The History of Orange County's Credit Union

Website_2017_icons_about_us_mission_and_history.pngOriginally chartered in 1938 as "The Orange County Employees Credit Union," Orange County's Credit Union was formed to provide for the financial needs of local county government employees. During the 1990s, the Credit Union expanded its Membership to include all residents of Orange County, and today, is open to everyone living or working in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties. As of March 31, 2024, Orange County's Credit Union reported its assets at more than $2.5 billion and Membership exceeding 140,000.

Our Mission:

Simple Banking,
For People, Not Profit.

Our Vision:

We do everything from the Member's perspective, transforming the banking experience.

1938 – Orange County's Credit Union is established in 1938 as "The Orange County Employees Credit Union" with its first president, J. Arthur Anderson and initial deposits of $2,663.

1940 – The Credit Union applies for a State Charter under the California Credit Union Act of 1939.

1953 – The Board adopts the "Once a Member, always a Member" policy which is still in effect today.

1964 – As Membership swells to 3,000 Members, the Credit Union reaches its first million dollars in assets.

1981 – Greg Smith is appointed as President/CEO.

1982 – The first Credit Union ATM is installed at the Civic Center branch in downtown Santa Ana.

1985 – Judith A. McCartney is appointed as President/CEO.

1987 – SoCal FCU merges into Orange County’s CU.

1989 – 92 – The Credit Union opens locations in Anaheim and Lake Forest.

1993 – Orange Coast FCU and Uniwest FCU merge into Orange County’s CU.

1997 – Online (PC) banking is introduced to Members.

1999 – The charter changes from federal to state, and is renamed to Orange County’s Credit Union.

2000 – Anaheim City ECU/Anaheim Area CU merges into Orange County’s CU.

2001 – The Credit Union achieves the milestone of $500 million in assets and enters the millennium serving Orange County, Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, and Cerritos residents.

2002 – The Credit Union’s Headquarters moves from its previous location on Dyer Road to its new 48,000-square-foot building at St. Andrew Place in Santa Ana, CA.

2003 – Coastline Community CU merges into Orange County’s CU.

2004 – Buena Park City EFCU and Verizon Employees FCU merge into Orange County’s CU.

2005 – Pacific and Sand Dollar youth accounts are introduced.

2006 – The Credit Union launches its Relationship Rewards program and creates its in-house mortgage team, generating $106 million in new home loans for Members.

2007 – Shruti Miyashiro is appointed as President/CEO.

2008 – Membership expands to include anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Riverside County. New branches are opened in Irvine and Yorba Linda. Orange County's Credit Union celebrates its 70th anniversary and receives the 2008 Award for Workplace Excellence.

2009 – The Credit Union establishes its philanthropic partnership with CHOC Children’s and announces its first Annual Youth Scholarship Program. Former CEO, Judith A. McCartney, receives the Leo H. Shapiro Lifetime Achievement Award from California Credit Union League.

2010 – The Credit Union launches Mobile Banking to the delight of tech-savvy Members, receives the Top Workplace Award, and ranks in the Top 10 of Mid-Size Companies in Orange County.

2012 – The Credit Union achieves the milestone of $1 billion in assets.

2013 – The Credit Union receives a Workplace Excellence Award from Peter Barron Stark Companies. The new Irvine Branch opens in the Woodbury Town Center.

2014 – The Credit Union receives a Top Workplace Award, Best of OC Award, and ranks in the Top 20 of Mid-Size Companies in Orange County and Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County.

2015 – Orange County’s Credit Union begins offering jumbo mortgage loans. The Credit Union receives a Best of OC Award and ranks in the Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County.

2016 – Orange County’s Credit Union receives a Best of OC Award and a Workplace Excellence Award from Peter Barron Stark Companies, and ranks in the Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County. The Credit Union merges with Cherry EFCU.

2017 – With $1.4 billion in assets, Orange County's Credit Union reaches the 100,000 Member milestone, and begins offering adjustable rate jumbo mortgage loans. The Credit Union receives a Best of OC Award and ranks in the Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County.

2018 – Orange County’s Credit Union receives a Best Credit Union to Work For Award from the Credit Union Journal, as well as a Best of OC Award and an Excellence in Corporate Business Award from Centro CHA. The Credit Union qualifies as a low-income designated credit union.

2019 – Orange County’s Credit Union begins offering fixed rate jumbo mortgage loans. Membership is expanded to include anyone who lives or works in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The Credit Union receives a Workplace Excellence Award from Peter Barron Stark Companies and is named a Best-In-State Credit Union by Forbes. The Santa Ana Headquarters expands to a second building to accommodate its growing number of Associates.

2020 – Orange County's Credit Union reaches the milestone of $2 billion in assets, becomes a Community Development Financial Institution, is named a top 5 Best-in-State Credit Union by Forbes for a second year in a row, and receives a Best of OC Award for the seventh year in a row.

2021 – The Credit Union becomes a Preferred Lender with the Irvine Community Land Trust to support Sage Park, the newest affordable housing development in Irvine, CA and receives a Best of OC Award ranking in the Top 3 Credit Unions in Orange County for the eighth year in a row.

Commitment to Excellence

Since 1938, Orange County's Credit Union has been committed to excellence not only in our service to Members, but also in our business operations and influence in the community. We've been privileged to receive recognition from our peers, our employees, our regulators, and our community. Additionally, our merits have also been recognized by various other distinguished organizations, both small and large. Each award reinforces our mission to put people – Members, employees, and the community – first in all that we do.

