Denise K., Member Since 2000
DENISE K. MEMBER SINCE 2000

SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

We put schools first — starting with you.

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BENEFITS SAVINGS FAQS

Products distinctly designed for the demands you face every day.

Maximize Your Savings

Summer Saver's 6.50% APY1 will boost your savings for the summer and beyond.

Earn Cash Back

School Employee Credit Card earns 1.5% cash back, deposited into your Summer Saver.2

Take a Payment Break

School Employee Auto Loan lets you skip two monthly payments during the summer.3

Get the Gear You Need

Uniform and Classroom Supplies Loans help you buy what you need at 0% APR.4

Benjamin V., Member Since 2007
BEN V. MEMBER SINCE 2007

1.5 million Members. One shared purpose.

School employees are at the heart of everything we do. You face unique financial challenges — from stretching your paycheck through the summer, to covering classroom supplies out of pocket, to planning for retirement with confidence. That’s why every product and service we offer is designed with you in mind. Now you can be part of something powerful: the largest Credit Union serving school employees, and the largest in California, with more than 1.5 million Members sharing a common purpose. Our Members' trust and loyalty has built a financially strong institution that’s here to support you with World-Class Personal Service — helping you improve your financial life every step of the way.

Once you join, your immediate family members become eligible to join too.

 

You work hard for your money, and we want you to keep more of it.

According to a recent report from America's Credit Unions:5,6,7

$508 Million

Direct financial benefits provided to Members in 2024.

$756

Average savings for every Member household.

$1,721

Average savings for Member households active in more products and services.

Being dedicated to serving school employees comes with a few gold stars.

J.D. Power

#1 Credit Union
Member Banking Satisfaction

Forbest Best-in-State Credit Unions award logo, 2025.

Forbes

Best Credit Union in California

Recognition: Newsweek - Best Banks and Credit Unions

Newsweek

America’s Best
Regional Banks and Credit Unions

Recognition: LA Times - Top Credit Unions in Southern California

Los Angeles Times

#1 Credit Union in SoCal

Recognition: OC Register Best of Orange County 2024 - Best Credit Union

The Orange County Register

Readers’ Choice Awards
Best Credit Union in Orange County

Recognition:

Style Magazine

Readers’ Choice Awards
Best Credit Union in the Greater Sacramento Region

Press-Enterprise

Readers’ Choice Awards
Favorite Credit Union
in the Inland Empire

Daily Breeze

Readers’ Choice Awards
Best Credit Union
in Gardena and Torrance

Recognition: Coachella Valley Independent - Best Credit Union in the Coachella Valley

Readers' Picks

Best Credit Union in Coachella Valley

Daily News

Readers’ Choice Awards
Favorite Credit Union in Pasadena

Julie T., Member Since 2006
Julie T. MEMBER SINCE 2006

Teaching with heart. Banking with ease.

Julie's formula for teaching fourth graders is successful: She's been recognized as Teacher of the Year for her work as an elementary school teacher. And because she's busy, she counts on us to help keep her financial life on track — relying heavily on Mobile Banking. "The convenience of Mobile Banking has made my life so easy," she says.

She also credits the Summer Saver account for making vacation season more enjoyable, minimizing financial stress. A Member since 2006, Julie encourages others to become Members too.

FAQs

You're eligible for Membership if you're employed by:

  • An accredited California school or district, including:
    • Public, private or charter K–12 schools.
    • Colleges and universities.
  • An accredited California diocesan school. Example: Catholic schools operated by a diocese.

You’re ineligible for Membership if the religious school you work at is nonaccredited. Example: a nonaccredited California school or preschool run by a church organization.

If you're currently employed by a school or district, please provide your most recent pay stub. If you're retired, provide a pension statement instead.

Once you join, you’re a Member for life — even if you change careers, retire or move out of state. If you’re no longer employed by a school or retire, you may no longer be eligible for school employee products and services.

No, independent vendors, contractors or sub-contractors of a California school or district are ineligible for Membership. You must be fully employed by a school or district to become a Member.

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Be sure you have your eligibility documentation ready.

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Bring your eligibility documentation with you.

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Disclosures

APR = Annual Percentage Rate. All loans are subject to approval.

  1. APY = Annual Percentage Yield. Must be a current school employee or strong dependency company employee in California to qualify for Summer Saver; retired employees are not eligible. Limited to one share per eligible Member. Deposits by payroll deduction, direct deposit or automatic monthly share-to-share transfer only. Minimum monthly deposit is $1; maximum is $2,000.
  2. Earn 1.5% cash back on qualifying purchases. Cash advances, balance transfers, and returns are not eligible for cash back. Deposits will be made monthly to a Summer Saver account. If no Summer Saver share is open, deposit will be placed in Member's Primary Share 01 (Savings). Account must be open, current and in good standing.
  3. Restrictions apply. Interest will continue to accrue during the skip payment period.
  4. Rate quoted reflects a 0.75% discount for automatic payment transfer from a SchoolsFirst FCU savings or checking account. Requires at least one recently posted payroll deduction or direct deposit of at least $100 for Classroom Supplies Loan and $50 for Uniform Loan, into a SchoolsFirst FCU share account.
  5. 2024: America's Credit Unions Membership Benefits Report for SchoolsFirst FCU. Source: Datatrac, NCUA and America's Credit Unions.
  6. Assumes 2.1 Credit Union Members per household.
  7. A "loyal Member" is assumed to have a $30,000, 60-month new auto loan, a classic credit card with an average balance of $5,000, a $200,000, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is replaced with a 5-year adjustable-rate mortgage if it yields a greater benefit as it is assumed more in demand), $5,000 in an interest-bearing checking account, $10,000 in a one-year certificate account, and $2,500 in a money market account.