Foothill Credit Union

What Foothill Credit Union does

Foothill Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned cooperative providing retail banking products to residents and employees of the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Arcadia, CA, the institution operates four physical branches (Arcadia, Covina, Glendora, Upland) and a field of membership restricted to employees of Select Employer Groups in education, healthcare, and city government, plus geographic community members. The credit union serves more than 300 partner employer organizations and operates with 51-100 employees. Deposits are federally insured by the NCUA up to $250,000 per account.

The product portfolio spans the full retail banking stack: four checking tiers (Protection Plus, Rewards, Simply Free, Rebound), youth and young-adult checking (Junior ages 8-12, Teen ages 13-17, Starter Rewards for ages 18-24), savings products including Flex Savings at 3.00% APY, Money Market, Share Certificates (6 months to 5 years), and Traditional/Roth IRAs and Coverdell ESAs. Lending includes fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages (5/1 ARM at 5.625%), HELOCs and Home Equity Loans (4.99% intro APR), an Energy Saver Loan for eco upgrades, auto loans (4.74% APR, up to 96-month terms), the Empower Auto Program for credit-challenged members, RV/boat/motorcycle financing, four Mastercard variants (Platinum, Rewards, Credit Builder, Starter), personal loans up to $100,000, Fresh Start credit-builder loans at 2.00% APR, Career Advancement and Career Supply micro-loans for partner-sector employees, and a Buy Now Pay Later service. Student loans are routed via Sallie Mae partnership. The digital platform supports online banking, iOS and Android mobile apps with biometric login, Zelle P2P, Apple/Google/Samsung Pay, Click to Pay, FedNow instant payments, and mobile check deposit; CO-OP Network provides shared branching and surcharge-free ATM access.

Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income on the loan portfolio (mortgages, auto, HELOC, credit cards, personal loans), supplemented by monthly maintenance fees on certain checking products, overdraft and Skip-a-Payment fees, wire and ATM-related fees, and referral commissions from TruStage Insurance, Sallie Mae student loans, State National insurance tracking, and partner service programs. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer with employer-channel acquisition through 300+ Select Employer Groups offering exclusive benefits including $700 off mortgage closing costs. The institution is non-profit and member-owned, with no venture or private equity backing, no public listing, and no parent holding company; the Foothill Impact Foundation operates community grants and financial-literacy programs as a separately branded affiliate.

Name

Foothill Credit Union

Legal name

Foothill Federal Credit Union

Website

https://foothillcu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Foothill Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned credit union operating four branches in Southern California's San Gabriel Valley, serving 300+ employer groups in education, healthcare, and city government with full-service retail banking, lending, and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (522130), Credit Card Issuing (522210)

SIC

Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Employer/Occupational Credit Unions (FSABAEAB), Bank & Credit Union Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAL), General Purpose Credit Cards (FSAKABAA)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending products
• Credit union services
• Mortgage and auto loans
• Member financial services

Headquarters

HQ city

Arcadia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest Income: Primary revenue stream from interest charged on mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, home equity loans and lines, credit cards, and other lending products. Interest rates vary by product type and member creditworthiness.
2. Checking Account Fees: Monthly maintenance fees on certain checking accounts (Protection Plus $4.95/month, Rewards Checking $3/month which can be discounted, Simply Free FREE). Rebound Checking has $6/month fee with $10 minimum balance fee.
3. ATM and Service Fees: ATM fee refunds when requirements met, overdraft protection fees, wire transfer fees, and other transaction-based fees
4. Skip-a-Payment Fees: $15 fee for online Skip-a-Payment requests, $25 fee for phone or in-person requests
5. Insurance Products Commission: Referral commissions from TruStage Insurance, vehicle protection products (Mechanical Repair Coverage, GAP Coverage, Vehicle Maintenance Package), and State National insurance services
6. Student Loan Referral: Referral partnership with Sallie Mae for student loans - credit union receives compensation for referrals

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Foothill Credit Union is a federally chartered, member-owned credit union that delivers consumer banking and lending products to individuals and families in the San Gabriel Valley of Southern California. Its core offering spans checking and savings accounts, money market and share certificate deposits, mortgage and home equity loans, auto and recreational vehicle financing, credit cards, personal loans, and Buy Now Pay Later services, delivered through four branches and full online/mobile banking channels.