Commitment to Excellence

Since 1938, Orange County's Credit Union has been committed to excellence not only in our service to Members, but also in our business operations and influence in the community. We've been privileged to receive recognition from our peers, our employees, our regulators, and our community. Additionally, our merits have also been recognized by various other distinguished organizations, both small and large. Each award reinforces our mission to put people – Members, employees, and the community – first in all that we do.

Awards from OC Register Best of OC 2021 and Peter Barron Stark Workplace Excellence 2019 and OC Register Top Places to Work 2014
Awards from OC Register Best of OC 2021 and Peter Barron Stark Workplace Excellence 2019 and OC Register Top Places to Work 2014
Awards from OC Register Best of OC 2021 and Peter Barron Stark Workplace Excellence 2019 and OC Register Top Places to Work 2014
Awards from OC Register Best of OC 2021 and Peter Barron Stark Workplace Excellence 2019 and OC Register Top Places to Work 2014

2022 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 3 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2021 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 3 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2020 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 3 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2019 - Kim Bannan Eternal Flame Award - California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ REACH Conference

2019 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 3 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2019 - Gold Award - MAC Conference

2019 - Bronze Award - MAC Conference

2019 - Peter Barron Stark Companies Workplace Excellence Award

2018 - Excellence in Corporate Business Award presented by Centro CHA

2018 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2018 - Credit Union Journal - The Best Credit Unions to Work For

2018 - Gold Award - MAC Conference

2018 - Silver Award - MAC Conference

2018 - Bronze Award - MAC Conference

2017 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2017 - Bronze Award - MAC Conference

2016 - Peter Barron Stark Companies Workplace Excellence Award

2016 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2015 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2014 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2014 - OC Register Top Workplace Award. Ranks in the Top 20 of Mid-Size Companies in Orange County, CA.

2013 - Peter Barron Stark Companies Workplace Excellence Award

2013 - ASTD Excellence in Practice Citation Award for Organizational Learning and Award for Managing the Learning Function

2013 - Elearning! Magazine "Learning! 100" Award

2012 - Gold Medal - MAC Conference

2011 - CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council - Diamond Award for Electronic Marketing, Diamond Award for Financial Education, Diamond Award for Direct Mail (single), Diamond Award for Point of Sale Display

2010 - OC Register Top Workplace Award. Ranks in the Top 10 of Mid-Size Companies in Orange County, CA.

2008 - Peter Barron Stark Companies Workplace Excellence Award

2008 - California Credit Union League Diversity Award

2008 - Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Estrella Award

2007 - CU First Insurance Program Award for Excellence in Outstanding Safety Performance

2022 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 3 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2021 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 3 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2020 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 3 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2019 - Kim Bannan Eternal Flame Award - California and Nevada Credit Union Leagues’ REACH Conference

2019 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 3 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2019 - Gold Award - MAC Conference

2019 - Bronze Award - MAC Conference

2019 - Peter Barron Stark Companies Workplace Excellence Award

2018 - Excellence in Corporate Business Award presented by Centro CHA

2018 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2018 - Credit Union Journal - The Best Credit Unions to Work For

2018 - Gold Award - MAC Conference

2018 - Silver Award - MAC Conference

2018 - Bronze Award - MAC Conference

2017 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2017 - Bronze Award - MAC Conference

2016 - Peter Barron Stark Companies Workplace Excellence Award

2016 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2015 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2014 - Best of OC Award. Ranks in Top 2 of Credit Unions in Orange County, CA.

2014 - OC Register Top Workplace Award. Ranks in the Top 20 of Mid-Size Companies in Orange County, CA.

2013 - Peter Barron Stark Companies Workplace Excellence Award

2013 - ASTD Excellence in Practice Citation Award for Organizational Learning and Award for Managing the Learning Function

2013 - Elearning! Magazine "Learning! 100" Award

2012 - Gold Medal - MAC Conference

2011 - CUNA Marketing & Business Development Council - Diamond Award for Electronic Marketing, Diamond Award for Financial Education, Diamond Award for Direct Mail (single), Diamond Award for Point of Sale Display

2010 - OC Register Top Workplace Award. Ranks in the Top 10 of Mid-Size Companies in Orange County, CA.

2008 - Peter Barron Stark Companies Workplace Excellence Award

2008 - California Credit Union League Diversity Award

2008 - Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Estrella Award

2007 - CU First Insurance Program Award for Excellence in Outstanding Safety Performance

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Financial Wellbeing

Orange County's Credit Union has financial wellness resources available to Members, including free and confidential financial counseling, articles, video webinars, and more.

Website_2017_icons_youth_sand-dollar.png

Youth Accounts

Accounts specially designed for children help parents teach important life skills. The Sand Dollar Savings Club is available for children 12 and under, while our Pacific Accounts are designed for teens. Both accounts are free.

OCCU_Financial_Wellness_Counseling.png

Financial Wellbeing

Orange County's Credit Union has financial wellness resources available to Members, including free and confidential financial counseling, articles, video webinars, and more.

Website_2017_icons_youth_sand-dollar.png

Youth Accounts

Accounts specially designed for children help parents teach important life skills. The Sand Dollar Savings Club is available for children 12 and under, while our Pacific Accounts are designed for teens. Both accounts are free.

About Orange County’s Credit Union
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