Cincinnati Interagency Federal Credit Union

What Cincinnati Interagency Federal Credit Union does

Cincinnati Interagency Federal Credit Union (CIFCU) is a federally chartered, member-owned credit union established in 1951 to serve employees, contractors, and family members of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its core business is consumer lending and deposit-taking: the loan portfolio centers on vehicle loans (rates from 3.99% APR for green vehicles up to 6.73% for older used vehicles, with up to 110% NADA financing and no application/processing fees), home equity lines of credit (Prime + 0.5%, minimum 5.0% APR), Visa credit cards (Prime + 6.5%, 13.25% as of March 2025), signature loans, medical loans, and Sallie Mae-referred student loans. Deposit products include share accounts (0.00%-0.03% APY), money market checking (0.10% APY, $1,000 minimum), and share certificates (0.10% APY, 6- to 60-month terms). Fee income is generated through overdraft/NSF charges ($35/item), wire transfers ($35), and ancillary services.

Revenue is derived from net interest spread between loan yields and dividends paid on deposits, supplemented by transaction fees. Distribution operates through a Main Office at 26 West ML King Drive, a restricted Taft Branch on the NIOSH campus open one Wednesday per month, and a temporarily closed Hamilton Branch. Geographic reach is effectively extended nationwide through the CO-OP Shared Branching Network (5,000+ locations), MoneyPass and Alliance One ATM networks, the It'sMe247 online and mobile banking platform, and CU*Talk telephone banking. CIFCU holds no parent organization, has no subsidiaries, and operates as a not-for-profit cooperative under NCUA federal insurance ($250,000 per account) and Equal Housing Lender compliance.

Name

Cincinnati Interagency Federal Credit Union

Legal name

Cincinnati Interagency Federal Credit Union

Website

https://cifcu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cincinnati Interagency Federal Credit Union is a member-owned federal credit union chartered in 1951 to provide consumer lending, deposit products, and banking services to EPA and NIOSH employees and their families in Cincinnati, Ohio, with extended nationwide access via shared branching networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking / Credit Union

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213), Credit Unions (522130)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Employer/Occupational Credit Unions (FSABAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Consumer lending services
• Member-owned credit union
• Federal employee banking
• Vehicle loan financing
• Savings and deposits

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Loans: Primary revenue stream from vehicle loans, home equity loans, signature loans, credit cards, and student loans. Interest rates vary by product type and creditworthiness.
2. Fee Income: Various service fees including overdraft fees, NSF fees, wire transfers, account research, statement copies, and loan-related fees.
3. Dividend/Interest Payments on Deposits: Pays dividends on share accounts, share certificates, and money market accounts. Revenue derived from spread between loan interest rates and deposit dividend rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cincinnati Interagency Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative providing consumer banking products to EPA and NIOSH federal employees and their families in Cincinnati, Ohio. Core offerings span vehicle loans, home equity lines of credit, Visa credit cards, Sallie Mae student loans, signature/medical/home-improvement loans, and share/share-certificate/money-market/checking deposit accounts. Services are delivered through a main office, a Taft branch, online and mobile banking (It'sMe247), 24/7 telephone banking (CU*Talk), shared branching, and no-surcharge ATM networks.

