What Arrowhead Credit Union does

Arrowhead Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned credit cooperative founded in 1949 and headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, California. It serves consumers and small businesses primarily in Southern California (San Bernardino County, Riverside County, Sacramento, and the Inland Empire), with eligibility extended through association affiliations (Surfrider Foundation, Community Impact Fund), employer groups (California National Guard, Stater Bros., San Bernardino County, multiple city governments), or family-of-member relationships. As of the latest data, the institution operates 13+ branches and employs 101-250 people, led by President Larry Sharp.

The credit union operates a full-stack retail and small-business banking platform. Core deposits include Arrowhead Checking, Dividend Checking, Arrowhead Spending (Bank On certified), Arrowhead Savings, Money Market, Share Certificates, and IRA Certificates. Lending products span new/used auto loans (3.99% APR starting), Arrowhead Visa credit cards (13.49%-17.25% variable APR), signature personal loans, Home Equity Loans and HELOCs (up to $500K), mortgages, and business loans (SBA, commercial real estate up to $5M, equipment). Specialty products include the Smart Start credit-builder loan, Share-Secured loan, student loans via Sallie Mae, and estate planning through Legal Karma. Distribution combines physical branches, a digital banking platform with Face/Touch ID, mobile deposit, Zelle P2P, and Apple/Samsung/Google Pay, plus 30,000+ ATM access through CO-OP and Allpoint networks.

The revenue model is the standard credit-union net interest margin model: spread between loan interest earned (autos, mortgages, credit cards) and dividends paid on deposits and shares, supplemented by fee income (overdraft $27, wires $30, account research $25/hour, membership $4) and referral compensation from partners (Sallie Mae, Legal Karma, American Mercury). Member growth occurs through direct-to-consumer channels (branches, digital), community engagement (ArrowHeart program), and B2B referral partnerships with employer groups and associations. The cooperative structure means profits are reinvested into member rates and community programs rather than distributed to external shareholders.

Name

Arrowhead Credit Union

Legal name

Arrowhead Credit Union

Website

https://arrowheadcu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Arrowhead Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned credit cooperative founded in 1949, serving Southern California consumers and small businesses through 13+ branches and a digital banking platform. It offers checking, savings, loans, mortgages, credit cards, and ancillary services including estate planning and student loans via partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213), Credit Unions (522130)

SIC

Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Credit Cards & Revolving Credit (FSABAAAC), Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending
• Credit union services
• Digital banking
• Mortgage lending

Headquarters

HQ city

San Bernardino

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Loans: The primary revenue stream comes from interest earned on various loan products including auto loans, mortgages, home equity loans, personal loans, credit cards, and business loans. Interest rates vary by product and creditworthiness.
2. Fee Income: Various fee income from overdraft fees ($27), courtesy pay, wire transfers ($30 domestic outgoing), ATM fees, money orders ($3), cashier's checks ($5), loan payments by phone, account research, notary services ($10/signature), and other account services.
3. Membership Fees: Non-refundable membership fee of $4 per member, with a $10 re-open fee within 30 days for closed accounts.
4. Share Certificate and Savings Interest: Members pay no interest on deposits; the credit union pays dividends on savings, money market, and certificate accounts. Revenue comes from spread between loan interest earned and dividend rates paid.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arrowhead Credit Union is a federally insured, member-owned credit union providing consumer banking products and services to eligible members in Southern California. Its core offerings include deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, share certificates, IRAs), consumer lending (auto loans, mortgages, home equity loans and lines of credit, signature loans, credit cards, credit-building loans), small business loans (SBA, commercial real estate, equipment loans), and a digital banking platform with mobile app, mobile deposit, Zelle peer-to-peer payments, and biometric authentication.

Product overview

Arrowhead Credit Union offers a comprehensive suite of financial products organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core banking platform includes checking accounts (Arrowhead Checking, Dividend Checking, Arrowhead Spending, Hometown Hero Checking for first responders/healthcare workers), savings accounts (Arrowhead Savings, Money Market, Share Certificates), and credit products (Arrowhead Visa, Signature Loans, Line of Credit). Youth and teen banking is served through Generation Arrowhead and Teen Debit sub-brands. Credit-building tools include Smart Start Loan and Share-Secured Loan modules. The Digital Banking platform serves as the unified digital channel integrating mobile deposit, Zelle peer-to-peer payments, and mobile wallet support. Specialty modules include Auto Loans with integrated AutoSMART and Autoland car-buying services, Home Equity products (HELOC and fixed Home Equity Loan), Business Loans (SBA, Commercial Real Estate, Equipment), and Student Loans via Sallie Mae partnership. Member benefits include estate planning through Legal Karma and payment protection plans (GAP, Major Mechanical Protection, Debt Protection).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Generation Arrowhead: Youth membership program for young adults ages 13-21 designed to foster financial literacy and responsibility.
• Teen Debit
• Hometown Hero
• ArrowHeart
• Generation Arrowhead
• Kid's Club Rocky
• Smart Start Loan
• Smart Start

