Arize Federal Credit Union

What Arize Federal Credit Union does

Arize Federal Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative financial institution headquartered in State College, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1978 as SPE Federal Credit Union to serve employees of HRB Singer (now Raytheon), it was rebranded in 2018 to Arize Federal Credit Union and converted to community-chartered status, expanding its field of membership to residents of nine central Pennsylvania counties (Centre, Huntingdon, Clearfield, Blair, Juniata, Mifflin, Union, Clinton, and Snyder). The institution reports approximately $160M in assets and operates three full-service branches, complemented by an online banking platform (itsme247.com), iOS and Android mobile apps, mobile wallet integration, and the CO-OP Shared Branching network for nationwide ATM and shared-branch access.

Arize offers a full suite of consumer and small-business banking products: Essential Checking, Share Savings, IRAs, Holiday & Vacation Clubs, Kids Korner Savings, certificates of deposit, auto loans (as low as 4.74% APR with up to 100% financing), home mortgages, HELOCs (5.49% APR+), Mastercard credit and debit cards (12.99% APR+, no annual fee), personal loans, business checking/savings, small business loans, commercial real estate loans, investment real estate loans, and business credit cards. Supplementary services include wealth management, financial counseling, SavvyMoney credit monitoring, Rize Rewards, overdraft protection, safe deposit boxes, and insurance products. The credit union is NCUA-insured and processes loan applications online 24/7.

The business model is a cooperative deposit-and-lending franchise. Revenue derives primarily from net interest income on the loan portfolio (consumer and commercial), supplemented by deposit account service fees, Mastercard interchange and credit card interest, wire transfer fees, and ancillary service charges. Arize has eliminated approximately 90% of service fees since 2018 and operates on a member-owned, not-for-profit basis, reinvesting surpluses into community giving, scholarships (Arize Trade and Technical School Scholarship Fund), and product pricing. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through physical branches, digital self-serve channels, and shared branching partnerships; the target customer base is individual residents and small businesses in central Pennsylvania.

Name

Arize Federal Credit Union

Legal name

Arize Federal Credit Union

Website

https://arizefcu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arize Federal Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative bank in State College, Pennsylvania, serving approximately nine central Pennsylvania counties with three branches, $160M in assets, and a full suite of personal and small-business banking products including loans, deposits, credit cards, and wealth services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213), Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending
• Small business banking
• Credit union deposits
• Home equity loans

Headquarters

HQ city

State College

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income on Loans: Credit unions primarily generate revenue through interest earned on loan products including auto loans, home mortgages, home equity loans, personal loans, credit cards, and business loans.
2. Deposit Account Fees and Services: Revenue from various deposit account services including checking accounts, share savings accounts, IRAs, and certificates of deposit. Many essential services are provided at no fee to members.
3. Credit Card Fees: Income from Mastercard credit card accounts including interest charges and interchange fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arize Federal Credit Union is a federally chartered, NCUA-insured, member-owned cooperative that provides retail banking products and lending services to individuals and small businesses in central Pennsylvania. Its core offering spans deposit products (checking, share savings, IRAs, CDs/certificates), consumer loans (auto, RV, mortgage, HELOC, personal, Fresh Start credit-builder), business loans (small business, commercial real estate, investment real estate), Mastercard credit and debit cards, digital banking (online, mobile, bill pay, mobile wallets), and member services (wealth management, financial counseling, insurance referrals). Distribution is through 3 full-service branches, itsme247 online and mobile platforms, and the CO-OP shared branching/ATM network.