Product overview

Cincinnati Interagency Federal Credit Union (CIFCU) is a member-owned financial cooperative offering a comprehensive suite of consumer banking products and services. The core offerings center on Vehicle Loans (including new, used, and 'Green' vehicle financing), Home Equity Loans/HELOC, Visa Credit Cards, and Sallie Mae Student Loans as primary lending products. Supporting these are Share Accounts, Share Certificates, Money Market Checking, and Sharedraft Checking accounts for savings and transaction needs. Additional value-added services include Auto Link (vehicle buying service), Shared Branching (5,000+ branch network access), Direct Deposit/Payroll Deduction, Bill Pay, CU*Talk Telephone Banking, and It'sMe247 Online/Mobile Banking. The credit union also offers specialized programs including Kids Club for members under 12, Golden Club for members 60+, My EZ Car Care VIP membership for auto loan holders, and ScoreCard Rewards for credit card holders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vehicle Loans Auto loans for new, used, and Green vehicles (electric, hybrid, or >35 MPG) with rates as low as 3.99% APR for Green vehicles and up to 110% financing available. No application or processing fees; complimentary My EZ Car Care VIP membership for auto loan members.
• Home Equity Loan/HELOC Home equity line of credit offering borrowing power up to 100% of appraised value less first mortgage balance, variable rate based on Prime Rate (minimum 5.0% APR), 15-year term, with closing costs waived on advances of $5,000 or more and no prepayment penalty.
• Visa Credit Card Variable rate credit card with credit lines starting at $500, ScoreCard Rewards points, 28-day grace period, no annual fee, no cash advance fees, no transfer fees, transaction alerts, fraud monitoring, and card on/off capability via online and mobile banking.
• Sallie Mae Student Loans Private student loan products offered through a partnership with Sallie Mae, including Smart Option Student Loans for undergraduates and graduate loans for MBA, Medical, Dental, and Law schools, with competitive rates, multiple repayment options, and no origination fees.
• Share Accounts Member ownership savings accounts (regular share, sub share, holiday, and vacation) with $5 minimum to open, competitive dividend rates, automatic payday transfer options, and Kids Club sub-accounts for members age 12 and under.
• Share Certificates Term certificates with $500 minimum deposit, terms from 6 to 60 months, dividend rates of 0.10% APY, and a 0.05% bonus rate for Golden Club members age 60 and over.
• Money Market Checking Interest-earning checking account with $1,000 minimum balance, up to 3 withdrawals/transfers per month, free checks, $200 minimum withdrawal, and monthly dividend compounding at 0.10% APY.
• Sharedraft (Checking) Account No-fee checking account with unlimited check writing, no per-check fees, no minimum balance, e-Statements, optional overdraft protection via Overdraft Line of Credit, and a MasterCard debit card for worldwide access.
• Heatwave Signature Loan Fixed-rate unsecured general-purpose loan of $1,000 or more, available at 7.19% APR for 12-month terms, 7.59% for 24-month terms, and 8.49% for 60-month terms.
• Home Improvement Loan Unsecured loan up to $30,000 ($1,000 minimum) for principal residence improvements, with a 7.49% APR and a 1.00% rate discount for energy-efficient Green improvements.
• Medical Loan Unsecured loan starting at $1,000 for medical expenses including dental, pet care, and funeral expenses, with proof of expenses required at 6.19% APR.
• Share Secured Loan Loan secured by member's share account balance, with maximum loan amount equal to share balance, rate of current share rate plus 3.00% (3.00% minimum), and terms up to 60 months.
• Overdraft Line of Credit Revolving line of credit to protect against overdrafts, with 14.50% APR, $20 minimum payment, and $2.45 per $100 borrowed; required to qualify for the debit card.
• MasterCard Debit Card Debit card accepted worldwide at MasterCard merchants with ATM access through MoneyPass, Pulse, and MasterCard networks, plus deposits at FastBank ATMs and lost/stolen card support.
• Auto Link Vehicle Buying Service Online car buying service that helps members research, shop, and purchase vehicles including cars, motorcycles, boats, powersports, RVs, and golf carts with virtual test drives, vehicle history reports, price curve analysis, and guaranteed True Car pricing; auto loan members receive a complimentary myEZ Car Care VIP Membership.
• It'sMe247 Online and Mobile Banking Online and mobile banking platform providing 24/7 account access, loan applications at loans.itsme247.com/216, bill pay, real-time payments, transaction alerts, fraud monitoring, card management (on/off), mobile text banking, and notifications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Vehicle loan rates as low as 3.99% APR for green vehicles
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sallie MaecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCIFCU partners with Sallie Mae to offer private student loans for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. The partnership allows CIFCU members to access competitive student loan products through Sallie Mae's platform. CIFCU receives referral compensation for loan customers. Products include Smart Option Student Loans, and specialized graduate loans for MBA, Medical, Dental, and Law schools.
• Shared Branching Network (CO-OP Financial Services)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCIFCU participates in the Shared Branching Network, providing members access to 5,000+ branch locations nationwide. Members can withdraw cash, make loan payments, transfer money, and conduct other transactions at any shared branch location using QR code authentication (IDCheck).
• MoneyPass ATM NetworkminorOthersNo-surcharge ATM network available to CIFCU debit card holders at locations displaying the MoneyPass logo.
• Alliance One ATM NetworkminorOthersNo-surcharge ATM network available to CIFCU debit card holders at Alliance One cooperative ATM locations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PAHO/WHO Federal Credit Union: Federal-agency-based credit union serving employees of a specific federal/international agency — the closest analog to CIFCU's narrow EPA/NIOSH-eligible field of membership and similar share-loan business mix.
• FedChoice Federal Credit Union: Another small federal/occupational credit union chartered by NCUA serving a defined federal employee group with similar consumer lending and member-owned model. Closely comparable in scale, products, and regulatory framework.
• Tropical Financial Credit Union: Occupational credit union serving employees of select employer groups in a defined geographic area, offering similar consumer lending products (auto, home equity, credit cards) via shared branching and digital channels.
• Government Employees Credit Union (GECU): Federal credit union serving government employees with a consumer loan and deposit product set that closely mirrors CIFCU's offerings (auto loans, credit cards, share accounts).

Regional players

• KEMBA Financial Credit Union: Ohio-based community credit union operating in the Cincinnati region, offering directly overlapping consumer deposit and loan products. Regional geographic overlap makes it a direct local competitor for share of wallet among Cincinnati federal employees.
• Cincinnati Federal Credit Union: Cincinnati-area federal credit union serving a related employee base in the same metro. Geographic overlap and shared federal-employee members make it a relevant same-market peer.

Broad incumbents

• Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed): Large federal-occupational credit union (military/defense community) operating a consumer lending and deposit platform very similar to CIFCU's but at vastly greater scale, including vehicle, home equity, and credit card products.
• Navy Federal Credit Union: The largest occupational credit union in the U.S., serving military and federal-affiliated members. Demonstrates the upside trajectory available to federal-occupational credit unions through field-of-membership scale.
• Connexus Credit Union: Large nationwide digital credit union offering auto loans, HELOCs, and credit cards at competitive rates through broad geographic access; competes with CIFCU for federal employees' loans even outside the Cincinnati region.

Others

• America's Credit Unions (trade association) / CO-OP Financial Services: Infrastructure/ecosystem provider that operates the Shared Branching Network and core processing utilized by CIFCU. Relevant for benchmarking the operating model CIFCU depends on, rather than direct competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cincinnati-interagency-federal-credit-union

Compliance3 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 Cincinnati Interagency Federal Credit Union