First Credit Union
First Credit Union is an Arizona member-owned credit union providing consumer and small-business banking, lending, cards, savings, and digital account services through nine branches in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1929
- HeadquartersChandler, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What First Credit Union does
First Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative founded in 1929 and based in Chandler, Arizona. It serves individuals and small businesses with deposit accounts, consumer and business credit cards, vehicle and home financing, personal and recreational-vehicle loans, investment services, and payment support. The operating footprint comprises nine branches across the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas, and the institution is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration.
Service delivery combines the branch network with an online banking platform, mobile application, video banking through eBranch, a 24/7 telephone teller, and account-management tools. Digital support includes ClickSWITCH for migrating direct deposits and automatic payments, FirstFunds planning and purchase tools, financial calculators, and RAE, a virtual assistant chatbot. The provided material does not specify the underlying system architecture, proprietary development status, or whether the chatbot uses an internally built or third-party model.
The business generates interest income from loans, service fees and charges, and investment income. Published rates include savings APY up to 0.10%, certificate accounts at 4.05% APY, credit cards from 13.40% APR, home loans at 6.00% APR, auto loans from 5.24% APR, and introductory home-equity APR from 4.99%, subject to creditworthiness and market conditions. Distribution is relationship-led through community engagement, local branches, digital self-service, appointments, referrals, and small-business banking, while the cooperative model directs profits toward member pricing and services.
First Credit Union firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Credit Union
- Legal name
- First Credit Union
- Website
- https://firstcu.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1929
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- First Credit Union is an Arizona member-owned credit union providing consumer and small-business banking, lending, cards, savings, and digital account services through nine branches in the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Credit Union industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Banking
- NAICS
- Credit Unions (52213)
- SIC
- Personal Credit Institutions (6141), Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)
- 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
Where First Credit Union is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chandler
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices9 records
Markets served
First Credit Union business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Interest Income on Loans: Primary revenue stream from interest charged on various loan products including auto loans, home loans, credit cards, and personal loans. As a credit union, profits are returned to members through better rates and lower fees.
- Service Fees and Charges: Fees associated with account maintenance, transactions, and specialized services. The credit union emphasizes lower service charges compared to traditional banks.
- Investment Income: Income generated from investment of deposits and reserves in securities and other financial instruments
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Savings Accounts - APY as high as 0.10% |
| Subscription | Annual | Certificate Accounts - 4.05% APY |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Credit Cards - APR as low as 13.40% |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Home Loans - 6.00% APR |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Auto Loans - 5.24% APR |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Home Equity - Intro APR as low as 4.99% |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
First Credit Union product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit credit union that provides deposit products (savings, money market, certificates, checking, HSA, retirement), credit cards, vehicle loans (auto, motorcycle, RV), home loans (purchase, refinance, HELOC, home equity), personal loans, and small business banking services to individual members and small businesses across the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas of Arizona. Services are delivered through 9 branch locations, online and mobile banking, video chat (eBranch), and 24/7 telephone teller support.
Product overview
First Credit Union offers a comprehensive suite of financial products and services as Arizona's first credit union since 1929. The portfolio includes personal and business savings products (Personal Savings, Money Market, Term Certificates, Youth Savings, Small Business Savings, Education Savings, Health Savings, Retirement Savings, and Save-to-Win); checking accounts (Sunshine Checking, Simply First, Business First, Business Premier); credit cards (Rewards, Secured, Credit Builder, Business Rewards, and Sunshine Points); vehicle loans (New Auto, Used Auto, Refinance, Private Party, First-Time Buyers, Motorcycles, Boats/RVs, Motorsport Toys); home loans (Purchase, Refinance, Home Equity Loans, HELOC, First-Time Home Buyers); personal loans (Signature Loans, Shared Secured Loans); investment services; and digital banking tools. Supporting services include Financial Calculators, ClickSWITCH account migration tool, FirstFunds planning tools, Scam Spotlight education, Wire Transfers, and Telephone Teller.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Financial Sunshine: The company's brand tagline: 'Find sunshine on a cloudy day with a First Credit Union savings account' and 'Find Your Financial Sunshine' - used as the company's service philosophy and marketing messaging.
- Sunshine Checking
- Sunshine Points
- FirstFunds
- RAE (Robotic Assistant Experience)
- eBranch
Products and services
- Personal Savings Account
- Money Market Account
- Term Certificate Accounts (CDs)
- Youth Savings Account
- Education Savings Account
- Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Retirement Savings Account (IRA)
- Save-to-Win Account
- Sunshine Checking Account
- Simply First Checking Account
- Business First Checking Account
- Business Premier Checking Account
- Small Business Savings Account
- Rewards Credit Card
- Secured Credit Card
- Credit Builder Credit Card
- Business Rewards Credit Card
- New Auto Loan
- Used Auto Loan
- Auto Loan Refinance
- Private Party Auto Loan
- First-Time Auto Buyer Loan
- Purchase Home Loan (Mortgage)
- Refinance Home Loan
- Fixed Home Equity Loan
- Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
- First-Time Home Buyer Program
- Student Loan Options
- Recreational Vehicle Loan (Boats, Campers, RVs)
- Motorcycle Loan
- Motorsport Toy Loan
- Personal Signature Loan
- Shared Secured Loan
- Investment Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Savings APY up to 0.10%
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use First Credit Union
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
First Credit Union technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
First Credit Union partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- Hot 97.5minorPartnership with Hot 97.5 radio station for the 'Tails of Giving' community campaign to support Arizona families with pet care assistance. The campaign helps pet owners facing financial challenges with veterinary care, behavioral training, and pet supplies.
