Kemba Credit Union

What Kemba Credit Union does

Kemba Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative headquartered in West Chester, Ohio, serving consumers, small businesses, students, and seniors across the Greater Cincinnati tri-state area (Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, Southeast Indiana). Founded in January 1934 by seven employees of the Kroger State Avenue Manufacturing Plant under the name Kemba Cincinnati Credit Union, it has grown to 130,507 members, $1.778B in total assets, $1.415B in loans, and $1.482B in shares as of February 28, 2026, operating 14 branches and a digital banking platform powered by Alkami/Kasasa. Membership eligibility flows from three channels — Kroger Plus Card ownership, 600+ employer partner programs (1,000+ Select Groups), and geographic county residency — with a permanent "once a member, always a member" guarantee backed by a $5 minimum savings balance.

The product portfolio spans personal and business checking and savings (including Get Green Rewards, MVP, Tunes, and School Pride checking, plus a 6.25% APY Ohio Homebuyer Plus Savings product), lending (auto from 5.39% APR, personal loans, mortgages, HELOCs at Prime, commercial real estate), Visa credit/debit cards with Apple/Samsung/Google Pay support, and ancillary services such as merchant processing (Payroc), treasury management, insurance (Kemba Insurance LLC, TruStage), investment services (LPL Financial), debt counseling (Trinity), Medicare advisory (ARC Benefit Solutions), and the new FlexPath DXP-powered Shop-by-Payment auto platform using patent-pending VeriQual technology. Card processing will transition to Velera in August 2026.

The business model is a classic credit-union Net Interest Income model: interest earned on $1.42B of loans (mortgage, auto, HELOC, commercial) less interest paid on $1.48B of member deposits, supplemented by transaction fees (overdraft, wires, ATM), credit-card fees, insurance and investment commissions, and merchant residuals. Distribution combines physical branches, the CO-OP shared branching network (5,000+ branches), 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs, employer workplace banking, and digital channels, with member acquisition driven by community event sponsorships, employer partnerships, and the Kroger Plus Card funnel rather than paid marketing. Dan Sutton is President/CEO, with Dan Schroer (CFO) and Ryon Brubaker (CTO) rounding out the senior leadership team.

Name

Kemba Credit Union

Legal name

Kemba Credit Union, Inc.

Website

https://kemba.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Kemba Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative founded in 1934, serving 130,507 members across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky with $1.78B in assets, 14 branches, and a full suite of personal, business, mortgage, and digital banking products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Credit Union Services

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213), Credit Unions (522130)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Cooperative Banks (Member-Owned Commercial/Retail) (FSABAEAF)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending
• Credit union services
• Commercial lending
• Digital banking

Headquarters

HQ city

West Chester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Interest Income on Loans: Kemba Credit Union generates primary revenue from interest earned on various loan products including home mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, HELOCs, and business loans. Interest rates vary by product with examples including personal loans at 13.12% APR and auto loans at 5.39% APR for qualified borrowers.
2. Deposit Account Fees: Revenue from various account-related fees including monthly maintenance fees (MVP Checking $6/month), overdraft fees ($19/occurrence), returned item fees ($22), wire transfer fees ($15-$100 depending on type), and ATM fees ($3 per additional withdrawal after 4 free).
3. Credit Card Fees: Income from credit card annual fees ($25 for MasterCard/Share Secured VISA), late payment fees ($10-$25), cash advance fees (2% of amount), and foreign currency transaction fees (1%).
4. Insurance and Investment Services: Revenue from affiliated insurance services through Kemba Insurance LLC and investment services through Kemba Investment Services (LPL Financial). Products include auto, home, life, health, business, boat, and other insurance lines.
5. Merchant Services: Revenue from payment processing services for business members including credit/debit card processing, payment gateway, and point-of-sale solutions powered by Payroc.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Kemba Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative providing personal and business banking products including checking accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, HELOCs, Visa credit and debit cards, and business banking services. It also offers digital banking, merchant services, treasury management, insurance, and investment services through 14 branches across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky and a digital platform serving over 130,000 members.

