Making the Switch
You’re Not Just a Member, You’re an Owner
In today’s economic environment, don’t overlook the benefits of membership in a locally-owned financial cooperative, where the participation of each and every member results in mutually beneficial rewards versus the profits generated by banks for the benefit of their shareholders.
Returning Value to Members
The fundamental principal of any financial cooperative is that by pooling resources, everyone benefits. At SF Fire Credit Union, our mission is to operate with efficiency and return as much of our earnings as possible to members in the form of affordable loan rates, lower fees and higher returns on deposits.
This simple formula means that when more members use the full range of products available to them, the better the benefit to everyone; conversely, if members only choose to participate with a single product or cause any form of a loss, all members will share the burden of higher costs and less than market-leading rates.
The Credit Union Movement is Larger Than You Might Think
Credit Unions like ours have been helping people by providing financial services to the communities they serve for decades. While many understand the Credit Union business model of being a financial cooperative with the goal of returning as much value to members as possible, you might be surprised at the level of cooperation and partnerships that exists among Credit Unions to bring enhanced services to all 90 million members across the United States.
Shared Branching & CO-OP Network ATMs
Credit Unions, including SF Fire Credit Union, have joined together in a cooperative effort to bring members the convenience of the CU Service Centers® Network. Members can perform many financial transactions and obtain services at branches of Credit Unions other than their own. This sharing of resources allows participating Credit Union members access to over 4,400 branches nationwide.
Also, Credit Unions like ours have joined together to form the CO-OP™ Network to provide Credit Union members access to over 28,000 surcharge-free ATMs (including over 9,000 that accept deposits) throughout the United States and Canada. This is another example of Credit Unions helping Credit Unions provide our collective membership expanded services.
Auto Buying Services
AutoSmart is the car buying tool developed by Credit Union Direct Lending (CUDL) to help Credit Union members make informed car-buying choices and utilize their Credit Union financing options at over 9,500 participating auto dealerships across the country.
Autoland is another FREE benefit of membership that gives you the option of having an Autoland consultant take over the hassle of purchasing or trading-in a car for you. They’ll take care of everything-from research, finding the best deals, and even delivering the car to your workplace or home.
Make Your Move
We’ve come a long way from our humble beginnings in 1951, operating out of a cash box at Engine 17, to our wide-ranging products, services and access – including our soon-to-launch mobile banking, our Platinum Visa Credit Card featuring the same rate for purchases and cash advances plus no fees for balance transfers, our seven-days-a-week call center and live web chat. From competitive mortgage rates to our no-monthly-fee Personal Checking and ATM Anywhere Access, you’ll find SF Fire Credit Union to be the perfect partner for all your banking needs.
Am I Eligible to Join?
The following groups are eligible for membership at San Francisco Fire Credit Union:
- Firefighters of the San Francisco Fire Department
- Firefighters who live or work in San Francisco, San Mateo or Marin County
- Firefighters who are active members of the California State Firefighters’ Association
- Active members of the California State Firefighters’ Association
- Family of San Francisco Fire Credit Union members
- Individuals who live, work, worship or attend school in San Francisco, San Mateo or Marin County
How to Apply for Membership
You will need the following information during this process:
- Driver’s license
- Previous home address (if you have lived at your current home address less than two years)
- U.S. Social Security number
- Credit or debit card or checking account to fund the account
- You must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. resident alien
- One-time $5 membership fee
Please click here to learn more about Eligibility and opening a New Account.