Products and services

• Arrowhead Checking Primary checking account with free eStatements, Visa debit card, and access to the digital banking platform. Designed for individual consumer members seeking everyday banking.
• Dividend Checking Interest-earning checking account that pays dividends on balances of $2,500 or more, with APY ranging from 0.03% to 0.08% depending on balance tier. No monthly fee with $2,500 minimum balance.
• Arrowhead Spending Account Checkless checking account with no maintenance fee, spending limited to account balance, free Visa debit card, and National Bank On Certification for low-cost, low-fee accessible banking.
• Hometown Hero Checking Special checking account for police, firefighters, military, corrections officers, and healthcare workers. Includes no monthly service fee, free Hometown Hero checks, instant Visa debit card, and an exclusive Hometown Hero Loan up to $3,000 at 5% APR.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Enterprise Car SalescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEnterprise Car Sales partnership allows Arrowhead members to purchase vehicles with special pricing. Benefits include 12-month/12,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, free Carfax reports, vehicle certification, 7-day repurchase agreement, and 12-month roadside assistance. Members financing with Arrowhead receive additional 1.00% APR discount.
• AutolandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutoland is a car buying service that saves members time and money by finding cars and negotiating prices. Offers new or pre-owned vehicles, haggle-free pricing, personal car shopper, and vehicle delivery to any Arrowhead branch. Service fee of $80 for members.
• AutoSMARTminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline car shopping website designed for Arrowhead members. Features include search for local dealers, browse realtime dealer inventory, build and compare prices, and lock in price with Member Purchase Certificate. No login required.
• Sallie MaecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSallie Mae student loans offered through Arrowhead for undergraduate, graduate, and career training students. Products include Smart Option Student Loan, Graduate School Loan, MBA Loan, Medical School Loan, Dental School Loan, Law School Loan. Arrowhead receives referral compensation from Sallie Mae for loan customers.
• Legal KarmacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLegal Karma estate planning partnership offers members exclusive discounts on wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents. Will Package: $299 members/$399 non-members. Trust Package: $699-$899. Support available in English and Spanish. Arrowhead receives marketing referral for this partnership.
• Zelle (Early Warning Services, LLC)coreTechnology or IntegrationZelle is integrated into Arrowhead's mobile banking app for fast money transfers between members and others at participating banks/credit unions. Transactions typically occur in minutes. No fees from Arrowhead for Zelle transfers.
• TurboTax (Intuit)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTurboTax discount partnership offers Arrowhead members up to 20% off on TurboTax Federal products through the Love My Credit Union program.
• H&R BlockminorGTM or Marketing PartnerH&R Block tax preparation discount: $25 off for new customers, $10 off for returning customers. Available through Love My Credit Union program.
• Sprint (T-Mobile)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSprint cell phone discounts available through Love My Credit Union program for Arrowhead members.
• American Mercury Insurance GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Mechanical Protection (MMP) extended warranty offered through American Mercury Insurance Group for auto loan protection. Covers most mechanical parts including engine, transmission, brakes, electrical with 24-hour roadside assistance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BECU (Boeing Employees Credit Union): One of the largest US credit unions with a community membership extension model. Comparable in scale, community-oriented brand, comprehensive digital platform, and full retail product suite.
• Golden 1 Credit Union: California's largest credit union by membership, offering consumer and business banking, lending, and investment products. Comparable in product breadth, statewide presence, and digital banking investments.
• Patelco Credit Union: Bay Area-headquartered credit union with Northern and Southern California presence. Comparable in member-owned structure, full-service consumer banking, and competitive deposit/loan rates.
• America First Credit Union: Large community-chartered credit union serving Utah and surrounding states with comparable branch footprint and product breadth including auto lending focus. Comparable in member growth strategy via community charter expansion.
• SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: One of the largest credit unions in California serving school employees and their families. Comparable in offering a comprehensive suite of consumer banking, lending, and digital products to a defined membership base in California.
• Wescom Central Credit Union: Southern California-based credit union serving multiple employer groups and associations. Directly comparable peer given similar geography, membership-based GTM, and full retail banking product suite.
• Kinecta Federal Credit Union: Southern California-based credit union serving a defined membership base with branches across LA County and the South Bay. Comparable in cooperative structure, consumer lending focus, and digital platform maturity.
• Logix Federal Credit Union: Southern California credit union with a strong branch network and similar consumer-focused product mix including auto loans, mortgages, and HELOCs. Direct competitor in the LA/Inland Empire footprint.

Regional players

• Star One Credit Union: Silicon Valley-based credit union serving technology employees with strong consumer lending products. Comparable in credit union cooperative model and full product suite, though focused on different regional employer groups.

Emerging players

• First Tech Federal Credit Union: Technology-industry-focused credit union with national digital reach and strong credit card program. Comparable in tech-forward digital platform, but primarily serves a distinct occupational membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/90711069097
• Instagraminstagram.com/arrowheadcreditunion
• Xx.com/arrowheadcu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arrowhead-credit-union

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Arrowhead Credit Union