CoastLife Credit Union

What CoastLife Credit Union does

CoastLife Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative financial institution headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas, operating under a community charter that serves individuals who live or work in six South Texas counties (Nueces, Aransas, Duval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, San Patricio) as well as employees of education-sector employers including CCISD, Del Mar College, and Texas A&M-CC. Founded in 1935 as the Corpus Christi Area Teachers Credit Union with eight founding members and less than $50 in initial assets, the institution has grown to nine branch locations and a multi-thousand-member base through charter conversions, mergers (1964, 1978, 1993), and a 2002 community charter expansion. Its product set covers deposit accounts (Regular, Bonus, Cash Back, and RealTunes teen checking; Regular, REAL, Kidz Klub, and Teen savings; CDs and IRAs), consumer loans (auto, home equity, mortgage, RV, motorcycle, LifeAsset builder, lifestyle/personal), and ancillary services (safe deposit boxes, Visa gift cards, wire transfers, loan protection, Advantage Benefit Package).

The core technology stack is built on Fiserv's Digital Insight platform, delivering Web-24 online banking, the CLCU Mobile App across iOS, Android, and Amazon app stores, Call-24 telephone banking, eStatements, mobile deposit (with $5,000 per-deposit, $5,000 daily, $30,000 rolling 30-day limits), and a Card Control management module. Member-facing integrations include Zelle for P2P payments (Early Warning Services), Apple Pay and Google Pay for digital wallet provisioning, SwivelPay for third-party loan payments, and TruStage plus Route 66 Warranty for insurance distribution. The website is built to WCAG 2.0 accessibility guidelines.

Revenue is generated primarily through interest income on the loan portfolio (auto loans from 5.00% APR, home equity at 6.25% APR, personal loans 9.99%-11.99% APR), fee income (overdraft fees $25-$35, ATM surcharges up to $3, domestic wires $20, foreign wires $50, business account monthly fees $15, Skip-A-Payment $25), and interchange from debit card spending. As a not-for-profit cooperative, surplus is returned to members through dividends (Bonus Checking at 3.50%-3.56% APY on balances up to $10,000, CDs at 3.21%-3.88% APY) rather than distributed to external shareholders. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer and branch-centric, layered with employer-group recruitment, school-district debit-card partnerships, and community-event programming (Family Fun Fest, Cornhole Tournament, FOCUS Foundation grants, Young Professionals group, Financial Fridays literacy bootcamp).

Name

CoastLife Credit Union

Legal name

CoastLife Credit Union

Website

https://coastlifecu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CoastLife Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative financial institution founded in 1935, operating nine branches across six South Texas counties and serving community residents, education-sector employees, small businesses, and youth with full-service deposit, lending, and digital banking products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending products
• Credit union services
• Deposit account services
• Community banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Corpus Christi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

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 on Loans: As a credit union, the primary revenue stream comes from interest earned on various loan products including auto loans, home equity loans, mortgages, personal loans, and recreational vehicle loans. Rates range from 5.00% APR for auto loans to 18.00%+ for lower credit score borrowers.
2. Fee Income: Various service fees including ATM fees ($1.50 non-CU ATM, $3.00 surcharge), overdraft/NSF fees ($25-$35), wire transfer fees ($20 domestic, $50 foreign), business account monthly fees ($15), and loan-related fees (Skip-A-Payment $25).
3. Dividend/Interest Expense Savings: Credit union returns earnings to members through higher dividend rates on savings accounts and lower loan rates. Revenue generated exceeds costs, with excess distributed as member benefits rather than profit to external shareholders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CoastLife Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative financial institution that provides retail banking products and services including deposit accounts (checking, savings, CDs, IRAs), consumer loans (auto, RV, motorcycle, mortgage, home equity, personal), debit cards with rewards, and digital banking channels (online, mobile, telephone). Members gain access through a community charter serving six South Texas counties via nine branch locations and full digital banking infrastructure.