Product overview

Kemba Credit Union operates as a full-service financial institution offering a comprehensive suite of banking products and services. The core product portfolio spans personal and business banking segments including multiple checking and savings account options, diverse lending products (auto, student, personal, mortgage, home equity, and commercial real estate loans), Visa credit and debit cards, and digital banking services. The digital banking platform powered by Alkami/Kasasa provides online/mobile banking with integrated financial wellness tools including SavvyMoney credit monitoring, MyMoney personal finance management, and Banzai educational calculators. Additional services include merchant services (Payroc), treasury management, insurance offerings (TruStage, Kemba Insurance), debt management (Trinity), senior services (ARC Benefit Solutions), and the Shop-by-Payment vehicle shopping platform through FlexPath DXP partnership. The institution serves members across Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky through 14 branches with extensive ATM network access via MoneyPass, CULIANCE, and Alliance One partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CU Advantage: Service organization offering Kemba Insurance, Kemba Retail Services, and Kemba Auto Resources
• Kemba Insurance
• Kemba Investment Services

Products and services

• Personal Checking Accounts Multiple checking account options for individuals including Green Rewards Checking, Tunes Checking, MVP Checking, and School Pride Checking with varying reward structures such as high dividends, purchase refunds, and member-valued perks.
• Personal Savings Accounts Savings products including Regular Savings, CUBS Youth Savings, LIONS Teen Savings, Club Savings, Money Market Accounts, Certificates (CDs), IRAs, HSAs, and the Ohio Homebuyer Plus Program.
• Business Checking Three business checking account tiers—Business Plus, Business Prestige, and Business Platinum—designed around the needs of growing businesses with varying transaction limits, balance requirements, and service charges.
• Auto Loans Competitive new and used vehicle financing for members with rates as low as 5.39% APR, a wide range of terms, pre-approval, refinancing options, and integration with the Kemba Auto Center platform.
• Student Loans Competitive-rate student loans for higher education with flexible repayment terms and in-school deferment options, offered through partnership with Student Choice.
• Motorcycle, RV & Boat Loans Financing for recreational vehicles including motorcycles, ATVs, motorhomes, travel trailers, boats, and watercraft with competitive rates and pre-approval options.
• Personal Term Loans Unsecured and secured personal loans for various needs including vehicle repairs, vacations, education expenses, and personal projects, including share-secured loans.
• Home Mortgage Loans Home purchase, refinance, and construction financing including fixed rate mortgages, adjustable-rate mortgages, jumbo mortgages, FHA loans, and VA loans with pre-qualification and local loan advisors.
• Home Equity Loans Home equity financing converting property equity into cash for short-term needs with potential tax advantages.
• Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Revolving credit line using home equity as collateral with variable rates as low as 6.75% APR, up to 90% LTV programs, no closing costs, and annual fee waiver the first year.
• Investment Property Loans Commercial real estate financing for investor-owned residential or commercial properties (less than 50% leasing space ownership) including office buildings, apartment complexes, and strip malls.
• Owner-Occupied Property Loans Commercial property financing for owner-occupied properties (51%+ owner-occupied) for various facilities from healthcare to manufacturing.
• Visa Credit Cards Multiple Visa credit card options including Visa (Variable), Visa Gold (Variable), and Visa Platinum with varying APR rates and rewards.
• Visa Debit Card Free Visa debit card accepted globally with four surcharge-free withdrawals per month at non-Kemba ATMs, included with checking accounts.
• Digital Banking Online and mobile banking platform powered by Alkami featuring account management, bill pay, mobile deposit, card controls, eStatements, and MyMoney personal finance management.
• Merchant Services Payment processing solutions for business members powered by Payroc including credit/debit card processing, payment gateway, POS systems, mobile processing, and ACH/check processing.
• Treasury Management Business cash management services including Remote Deposit Capture, ACH Origination, wire transfers, and payroll services with tax filing and time/labor integration.
• Senior Services Medicare health coverage options through partnership with ARC Benefit Solutions including Medicare Advantage, Supplements, Prescription Drug Plans, and Dental/Vision insurance.
• Shop-by-Payment Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Asset growth from $110,000 in 1939 to over $1.7 billion today
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, strategic and standard.

