Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union

What Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union does

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union (HCFCU) is a federally chartered, NCUA-insured community credit union founded in 1936 by ten coffee farmers during the Great Depression. Headquartered at 73-5611 Olowalu Street, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the credit union serves individuals, families, and small businesses located on Hawaii Island through a network of six branches spanning Hilo, Honokaa, Kailua-Kona, Kaloko, Kealakekua, and Kohala, supplemented by digital channels including HTML5-compatible eBranch online banking, native iOS and Android mobile applications, Zelle P2P payments, CardSwap subscription management, and Bill Pay. Membership eligibility extends to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school on Hawaii Island, plus immediate household members.

The credit union operates a full-service consumer and small-business banking franchise organized across checking (Easy Free, 50 Advantage, Performance Interest, Benefits), savings (Share, Money Manager, Premium Saver, Youth, Coverdell), share certificates, IRAs, and lending products including auto loans, signature and secured personal loans, mortgages with fixed, ARM, balloon, and construction variants, home equity lines of credit, three VISA credit card tiers, and student loans via Student Choice. Distribution combines direct in-branch service, a MeridianLink-powered online application portal, CO-OP Network shared branching providing access to 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs nationwide, and referral partnerships for investment products (LPL Financial) and insurance (TruStage). The technology stack is built on industry-standard vendor platforms rather than proprietary infrastructure, with embedded financial calculators, KOFE financial education, and mobile remote deposit capture up to $5,000 per day.

Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on the lending portfolio, fee income from account maintenance, overdraft, and wire services, interchange from Visa debit and credit transactions, and referral commissions from LPL Financial. Community development is structurally embedded in the operating model: HCFCU awarded $490,000 in college scholarships to 185 Hawaii Island high school graduates, raised $342,321 for local charities through Market Day events, delivered financial literacy programming to 2,600 high school students, and recorded 20,000 youth deposits across 15 schools. The institution does not publicly disclose revenue, total assets, or membership counts, which limits external financial visibility.

Name

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union

Legal name

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union

Website

https://hicommfcu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is a federally chartered, NCUA-insured community credit union founded in 1936, serving individuals, families, and small businesses on Hawaii Island through six branches, digital banking, and lending products including mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Credit Union Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (522130), 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)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending products
• Mortgage loan origination
• Credit union services
• Small business banking

Headquarters

HQ city

Kailua Kona

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income from Lending: Primary revenue stream generated from interest charged on loans including auto loans, mortgage loans, personal loans, credit cards, home equity lines of credit, and business loans. Rates vary by product type and creditworthiness.
2. Fee Income: Various fee-based services including monthly maintenance fees on certain checking accounts (Benefits Checking $6.95/month, Performance Interest Checking $6.95 if balance below $2,500, Business Interest Checking $6.95), overdraft and NSF fees, ATM withdrawal fees for amounts exceeding limits, and service fees for wire transfers.
3. Interchange and Transaction Fees: Revenue from Visa debit and credit card transactions including interchange fees from merchant processors on signature-based debit purchases and credit card transactions.
4. Financial Planning Referrals: Referral revenue from LPL Financial partnership for investment and insurance products offered through the credit union's financial planning services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, NCUA-insured community credit union providing consumer and small-business banking products on Hawaii Island. Core offerings span deposit accounts (checking, savings, share certificates, IRAs), consumer and commercial lending (auto, personal, mortgage, HELOC, student, business), VISA credit cards, and digital banking (eBranch, mobile app, Zelle, mobile check deposit), supplemented by referral-based investment and insurance services through LPL Financial and TruStage.