Product overview

Foothill Credit Union operates as a multi-channel financial services institution offering a unified banking platform with integrated checking, savings, lending, and digital services. The core banking products include Protection Plus Checking, Rewards Checking, Simply Free Checking, and specialized accounts for youth and young adults (Junior/Teen Checking, Youth Savings). Savings offerings span Flex Savings (3.00% APY), Money Market Accounts, Share Certificates with tiered terms, and retirement accounts (Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Coverdell ESA). The lending portfolio encompasses mortgage products (Fixed-Rate and Adjustable-Rate Mortgages, HELOC, Home Equity Loans), vehicle financing (Auto Loans, Auto Refinance, Empower Auto Program, RV/Motorcycle Loans), credit cards (Platinum Mastercard, Rewards Mastercard, Credit Builder, Starter Rewards), personal loans (Signature, Line of Credit, Technology, Fresh Start, Career Advancement), Buy Now Pay Later services, and student loans via Sallie Mae partnership. Digital banking is delivered through online and mobile platforms (iOS/Android) with Zelle, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Click to Pay, FedNow, and mobile check deposit. Insurance and protection products include TruStage Insurance, Vehicle Maintenance Package, Major Mechanical Protection, and GAP Coverage. Financial wellness tools include SavvyMoney credit scoring, Earn It! youth education, It's a Money Thing financial literacy, GreenPath counseling, and Everfi-based Financial Health Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Foothill Impact Foundation: Community foundation associated with Foothill Credit Union focused on giving back and financial literacy programs
• Autoland
• Foothill Investment Services
• TruStage Insurance
• GreenPath Financial Wellness