• FlexPath DXPflagshipTechnology or Integration · 31 March 2026Strategic partnership to launch the first-ever Shop-by-Payment platform at the Cincinnati Auto Show. The platform uses FlexPath's patent-pending VeriQual technology to allow Kemba members to enter a target monthly payment, verify their identity, and instantly view credit-qualified vehicle options across dealer inventory. Kemba is the first credit union to offer this payment-first vehicle shopping experience, positioning itself to compete with OEM captive finance programs.
• VeleracoreTechnology or Integration · 27 January 2026Ohio-based Kemba selected Velera (formerly PSCU/CO-OP) to provide debit and credit card processing services beginning in August. Velera serves more than 4,000 financial institutions across North America and will deliver card processing, fraud and risk management, and related services. CEO Dan Sutton noted the partnership will deliver more flexibility, choice and control to members while advancing long-term organizational goals.
• ARC Benefit SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide Medicare health coverage options including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplements, Prescription Drug Plans, and Dental Vision/Travel Insurance. ARC's licensed agents provide no-cost consultations at Kemba branches to match coverage with member needs.
• Trinity Debt ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with nonprofit credit counseling agency (in Cincinnati since 1994) to provide debt management assistance. Services include Debt Management Program with reduced interest rates, credit counseling, budgeting assistance, and financial literacy resources. Debts paid in full within 3-5 years with single monthly payment.
• Financial RebellionstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Financial Rebellion (founded by Todd Romer) providing financial wellness resources to help members reduce financial stress, build confidence, and achieve long-term wealth creation through investing. Includes video content, newsletters, and educational materials.
• BanzaistrategicTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Banzai to provide interactive financial education resources including articles, calculators, and topic-specific wellness collections covering savings, insurance, retirement, taxes, budgeting, life changes, investing, and housing.
• SavvyMoneycoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit Score powered by SavvyMoney integrated into online and mobile banking, providing members with latest credit score, full credit report, VantageScore 3.0 from TransUnion, credit monitoring alerts, and Kemba product offers based on credit profile.
• PayroccoreTechnology or IntegrationMerchant services powered by Payroc (formerly i3 Commerce Technology) providing smart payment solutions for business members including credit/debit card processing, payment gateway, software integration, mobile processing, POS systems, ACH/check processing, and gift card/loyalty programs.
• Student ChoicecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for student lending solutions through Student Choice, offering federal student loans and alternative/private student loans for college financing. Provides resources for financial aid, loan options, and loan payments at kembacu.studentchoice.org.
• TruStage InsurancestandardGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive credit union member insurance offerings including whole and term life insurance policies underwritten by CMFG Life Insurance Company, offered at affordable rates through TruStage Insurance Agency.
• Minnesota Life Insurance CompanystandardGTM or Marketing PartnerUnderwriter for Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance offered to members, including $1,000 complimentary coverage and additional coverage up to $300,000 at group rates.
• Securian FinancialstandardGTM or Marketing PartnerUnderwriter and administrator for Payment Protection (debt protection) program offered to loan members through Minnesota Life Insurance Company. Members can file claims at securian.com/benefits.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: Large California-based member-owned credit union serving education employees with full retail and lending services. Comparable as a like-structured cooperative institution in a different geography, useful as a peer benchmark for product breadth and member engagement.
• First Financial Bank: Cincinnati and Ohio-headquartered community and commercial bank serving Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. Comparable as a regional incumbent with overlapping small-business and consumer banking focus.

Broad incumbents

• PNC Financial Services: Top-five U.S. regional bank with strong Midwest presence and active Cincinnati/Ohio market for retail and small-business banking. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing for the same member/customer pool.
• Fifth Third Bank: Cincinnati-headquartered regional bank with nationwide commercial and consumer operations and dense Cincinnati/Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana branch presence. Comparable as the dominant incumbent competitor in Kemba's core market.
• U.S. Bank: Major national bank historically founded in Cincinnati and headquartered in Minneapolis with significant Cincinnati and Ohio/Indiana/Kentucky branch density. Comparable as a broad incumbent competitor for consumer and small-business deposits and loans.

Others

• TruStage (CUNA Mutual Group): Credit union industry service organization and insurance provider (underwrites TruStage AD&D and life products used by Kemba members; via CMFG Life Insurance Company). Comparable as a key ecosystem participant and adjacent product partner rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• General Electric Credit Union (GECU): Cincinnati-area credit union serving Greater Cincinnati with consumer banking, lending and shared branching. Directly comparable regional cooperative peer operating in the same tri-state market.
• Indiana Members Credit Union: Large Indianapolis-based credit union serving Indiana members with full-service consumer and business banking. Comparable as a member-owned cooperative peer operating in Kemba's adjacent Indiana market.
• Wright-Patt Credit Union: Ohio-based member-owned credit union serving Dayton, Cincinnati and broader Ohio/Indiana markets with similar consumer and business banking services. Comparable as a like-sized cooperative peer with shared-branch access and full retail/commercial lending.
• Star Financial Group: Indiana-headquartered member-owned financial institution serving Anderson, Fort Wayne and statewide Indiana with consumer and commercial banking. Comparable as a cooperative peer in Kemba's Indiana catchment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kembacu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kemba-credit-union
• Instagraminstagram.com/kembacreditunion
• Xx.com/kembacu

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Kemba Credit Union