Product overview

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is a community-focused financial institution serving Hawaii Island since 1936. The company offers a comprehensive suite of financial products organized into five main categories: (1) Consumer Banking including checking accounts (Easy Free Checking, 50 Advantage Interest Checking, Performance Interest Checking, Benefits Checking), savings accounts (Share Savings, Money Manager Savings, Premium Saver Savings, Youth Savings), Share Certificates, and Individual Retirement Accounts (Traditional IRA, Roth IRA); (2) Lending Products including Auto Loans, Personal Loans (Signature Loans, Line of Credit, Share-Secured, Certificate-Secured, Guarantor Loans), Student Loans, Mortgage Loans (Adjustable-Rate, Balloon, Vacant Land & Construction), Home Equity Line of Credit, and VISA Credit Cards (Classic, Gold, Platinum tiers); (3) Business Banking including Easy Free Business Checking, Business Interest Checking, and Business Loans; (4) Digital Banking via eBranch Online Banking and Mobile Banking with Zelle P2P payments, CardSwap, Bill Pay, Direct Deposit, and Automatic/Wire Transfers; (5) Financial Services including Financial Planning (through LPL Financial), Insurance (through TruStage), KOFE Financial Education, Financial Calculators, Security Center, Emergency Preparedness, Student Credit Union, Youth Deposit Days, and College Scholarships. The institution serves as a community development credit union with local decision-making and multiple branch locations throughout Hawaii Island.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Easy Free Checking No-monthly-fee consumer checking account for Hawaii Island residents with free Visa debit card, online and mobile banking access, and rewards on qualifying debit purchases through CU Rewards.
• 50 Advantage Interest Checking Interest-bearing checking account for members age 50 and better with competitive interest, no minimum balance, no monthly service charge, and first box of standard checks free.
• Performance Interest Checking High-rate consumer checking account earning higher interest when average daily balance is $2,500 or more; $6.95 monthly fee if balance falls below threshold; free standard checks included.
• Benefits Checking Premium consumer checking account with cell phone protection, CyberScout identity theft resolution, roadside assistance, shopping/dining/travel discounts, and up to $10,000 AD&D insurance for a $6.95 monthly fee.
• Visa Debit Card Rewards debit card linked to a member's checking account, earning CU Rewards points on signature-based transactions and usable anywhere Visa is accepted.
• Share Savings Account Primary membership-establishing savings account earning 0.05% APY with a $50 minimum balance and overdraft protection capability.
• Money Manager Savings Tiered savings account paying 0.80% APY with complete funds accessibility and a $5,000 minimum balance requirement.
• Premium Saver Savings High-balance tiered savings account paying 1.05% APY with a $50,000 minimum balance and overdraft protection capability.
• Youth Savings Account Savings account for members age 18 and younger requiring only $5 to open with no monthly fee, jointly held with a parent or adult until eligible age.
• Coverdell Education Savings Account Tax-advantaged education savings account designed to fund qualified K-12 and post-secondary educational expenses.
• Share Certificates Term-based deposit accounts with fixed terms from 3 to 60 months paying higher dividend rates than traditional savings, with minimum balances ranging from $200 to $2,000 depending on term.
• Traditional IRA Individual retirement account offering tax-deductible contributions with taxed withdrawals, designed for members expecting to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement.
• Roth IRA Individual retirement account funded with after-tax contributions that may be withdrawn tax-free in qualifying situations, designed for members expecting a higher future tax rate.
• Auto Loans Financing for new and used vehicle purchases and refinancing for Hawaii Island members, with competitive rates starting at 5.99% APR, flexible terms up to 84 months, local underwriting decisions, and optional Mechanical Repair Coverage and GAP protection.
• Signature Loans Unsecured personal loans based on income and credit history, with maximum $30,000, terms up to 36 months at 7.00%–10.50% APR, or up to 60 months at 7.50%–12.00% APR.
• Personal Line of Credit Revolving credit facility of up to $20,000 with interest-only payments on the amount drawn, usable as overdraft protection on a member's checking account.
• Share-Secured Loans Personal loan fully secured by the member's share savings account with immediate approval, priced 2.50% above the share account dividend rate at loan closure.
• Certificate-Secured Loans Personal loan secured by a share certificate up to 90% of certificate value, maturing with the certificate and priced 2.00% above the certificate dividend rate.
• Guarantor Loans Personal loan requiring a guarantor for approval, providing a financing option for members who need a co-signer to qualify.
• Student Loans Private student loans originated through the Student Choice platform for students attending Hawaii universities (BYU-Hawaii, Chaminade, HPU, UH Hilo, UH Manoa, UH West Oahu), with no origination fees, lower rates than federal alternatives, and flexible repayment options.
• Mortgage Loans Home purchase, refinance, and construction loans for primary residences, second homes, and investment properties with fixed and adjustable rate options, including ARMs (3/6, 5/6, 7/6) and Balloon (5/30) configurations, plus vacant land and construction financing for Hawaii Island properties.
• Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Revolving credit line secured by primary residence equity up to 80% loan-to-value, with credit lines up to $500,000, no payments until funds are drawn, multiple term options, and low introductory rates.
• VISA Credit Cards Three-tier consumer credit card portfolio (Classic at 15.00% APR, Gold at 9.90% APR, Platinum at 7.90% APR) featuring local custom artwork, no annual fees, $500–$20,000 credit limits, and 1 CU Rewards point per $1 spent.
• Easy Free Business Checking No-cost business checking account for Hawaii Island small businesses, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits, with 1,000 free monthly transactions, no minimum balance, up to $10,000 in free monthly cash deposits, and free instant-issue business debit card.
• Business Interest Checking Interest-bearing business checking paying 0.65% APY with $5,000+ average daily balance, with a $6.95 monthly fee if balance falls below threshold.
• Business Loans Flexible commercial, corporate, and investment-purpose business financing for Hawaii Island businesses, secured by vacant land, residential, investment, or commercial property, with quick approvals and competitive rates.
• eBranch Online Banking 24/7 HTML5-compatible web banking platform providing account access, fund transfers, bill payment, loan applications, and embedded KOFE Learning Center resources.
• Mobile Banking App Native iOS and Android application providing account access, bill payment, mobile check deposit (up to $5,000/day), Zelle transfers, CardSwap, Text Banking, and full account management.
• Zelle P2P Payments Person-to-person money transfer service integrated within online and mobile banking, allowing members to send and receive funds using email or U.S. mobile number, typically settling within minutes.
• Financial Planning Services Investment and insurance advisory offering through LPL Financial advisor Ferdinand Pernia, providing mutual funds, fixed and variable annuities, stocks and bonds, IRAs, 401(k) rollovers, life insurance, college planning, retirement planning, estate planning, and portfolio assessment.
• Insurance Products (TruStage) Member-discounted credit life, credit disability, AD&D, and life insurance products offered through the TruStage partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• $490,000 in college scholarships awarded to 185 Hawaii Island high school graduates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CO-OP NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partnership with CO-OP Credit Union Shared Branching network providing Hawaii Community FCU members access to 30,000+ surcharge-free ATMs across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada, plus shared branch locations for when members travel outside Hawaii Island.
• LPL Financial LLCcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partnership for investment and insurance products. LPL Financial provides securities and advisory services through registered representatives at Hawaii Community FCU locations, offering mutual funds, fixed/variable annuities, stocks/bonds, IRAs, 401(k) rollovers, and life insurance products.
• TruStageminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance products partnership offering TruStage credit insurance and protection products including life insurance and AD&D insurance with exclusive member discounts.
• KOFE (Knowledge of Financial Education)coreTechnology or IntegrationFree online financial education platform partnership providing members access to educational videos, step-by-step guides, interactive tools, games for children, and free unlimited financial coaching including credit counseling, debt management, and housing counseling.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• American Savings Bank: Hawaii-based community-focused bank with statewide branches, full consumer and business banking. Similar community-banking ethos and Hawaii-centric footprint as HCFCU, but with much larger asset base and broader product capability.
• Bank of Hawaii: Major Hawaii-headquartered bank with statewide branch network and full commercial/consumer banking offering. Competes with HCFCU on deposits, consumer loans, and small-business banking, and possesses substantially greater digital investment capacity.
• Central Pacific Bank: Hawaii-based commercial bank with statewide branches focused on consumer and small-business banking. Comparable Hawaii-market presence and small-business lending orientation, though materially larger scale and broader commercial banking capabilities.
• First Hawaiian Bank: Hawaii's largest bank and a broad incumbent across all major islands with full consumer, mortgage, business, and wealth services. Overlaps HCFCU on consumer deposits, mortgages, and small-business banking but at vastly larger scale and broader geographic coverage.

