Kauai Federal Credit Union

What Kauai Federal Credit Union does

Kauai Federal Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative founded in 1947, operating exclusively on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. As the first and only Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)-certified credit union on Kauai and a recognized Minority Depository Institution (MDI), it serves approximately 7,400 members across three physical branches in Kapaa, Kilauea, and Lihue, plus digital channels. Membership eligibility is anchored in field-of-membership criteria spanning federal/state/county government employees, Kauai Community College affiliates, employees of 100+ Lōkahi Partner businesses, and local residents. Total assets stood at $196.3 million as of 2025, with a loan portfolio of $158.3 million and total shares/deposits of $145.1 million; net worth of $16.3 million equates to an 8.3% net worth-to-assets ratio, well above the 7% NCUA "well-capitalized" threshold.

The credit union's product suite is anchored on the Nalu Checking account (cash-back rewards), Anuenue Savings (dividend-bearing), share certificates, and the Pueo youth account, paired against a consumer and business lending book covering auto loans, personal loans, credit cards, mortgages, HELOCs, and small business loans. Technology infrastructure is largely outsourced: the itsme247.com platform provides online and account servicing, a proprietary mobile app integrates Apple Pay/Google Pay/Samsung Pay via tokenization, Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs) are deployed at the Kapaa branch, and third-party processors handle mortgage origination (mymortgage-online.com), business loan intake (Judi.ai), and bill payment (K Pay via messagepay.com). Surcharge-free ATM access is delivered through the Co-op shared branch/ATM network. Strategic non-banking assets include the Kalukalu at 1624 economic resilience center in Kapaa (a wholly owned subsidiary offering CDFI products, housing resources, and small business incubation), the Kauai FCU Foundation, and a wealth management referral partnership with INPAC Wealth Solutions.

Monetization follows the standard credit union model: net interest income of $7.4 million in 2025 (up from $5.7 million in 2024) on a $158 million loan book and an investment portfolio of federal agency securities and capital stock, supplemented by transactional fee income (per a published fee schedule) and ancillary revenue from wealth-management referrals. The cooperative charter means residual earnings are returned to members as higher savings dividends and lower loan rates rather than distributed to external shareholders. Customer segments are deliberately diversified across consumer (government employees, students, residents), small business (Lōkahi Partners), and underserved community members reached via targeted programs such as the $50,000 Native Hawaiian Down Payment Assistance and $50,000 First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance products developed through the Filene Racial Economic Equity Incubator.

Name

Kauai Federal Credit Union

Legal name

Kaua'i Federal Credit Union

Website

https://kauaicreditunion.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kauai Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, CDFI-certified cooperative founded in 1947, serving approximately 7,400 members on Kauai, Hawaii through three branches and digital channels. It offers deposit products, consumer and business loans, credit cards with mobile wallet support, and community development financial services including down payment assistance programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Retail Banking

NAICS

Credit Unions (52213)

SIC

Savings Institution, Federally Chartered (6035)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Development Credit Unions (CDCUs) (FSABAEAC)

Keywords

• Retail banking services
• Consumer lending
• Community development finance
• Mortgage and home loans
• Credit union services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lihue

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Interest Income: Interest earned on loan portfolio including auto loans, personal loans, credit cards, home loans, and business loans
2. Income from Investments: Returns on investment portfolio including Federal Agency Securities, Capital Stock, and other investments
3. Fee Income: Various banking fees including those detailed in the Fee Schedule document
4. Dividend Payments to Members: Credit union distributes earnings back to members as dividends on shares and deposits

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kauai Federal Credit Union is a member-owned cooperative financial institution serving Kauai residents with deposit products (Nalu Checking, Anuenue Savings, Certificates, Pueo Youth Accounts), loan products (Auto, Personal, Credit Cards, Home Loans, HELOC, Business Loans), and digital banking services (Online and Mobile Banking, K Pay bill payment). It is also the first and only CDFI-certified credit union on Kauai, offering community development financial products including down payment assistance and small business support through its Kalukalu at 1624 economic resilience center.

