancy.
• VA Loans Department of Veterans Affairs-backed mortgages for eligible servicemembers, veterans, and surviving spouses featuring 100% financing, no PMI, and competitive rates.
• FHA Home Loans Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages with flexible credit requirements, low 3.5% down payment, and competitive rates for first-time and qualifying buyers.
• Construction Loans Financing for building new homes with draw-based disbursements to fund each phase of construction.
• Land Loans Loans for purchasing vacant land or unimproved property intended for future home building.
• Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Revolving credit line using home equity as collateral, with adjustable rates, no fees on HELOCs, and flexible access to funds.
• Reverse Mortgage Loans Home equity conversion mortgages allowing eligible homeowners aged 62 and older to access home equity without monthly payments.
• Foreclosure Prevention Assistance Financial counseling and alternative programs including forbearance, loan modification, short sales, and deed-in-lieu of foreclosure for members at risk of mortgage default.
• Business Checking Accounts Business banking accounts with features tailored for small business operations and cash flow management, including Zelle for Business.
• Business Savings Business savings accounts for accumulating reserves and earning dividends on business funds.
• Business Money Market Business money market accounts offering higher yields on larger business balances.
• Business Share Certificates Business term deposit accounts with fixed rates for holding business surplus funds.
• Business Loans and Lines of Credit Commercial lending products including term loans and revolving credit facilities for business capital needs of fire-related entities.
• Investment Property Loans Commercial real estate financing for purchasing or refinancing investment properties, available to business members.
• Business Credit Cards Business-oriented Visa credit card products for managing business expenses with rewards and controls.
• Merchant Card Services Payment processing services enabling business members to accept credit and debit card transactions at their point of sale.
• Firehouse Financial Investment Services Investment and financial planning services referred through LPL Financial for retirement planning, wealth management, and securities advisory for Fire Family members.
• Firefighter Insurance Services Insurance products and quote services for home, auto, and other coverage needs of firefighters and their families, offered through the Firefighter Insurance Services affiliate.
• Firefighters First Tax Services Tax preparation services for members including individual and business tax filing assistance delivered through Firefighters First Tax Services.
• Bookkeeping Services Small business bookkeeping support through Firefighters First Tax Services for business record maintenance and accounting reconciliation.
• Payroll Services Payroll processing and administration services for business members through Firefighters First Tax Services.
• Trust Services Estate planning and trust services including successor trustee and executor designations for member estate planning, integrated with the credit union's profit-sharing eligibility.
• FireSync App Shift calendar and scheduling management app for firefighters to track shifts, sick time, holidays, vacation, comp time, training, exposures, and share schedules with family. Available free on iOS and Android.
• FireFirstCU Mobile App Primary mobile banking application providing 24/7 account access, balance viewing, transaction history, remote deposit capture, bill pay, internal member-to-member transfers, Zelle P2P payments, FICO score access, and push notifications for account alerts.
• Online Banking Platform Web-based banking platform enabling members to manage accounts, transfer funds, pay bills, view statements, and access account services online, supported across major browsers.
• Annual Profit-Sharing Program Annual member profit-sharing distribution program where the credit union shares profits with members based on their banking relationship, savings dollars, and loans held; in 2025 over $5 million was distributed.
• Business Zelle for Small Business Person-to-person and business payment service integrated into FireFirstCU mobile app and online banking for business members to send and receive funds with users at other participating financial institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $5 million distributed to members through 2025 Annual Profit-Sharing Program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Twilio / RingCentralcoreTechnology or IntegrationSMS service providers used to deliver text message banking services including account alerts, fraud notifications, one-time passcodes, and marketing messages. These vendors are contractually obligated to protect member data and use it only for specified purposes.
• Early Warning Services (Zelle)coreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed Zelle platform for person-to-person payment services. Members can send and receive money with users at over 2,200 other participating financial institutions. Firefighters First offers Zelle with no limits on receiving money.
• Apple Inc. (Apple Pay)coreTechnology or IntegrationDigital wallet integration allowing members to add credit and debit cards to Apple Pay for contactless in-store and in-app purchases. Uses Touch ID for secure authentication.
• Google LLC (Google Pay)coreTechnology or IntegrationDigital wallet integration allowing members to add credit and debit cards to Google Pay for contactless payments at participating merchants using Android devices.