Product overview

CoastLife Credit Union operates as a full-service financial institution offering a comprehensive banking platform with multiple delivery channels including Web-24 Online Banking, Mobile Banking App (iOS/Android/Amazon), Call-24 Telephone Banking, and 9 branch locations in the Corpus Christi area. The core product portfolio encompasses deposit products (Savings with Regular, REAL Savings, Kidz Klub, Teen Savings variants; Checking with Regular, Bonus Checking, Cash Back Checking, and RealTunes Teen Checking accounts; Certificates of Deposit and IRAs), loan products (Auto, Motorcycle, RV, Mortgage, Home Equity, LifeAsset Builder, Lifestyle/Personal loans), and card services (MasterCard Debit Card with CoastLife Rewards and uChoose Rewards, Visa Gift Cards). Digital banking services include Bill Pay, Mobile Deposit, Direct Deposit, Wire Transfers, Zelle peer-to-peer payments, and Digital Wallet (Apple Pay/Google Pay). Add-on services include Card Control card management platform, Advantage Benefit Package insurance bundle, Loan Protection products, Financial Literacy programs, and community engagement through Young Professionals group and FOCUS Foundation. The credit union serves members in Nueces, Aransas, Duval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, and San Patricio Counties in Texas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FOCUS Foundation: A 501(c)(3) foundation created in 2005 by CoastLife Credit Union to support children across Aransas, Duval, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, and San Patricio Counties through educational grants.

Products and services

• Regular Checking No-minimum-balance consumer checking account with free Web-24 online banking, Call-24 telephone banking, surcharge-free ATM access at credit union ATMs, and optional overdraft services. Available to individuals who live or work in the credit union's field of membership.
• Bonus Checking High-yield consumer checking account earning 3.50% APR / 3.56% APY on balances up to $10,000 when monthly qualifications are met (10 debit purchases, 1 direct deposit or ACH, Web-24 enrollment, eStatements). Includes up to $25 in ATM fee refunds nationwide. Balances above $10,000 earn 0.50% APR.
• Cash Back Checking Consumer checking account that earns 2.5% cash back on up to $300 of debit card purchases per qualification cycle (maximum $7.50). Requires the same monthly qualifications as Bonus Checking (10 debit purchases, 1 direct deposit/ACH, online banking, eStatements).
• RealTunes Checking (Teen Checking) Checking account for teens ages 11-18 offering up to $25 in ATM fee refunds and up to $10 monthly refunds on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play purchases. Includes $20 bonus for new account opening. Parent or guardian required for ages 11-15.
• Regular Savings Foundation savings account for credit union membership earning 0.25% APY with a $50 minimum balance. Account opening requires $5 minimum deposit plus $5 one-time membership fee.
• REAL Savings Savings account designed for planned expenses such as property taxes, vacation, or holiday shopping. Withdrawals permitted in May and November without penalty. Earns 0.75% APY.
• Kidz Klub Account Savings account for children ages 0-10 with quarterly dividends and periodic match-your-deposit days. Requires a $50 minimum balance.
• Teen Savings Account Savings account for teens ages 11-18 to learn money management basics. Designed to pair with RealTunes Checking for a complete teen banking solution.
• Prime Investment Account (Money Market) Money market account with tiered interest rates. Balances of $1,500-$24,999 earn 0.40% APY; balances of $25,000 and above earn 0.60% APY. A $10 fee applies when the minimum balance is not maintained.
• Certificates of Deposit (CD) Fixed-rate CDs with a $1,000 minimum balance. Terms range from 6 to 36 months with APYs ranging from 3.25% to 3.95%. Early withdrawal penalties apply.
• IRA / Traditional IRA CD Tax-deferred retirement savings with fixed interest rates. Traditional IRA CD requires a $25,000 minimum; the IRA CD with $100,000 minimum earns 3.82% APY for a 24-month term.
• Debit Card (MasterCard) MasterCard debit card with customizable PIN, EMV chip, 24/7 fraud monitoring, instant issue at branches, and reward points through CoastLife Rewards and uChoose Rewards programs. Issued to members with CoastLife checking accounts.
• New / Used Auto Loans Auto loan financing for new and used vehicles with rates from 5.00% APR (60-month term) to 6.00% APR (84-month term), based on creditworthiness. Includes access to title loans, the AutoSmart car shopping platform, and TruStage Auto Insurance discounts.
• New / Used Recreational Vehicle Loans Financing for boats, RVs, ATVs, and jet skis with up to 90% financing, low fixed rates, and terms up to 144 months. Optional Skip-A-Payment program and GAP insurance available.
• New / Used Motorcycle Loans Motorcycle financing with terms up to 60 months and competitive fixed rates for new and used motorcycles.
• Mortgage Loans Home purchase and refinance mortgage loans available through an external lending platform at coastlifecu.mymortgage-online.com. NMLS ID: 657368. Serves members in the credit union's field of membership.
• Home Equity Loan Fixed-rate home equity loan for home improvements, debt consolidation, or vacations. Rate of 6.25% APR, terms up to 240 months, no annual fee, low closing costs.
• LifeAsset Builder Loans Secured loan with funds held in a savings account. Rate of 9.25% APR, terms up to 60 months. The savings portion earns interest while the loan is repaid, with the savings available upon loan payoff.
• Lifestyle (Personal) Loans Unsecured personal loans for debt consolidation, appliances, or bill payment. Rates from 9.99% APR (36 months) to 11.99% APR (60 months). No collateral required.
• Safe Deposit Boxes Secure storage for valuables and documents at credit union branches. Available sizes range from 3x5 ($15 per year) to 10x10 ($100 per year).
• Visa Gift Cards Prepaid Visa gift cards available in $10 increments up to $1,000, accepted everywhere Visa is accepted. Subject to a $3.25 purchase fee.
• Wire Transfers (Domestic and International) Outgoing domestic wires require submission by 2:30 PM for same-day processing. International wires require a Swift Code and date-of-birth information. Fees apply ($20 domestic, $50 foreign).
• Advantage Benefit Package Monthly subscription add-on at $10 per month bundling free checks, stop payments, cashier's checks, money orders, waived debit card annual fee, one free wire transfer, Identity IQ credit monitoring, $20,000 AD&D insurance, $100,000 Common Carrier insurance, prescription discounts, and vision care discounts.

