United Trades Federal Credit Union

What United Trades Federal Credit Union does

United Trades Federal Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative credit union founded in 1955 as Steamfitters No. 235 FCU and rebranded to its current name in 2019. Headquartered in Tualatin, Oregon, it serves skilled trades union workers — primarily members of UA Local 290 (plumbers, steamfitters) and affiliated employers in Oregon and Washington — along with their families and retirees. Membership is opened through a Regular Savings account ($5 deposit plus a one-time $10 membership fee).

The credit union operates a standard retail banking product set organized around three pillars: savings (Regular Savings, Holiday Savings, Retirement/IRA, Certificates, Kitty Club youth savings), checking (UA Checking, e-Money, Custom Checking, Market Checking), and lending (personal loans up to $20,000, auto loans starting at 5.50% APR, RV loans, mortgages, HELOC, Visa credit card at 10.50% APR, and credit-builder loans). Distribution combines a single physical branch, online and mobile banking (iOS/Android), an AI virtual assistant called Piper for 24/7 member inquiries, SavvyMoney credit monitoring, and partnerships extending reach: 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs via the Co-op network and 175+ auto dealerships via CUDL. Investment services are offered through CUSO Financial Services (CFS).

The revenue model is that of a typical consumer credit union: net interest income from the loan portfolio (auto, mortgage, personal, RV, HELOC, credit card) is the primary earnings driver, supplemented by fee income (overdraft/Courtesy Pay, card replacement, monthly service, wire transfers) and referral/commission revenue from the CFS investment partnership. The 2026 launch of Solidarity Link — a member-funded assistance program combining short-term solidarity loans at 2.90% APR and Pipeline Savings at 2.90% APY — represents a structured extension into welfare-style financial support tailored to the feast-or-famine income cycles of trade workers. All surplus is returned to members through competitive rates and lower fees rather than distributed to external shareholders.

Name

United Trades Federal Credit Union

Legal name

United Trades Federal Credit Union

Website

https://unitedtradesfcu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United Trades Federal Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative credit union serving skilled trades union workers (primarily UA Local 290) and their families in Oregon and Washington, offering deposit accounts, consumer loans, mortgages, and specialized work-cycle support programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

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 industry

Payables & Disbursements (ACH/SEPA, wires, checks, virtual cards) (FSABAIAB)

Keywords

• Credit union services
• Consumer lending products
• Retail banking accounts
• Mortgage and auto loans
• Member-owned cooperative

Headquarters

HQ city

Tualatin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Loans: Primary revenue stream from auto loans, mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, RV loans, and home equity products. Interest earned on loan portfolio represents core earnings.
2. Fee Income: Various fees including Courtesy Pay overdraft fees, card replacement fees ($10 debit/ATM, $8 credit card), monthly service fees ($5 for non-qualifying checking accounts), and wire transfer fees. Fee schedule publicly available.
3. Dividend/Certificate Income: Returns paid to members on share accounts, certificates, and IRA accounts. As credit union, surplus distributed back to members through competitive rates.
4. Investment Services Revenue: Partnership with CUSO Financial Services (CFS) for brokerage services. Non-deposit investment products offered through CFS generate referral/commission revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

United Trades Federal Credit Union is a member-owned cooperative financial institution offering savings accounts, checking accounts, consumer loans (auto, personal, mortgage, HELOC, RV, credit card, credit-builder), certificates, IRAs, and investment alternatives to skilled trades union workers and their families in the Pacific Northwest. Digital delivery includes online and mobile banking with the Piper AI assistant and SavvyMoney credit monitoring, and unique programs such as Solidarity Link and Union Vacation Fund address trade work income cycles.

