Zia Credit Union

What Zia Credit Union does

Zia Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative financial institution headquartered in Los Alamos, New Mexico, founded in 1955 by approximately 200 employees of the Zia Company (support contractors for Los Alamos National Laboratory). The credit union's field of membership has expanded progressively from Zia Company employees (1955) to the broader Los Alamos community (1975), Rio Arriba County (1995), and Santa Fe and Taos counties (2008), now serving over 13,000 members across Northern New Mexico through four current branches (Los Alamos, Española, Santa Fe) and a forthcoming Albuquerque location.

The institution operates a standard retail banking technology stack rather than a proprietary technology platform. Its digital channels include online banking (online.ziacu.org) and mobile applications for iOS and Android, supported by the OmniCommander website platform. Core banking offerings span Kasasa-branded checking and savings products, share certificates (including a Lucky 7 Special promotion), IRAs, auto loans, home mortgages, HELOCs, personal loans, Visa credit cards (issued through PSCU), and the Zinero quick cash loan product. The ZAP Member Rewards program is a notable loyalty mechanism that reduces loan rates by up to 0.80% APR or boosts share certificate yields by up to 0.50% APY based on cross-product holdings. Security features implemented in 2025 include 3D Secure OTP debit card authentication and ID Check QR-code verification for shared branching. Members access 30,000+ fee-free ATMs and 5,600 shared branches through the national credit union cooperative network.

Zia generates revenue through three primary streams: net interest income from lending (auto, mortgage, HELOC, personal, credit card, RV), transaction-based fee income ($35 overdraft fees per item, $40 skip-a-payment fees, $2.50 Visa gift card fees, money orders, check reordering), and investment income from deposited reserves. The go-to-market motion is community-led, with member acquisition driven by local branch presence, employer-based membership (LANL and contractor employees), word-of-mouth referrals, community sponsorships (Trail Life troop, Pojoaque Valley Middle School), and financial literacy partnerships (Banzai Schools). Distribution combines physical branches, self-serve digital channels, phone banking via the "Joy" virtual assistant, the shared branching network, and partner channels such as GonMS for mortgage origination. The credit union funded growth with a $10,000,000 exempt debt securities offering filed in March 2026.

Name

Zia Credit Union

Legal name

Zia Credit Union

Website

https://ziacu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Zia Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative founded in 1955 in Los Alamos, New Mexico, offering checking, savings, loans, mortgages, and credit cards to over 13,000 members across Northern New Mexico through four branches and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213), Credit Card Issuing (522210)

SIC

Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL), Credit Cards & Revolving Credit (FSABAAAC)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending products
• Mortgage financing
• Credit union services
• Personal savings accounts

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Alamos

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 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 from Lending: Zia Credit Union generates primary revenue from interest earned on loans including auto loans, mortgages, home equity lines of credit, personal loans, credit cards, and recreational vehicle loans. Interest rates vary by product with promotional rates offered such as up to 2.00% APR reduction for auto loan refinancing.
2. Fee Income: Various fee-based services including overdraft fees ($35 per item for Zpay), skip-a-payment fees ($40 per skipped loan payment), money orders, Visa gift cards ($2.50 per card), and check reordering through Harland Clarke.
3. Investment Income: Income generated from investing member deposits and reserves in securities and other financial instruments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Zia Credit Union is a member-owned cooperative financial institution that provides consumer banking products and lending services to over 13,000 members across Northern New Mexico. Core offerings include Kasasa-branded checking accounts, share savings, Christmas Club, Kids' Club, share certificates, IRAs, auto loans (including refinancing), home mortgages, home equity lines of credit (HELOC), personal term loans and lines of credit, Visa credit cards, and the Zinero quick cash loan, supported by online/mobile banking, ATM, shared branching, and insurance/loan protection add-ons.

