Arizona Federal Credit Union
 | |
| Credit union | |
| Industry | Financial services |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Headquarters |
Phoenix, Arizona United States |
Area served | Anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school within Maricopa County or Pinal County |
Key people |
Cathleen Gleason, Board of Directors Chair Ronald L. Westad, President/CEO |
| Products | Savings; Checking; Consumer loans; Mortgages; Credit cards; Investments |
| Total assets | $1.3B USD |
| Website | ArizonaFederal.org |
Arizona Federal Credit Union (or Arizona Federal) is a federally insured $1.3 billion, 125,000 member, natural person credit union headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, chartered and regulated under the authority of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). As of April 2015, there are 16 ServUs Center locations in the metropolitan Phoenix area.
History
Arizona Federal was established in 1936 as the Phoenix City Employees Federal Credit Union[1] and has grown significantly through the years as a result of merging with the credit unions of other local municipalities, through a conversion to a community charter, and by benefiting from the boom in population throughout the metro-Phoenix area.
In February 2009, Arizona Federal announced a loss of $64 million for the fourth quarter of 2008, and a total loss of over $115 million for 2008, the second largest annual loss ever for a credit union.[2] In December 2009, Arizona Federal announced plans to close eight branches.[3]
In 2012, Arizona Federal reported net income of over $44 million for the year, with a net worth ratio of 9.71%, earning the credit union "well capitalized" status with the National Credit Union Administration. On December 31, 2012, Arizona Federal returned $3 million in excess earnings to actively participating members through a program called PLUs (Payback for Loyalty to Us), which coincided with the credit union reintroducing itself with a renewed emphasis on the cooperative model (Experience the Power of Us). On January 1, 2013, Arizona Federal introduced a monthly membership fee of $3 per month. On December 31, 2013, Arizona Federal returned $5 million to its participating members and on December 31, 2014, PLUs payments to members totaled $6 million.
In 2015, Arizona Federal introduced personal finance web series: My Comeback. Through this reality show, Arizona Federal partnered contestants with Arizona Federal financial coaches, who would assist the contestants in turning around their financial lives. While the first season of the reality show is still underway as of April 24, 2015, the person(s) competing on the reality show have the opportunity to win $20,000 for making the biggest financial comeback.
Arizona Federal maintains a unique pricing strategy. Its member/owners contribute monthly membership dues of $3 to the cooperative, which provides them with access to all of the credit union's services including: identity protection and credit monitoring services, personal financial management software, mobile apps and mobile deposit services, complimentary credit report review and consultation, transaction services, car buying services, complimentary insurance consultation, investment services, discounts at national retailers, and more. Participating members also share in the proceeds of the credit union through the PLUs program - indicative of a true cooperative business model.
Community Services
Arizona Federal Credit Union in Phoenix is active in local philanthropic and financial education activities through its Community Services department. Some of the activities include: pairing with local city governments to provide financial education workshops for their employees, donating scholarship monies for local higher education schools to distribute, providing assistance to the Phoenix 100 Club through employee giving, organizing holiday celebration including gifts, needed basics and lunch for a local school in need, and more.
References
- ↑ Arizona Federal Credit Union Ready for Steady Growth. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. 9 Dec. 2003.
- ↑ Wiles, Russ. Ariz. Federal Credit Union closing 4 branches. The Arizona Republic 13 Feb. 2009
- ↑ Wiles, Russ. Ariz. Federal Credit Union to close 8 branches. The Arizona Republic. 10 Dec. 2009.