Others

• CO-OP Financial Services: CUSO technology and shared-branching provider that HCFCU already partners with for 30,000+ ATMs and shared branches. Not a customer competitor but a core infrastructure/ecosystem enabler whose product roadmap and pricing directly shape HCFCU's digital capabilities.

Emerging players

• Navy Federal Credit Union: Largest U.S. credit union with digital-first delivery and broad national membership eligibility. While not Hawaii-specific, Navy Federal sets the bar for digital UX and rate competitiveness that Hawaii-based community credit unions increasingly need to match.

Direct peers

• University of Hawaii Federal Credit Union: Federally chartered credit union serving University of Hawaii affiliates and broader Hawaii community. Comparable in product offerings (checking, loans, digital banking) and member-owned structure, with similar federal regulation and Hawaii footprint.
• Hawaii State Federal Credit Union: Federally chartered Hawaii-based credit union serving state employees and the broader community across multiple islands. Direct peer: similar full-service consumer and business banking model, member-owned structure, and overlapping Hawaii market, though HSFCU is significantly larger and broader in geographic reach.
• Hawaii FCU: Hawaii-headquartered community credit union offering checking, savings, lending, and digital banking to a community-based membership. Closely comparable in product mix, federal charter, and member-owned model, providing direct competitive overlap in Hawaii retail banking.

Regional players

• Maui Federal Credit Union: Neighbor-island community credit union serving Maui County with similar full-service consumer and small-business banking products. Operates in the same regulatory and competitive environment as HCFCU but serves a different island geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hicommfcu

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union