“Selected as a Top Choice Credit Union, Santa Ana Federal Credit Union located in the city of Santa Ana has a long history of providing high-quality financial services to its members since 1950."
By: Allan R Kirby
We review Credit Unions:
Mysmallbank.com feels compelled to find the best credit unions and community banks to write a small review. These reviews are to help you learn more about community banks, possibly one that's in your area that you might be interested in. In this review we are choosing the following local Credit Union:
Location: Santa Ana
Headquartered: 800 W. Santa Ana Blvd,
Santa Ana, California 92701
Contact Info: (800) 541-2546
Branches: 1
Year Established: 1950
Review:
Santa Ana Federal Credit Union (SAFCU) is a single branch full-service bank that serves the city of Santa Ana. Our decision to name SAFCU, Top Choice Credit Union, was based on our own research on reviews, services offered as well as their commitment to their membership and the communities they serve. What we found was a great community credit union that provides many great products and services including Personal Banking, Loans, Credit Cards such as the Visa Classic and Visa Platinum as well as Auto & Home Insurance, AD&D Insurance, and Life Insurance with partnered organizations.
Great auto rates are available: 2.29% to 16.45% APR which is $17.66 to $24.57 based on 60 month term.
We specifically liked the SAFCU's Certificate Builder Account which is a great first step toward building wealth through savings. As described on their website, With the certificate, you can start small, save regularly, and work toward your long-term savings and investment goals. The Certificate Builder Account offers a low $10.00 initial deposit, perfect for nearly any budget.
Certificate Builder Details
Low $10.00 minimum opening deposit
No monthly fee
Dividends earned on balances of $500 or more
Dividends are based on the average daily balance during the calendar month
Federally-insured up to $250,000
Free SAFCU@Home (online banking)
SAFCU Mobile Banking
SAFCU QwikSnap (Photo Deposit – via Mobile Banking)
Free paperless e-Statements
Free Direct Deposit
"Discount Entertainment Tickets: Yest that is correct, SAFCU offers special members-only discounts to local amusement parks, theaters, and more.
Santa Ana Federal Credit Union currently has 87million in assets, 1 branch, and over 6,000 members. ibanknet. As per their website: The credit union was formed in 1950 to provide financial services to the employees of the city of Santa Ana. In that first year, the credit union had 18 Members and $829 in assets.
"Santa Ana Federal Credit Union sports a high customer ratings from both Google and Yelp."
We will now provide you some additional highlights of Santa Ana Federal CU credit unions' products and services.
Share Savings Accounts:
A SAFCU Share Savings account is a great way to get you started, this account is packed full of great service value:
What you Get:
$5.00 minimum opening deposit
No monthly fee
Dividends earned on balances of $500 or more
Dividends are based on the average daily balance during the calendar month
Federally-insured up to $250,000
Free SAFCU@Home (online banking) with Bill Payer
SAFCU Mobile Banking
SAFCU QwikSnap (Photo Deposit – via Mobile Banking)*
Free paperless e-Statements
Mobile Deposit
Club Accounts are available:
Although not popular with major banks, club accounts are still available at most credit unions like Santa Ana Federal Credit Union. These types of accounts are great to help you save for something such as vacations, holidays, or buying gifts for Christmas without having to go into debt.
SAFCU provides a club account to help you save and then come November 1st SAFCU will automatically transfer your accumulated funds to your SAFCU Savings or Checking Account, just in time for the all-important holiday shopping season from Thanksgiving through to Christmas.
Holiday Club Account Details
$5.00 minimum opening deposit
Earns higher dividends than a Share Savings Account
No monthly fee
Dividends earned on balances of $50 or more
Dividends are based on the average daily balance during the calendar month
Federally-insured up to $250,000
Free SAFCU@Home (online banking)
SAFCU Mobile Banking
SAFCU QwikSnap (Photo Deposit – via Mobile Banking)*
Free paperless e-Statements
Free Direct Deposit
Commitment to Members:
Members can volunteer
Guess what, members can volunteer at the credit union. SAFCU is seeking qualified volunteers who want to make a difference in their credit union by serving on one of their various committees. As the credit union explains: Volunteers serve to guide SAFCU into the future, participating in monthly committee/board meetings and attending the annual Planning Session. Being a volunteer means playing an important role in carrying on the credit union philosophy of People Helping People. SAFCU Membership is required, and potential volunteers will be vetted for financial responsibility.
Top Choice Credit Union:
With great services, a commitment to their members not to mention their high customer reviews, and a long history of providing financial services to the residents of Santa Ana; it's not hard to see why this is such a great Credit Union. This is why Mysmallbank.com believes Santa Ana Federal CU is well deserved to receive the designation of Top choice, Credit Union [2]. So if you're looking for a great community-based credit union and you live or plan to live in the areas that Santa Ana FCU operates this could be a great financial institution for you.