Product overview

United Trades Federal Credit Union is a member-owned cooperative financial institution serving skilled trades union workers, primarily UA Local 290 members. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of banking products centered around savings accounts (Regular Savings, Youth Kitty Club, Holiday Savings, Retirement/IRA, Certificates), checking accounts (UA Checking, e-Money, Custom Checking, Market Checking), and lending products (Personal Loans, Auto Loans, RV Loans, Mortgages, HELOC, Credit Cards, Credit Builder Loans). Digital banking is delivered through online banking and mobile apps with integrated features including SavvyMoney credit monitoring and Piper AI assistant. Specialized programs include the Union Vacation Fund for UA Local 290 members and Solidarity Link for work cycle support. Investment services are available through CUSO Financial Services partnership. The credit union provides these products through branches in Tualatin, OR, online/mobile channels, and a network of 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Solidarity Link: A structured program designed to support members through the full cycle of trade work, including The Relief Valve (short-term financial support) and The Reservoir (long-term savings and stability tools).
• Union Vacation Fund
• Kitty Club
• Piper

Products and services

• Regular Savings Account
• Union Vacation Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• 134+ members helped with $84,061 in loans, relief, and direct assistance through Solidarity Link
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Co-op Credit UnionscoreTechnology or IntegrationATM network partnership providing members access to nearly 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs nationwide. Enables convenient cash access across the credit union network.
• Port JobsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership offering 'Financial Tools for the Trades' - free two-hour financial education classes for apprentices covering budgeting, credit building, debt management, and preparing for unemployment periods. Based on the book 'Financial Tools for the Trades: A Survival Guide for Apprentices.'
• Credit Union Direct Lending (CUDL)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuto lending network with 175+ participating dealers in Oregon and Washington. Enables members to get on-the-spot financing at dealerships including weekends. United Trades FCU participates in rate matching against competing lenders.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BECU: Boeing Employees Credit Union is a large occupational/community credit union headquartered in the Pacific Northwest, originally serving Boeing employees and now open to broader community membership. Highly comparable occupational-cooperative model and Pacific Northwest footprint, though substantially larger and more diversified than UTFCU.
• First Tech Federal Credit Union: First Tech is a large occupational credit union originally serving technology employees, headquartered in the Pacific Northwest. Comparable occupational-cooperative model and regional footprint, with deeper digital capabilities and broader product set than UTFCU.
• USAA: USAA is a member-owned financial services organization originally serving military members and their families, offering banking, insurance, and investment products. Comparable member-owned cooperative structure and occupational field-of-membership model, though far larger in scale and breadth of products than UTFCU.

Direct peers

• OnPoint Community Credit Union: OnPoint is a Pacific Northwest community credit union serving members across Oregon and Washington with comparable deposit, lending, and digital banking products. Direct competitor for retail deposits, auto loans, mortgages, and HELOCs in UTFCU's core geography.
• Fibre Federal Credit Union: Fibre Federal is a Pacific Northwest community credit union headquartered in Longview, WA, serving members across Washington and Oregon with similar deposit and consumer lending products. Comparable scale, regional footprint, and member-owned cooperative structure.
• iQ Credit Union: iQ Credit Union is a Pacific Northwest community credit union serving members across Washington and Oregon with checking, savings, lending, and digital banking products. Direct competitor for retail deposits, auto loans, and mortgages in shared regional markets.
• Rogue Credit Union: Rogue Credit Union is an Oregon-based community credit union serving members across southern and central Oregon with similar deposit, lending, and digital banking products. Comparable cooperative structure and Oregon footprint, particularly in the trade/skilled-worker segment.
• Oregon State Credit Union: Oregon State Credit Union is an Oregon-based member-owned cooperative serving public- and private-sector employees and their families. Directly comparable cooperative model and Oregon deposit/lending market overlap with UTFCU.
• SELCO Community Credit Union: SELCO is an Oregon-based community credit union offering similar consumer banking, lending, and digital products to members in overlapping Pacific Northwest markets. Direct competitor for member households and small-business banking in Oregon.

Regional players

• Numerica Credit Union: Numerica is a Pacific Northwest credit union headquartered in Spokane, WA, serving members primarily across eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Comparable cooperative model and consumer banking suite, with limited direct overlap in UTFCU's OR/WA core but adjacent regional presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/UnitedTradesFCU
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedtradesfcu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-advantage-northwest-fcu

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 United Trades Federal Credit Union