Product overview

Zia Credit Union offers a comprehensive suite of financial products and services as a member-owned cooperative. The core offerings include checking accounts (Kasasa Cash, Kasasa Cash Back, Kasasa Tunes, and Basic Checking), savings products (Share Savings, Kasasa Saver, Christmas Club, Kids' Club, and Share Certificates), and loan products (Auto, Home Mortgage, HELOC, Personal Loans, Visa Cards, and Zinero quick cash loans). The ZAP Your Rate program incentivizes product usage by offering better rates on loans and savings. Digital banking is provided through online and mobile platforms with integrated credit score monitoring via Savvy Money. Additional services include overdraft protection (Zpay), GAP insurance, Extended Warranty, Direct Deposit, ACH Origination, Shared Branching, and Visa Gift Cards. The credit union serves over 13,000 members across New Mexico with branches in Los Alamos, Española, Santa Fe, and upcoming Albuquerque location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Free Kasasa Cash Checking Free rewards checking account offering cash back on debit card purchases, targeted at individual consumer members seeking everyday spending accounts with no monthly fee.
• Free Kasasa Cash Back Checking Free checking account that earns cash back on qualifying debit card purchases, designed for consumer members wanting rewards on everyday spending.
• Free Kasasa Tunes Checking Free checking account offering rewards tied to entertainment or music-themed benefits for consumer members.
• Zia Basic Checking Standard no-frills checking account for consumer members seeking essential banking services.
• Share Savings Core membership share savings account required to establish and maintain credit union membership, paying dividends on member deposits.
• Free Kasasa Saver High-yield savings account with automatic savings features linked to Kasasa checking, designed for consumer members building savings balances.
• Christmas Club Seasonal-purpose savings account helping consumer members save throughout the year for holiday expenses.
• Zia Kids' Club Youth savings account designed for children to build financial literacy and savings habits early.
• Share Certificates Term deposit accounts with competitive fixed rates, including Lucky 7 Special promotional certificates, for consumer members seeking higher-yield savings over set terms.
• Youth Share Certificates Term deposit certificates designed for young members to grow savings year over year.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts including traditional and Roth IRA options for consumer members planning for retirement.
• Auto Loans Vehicle financing for new and used cars including refinancing options, with promotional rate reductions up to 2.00% APR via the Clear Skies Ahead promotion.
• Home Mortgage Loan Residential mortgage financing for purchasing or refinancing homes, processed through partner GonMS (NMLS #561868).
• Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Revolving credit line secured by home equity for flexible borrowing needs among consumer members.
• Personal Term Loans Fixed-term unsecured personal loans for consumer members for general-purpose borrowing.
• Personal Lines of Credit Revolving personal lines of credit providing flexible ongoing access to funds for consumer members.
• Visa Credit Cards Visa-branded credit card products issued through PSCU partnership, offering various rewards and rate options to consumer members.
• Zinero Quick Cash Loan Quick cash loan product designed for fast access to small-dollar loans for consumer members needing immediate funds.
• RV Loans Financing for recreational vehicles for consumer members seeking loan products beyond autos and homes.
• Online and Mobile Banking Digital banking platform with web and iOS/Android applications enabling account management, transfers, bill pay, mobile check deposit, and integrated Savvy Money credit score monitoring for consumer members.
• ZAP Your Rate Member Rewards Program Loyalty program that reduces loan APRs (up to 0.80% reduction) and boosts share certificate APYs (up to 0.50% boost) based on the number and type of Zia products a member holds, including checking, credit card, direct deposit, mortgage/HELOC, and consumer loans.
• Overdraft Coverage (Zpay) Overdraft protection service for consumer members covering checks, ACH, recurring debit, online bill pay, and (with Zpay+ extended coverage) ATM and everyday debit card transactions, at $35 per item.
• Skip-a-Payment Service Optional loan payment deferral service available to consumer members up to twice per year for a $40 fee per skipped payment, excluding certain loan types.
• Visa Gift Cards Prepaid Visa gift cards available to consumer members in denominations from $10 to $1,000 with a $2.50 fee per card.
• Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) Vehicle protection product that covers the difference between insurance payout and outstanding loan balance if a vehicle is totaled or stolen, available to consumer auto loan members.
• Extended Warranty Vehicle service contract providing additional mechanical protection beyond manufacturer warranty for consumer auto loan members.
• TruStage Life Insurance Budget-friendly life insurance products offered to consumer members through TruStage Insurance partnership as an extra member benefit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 2.00% APR reduction on auto loan refinancing through Clear Skies Ahead promotion
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TruStage InsurancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZia partners with TruStage Insurance to provide life insurance products and benefits to members. TruStage has decades of experience guiding people in insurance decisions and offers budget-friendly life insurance options as an extra member benefit.
• Banzai SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZia partners with Banzai Schools to provide financial education curricula and classroom activities for teachers. The partnership offers ready-to-use financial literacy resources for classroom integration at ziacuyouth.banzai.org.
• GonMS (Mortgage Partner)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZia offers home mortgage loans through partnership with GonMS (NMLS # 561868), providing members access to mortgage products and applications through their platform.
• VisacoreTechnology or IntegrationZia issues Visa-branded credit cards and debit cards, providing members with card payment capabilities. Also issues Visa Gift Cards available from $10 to $1,000 with $2.50 fee per card.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ziacreditunion

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

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 Zia Credit Union