Healthcare First Credit Union

What Healthcare First Credit Union does

Healthcare First Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative financial institution headquartered in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1979 as Lee Hospital Credit Union to serve employees of Lee Hospital, rebranded as HealthCare First Credit Union in 2005 when membership was broadened to any healthcare worker in Cambria, Somerset, and Blair Counties, and grew materially in April 2016 through a merger with Altoona Regional Health System Federal Credit Union of Altoona. The combined institution now serves over 10,000 members across seven Pennsylvania branch locations, including on-site offices at healthcare facilities such as UPMC Altoona Hospital, Station Medical Center, Homewood at Martinsburg, and Laurel View Village.

The credit union operates a full-service retail banking product set: share savings and share draft checking accounts, share certificates and IRAs, club accounts (Christmas, Kids, Senior), auto and title-secured loans, home equity loans and HELOCs, personal loans including payday alternatives, and Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards. Digital delivery is provided through third-party platforms, notably a Fiserv-powered HFCU Mobile app (with mobile check deposit up to $3,000 per check, My Cards controls, and location-aware fraud detection) and Financial-Net-hosted online banking, supplemented by a 24/7 voice response unit, proprietary ATMs, and shared branching through the Pennsylvania Credit Union Association.

Revenue is generated through net interest margin on the lending book (auto, home equity, personal, and card), share/dividend spread on deposits, and transaction and penalty fees disclosed in a public fee schedule. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across the tri-county region, complemented by payroll deduction arrangements with healthcare employers and digital self-serve channels. The institution carries NCUA deposit insurance and references WCAG 2.0 accessibility compliance via the UserWay widget on its web properties.

Name

Healthcare First Credit Union

Legal name

Healthcare First Credit Union

Website

https://healthcarefirstcu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Healthcare First Credit Union is a member-owned, NCUA-insured cooperative financial institution headquartered in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, serving over 10,000 members across seven branches in Cambria, Blair, and Somerset counties with full-service retail banking and lending for healthcare workers and their families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Johnstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: Interest income from auto loans, personal loans, home equity loans, credit cards, and other lending products. Primary revenue driver.
2. Fee Income: Various service fees including ATM fees, NSF fees, wire transfer fees, stop payment fees, late payment fees, loan servicing fees, dormancy fees, and card replacement fees.
3. Share/Dividend Spread: Earnings from lending member deposits at competitive rates. Credit union operates on spread-based model typical of financial institutions.
4. Credit Card Income: Interest and fees from Visa credit card products including standard and Young Adult Visa cards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Healthcare First Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit credit union that delivers retail banking products and lending services to healthcare workers and their families in Cambria, Blair, and Somerset counties in Pennsylvania. Its offerings span share savings and checking accounts, share certificates and IRAs, auto/title secured loans, home equity loans, personal loans, Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards, and 24/7 digital banking via mobile app, online banking, and telephone banking.

