CU Hawaii

CU Hawaii is a federally chartered, member-owned credit union founded in 1955, serving consumers and small businesses across Hawaii Island with deposits, consumer and business loans, mortgages, credit cards, and digital banking through 10 branches and 3 student branches.

Company typePrivate
Founded1955
HeadquartersHilo, United States
Headcount101–250
GTM typeB2B and B2C
OfferingServices

What CU Hawaii does

CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned financial cooperative founded in 1955 and headquartered in Hilo, Hawaii. It serves individual consumers and small businesses across Hawaii Island through 10 branch and ATM locations (including Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Kea'au, Nā'ālehu, Pahala, and Pāhoa) and three student branches at local high schools, complemented by online and mobile banking on iOS and Android.

The credit union's product suite spans personal and business checking (Kasasa-branded reward accounts plus traditional tiered accounts), savings vehicles (Kasasa Saver, Member Savings, Money Market, CDs at 3.70% APY, IRAs), a full consumer lending stack (auto from 4.49%, personal from 5.49%, mortgages from 6.137% APR, HELOC, construction, vacant land, credit cards with a 0% intro APR through 6/30/26), and a small business lending and deposit program. Underlying technology is a standard digital banking platform with a Malauzai-built mobile app, Kasasa-powered reward checking/savings products, MeridianLink for online loan origination, and Deluxe for check ordering. AI/ML capability is not evident; no proprietary models, automation pipelines, or data assets are disclosed.

CU Hawaii's revenue model is the classic credit union model: net interest income on the loan portfolio (mortgages, auto, personal, credit cards) supplemented by transaction-based fees on deposits and credit card interchange. Pricing follows a cooperative ethos, returning value to members through competitive rates and lower fees rather than maximizing profit. GTM is primarily direct via branch and digital channels with community-based marketing (scholarships, financial education, high-school student branches), targeting a horizontal base of consumer and small business members on Hawaii Island.

CU Hawaii firmographics

Firmographics

Name: CU Hawaii
Legal name: CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union
Website: https://cuhawaii.com
Company type: Private
Founded year: 1955
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 101–250 employees
Short description: CU Hawaii is a federally chartered, member-owned credit union founded in 1955, serving consumers and small businesses across Hawaii Island with deposits, consumer and business loans, mortgages, credit cards, and digital banking through 10 branches and 3 student branches.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

CU Hawaii industry classification

Industry

Product category: Retail Banking
NAICS: Credit Unions (52213), Credit Unions (522130)
SIC: Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)
akta.pro primary industry: Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus) (FSABAEAA)
akta.pro secondary industries: Cooperative Banks (Member-Owned Commercial/Retail) (FSABAEAF), Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL)

Keywords

Retail banking services
Consumer lending
Mortgage loans
Credit union services
Small business banking

Where CU Hawaii is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Hilo
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

CU Hawaii business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B and B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Interest Income: Revenue generated from interest on loans including mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, and credit cards
Deposit Services: Fees and service charges from checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit
Credit Card Operations: Income from credit card transactions and interest

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
Subscription	Annual	12 Month Certificate of Deposit - 3.70% APY
Other	Monthly	Home Loans - As low as 6.137% APR
Other	Monthly	Vehicle Loans - As low as 4.49%
Other	Monthly	Personal Loans - As low as 5.49%
Other	Monthly	Credit Cards - 0% Intro APR

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

CU Hawaii product offering

Product offering

Core offering

CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, federally chartered financial cooperative offering personal and business banking products including checking, savings, money market, certificates, IRAs, credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, mortgages, home equity loans, business loans, and digital banking services through branches across Hawaii Island and online/mobile channels.

