Arlington Community Federal Credit Union

What Arlington Community Federal Credit Union does

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union (ACFCU) is a federally chartered, not-for-profit member-owned credit union founded in 1951, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and operating as a full-service consumer and business banking institution. Its product portfolio spans personal checking and savings (Free Rewards Checking, Share Savings, Money Market, Holiday Savings, Share Builder, and No-Penalty certificates), IRA products (Traditional, Roth, SEP, Coverdell), mortgages (Conventional, FHA, VA, refinancing, reverse), home equity (fixed and variable HELOCs, ADU financing), vehicle loans (auto, boat/RV, motorcycle), credit cards (Signature, Platinum, Classic, Secured), and personal loans (unsecured, line of credit, secured, Fast Cash). Business offerings include free business checking, business money market, business certificates, SBA 7(a)/504/Express/Export loans, commercial mortgages, business lines of credit, equipment loans, and C-PACE sustainable financing.

The technology stack centers on a mobile and online banking platform supporting mobile deposit (up to $200 immediate availability), mobile wallet integration (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), and SavvyMoney-powered credit score monitoring and simulator. Business digital banking adds ACH origination and customizable enhanced reporting. Distribution layers multiple Arlington branches, student-operated in-school branches tied to Arlington Public Schools, and the CO-OP shared-branch / ATM network providing 28,000+ surcharge-free ATMs including 7-Eleven locations.

Revenue mechanics derive primarily from interest income on a diversified loan book (mortgages, HELOCs, auto, personal, business, SBA, commercial real estate), interest on invested member deposits and reserves, and transaction-based fee income from overdraft, ATM surcharges, wires, stop-payment, and early certificate withdrawals. The credit union's pricing model emphasizes fee-light consumer banking — checking with no monthly fees and cash-back rewards, certificates yielding up to 3.65-3.90% APY, and a free Rewards structure — with Platinum tiers triggered at $50,000 combined household balances. As a federally chartered institution, ACFCU is NCUA-insured and operates under tax-advantaged cooperative economics.

Member acquisition is structured around three founding employer-partner channels (Arlington County Government, VHC Health, and Arlington Public Schools), local direct-to-consumer presence across Northern Virginia, financial education outreach in schools and through nonprofits, and CDFI-anchored lending to underserved communities. In September 2025, ACFCU announced a merger with CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union that received regulatory consent in June 2026; starting July 1, 2026, the combined entity operates under the CommonWealth One brand.

Name

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union

Legal name

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union

Website

https://arlingtoncu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative founded in 1951, providing consumer and business banking — deposits, mortgages, loans, and credit cards — to individuals, small businesses, and underserved communities in the Arlington, Virginia region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213)

SIC

Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Credit Cards & Revolving Credit (FSABAAAC)

Keywords

• Retail banking
• Credit union services
• Consumer lending
• Small business banking
• Mortgage lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income on Loans: Primary revenue stream from interest earned on various loan products including mortgages, vehicle loans, personal loans, business loans, HELOCs, and credit cards. Rates vary by product type, term, and creditworthiness.
2. Fee Income: Various fees including overdraft fees, ATM fees, wire transfer fees, stop payment fees, early withdrawal penalties on certificates, and credit card fees. Some accounts have no monthly fees as a differentiator.
3. Interest on Investments: Income from investing member deposits and reserves in securities and other interest-earning assets after providing for loans and operational needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative providing personal and business banking services. Its offerings include checking, savings, certificates, retirement accounts, mortgages, home equity lines, vehicle loans, credit cards, personal loans, business checking and money market accounts, business certificates, commercial mortgages, SBA loans, and business lines of credit. Digital banking is delivered through a mobile app, online banking, mobile wallet, and Credit Score by SavvyMoney.

Product overview

Arlington Community Federal Credit Union is a full-service financial institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of banking products for individuals and businesses. The core offerings include Free Rewards Checking with cash back rewards, Share Savings with multiple account types (including Holiday Savings and Money Market Savings), and Certificates with terms from 6 to 60 months including IRA options. Retirement products include Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, and Coverdell ESA accounts. Lending products span mortgages (home purchase, refinancing, reverse mortgages with HomeAdvantage platform), home equity lines (fixed and variable rate HELOCs), vehicle loans (auto, boats/RVs, motorcycles), personal loans (unsecured, lines of credit, secured, and Fast Cash), and business loans (commercial mortgages, SBA loans, equipment loans, C-PACE loans, and business lines of credit). Insurance offerings include payment protection, GAP Advantage with PowerBuy, and Major Mechanical Protection. Digital banking features mobile app, mobile wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), Credit Score by SavvyMoney, Bill Pay, and overdraft protection. Business services include free business checking, money market savings, business certificates, ACH origination, and enhanced business reporting. The institution operates as a not-for-profit cooperative with CDFI certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HomeAdvantage: Real estate platform offering MLS listings search, agent connections, and cash rewards for members buying or selling with HomeAdvantage agents.
• SavvyMoney

