Schoolsfirst Federal Credit Union and Schools Financial Credit Union announce plans to merge, expanding benefits and access for school employees statewide
SANTA ANA, CA (January 22, 2019) — SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, based in Santa Ana, Calif., and Schools Financial Credit Union, based in Sacramento, Calif., today announced in a joint statement that the two credit unions have reached a tentative agreement to merge. Bill Cheney, President/CEO of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, and Tim Marriott, CEO of Schools Financial Credit Union, pointed to strong synergies the merger would achieve to benefit Members of both institutions.
“We are aligned in so many ways,” Cheney said. “We share a founding principle of serving school employees and their families, a Member- and teammember-centric culture, and a commitment to providing unique and highly competitive products and services to help better Members’ financial well-being.”
SchoolsFirst FCU has been serving school employees and their families since 1934. With more than 860,000 Members, over $15.2 billion in assets and 50 branches throughout Southern California, SchoolsFirst FCU is the largest credit union in California and the largest in the country serving the educational community.
Schools Financial Credit Union was formed in 1933 by a small group of teachers to provide Members with access to low-cost loans. Today the credit union serves more than 150,000 Members, with $1.9 billion in assets and 11 branches in the Sacramento area.
Both credit unions have developed and maintain strong relationships with many K-12 school districts, community colleges and universities, and school employee associations throughout California, and have earned reputations for providing exceptional service to their Members. According to Marriott, “By joining our two thriving credit unions and combining our resources, we are able to better serve our collective Members—and those to come—in helping them build a secure financial future.”
Cheney added, “We’re excited about how our combined Members will benefit from this union of two financially strong credit unions. They’ll have access to a full range of highly competitive, low- to no-fee products and services—from savings and loans to investment, retirement and insurance—many designed specifically for the unique needs of school employees. In addition, Members will have access to more than 60 branches and over 300 credit union ATMs spanning California, and the 30,000 fee-free CO-OP ATMs nationwide.”
Following approval by Schools Financial Credit Union Membership and regulatory authorities, the merger will be completed before the end of the year. The combined credit union will operate under the SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union name and charter. Bill Cheney will serve as President/CEO of the combined SchoolsFirst FCU organization, which will maintain its headquarters in Santa Ana, Calif. Tim Marriott will join the SchoolsFirst FCU executive leadership team.
About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is the fifth largest credit union in the country and has been recognized by Forbes as the number one credit union in California for five consecutive years. Serving school employees and their families, the organization is dedicated to delivering World-Class Personal Service and improving the financial lives of its Members. Today they serve more than 1.3 million Members with a full range of financial products and services. SchoolsFirst FCU was founded in 1934, when 126 school employees pooled $1,200 and established a Member-owned cooperative to help improve each other's lives. In 2024, the Credit Union reported more than $30 billion in assets and remains the largest credit union in California. For more information about SchoolsFirst FCU, visit schoolsfirstfcu.org.
Insured by NCUA.
About Schools Financial Credit Union
Schools Financial Credit Union serves more than 150,000 Members, has $1.9 billion in assets, 11 branches and 300 employees. The organization was chartered in 1933 by a group of seven teachers who pooled their funds for the purpose of creating a savings cooperative where Members could access low-cost loans. For more information, please visit schools.org.