Product overview

Kauai Federal Credit Union is a community development credit union offering a comprehensive suite of personal and business banking products. The core offerings include Nalu Checking Accounts (with cash back rewards), Anuenue Savings Accounts, Certificates/Investments, and Youth Accounts (Pueo). Loan products span Auto Loans, Personal Loans (including Signature and Premium Signature loans), Credit Cards (with mobile wallet and rewards features), Home Loans with down payment assistance programs ($50K Native Hawaiian and $50K First-Time Homebuyer programs), HELOC products, and Business Loans. Digital services include Online Banking via itsme247.com, a Mobile Banking App with contactless payment support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), K Pay bill payment, and Financial Calculators. The credit union also operates Kalukalu at 1624, an economic resilience center offering CDFI products, housing resources, and small business support. Third-party integrations include Judi.ai for business loan applications, Co-op ATM Network for surcharge-free ATM access, SmartSheet for community forms, and mortgage/loan application platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nalu Checking: Checking account product offering cash back rewards
• Anuenue Savings
• Kalukalu at 1624
• INPAC Wealth Solutions
• Lōkahi Partners
• Kauai FCU Foundation

Products and services

• Nalu Checking Accounts Checking account product with cash back rewards for individual members, accessible 24/7 through online and mobile banking.
• Anuenue Savings Accounts Savings account product paying dividends to members with 24/7 access via online and mobile banking.
• Certificates (Share Certificates) Term share certificate accounts offering competitive dividend rates as part of the deposit products suite.
• Pueo Youth Accounts Savings and checking accounts designed for youth members to encourage financial literacy from an early age.
• Auto Loans Financing for new and used vehicles with competitive rates and local support for individual members.
• Personal Loans Unsecured Signature and Premium Signature loans for various personal needs, available with promotional rates.
• Credit Cards Credit card products featuring mobile wallet support (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), tap-to-pay, tokenization, and a rewards program.
• Home Loans / Real Estate Loans Mortgage products including conventional mortgages, down payment assistance programs for Native Hawaiians and first-time homebuyers, with competitive rates and local support.
• Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Home equity line of credit allowing members to access home equity with an introductory rate of 4.99% APR for two years.
• Business Loans Loans for small business needs including general business financing and business vehicle financing, applied for online.
• Online Banking Digital banking platform providing 24/7 account access, bill payment, fund transfers, and account management through web.
• K Pay Bill Payment Third-party bill payment service enabling members to pay bills conveniently online, integrated with online banking.
• Mobile Banking App
• Kalukalu at 1624 Economic Resilience Center Community development hub at 1624 Kuhio Highway in Kapaa, offering CDFI products, housing stability resources, small business support, and community programs.
• Lōkahi Partnership Program Business partnership program allowing Kauai-based organizations to offer credit union membership to employees and immediate family members at no cost, with access to low rates and financial planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Net worth grew by 39.5% year-over-year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hawaiian Community AssetscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership for Racial Economic Equity Incubator with Hawaiian Community Assets developing unique products to build economic resilience for underserved community members including down payment assistance program, construction loans, and cesspool-to-septic conversion incentives.
• Lokahi Partners (100+ local businesses)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Over 100 Kauai-based organizations and businesses including Common Ground, Kauai Kilohana Partners Money Management, Tamba Surf Company, Kauai Kookie, Nakamura Construction, The Bull Shed, and many more. Partners can offer Kauai FCU membership to all employees and immediate family members with no cost to become a partner.
• Filene Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of eight community partnerships across the U.S. selected for Filene's inaugural Racial Economic Equity Incubator program to address decades of disinvestment and strengthen credit unions from communities of color through innovative research and incubation.
• Hawaii Community LendingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered to qualify Kauai families for mortgages. Kauai FCU provided $12,500 in grant funds matched with $37,500 from Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines under Member Impact Fund to support free homebuyer education and pre-purchase counseling.
• Common Ground KauaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDFI funding supports tropical agroforestry with multiple tiers of crops leading to greater biodiversity. Helped build a Food Innovation Center that has financed 10 businesses and created 50 jobs. Supports incubator program for food and beverage entrepreneurs.
• INPAC Wealth SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal wealth management and financial planning firm partnership established in 2022 to provide weekly training sessions for staff and members including Lōkahi partners. Services available to members on referral.
• County of KauaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for rental relief programs (dispersed $27.5M in rent and utilities assistance), economic recovery and resiliency resources through Kupa'a Kauai platform, and various community development initiatives.
• U.S. Small Business AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpened SBA Business Recovery Center in Kapaa to provide services to small businesses impacted by the Maui wildfires, partnering with Hawaii Small Business Development Center.
• Hawaii Lifeguards AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner$3,500 grant to HLA Kauai Chapter to overcome 2023 funding constraints for summer programs. Supports the Kauai Keiki and Junior Lifeguard program for youth ages 8-17.
• National Credit Union LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding capacity for more CDFI products and services statewide through meetings with NCUA Chairman Rodney Hood and Hawaii Credit Union League.
• Waiwai CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Doughnut Economy model and regenerative economy initiatives, connecting community development with ecological principles.
• Malama HuliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in restoration of the 600-year-old Alakoko fishpond wall, with close to 2000 volunteers gathering to restore the historic conservation effort.
• Anaina Hou Community ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at Hawaii Energy Policy Forum's 20th Anniversary Legislative Briefing, supporting Hawaii's goal of reaching 100% renewable energy portfolio standard by 2045.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Savings Bank (FHB): One of Hawaii's largest banks with statewide retail presence including Kauai branches. Comparable because both compete for the same consumer deposits, mortgages, and small business relationships on Kauai, though ASB offers a much broader banking and wealth management portfolio.
• Central Pacific Bank: Hawaii-headquartered commercial bank offering consumer and business banking. Comparable as a competitor for Kauai retail and small business banking relationships, though focused primarily on Oahu with statewide digital reach.
• Bank of Hawaii: Major Hawaii-headquartered commercial bank with statewide branch network. Comparable as a competing financial institution on Kauai offering deposits, mortgages, and business banking, with a much larger asset base and broader corporate banking capabilities.
• First Hawaiian Bank: Hawaii's largest bank with comprehensive retail, commercial, and wealth services statewide. Comparable as a direct competitor on Kauai for deposits, mortgages, and small business banking, though at vastly larger scale and broader product breadth.