Quantifiable outcome

• FOCUS Foundation has awarded over $330,000 in grants to schools and organizations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FOCUS FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005FOCUS (For Our Children's Ultimate Success) Foundation was created in 2005 by CoastLife Credit Union as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to support children across six South Texas counties. Since inception, has awarded over $330,000 in grants to schools and organizations for educational purposes including classroom libraries, school supplies, and student incentives.
• TruStage InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTruStage offers credit union members discounted auto insurance, home insurance, and life insurance products through TruStage Insurance Agency, LLC.
• Early Warning Services (Zelle)coreTechnology or IntegrationEarly Warning Services provides Zelle P2P payment service integrated into CoastLife's online banking and mobile app, enabling members to send and receive money with over 100 million enrolled users.
• Fiserv (Digital Insight)coreTechnology or IntegrationFiserv powers CoastLife's digital banking infrastructure including Web-24 online banking, mobile banking app, and Card Control platform. Fiserv is a global fintech provider serving financial institutions.
• Local High Schools (Mary Carroll, W.B. Ray, Veterans Memorial)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoastLife offers exclusive high school-themed debit cards celebrating partnerships with Mary Carroll High School (Tigers), W.B. Ray High School (Texans), and Veterans Memorial High School (Eagles).
• TruStage Auto ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTruStage Auto Services program provides exclusive discounts on auto insurance and related services for CoastLife members.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Firstmark Credit Union: San Antonio-based community credit union serving a defined field of membership with consumer lending, deposits, and digital banking. Comparable in scale and product mix to CoastLife as a Texas community CU.
• University Federal Credit Union (UFCU): Texas credit union with historical roots in the education sector, offering full-service consumer and mortgage products. Comparable to CoastLife given CoastLife's origin as a teachers credit union and continued focus on education-sector employees.
• Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU): Texas-headquartered community credit union offering similar deposit, consumer lending, and digital banking services. Directly comparable to CoastLife as a Texas CU focused on defined membership fields with full-service branch and digital delivery.
• Resource One Credit Union: Texas community credit union providing deposit, lending, and digital banking services to a defined membership field. Comparable in operating model to CoastLife as a community-chartered Texas CU.
• San Antonio Federal Credit Union: Regional Texas credit union serving a defined membership with full-service consumer banking. Comparable to CoastLife as a community-chartered Texas CU competing for similar retail deposit and loan relationships.
• Greater Texas Credit Union: Texas-based credit union offering consumer deposits, loans, and digital channels across multiple branches. Comparable in scale and product breadth to CoastLife.

Broad incumbents

• Security Service Federal Credit Union: Large, multi-state federal credit union headquartered in San Antonio, offering the full suite of deposit, lending, mortgage, and digital banking products. Overlaps significantly with CoastLife's product set but at materially greater scale and geographic reach.
• Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union (RBFCU): One of the largest credit unions in Texas with multi-billion-dollar assets and broad consumer and mortgage offerings. Competes with CoastLife for South Texas consumer deposits and loans but operates at substantially greater scale.

Regional players

• IBC Bank (International Bank of Commerce): Regional commercial bank headquartered in Laredo with significant branch presence in Corpus Christi and across South Texas. Direct competitor for deposits, consumer loans, and small business banking in CoastLife's geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@coastlifecreditunion5278
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoastLifeCU
• Instagraminstagram.com/coastlifecu
• Xx.com/mycoastlifecu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coastal-community-and-teachers-credit-union

Compliance1 record

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 CoastLife Credit Union