Products and services

• Free Rewards Checking

Quantifiable outcome

• Average $1,815 savings when buying or selling with HomeAdvantage agent
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2022Partnership to launch Building Financial Stability, Fostering Mobility Program supporting affordable housing and financial stability for Arlington residents.
• Rebuilding TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022$10,000 grant recipient supporting home repair and community revitalization programs in Arlington.
• Arlington County GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member group and ongoing partnership. Provides financial education and support for employees' financial wellness. Arlington County Government employees receive payroll direct deposit (a day early) and access to ACFCU banking services.
• VHC Health (Virginia Hospital Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member group and ongoing partnership. VHC Health employees receive access to ACFCU banking services with same day-early direct deposit benefit.
• Arlington County Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member group and ongoing partnership supporting students, families, and staff through financial empowerment initiatives. In-school branches operated by students. Employees receive day-early direct deposit.
• HomeAdvantagecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership providing members access to real-time MLS listings, top local real estate agents, and cash rewards (avg. $1,815) when buying or selling with HomeAdvantage agents. Includes HomeSearch, FindAnAgent, and CashRewards programs.
• SavvyMoneycoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit score monitoring and reporting integration. Provides members free daily access to credit scores, real-time credit monitoring alerts, personalized credit reports, and credit score simulators through mobile app and online banking.
• Travelers InsuranceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuto, home, condo, and renters insurance program. Arlington Community FCU members receive discounts on auto insurance and access to home insurance through Travelers.
• CO-OP Shared BranchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShared branch and ATM network providing 28,000+ surcharge-free ATMs nationwide including 7-Eleven stores, extending physical access beyond ACFCU branch locations.
• Credit Union Mortgage Association (CUMA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party reverse mortgage specialist referral partnership for homeowners 62 years or older.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CommonWealth One Federal Credit Union: Northern Virginia-based federal credit union serving similar Arlington/DC metro consumers and select employer groups (DoD civilian, intelligence community). Becomes a direct peer through the 2026 merger; same product breadth, geography, and member segments.
• Apple Federal Credit Union: Fairfax, Virginia-based federal credit union serving Northern Virginia employer groups (including Fairfax County) with consumer deposits, mortgages, and consumer lending. Closest direct geographic peer with overlapping employer-defined membership model.
• Langley Federal Credit Union: Hampton Roads-based federal credit union with broad retail banking, mortgages, and business services. Comparable scale, NCUA charter, and full-service consumer/business product mix even though geographic focus is different.
• Virginia Credit Union: Richmond-based statewide credit union and former Virginia Credit Union League parent. Overlaps on personal banking, mortgage, and HELOC products; recognized ACFCU via its 2015 Credit Union of the Year award context.
• Congressional Federal Credit Union: Washington DC-area federal credit union serving congressional employees and broader community. Comparable in scale, member-defined charter, and full-service retail/business banking products.
• Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU): Massachusetts-chartered but digital-first credit union serving members nationwide. Competes on consumer deposits, mortgages, and HELOCs via online/mobile channels rather than physical branches.

Broad incumbents

• Navy Federal Credit Union: Largest U.S. credit union by assets, serving military-affiliated members nationwide. Sets competitive benchmark on rates, digital experience, and product breadth across all of Northern Virginia.
• Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed): Large federally chartered credit union serving military, DoD, and adjacent communities with a national digital footprint. Overlaps in Northern Virginia employer-defined memberships and competes on rates and online experience.

Emerging players

• Alliant Credit Union: Online-first credit union serving a broader national membership base. Represents the digital-native competitive overlap that pressures local community credit unions on deposit pricing and consumer lending rates.

Regional players

• EagleBank: Bethesda, Maryland-based commercial bank with strong DC metro small-business lending focus. Direct competitor for Arlington-area commercial mortgages, SBA loans, and business banking deposits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ArlingtonCommunityFCU
• Instagraminstagram.com/arlingtoncu
• Xx.com/arlingtoncu

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Arlington Community Federal Credit Union