Products and services

• Protection Plus Checking Premium checking account for individuals and families that includes ID theft protection, credit report monitoring, cell phone insurance up to $300, debit card rewards, ATM fee refunds up to $20/month, and dividend earnings with a $4.95 monthly fee.
• Rewards Checking Signature-based debit rewards checking account with a waivable $3 monthly fee, dividend earnings, and ATM fee refunds up to $20/month for individual consumer members.
• Simply Free Checking No-monthly-fee consumer checking account with a free Mastercard debit card, online and mobile banking, mobile check deposit, eStatements, and surcharge-free ATM access.
• Rebound Checking Second-chance checking account for individual members rebuilding credit, with a $6 monthly fee, no Courtesy Pay, and a path to upgrade to Simply Free after one year of good standing.
• Flex Savings High-yield savings account for individual members earning 3.00% APY on balances of $2,000 or more, requiring new money deposited within the last 90 days and no withdrawal restrictions.
• Regular Savings Basic credit union share savings account that establishes membership with a $5 minimum opening deposit, competitive dividends, and 24/7 online and mobile access for individual consumers.
• Money Market Account Tiered-rate money market savings account for individual members requiring a $1,000 minimum to open, with higher balances earning larger dividends and six free transactions per month.
• Share Certificates Fixed-term deposit certificates for individual members with terms from 6 months to 5 years, a $2,000 minimum deposit, higher rates than traditional savings, and early-withdrawal penalties.
• Traditional IRA Tax-deductible individual retirement account allowing contributions up to $7,500/year ($8,600 if 50+), with tax-deferred growth and untaxed dividends for member retirement savings.
• Roth IRA After-tax individual retirement account offering tax-free withdrawals if criteria are met, with contribution limits up to $7,500/year ($8,600 if 50+).
• Coverdell Education Savings Account Education savings account for K-12 and college expenses, with up to $2,000/year in tax-free contributions for qualified educational costs.
• Junior Checking (Ages 8-12) Parent-supervised checking account for children ages 8-12 with debit card controls, $100 daily limit, real-time alerts, and an automatic transition to Teen Checking at age 13.
• Teen Checking (Ages 13-17) Parent-controlled checking account for teens ages 13-17 with $300 daily limit, spending controls, and Zelle access beginning at age 16, transitioning to Protection Plus Checking at age 18.
• Fixed-Rate Mortgage Conventional, conforming, and jumbo fixed-rate home loans for individual borrowers in the San Gabriel Valley, with 10/15/20/30-year terms, conforming loans up to $1,249,125, and jumbo loans up to $2 million.
• Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) Adjustable-rate home loan with 5/1 or 7/1 introductory periods offering a lower initial rate that adjusts periodically, suited for individual borrowers planning to move or expecting income growth.
• Home Equity Loan Lump-sum loan for individual homeowners secured by home equity, with fixed rates, up to 80% loan-to-value, no prepayment penalty, and a 12-month low introductory rate option.
• Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Revolving home equity credit line for individual members with a 4.99% introductory APR for 12 months, an 18-month draw period, 10-year repayment, and borrowing up to 80% of home equity.
• Energy Saver Loan Eco-friendly HELOC-based loan for individual homeowners covering solar panels, HVAC, cool roofs, insulation, windows, water heaters, and Energy Star appliances at a 4.99% introductory rate.
• Auto Loans New and used vehicle financing for individual members with rates as low as 4.74% APR, terms up to 96 months, financing up to 125% MSRP, and no origination fee.
• Auto Refinance Refinancing product for individual members to lower existing auto loan rates, with up to 100% financing, 90-day deferred payment option, and rate discounts up to 0.75% for direct deposit and auto pay.
• Empower Auto Program Inclusive vehicle financing for individual members rebuilding credit with FICO scores as low as 540, loan amounts $5,000-$60,000, and flexible terms up to 84 months.
• Recreational Vehicle, Watercraft, Motorcycle Loans Financing for individual members purchasing RVs, boats, and motorcycles, with repayment terms up to 180 months and competitive rates on new and used recreational vehicles.
• Platinum Mastercard Low-interest Mastercard credit card for individual members with variable APRs from 12.25%, no annual fee, no balance transfer or cash advance fees, and credit limits up to $100,000.
• Platinum Rewards Mastercard Rewards Mastercard credit card for individual members earning points on every purchase, with APRs from 13.75%, no annual fee, and points redeemable for merchandise, travel, and gift cards.
• Credit Builder Credit Card Secured Mastercard for individual members building or repairing credit, with credit limit linked to a linked savings account balance, no annual fee, and an 18.00% APR.
• Starter Rewards MasterCard (Ages 18-24) Entry-level credit card for individual members aged 18-24, with 0% introductory APR for 6 months then 12.99% APR, credit limits $500-$2,500, and no prior credit required.
• Personal Loan Unsecured signature loan for individual members up to $100,000 with APRs from 10.75%-18.00% and terms up to 60 months, usable for debt consolidation or major purchases.
• Fresh Start Loan Credit-building personal loan for individual members at 2.00% APR, with $1,000-$5,000 loan amounts, terms up to 36 months, and on-time payments reported to major credit bureaus.
• Career Advancement Loan Education financing for individual employees of schools, hospitals, and city municipalities, with APRs 3.25%-8.25%, maximum $15,000, and 60-month repayment for professional development.
• Career Supply Loan Micro-loan for individual educators and healthcare workers, with 0% APR when direct deposit and auto pay are set up (otherwise 2.90% APR), maximum $1,000, and 12-month repayment.
• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Two-part BNPL service for individual members: Split Your Payment converts debit purchases into installments at 14.99% APR on $100-$2,500, and Plan Your Purchase advances funds pre-shopping at 17.99% APR on $200-$2,500, with no credit check required.
