National Association of Latino Credit Union Professionals Honors SchoolsFirst FCU President Jose Lara with Legacy Leader Award
February 18, 2026
Jose Lara, president of SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, received the Legacy Leader Award from the National Association of Latino Credit Union Professionals (NLCUP) during the annual NLCUP conference themed Sembrando Sueños – Sowing Dreams – held in Long Beach, Calif., Feb. 1 – 4.
Lara’s leadership, advocacy and service have had a lasting impact on Latino communities and the credit union movement. In 2006, Lara was instrumental in establishing Comunidad Latino Federal Credit Union in Santa Ana, Calif., founded on the principal of providing financial services and literacy for underserved immigrant families and now serves over 3,000 members.
"I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from NLCUP," Lara said. "This award reflects the collective efforts of our shared values as credit union leaders and our commitment to serving our communities with integrity and excellence. It’s a privilege to be part of a movement that makes financial well-being attainable for all."
As president of California’s largest credit union, Lara has played a key role in advancing SchoolsFirst FCU’s mission to deliver World-Class Personal Service and improve financial well-being of school employees and their families. Since assuming leadership in 2022, both Membership and assets have increased more than 25 percent.
About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is the largest credit union serving school employees, and for the seventh year in a row, Forbes has named SchoolsFirst FCU the top credit union in California. Serving school employees and their families, the organization is dedicated to delivering World-Class Personal Service and improving the financial lives of its Members. In J.D. Power’s 2025 inaugural U.S. Credit Union Satisfaction Study, its Members ranked them #1 for overall satisfaction. Today they serve more than 1.5 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. The Credit Union has more than $35 billion in assets and remains the largest credit union in California and the third largest credit union in the United States. For more information about SchoolsFirst FCU, visit schoolsfirstfcu.org.
Insured by NCUA.
Contact:
Robin Wachner
Vice President, Communications & Member Engagement
media@schoolsfirstfcu.org