Finally, we found that the Santa Ana Federal CU is a federally insured credit union through NCUA [1].
Who is Eligible:
As per their website: Santa Ana Federal Credit Union membership is available to the following individuals:
Part-time, full-time or retired employees of the City of Santa Ana
Anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Santa Ana
Immediate family members and relatives of existing SAFCU members
Employees of members of a qualified organization or Select Employee Group, including:
Aeromil Engineering Company, Inc. (Long Beach)
American Driving School (Tustin)
BAX Global, Inc. DB Schenker (Hawthorne)
Bob Siemon Designs, Inc. (Santa Ana)
Broadband Digital Group, Inc. (Newport Beach)
Bullet Transportation Services, Inc. (Anaheim)
City of Santa Ana Curley Wholesale Electric (Santa Ana)
Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary (Santa Ana)
Geo Spencer Company, Inc. (Santa Ana)
Global Estates Services, Inc. (Santa Ana/Norco)
Golden West Funding (Costa Mesa)
International Food Solutions (Huntington Beach/Corona)
Lyman Wilson, DPM (Orange)
McDonald Packaging, Inc. (Santa Ana)
NetDirect Mortgage Corp. (Costa Mesa)
Nordic Security Services (Costa Mesa)
Orange County Fire Department Firefighter's Benevolent Association
Projections Unlimited Inc. (Irvine)
TLC Services Group (Santa Ana)
True Position Machining, Inc. (Santa Ana)
Ultra Tec Manufacturing, Inc. (Santa Ana)
Red Mountain Retail Group. (Santa Ana)
Case-Swayne Company, Inc. (Corona)
Champions Hair Salon (Lake Forest)
Miranda Accountancy Corporation (Newport Beach)
Robert D. Chatterton Corporation (Orange)
Steve Millen Sports Cars (Costa Mesa)
TLC Transportation Staffing, Inc. (Santa Ana and elsewhere)
Note: Your Membership lasts as long as you maintain your accounts in good standing. You can be a member for life, no matter where you live or work.
Apply Now to become a member.
The following provides additional information on Santa Ana Federal Credit Union services, branches as well as hours of operation.
Services Offered:
Full-Service Credit Union: Yes
Santa Ana Credit Union Routing Number: 322282027
Personal Banking:
Checking Accounts
Savings Accounts
Share Savings
Holiday Club
Certificate Builder
Money Market
Share Certificates
IRA Shares
College Saver Certificate
Credit Union Loans:
Student Loans
Auto & Motorcycle Loans
Vehicle Loan Refinance
RV & Boat Loans
Real Estate Loans
Personal Loans
SAFCU Credit Card: Visa
Credit Union Online
Online and Mobile Banking App: Yes
Santa Ana Federal Credit Union Branch Location:
Santa Ana Federal Credit Union Branch
800 W Santa Ana Blvd,
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Telephone
(714) 834-1341
(800) 541-2546
Fax (714) 834-0461
(714) 834-1997
Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Pacific)
Google Maps
About Santa Ana
Santa Ana is a city in Orange County, California. It's home to the Santa Ana Zoo, with its monkeys, mini-train, and walk-through aviary. In a Mission Revival–style building, the Bowers Museum displays a large collection of Native American art. The Discovery Cube Orange County is a children's museum with hands-on science exhibits. The Heritage Museum of Orange County features restored 1890s homes set amid gardens. Source: Google
Learn more about the City of Santa Ana
About Community Credit Unions:
Are Community Credit Unions Better vs Banks?
Community Credit Unions are local banks that provide financial services to smaller communities and tend to be better than major banks for several reasons which include:
Better rates on savings accounts and certificates of deposits.
Competitive mortgage rates.
Fees tend to be lower at community banks.
Local deposits are used to make loans to local businesses.
Community Credit Unions tend to have a better understanding of the communities they serve.
Community Credit Unions tend to have a more personalized customer service experience and have higher customer satisfaction rates.
Community Credit Unions provide local jobs and support local charities.
Notes:
1. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) is one of two agencies that provide deposit insurance to depositors in U.S. depository institutions. NCUA's standard maximum share insurance amount at $250,000.00.
2. Periodically Mysmallbank.com will name a credit union as a top choice (Top credit union) based on several criteria such as customer and employee reviews, complaints, satisfaction, growth, locations, brand, and social responsibility. We only select the best credit unions, so they must meet minimum standards of excellences (Excellent Choice) to be reviewed by Mysmallbank.com
In Review is a segment of the MySmallBank.com blog written by Allan R Kirby, who writes and produces Personal Finance articles and videos.
Disclosure: mysmallbank.com nor the author received any compensation from the mentioned credit union for this article. The article is our opinion only and is written to help readers learn more about local credit unions. SAFCU routing number is 322282027 and SAFCU app and SAFCU Login
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