• Student Loans (Sallie Mae Partnership) Referral-based student loan product for individual members through a Sallie Mae partnership, covering undergraduate, graduate, MBA, medical, dental, law, and career training programs with competitive variable/fixed rates and no origination fee.
• Mobile Banking App Full-service iOS and Android mobile banking application for individual members providing account snapshots, biometric login, mobile check deposit, Zelle, card controls, budget tracking, BNPL access, and secure messaging.
• Online Banking Web-based banking platform for individual members providing 24/7 account access, transfers, bill pay, BNPL management, loan applications, and account opening.
• Foothill Investment Services Financial planning and investment services for individual members covering retirement, college savings, and wealth management, delivered through a partnership arrangement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Earn up to 3.75% APY on New Money Flex Certificate
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GreenPath Financial WellnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing free financial counseling services to Foothill members through GreenPath's network of certified financial counselors. Members can access debt management, housing counseling, and financial education resources.
• AutolandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCar buying service partner helping Foothill members find and finance vehicles. Autoland consultants locate vehicles, negotiate prices, coordinate Foothill auto loans, and deliver vehicles to local branches. Has served over 200,000 credit union members.
• Sallie MaecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent loan partnership providing educational loans for undergraduate, graduate, medical, dental, law, and career training students. Foothill receives referral compensation for directing members to Sallie Mae's loan products.
• TruStage InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance partner offering protection products for home, car, family, and overall finances. Provides auto, home, life, and other insurance products to Foothill members.
• Affinity TrustsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrust services partner providing estate planning and trust administration services. Offers Legacy Loan for trust setup costs.
• State National CompaniescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance tracking and collateral protection services provider. Manages borrower insurance verification for auto and mortgage loans, sends insurance-related communications to members on behalf of Foothill.
• City of HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for blood drives and health-related community initiatives. Foothill hosts blood drives at branches in partnership with City of Hope's blood donation center.
• VERA SocietyminorOthersAffiliate organization listed on Foothill's website as part of their partner ecosystem.
• ZAG InteractiveminorOthersWebsite development and digital services vendor responsible for Foothill's website design and functionality.
• DatatracminorOthersIndependent rate monitoring service that certifies Foothill's interest rates as accurate and competitive across checking, savings, money market, CD, auto, mortgage, home equity, credit card, and personal loan products.
• EverFicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial education platform providing the Financial Health Center and interactive learning modules. Members can complete courses to earn mortgage closing cost discounts.
• Foothill Impact FoundationcoreOthersCorporate foundation of Foothill Credit Union focused on community giving, grants, scholarships, and financial literacy education in the San Gabriel Valley.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Patelco Credit Union: California community credit union with similar member-owned cooperative structure, multi-product offering (checking, mortgages, auto, credit cards), and community-development orientation. Useful mid-scale benchmark.
• SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union: California-based credit union serving school employees and education community. Directly comparable SEG focus (education employers), similar product breadth (checking, savings, mortgages, auto, credit cards), and community credit union mission.
• First Tech Federal Credit Union: Employer-focused credit union (technology industry) with similar SEG-driven membership model, comparable deposit/lending products, and digital-first investment profile. Useful benchmark for employer-credit-union scaling.
• California Credit Union: California state-chartered community credit union serving members across multiple employer groups with comparable deposit, lending, and digital product set. Most direct like-for-like peer in California market.
• Kinecta Federal Credit Union: Southern California community credit union with broad field of membership, similar deposit and lending products, and physical plus digital distribution model. Comparable scale and geography to Foothill.
• UNIFY Financial Credit Union (formerly Wescom Central): Large California credit union with multi-SEG field of membership and similar full-service product suite. Comparable employer-group acquisition model and community credit union positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Alliant Credit Union: Large digital-first credit union serving broad national membership with competitive deposit yields and full lending suite. Represents the broader incumbent/digital CU competitive threat Foothill faces in deposit acquisition and member retention.

Regional players

• Premier America Credit Union: Southern California credit union serving LA-area employer groups with comparable checking, savings, mortgage, and consumer lending products. Similar scale and SEG-acquisition approach.
• Mission Federal Credit Union: San Diego-area community credit union with similar SEG-driven membership and comparable consumer banking products. Useful Southern California regional benchmark, though serving a distinct metro from Foothill.
• Logix Federal Credit Union: Southern California credit union with similar community-banking orientation, comparable mortgage and deposit products, but somewhat broader geographic footprint across LA County and Ventura County.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/foothillcu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyvdIcgKPMNK6FKzRD2z8XA
• Facebookfacebook.com/FoothillCU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/foothill-credit-union
• Instagraminstagram.com/foothillcreditunion

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Foothill Credit Union