Direct peers

• HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union: Largest credit union in Hawaii with statewide membership including all islands. Comparable because both operate community credit union models in Hawaii, serve overlapping geographic markets (including Kauai), and offer comparable deposit, loan, and digital banking products.
• Hawaii State Federal Credit Union: Hawaii-based community credit union serving state and county employees across multiple Hawaiian islands. Comparable because both are Hawaii-based, government-employee-anchored credit unions offering similar deposit, lending, and digital products to a similar field-of-membership demographic.
• Big Island Federal Credit Union: Hawaii Island-based community credit union. Comparable as a similarly-sized neighbor-island credit union operating under NCUA oversight, serving local government employees, and offering a similar core banking suite in a geographically constrained market.
• Maui Federal Credit Union: Neighbor island credit union serving Maui County. Highly comparable because both are small-to-mid-size island credit unions with similar asset bases, similar member demographics (government employees, educators, local businesses), and similar product mixes including mortgages, auto loans, and digital banking.
• Honolulu Federal Credit Union: Hawaii-based community credit union serving Honolulu city and county employees. Comparable as a Hawaii-headquartered, government-employee-anchored credit union with similar community development orientation and product mix.

Others

• Common Ground Kauai (CDFI Partner): Kauai-based nonprofit CDFI focused on tropical agroforestry and food innovation. Comparable because it operates as a CDFI on Kauai and the credit union funds its programs, but it is a partner/ecosystem participant rather than a direct financial competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/kauaicreditunion

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Kauai Federal Credit Union