Product overview

CU Hawaii Federal Credit Union operates as a federally chartered credit union celebrating 70 years of service, offering a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products. The credit union's core banking platform encompasses multiple checking and savings account tiers, with consumer banking centered on Kasasa-branded products (Cash Checking, Cash Back, Tunes, and Saver) alongside traditional account options. For lending, the institution provides personal, auto, home equity, mortgage, construction, and business loan products, with a distinctive SmartScore Credit Builder program for credit rehabilitation. Digital delivery is anchored by Online and Mobile Banking platforms with native iOS/Android applications, supplemented by extensive branch and ATM infrastructure across Hawaii Island locations. Business services mirror consumer offerings with dedicated business checking, savings, and loan products. Additional services include insurance products, financial education resources, and an annual scholarship program demonstrating community commitment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Personal Checking Accounts Personal checking account offerings including Free Kasasa Cash Checking, Free Kasasa Cash Back, Free Kasasa Tunes, Regular Checking, and Plus Checking accounts with various fee structures and benefit tiers for individual members.
Personal Savings Accounts Personal savings products including Kasasa Saver, Member Savings, Keiki Club (children's savings), Money Market Account, Certificates, and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) for individual members.
Personal Loans Consumer loan products including Auto Loans, Personal Loans, Credit Cards, Lines of Credit, Savings & Certificate Secured Loans, and SmartScore Credit Builder for individual members.
Home & Real Estate Loans Real estate financing options including Mortgages, Home Equity Loans, Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOC), Vacant Land loans, and Construction Loans for individual members.
Business Checking Accounts Business checking solutions including Basic Checking, Value Checking, and Prime Checking with tiered features and fee structures for business members.
Business Savings Accounts Business savings products including Business Member Savings, Business Certificates, and Business Money Market Account for business members.
Business Loans Commercial financing including Small Business Loans and Business Credit Cards designed for business banking needs.
Digital Banking Electronic banking services including Online Banking, Mobile Banking (iOS and Android apps), Bill Pay, and Telephone Banking for account access and management.
CU Hawaii Mobile App Mobile banking application for iPhone and Android devices enabling secure account access and management from anywhere.

Companies that use CU Hawaii

Customer profile

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

CU Hawaii technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

CU Hawaii partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

CU Hawaii competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union: Largest Hawaii-based federal credit union with broader island coverage and similar consumer/business banking product mix. Direct competitor for Hawaii Island residents and SMB banking relationships.
Patelco Credit Union: California-based community credit union of comparable size (~250 employees, multi-branch) with similar member-owned structure, full consumer banking suite, and youth financial education programs.
Hawaii State Federal Credit Union: Hawaii-based federally chartered credit union serving public and private sector employees across multiple islands. Most direct peer given similar charter, island geography, and member-owned cooperative model competing for overlapping Hawaii residents.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: California-based community FCU with similar member-owned structure, branch network, and consumer/business banking product mix. Comparable in operational model and member-segment focus with embedded youth/education programs.
Big Island Federal Credit Union: Community-based federal credit union also operating on Hawaii Island. Closest geographic peer with overlapping branch presence and similar member base targeting Big Island residents.

Broad incumbents

Navy Federal Credit Union: Largest U.S. credit union by assets with national digital reach. Competes indirectly as military-affiliated members and digital-first Hawaii residents may select Navy Federal over local FCUs for better rates or app experience.
First Hawaiian Bank: Hawaii's largest commercial bank with statewide branch network including Hawaii Island. Competes for the same consumer and small business banking customers but with broader scale, corporate banking, and wealth services.
PenFed Credit Union: Large national federal credit union with broad consumer product set including mortgages, credit cards, and deposit products. Indirect competitor as members can access PenFed services regardless of Hawaii geography.
Bank of Hawaii: Major Hawaii-headquartered commercial bank with the deepest statewide presence. Overlaps on consumer deposits, mortgages, and small business banking with significantly larger scale and capital base.

Emerging players

Alliant Credit Union: Digital-first national credit union offering high-yield deposits and competitive loan rates online. Competes for Hawaii residents seeking better digital experience and rates without geographic branch dependency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

CU Hawaii financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

CU Hawaii leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

CU Hawaii funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

CU Hawaii M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CU Hawaii

What does CU Hawaii do?

Is CU Hawaii a public or private company?

CU Hawaii is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was CU Hawaii founded?

CU Hawaii was founded in 1955. It employs 101 to 250 people.

Where is CU Hawaii based?

CU Hawaii is headquartered in Hilo, United States, in the North America region.

How does CU Hawaii make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Interest Income is the primary driver. The others are deposit Services and credit Card Operations.

Who are CU Hawaii's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, Patelco Credit Union, Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union and Big Island Federal Credit Union. Broad incumbents are Navy Federal Credit Union, First Hawaiian Bank, PenFed Credit Union and Bank of Hawaii. Alliant Credit Union is listed as an emerging player.

Does CU Hawaii have an API?

No public API is recorded for CU Hawaii.

What industry is CU Hawaii in?

CU Hawaii's product category is Retail Banking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABAEAA, Community Credit Unions (Retail/Consumer Focus), with a secondary code of FSABAEAF, Cooperative Banks (Member-Owned Commercial/Retail). Its NAICS code is 52213 and its SIC code is 6035.