• Samsung Electronics (Samsung Pay)coreTechnology or IntegrationDigital wallet integration allowing eligible Samsung device users to add credit and debit cards to Samsung Pay for mobile payments at millions of merchant locations.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit card partnership providing Classic Visa, Platinum Visa, and Visa Signature cards with varying reward tiers (0.5%, 1%, 2% cashback). Also provides Visa Checkout for online payments and Zero Liability Protection.
• LPL FinancialstrategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegistered investment advisor and broker-dealer providing securities and advisory services offered through Firehouse Financial brand. Referral arrangement creates conflict of interest disclosure requirement. Insurance products offered through LPL or affiliates.
• Firefighter Insurance ServicesstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliate insurance provider offering quotes and coverage for various insurance needs. Part of SMS marketing consent sharing group along with other affiliates for marketing purposes.
• Firehouse FinancialstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerWealth management and investment services brand operating through LPL Financial. Clients with $1,000 minimum balance are eligible for profit sharing payouts. Part of SMS marketing consent sharing group.
• Fire Family FoundationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit foundation supporting firefighter mental health and providing disaster relief and scholarships ($50,000 awarded). Board member L. Scott Gribbons serves on the Foundation board. Supports the credit union's mission to improve financial lives of fire family.
• Firefighters Trust ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrust and estate planning services. Members who designate the Credit Union as Successor Trustee and/or Executor qualify for profit sharing payout. Part of SMS marketing consent sharing group.
• Firefighters Tax ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTax preparation and filing services for members. Members who filed taxes through Firefighters First Tax Services between January-November 2025 qualify for profit sharing payout. Part of SMS marketing consent sharing group.
• Public Safety Financial/Galloway (PSF/Galloway)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership announced January 2018 for financial services support.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• First Tech Federal Credit Union: Occupation-based credit union serving technology and related industry employees with multi-billion dollar assets and full banking/lending platform. Closely comparable as a multi-employer/occupational credit union built around an industry vertical rather than geography.
• SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: California-headquartered, occupation-based federal credit union serving school employees and their families. Directly comparable to FFCU as a large occupational/membership-restricted credit union with multi-billion dollar assets, a deep product suite, and member profit-sharing.
• Alliant Credit Union: Federally chartered credit union serving employees of partner organizations and select community groups with full banking, lending, and credit card products. Comparable as a multi-billion dollar employer/affinity-based credit union emphasizing digital delivery.
• Baxter Credit Union (BCU): Occupational credit union serving employees of healthcare organizations with full banking products and digital channels. Directly comparable as an employer/select-employer-group credit union built around a defined profession (healthcare vs. fire service).
• Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU): Federally chartered, technology-anchored credit union with multi-billion dollar assets, broad membership (employer groups plus community), and full digital + branch delivery. Comparable as a large federally chartered occupational/community credit union with strong digital infrastructure.
• Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed): Large occupation-affiliated federal credit union serving military, defense, and public-sector communities with nationwide digital banking. Directly comparable as a multi-billion asset occupational credit union offering full-service banking, mortgages, credit cards, and member profit-sharing on a national scale.

Broad incumbents

• Connexus Credit Union: Large national credit union with employer/affinity group membership and a strong digital + lending platform including mortgages and credit cards. Comparable as a multi-state occupational/community credit union operating at significant scale.

Emerging players

• Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union: Affinity-based Minnesota-headquartered credit union that has expanded membership eligibility to include public-safety and other affinity groups. Comparable in mission and structure as a community/affinity credit union expanding into the first-responder/occupation segment that FFCU dominates.
• Christian Community Credit Union: Faith/affinity-based federal credit union offering full banking services to members of select religious organizations and employees of partner organizations. Comparable as a niche membership-restricted credit union using affinity/occupation to differentiate.

Regional players

• Credit Union of Southern California: Southern California-headquartered community credit union offering similar personal and small-business banking products. Comparable as a regional SoCal credit union operating in FFCU's core geography, competing for share-of-wallet with public-sector employees.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/firefirstcu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FirefightersfirstCU
• Facebookfacebook.com/firefirstcu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/728445
• Instagraminstagram.com/firefightersfirst
• TikToktiktok.com/@firefightersfirst

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries4 records

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 Firefighters First Credit Union