Financial: Best Credit Union

1. SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

Multiple locations; schoolsfirstfcu.org

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is back in the top spot for serving the financial needs of school employees and their families. The fifth largest credit union in the United States, SchoolsFirst FCU has 70 branches in California, including 22 in Orange County, and 1.2 million members throughout the state.

Aside from typical banking services such as credit cards, checking and savings accounts, auto loans, insurance, investment and retirement accounts and more, member-owned SchoolsFirst caters to the unique needs of educators.

“We are truly focused on our school employee members and finding financial solutions that help them as they focus on building that future for our communities,” said Valerie Godsey, manager, member & teammember communications.

Those services include interest-free classroom supply loans up to $1,000 and interest-free uniform loans up to $500 as well as a special school employee mortgage and a special school employee credit card. Then there’s the summer saver, a specialized savings product, to put money aside and offset the lack of pay in the summer and paycheck planner that spreads out the members’ pay to cover summer months.

“We are appreciative of our members and their extraordinary commitment to uplifting the communities we serve, and we thank them for recognizing us as one of the best credit unions in Orange County,” CEO Bill Cheney said.

PAUL BERSEBACH, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union was the top credit union in Best of Orange County voting.

— Magda Liszewska

2. Orange County’s Credit Union

Multiple locations; orangecountyscu.org

Orange County’s Credit Union continues being a favorite among Orange County residents. The not-for-profit financial institution was established in 1938 to serve local county government officials, but in the 1990s expanded to include all O.C. residents. It now has nine branches in Orange County and one in Long Beach, offering a wide range of services such as checking, savings and youth accounts, auto, home and personal loans, credit cards, investments and more.

These days, anyone who lives or works in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties can become a member. Earlier this year, the credit union reported a membership of 123,000 and more than $2.3 billion in assets.

Orange County’s Credit Union does not operate on a sales-driven model, said Amber Cisneros, chief member experience officer.

“Our associates take the time to listen to our members’ stories to get to the root of their financial needs,” she said.

Wescom Credit Union also is no stranger to the Best of Orange County ranking. The nonprofit, member-owned financial institution has been around since 1934 when it was founded by a telephone company employees. Now, it’s open to anyone in Southern California who is interested in a checking or savings account, credit cards, loans, insurance or investments.

Wescom also has youth accounts for its youngest members looking to save for the future. Members can take advantage of benefits such as higher savings yields, lower loan rates and reduced fees. As of last year, Wescom had more than 200,000 members and $5 billion in assets, which makes it one of the largest credit unions in the country.

Aside from typical financial services, Wescom gets involved in the communities it serves through Wescom Foundation, a charity which supports community-based organizations. The foundation awards strategic grants to nonprofits addressing financial wellness, disaster response, disaster relief and critical human needs.

3. Wescom Credit Union

Multiple locations, wescom.org