- Almost There RescueminorLocal animal rescue organization partnering with First Credit Union for pet supply donation drive. Drop-off location for pet care items during the Tails of Giving campaign in August 2025.
- Lost Our Home Pet RescueminorLocal animal rescue organization partnering with First Credit Union for pet supply donation drive. Drop-off location for pet care items during the Tails of Giving campaign in August 2025.
- Pima Paws for LifeminorLocal animal rescue organization partnering with First Credit Union for pet supply donation drive. Drop-off location for pet care items during the Tails of Giving campaign in August 2025.
- MoneyEduminorFinancial education content partnership providing members access to additional financial wellness resources, calculators, and educational materials through the Financial Wellness Center.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
First Credit Union competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arizona Federal Credit Union: Arizona-based community credit union offering a similar full suite of consumer and small-business banking products. Direct competitor for Phoenix-metro members and a natural benchmark for an Arizona community credit union of comparable scale.
- OneAZ Credit Union: Statewide Arizona credit union serving consumers and businesses with deposit, lending, and wealth products. Direct peer given overlapping Arizona footprint and similar community-cooperative value proposition.
- Desert Financial Credit Union: Arizona's largest credit union, headquartered in Phoenix, offering consumer and business banking. Closest scale-relevant peer in the same primary market, exercising direct competitive pressure on Phoenix-metro members.
- Hughes Federal Credit Union: Tucson-headquartered credit union serving members across southern Arizona. Direct peer specifically within First CU's Tucson footprint, with overlapping consumer lending and deposit products.
Broad incumbents
- Mountain America Credit Union: Large multi-state credit union serving members across the Intermountain West including Arizona. Broad incumbent that competes for the same consumer/small-business relationships with greater scale and product breadth.
- SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: Large California-based credit union with a broad consumer and small-business product suite. Comparable institutional profile (large community-focused cooperative) but does not directly compete geographically in Arizona.
- Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed): One of the largest US credit unions, offering consumer banking, mortgage, auto, and credit cards nationally. Comparable product breadth; represents the upper bound of credit-union scale and competitive intensity for lending and deposits.
- JPMorgan Chase (Consumer Banking – Arizona): National bank with significant Phoenix/Tucson retail branch presence and a leading digital platform. Broad incumbent that competes directly for the same consumer and small-business banking relationships First CU targets.
Emerging players
- Alliant Credit Union: Digital-first, nationwide credit union competing primarily on rates, low fees, and a strong online/mobile experience. Comparable on member-value proposition but represents a different delivery model that pressures traditional community credit unions.
- Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU): Digital-forward credit union offering consumer banking, lending, and digital tools nationally. Comparable on full-service product suite while representing a technology-led alternative that competes for younger, mobile-first members.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
First Credit Union social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Credit Union compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
First Credit Union financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Credit Union leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
First Credit Union funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Credit Union 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 First Credit Union
What does First Credit Union do?
First Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit credit union that provides deposit products (savings, money market, certificates, checking, HSA, retirement), credit cards, vehicle loans (auto, motorcycle, RV), home loans (purchase, refinance, HELOC, home equity), personal loans, and small business banking services to individual members and small businesses across the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas of Arizona. Services are delivered through 9 branch locations, online and mobile banking, video chat (eBranch), and 24/7 telephone teller support.
Is First Credit Union a public or private company?
First Credit Union is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was First Credit Union founded?
First Credit Union was founded in 1929. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is First Credit Union based?
First Credit Union is headquartered in Chandler, United States, in the North America region.
How does First Credit Union make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Interest Income on Loans are the primary driver. The others are service Fees and Charges and investment Income.
Who are First Credit Union's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arizona Federal Credit Union, OneAZ Credit Union, Desert Financial Credit Union and Hughes Federal Credit Union. Broad incumbents are Mountain America Credit Union, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) and JPMorgan Chase (Consumer Banking – Arizona). Emerging players are Alliant Credit Union and Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU).
Does First Credit Union have an API?
No public API is recorded for First Credit Union.
What industry is First Credit Union in?
First Credit Union's product category is Retail Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABAEAA, Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus), with a secondary code of FSABAAAC, Credit Cards & Revolving Credit. Its NAICS code is 52213 and its SIC code is 6141.