Product overview

Arize Federal Credit Union operates as a community-chartered financial institution offering a comprehensive suite of banking products organized into core banking services and supplementary offerings. The core portfolio includes checking (Essential Checking), savings accounts (Share Savings, IRAs, Kids Korner, Holiday/Vacation Clubs), certificates of deposit, and loan products spanning consumer lending (auto loans, personal loans, credit cards, home mortgages, HELOCs) and business banking (business checking, small business loans, commercial real estate, investment real estate, business credit cards). The credit union enhances its core offerings with digital banking platforms including online and mobile banking with remote check deposit and card controls, mobile wallet integration, and online bill pay. Supplementary services include wealth management, financial counseling, credit monitoring tools (SavvyMoney, Credit Check-up), Rize Rewards loyalty program, overdraft protection, and insurance products. The institution serves Centre, Huntingdon, Clearfield, Blair, Juniata, Mifflin, Union, Clinton, and Snyder Counties in Pennsylvania through three full-service branches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Essential Checking No-fee personal checking account with no minimum balance and no per-check charges, providing basic deposit and payment services for credit union members.
• Share Savings Account Primary savings account representing a member's share in the credit union, requiring a $5 opening deposit to establish membership.
• Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts including traditional and Roth IRA options, offered to members for retirement accumulation.
• Certificates (CDs) Certificate of deposit accounts with rates as high as 0.70% APY and no early-withdrawal fee, offered to members seeking fixed-term deposit returns.
• Auto Loans Financing for new or used vehicle purchases, with rates as low as 4.74% APR and up to 100% financing available for credit union members.
• Recreation Vehicle Loans Loans for recreational vehicles including RVs, boats, and other recreational equipment, offered to credit union members for leisure-asset financing.
• Home Mortgages Mortgage financing for home purchases, including fixed-rate and adjustable-rate options, offered to credit union members for residential property acquisition.
• Home Equity Loans (HELOCs) Home equity lines of credit and loans allowing members to borrow against their home equity, with rates as low as 5.49% APR.
• Mastercard Credit Cards Mastercard-branded credit cards with rates as low as 12.99% APR, no annual fee, and rewards features, issued to credit union members.
• Personal Loans Unsecured consumer loans for personal expenses, debt consolidation, or major purchases, offered to credit union members.
• Small Business Loans Commercial lending products including term loans and lines of credit for small business needs, including SBA lending, offered to small businesses in the service area.
• Commercial Real Estate Loans Financing for commercial property acquisition, development, and refinancing, offered to local businesses.
• Investment Real Estate Loans Loans for investment properties and rental real estate ventures, offered to business borrowers.
• Business Credit Cards Mastercard-branded credit cards designed for business owners with business-specific rewards and features.
• Business Banking Services Business deposit accounts (Business Savings and Business Checking Essential at 0.30% APY across all balance tiers with $100+), lending, and merchant services for small businesses in central Pennsylvania.
• Online Banking Web-based online banking platform available 24/7 at itsme247.com, providing account management, bill pay, fund transfers, and e-statements.
• Mobile Banking Mobile banking app available on iOS and Android, offering remote check deposit, card controls, ATM locator, loan payments, and fund transfers.
• Online Bill Pay Electronic bill payment service allowing members to pay bills online with no fees, integrated with the online banking platform.
• Mastercard Debit Card Mastercard-branded debit card with instant issue at account opening, usable at ATMs and merchants worldwide.
• Wealth Management Financial planning, investment management, and wealth advisory services offered to credit union members seeking comprehensive wealth management.

Quantifiable outcome

• No early withdrawal fee on certificates of deposit — unusual in the industry
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CO-OP Shared Branching / CULiancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArize participates in the CO-OP Shared Branching network through CULiance (culiance.com), providing members access to thousands of shared branches and ATMs nationwide. The credit union's charter number is 24187 for ATM locator services. This partnership extends the credit union's physical distribution footprint beyond its 3 local branches to a nationwide network.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or IntegrationArize issues Mastercard-branded credit cards and debit cards. Products include Mastercard reward credit cards (personal and business versions), Mastercard debit cards, and Mastercard credit cards with no annual fee. The partnership provides card payment infrastructure, fraud protection, and rewards programs.
• Centre FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre Foundation processes scholarship payments on behalf of Arize Federal Credit Union for the Arize Trade and Technical School Scholarship Fund, handling award disbursements directly to schools on behalf of the credit union.
• Huntingdon County Country ClubminorOthersThe Huntingdon County Country Club serves as the venue for Arize's Annual Membership Meeting (held on May 20th annually). This annual event is open to all members of the credit union.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Members 1st Federal Credit Union: Community-chartered Pennsylvania credit union offering a similar full suite of consumer and business banking products across a multi-county footprint; directly comparable in mission, product set, and member-owned structure.
• FirstEnergy Federal Credit Union: Pennsylvania-based community credit union offering consumer and business banking products; comparable in cooperative structure, product breadth, and regional Pennsylvania footprint.
• Belco Community Credit Union: Community credit union headquartered in Harrisburg, PA serving central Pennsylvania consumers and businesses with similar deposit and loan products; a close regional direct competitor.
• Penn State Federal Credit Union: Credit union serving the State College and Penn State community — overlapping geographic footprint with Arize and competing for the same member base with similar personal and business banking products.
• PSECU (Pennsylvania State Employees Credit Union): Large Pennsylvania-based credit union serving a statewide membership with comparable deposit, lending, and digital banking products; relevant as a scale peer within the same state regulatory and competitive context.
• TruMark Financial Credit Union: Pennsylvania community-chartered credit union offering a comparable suite of personal and business banking products to members across the region; a directly comparable cooperative peer.

Broad incumbents

• Citadel Federal Credit Union: Larger Pennsylvania credit union offering full-service personal and commercial banking across a wider geography; serves as a scale incumbent with overlapping product capabilities.

Regional players

• Mid Penn Bank: Central Pennsylvania community bank headquartered in Millersburg with comparable consumer and commercial lending products in overlapping geographies; competitive peer on the bank (vs. credit union) side.
• AmeriServ Financial: Johnstown-based Pennsylvania community bank holding company with consumer and commercial banking products across central and western PA; comparable regional community-bank competitor.
• Kish Bank: Central Pennsylvania community bank serving the State College and Bellefonte region with personal and business banking; overlaps with Arize's footprint and has historical ties to Arize's CFO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ArizeFCU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arize-federal-credit-union
• Instagraminstagram.com/arizefcu
• Xx.com/arizefcu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Arize Federal Credit Union