Orange County's Credit Union
Orange County’s Credit Union is a not-for-profit community-chartered credit union in California serving member-owners who live or work in Orange and Riverside Counties, and the communities of Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood and Cerritos. As of January 2009, Orange County’s Credit Union reported it was ranked in the top two percent of credit unions nationwide based on assets of over $922 million and was serving over 79,000 Member-Owners ,.
Mission
The Credit Union states its mission is to maintain financial strength in order to provide Member-owners with exceptional personal service, solid financial solutions, and convenient delivery channels throughout every season of life.
History
- 1938 - Orange County’s Credit Union established as “The Orange County Employees Credit Union” with an initial deposit of $2,663 and J. Arthur Anderson serves as the first president.
- 1953 - Adopts “Once a Member, Always a Member” policy.
- 1982 - Installs 1st ATM at the Civic Center Branch in Santa Ana, CA.
- 2001 - Membership expands to Long Beach, Signal Hill, Cerritos and Lakewood.
- 2002 - Opens a new headquarters in Santa Ana, CA.
- 2006 - Introduces in-house mortgage company.
- 2008 - Membership expands to Riverside County.
- 2008 - Opens first in-store Albertsons branches in Irvine and Norco, CA.
- 2008 - Celebrates 70th Anniversary.
- 2008 - Receives 2008 Award for Workplace Excellence.
70th Anniversary Community Spirit Project
In August 2008, Orange County’s Credit Union and its Membership donated over $13,500 to sponsor the new Endangered-Species Carrousel at the Santa Ana Zoo in Prentice Park. The Santa Ana Zoo’s new Endangered-Species Carrousel is designed to educate the community about the value of environmental conservation through the preservation of endangered animals. The donation covered the sponsorship of two endangered species featured on the carrousel - Sea otter and the Hawaiian monk seal.
2008 Award for Workplace Excellence
Orange County’s Credit Union received the 2008 Award for Workplace Excellence from Peter Barron Stark & Associates. Recipients of the Award exceeded an overall “Best of the Best Benchmark” scoring a favorable response of at least 80% on their Employee Opinion Survey (EOS). The Award for Workplace Excellence is based solely on the opinions of the employees unlike many other workplace awards which are based on administrators’ opinions. Orange County’s Credit Union scored in the top tier of the “Best” receiving an overall 90.8% favorable rating by its Associates. "We’ve received many awards over our 70-year history, but this Award is especially meaningful for the Credit Union because it recognizes our Associates’ extreme satisfaction with our culture and organization," commented Shruti Miyashiro, President and CEO of Orange County’s Credit Union.
Products and Services
The Credit Union offers:
- Sand Dollar Savings Club – A banking program for kids ages 12 & under
- Pacific Youth Accounts – Checking and savings for students ages 13 - 25
- Checking & Savings Accounts
- Membership Rewards Program
- Vehicle Loans – Auto, RV, Boat
- Personal Loans
- Credit Cards
- Home Loans
- Home Equity Loans
- Home Equity Lines of Credit
- Investment Services
- Insurance Services
- Retirement Planning
- Business Services
- Special Employee Groups – Businesses offer Credit Union products and services directly to their employees
Deposits Federally Insured
Orange County’s Credit Union Membership deposits are insured by the NCUA up to $250,000 all deposits types.. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is the federal agency that regulates a federal fund backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government to insure deposits in federal and most state-chartered credit unions. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 increased the insurance coverage up to $250,000 until December 31, 2009.
The Credit Union Advantage
According the California Credit Union League Web site, credit unions exist to serve their member-owners. Credit unions are democratic and member-owners have the power to direct credit union policy. Credit union elections are based on a one-member, one-vote structure. This structure is in contrast to for-profit, public companies where stockholders vote according to the number of shares they own. The credit union is a not-for-profit financial institution which enables them to share revenues with its members by offering competitive loan and savings rates. For more information, go to http://www.ccul.org/.