Product overview

Healthcare First Credit Union offers a comprehensive suite of financial products and services primarily serving healthcare employees in Pennsylvania's Cambria, Blair, and Somerset counties. The product portfolio centers on traditional banking services including share savings accounts, share draft checking, and certificates/CDs (with IRA options). Lending products encompass auto/title secured loans, home equity loans, personal loans, and VISA/Mastercard credit and debit cards. Digital banking capabilities are provided through Home Banking (online), HFCU Mobile App (powered by Fiserv), and VRU/EARS telephone banking. Supplementary services include Bill Pay, Debit Alerts, Club Accounts (Christmas, Kids, Senior), and ScoreCard Rewards. The organization was formed from mergers including Lee Hospital Credit Union and Altoona Regional Health System Federal Credit Union, now serving over 10,000 members across seven locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shares / Share Drafts (Savings and Checking) Savings accounts (shares) with a $5 minimum opening deposit and checking accounts (share drafts) with no minimum balance, no monthly fees, unlimited check writing, overdraft protection, and monthly statements. Designed for healthcare worker members and their families.
• Certificates / IRA CDs Term share certificates with competitive rates from 180 days to 5 years, $500 minimum opening deposit, and automatic rollover at maturity. IRA options include Traditional, Roth, Educational, and Rollover IRAs with a $250 minimum opening deposit.
• Auto and Title Secured Loans Vehicle financing up to 100% of retail value covering new and used automobiles, motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, boats, snowmobiles, RVs, campers, and pull-behind trailers. Rates as low as 4.50% APR promotional and 5.25% APR standard. Pre-approval available.
• Home Equity Loans Closed-end fixed-rate home equity loans and fixed-rate home equity lines of credit (HELOC) for home improvements, available in 1st and 2nd position with terms from 1 to 20 years. Rates from 5.50% to 7.00% APR.
• Personal Loans Personal lending products including Open End Signature loans (variable rate), Pay Day Loans ($200-$525, 90-day term, 18% APR), 12x12x12 Loans ($600-$1200, 12-month term, 18% APR), and share-secured loans. Rates from 9.00% to 9.50% APR.
• Visa and Mastercard Credit and Debit Cards Credit cards including Standard Visa (9.99% APR) and Young Adult Visa for ages 18-26 (2.99% APR). Debit cards and ATM cards for share draft access with ScoreCard Cash Back Rewards program on Visa purchases.
• HFCU Mobile Banking App Mobile banking app powered by Fiserv allowing account access via smartphone or tablet. Features include real-time balances, money management, transfers, bill payment, mobile check deposit up to $3,000 per check, alerts, and card management including the 'My Cards' feature.
• Home Banking (Online Banking) 24/7 online account access via personal computer through the Financial-Net platform. Features include account information, transfers, check withdrawals, statement viewing, receipt printing, tax information, check clearing verification, and online loan applications.
• Round Up Savings Automatic savings program that rounds up debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and deposits the difference into a member's savings account, enabling effortless micro-savings with everyday spending.
• Debit Alerts Account security feature that delivers text or email notifications when a debit card is used. Members can customize alert thresholds by transaction type or dollar amount to detect potentially fraudulent activity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Membership grew from original few hundred members to over 6,200 members before the 2016 merger, and to 10,000+ members after merger with Altoona Regional Health System Federal Credit Union.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FiservcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology provider powering the HealthCare First CU Mobile app. Fiserv provides the platform that enables mobile banking, account management, card controls, mobile check deposit, and other mobile financial services.
• Financial-NetcoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline banking platform provider for HealthCare First Credit Union's Home Banking services. Members access accounts via healthcarefirstcu-dn.financial-net.com.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit card network for Visa credit cards and Visa debit/check cards issued by HealthCare First Credit Union. Provides global acceptance and fraud protection services.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit/debit card network partner for Mastercard debit cards. Members can use Debit/Mastercard at ATMs and merchants worldwide.
• TrustageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance partner offering Auto & Homeowners Insurance Program, health insurance, accident/death insurance, and retirement products exclusively for credit union members.
• Student ChoiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStudent loan program partner providing education financing options. Accessible at healthcarefirstcu.studentchoice.org.
• Norton LifeLockminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIdentity theft protection referral partner. Referenced in member security education as a resource for members who have fallen victim to scams.
• NCUA (National Credit Union Administration)coreOthersFederal regulatory agency that insures deposits up to $250,000 and oversees credit union operations. HealthCare First Credit Union displays NCUA insurance badge.
• Pennsylvania Credit Union AssociationminorOthersState trade association providing shared branching network access and ATM directory. Members can access services at other credit unions in the network.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Belco Community Credit Union: Pennsylvania-based community credit union serving central PA with similar deposit, lending, and digital banking products. Directly comparable in scale, charter structure, and member-owned community banking model.
• Members 1st Federal Credit Union: Large Pennsylvania-based community credit union with multi-branch footprint and full suite of consumer lending and deposit products. Highly comparable business model with overlapping field-of-membership dynamics in PA.
• First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union: Pennsylvania community credit union offering consumer loans, deposits, and digital banking across multiple counties. Comparable in product breadth, branch-based distribution, and member-owned cooperative structure.
• Service 1st Federal Credit Union: Pennsylvania-based community credit union providing deposit accounts, consumer loans, mortgages, and digital banking. Similar size, geography, and full-service community banking orientation.
• Clearview Federal Credit Union: Western Pennsylvania community credit union with consumer lending, deposit products, and digital channels. Direct regional peer serving overlapping Pennsylvania markets.
• TruMark Financial Credit Union: Pennsylvania-based community credit union with comparable consumer lending, deposit, and digital banking product mix. Direct peer in scale and operating model.
• AmeriChoice Federal Credit Union: Pennsylvania community credit union offering consumer loans, deposits, and digital banking. Direct peer in charter type, product mix, and member-owned structure.

Broad incumbents

• PSECU (Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union): Large Pennsylvania state-charter credit union with a much broader membership and statewide digital footprint. Operates the same core deposit and consumer lending model at substantially greater scale.
• Citadel Federal Credit Union: Larger Pennsylvania-based credit union offering consumer and mortgage lending plus deposit products. Broader geographic reach and more diversified product set than HFCU but overlapping customer base.
• American Heritage Credit Union: Mid-Atlantic community credit union with consumer deposit and lending products and multi-branch distribution. Comparable community-charter business model with substantially larger asset base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HealthCare-First-Credit-Union-141507825466
• Instagraminstagram.com/healthcarefirstcu

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Healthcare First Credit Union