Q2 2026 call reports
Best credit unions in California
Scored on what members get, from the call reports filed with NCUA for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, the best credit union serving California is Star One Credit Union with 87.6 out of 100, followed by Chevron Federal Credit Union (78.3) and America's Christian Credit Union (74.9). The score weighs deposit dividends, loan rates, fees, financial strength and member growth against credit unions of the same size.
No paid placements and no reviews: only NCUA figures. A credit union must hold at least $50 million in assets and be well capitalized to be scored. Check that you are eligible to join.
- Best for saversStar One Credit Union 99th percentile
- Lowest loan ratesShell Western States Federal Credit Union 84th percentile
- Lowest feesVida Federal Credit Union 99th percentile
- Strongest balance sheetSan Diego County Credit Union 96th percentile
Top 25 credit unions in California most people can look at
Credit unions headquartered in California or with offices there that estimate 100,000 or more potential members on their call report, or that anyone in the US can join. Each part is a percentile against NCUA peers of the same size, 100 best; the score is their weighted average.
| # | Credit union | Score | Pays savers | Loan rates | Low fees | Strength | Members joining | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Star One Credit UnionSunnyvale, CA | 87.6 | 99 | 74 | 97 | 93 | 64 | $9.7B |
| 2 | Chevron Federal Credit UnionConcord, CA · open to anyone | 78.3 | 98 | 65 | 92 | 78 | 37 | $5.4B |
| 3 | America's Christian Credit UnionGlendora, CA | 74.9 | 97 | 58 | 94 | 37 | 99 | $819.8M |
| 4 | Stanford Federal Credit UnionPalo Alto, CA | 74.3 | 80 | 53 | 98 | 76 | 62 | $4.6B |
| 5 | American First Credit UnionBrea, CA | 74.3 | 93 | 52 | 78 | 66 | 92 | $1.4B |
| 6 | Compass Community Credit UnionEureka, CA | 74.2 | 82 | 53 | 90 | 76 | 72 | $178.9M |
| 7 | Firefighters First Federal Credit UnionLos Angeles, CA | 72.5 | 70 | 72 | 82 | 58 | 92 | $2.5B |
| 8 | Mission Federal Credit UnionSan Diego, CA | 71.2 | 79 | 56 | 66 | 85 | 73 | $7.3B |
| 9 | Trugrocer Federal Credit UnionBoise, ID · 1 office here | 70.9 | 57 | 61 | 95 | 65 | 93 | $320.1M |
| 10 | Mission City Federal Credit UnionSanta Clara, CA | 70.0 | 74 | 66 | 86 | 48 | 83 | $171.7M |
| 11 | Monterra Credit UnionRedwood City, CA | 69.3 | 45 | 70 | 92 | 74 | 74 | $1.9B |
| 12 | Redwood Credit UnionSanta Rosa, CA | 68.8 | 73 | 52 | 80 | 64 | 88 | $10.7B |
| 13 | Citizens Equity First Credit UnionPeoria, IL · 7 offices here | 68.6 | 69 | 73 | 90 | 47 | 56 | $8.5B |
| 14 | Vida Federal Credit UnionOntario, CA | 68.6 | 39 | 69 | 99 | 84 | 51 | $174.6M |
| 15 | First Technology Federal Credit UnionSan Jose, CA · open to anyone | 68.5 | 95 | 37 | 99 | 29 | 99 | $27.9B |
| 16 | Direct Federal Credit UnionNeedham, MA · 1 office here | 68.1 | 90 | 36 | 97 | 72 | 28 | $794.7M |
| 17 | SchoolsFirst Federal Credit UnionSanta Ana, CA | 68.0 | 83 | 71 | 77 | 28 | 85 | $37.2B |
| 18 | Wheelhouse Credit UnionSan Diego, CA | 68.0 | 71 | 51 | 97 | 51 | 79 | $459.7M |
| 19 | Provident Credit UnionRedwood City, CA | 67.6 | 52 | 75 | 90 | 76 | 28 | $3.6B |
| 20 | Safe 1 Credit UnionBakersfield, CA | 67.2 | 43 | 59 | 81 | 89 | 78 | $1.2B |
| 21 | Kaiperm Federal Credit UnionWalnut Creek, CA | 67.1 | 79 | 41 | 88 | 56 | 83 | $108.4M |
| 22 | Matadors Community Credit UnionNorthridge, CA | 66.9 | 94 | 48 | 84 | 64 | 17 | $356.1M |
| 23 | Educational Employees Credit UnionFresno, CA | 64.9 | 13 | 73 | 91 | 92 | 68 | $5.4B |
| 24 | Technology Credit UnionSan Jose, CA · open to anyone | 64.9 | 83 | 49 | 97 | 61 | 2 | $4.5B |
| 25 | Patelco Credit UnionDublin, CA · open to anyone | 64.0 | 74 | 42 | 98 | 35 | 86 | $9.8B |
Top scores among California credit unions for specific groups
These serve a closed field of membership, such as one employer's staff, a profession or a church, with under 100,000 potential members. If you belong to the group, they are worth a look.
| # | Credit union | Score | Pays savers | Loan rates | Low fees | Strength | Members joining | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Joaquin Power Employees Credit UnionFresno, CA | 89.7 | 100 | 84 | 99 | 92 | 57 | $174.9M |
| 2 | F & A Federal Credit UnionMonterey Park, CA | 84.5 | 96 | 80 | 99 | 79 | 48 | $3.2B |
| 3 | Long Beach Firemen S Credit UnionLong Beach, CA | 82.6 | 87 | 72 | 99 | 100 | 31 | $201.5M |
| 4 | Sri Federal Credit UnionMenlo Park, CA | 82.5 | 94 | 84 | 96 | 78 | 32 | $236.2M |
| 5 | Santa Barbara Teachers Federal Credit UnionSanta Barbara, CA | 81.4 | 88 | 77 | 99 | 87 | 30 | $308.5M |
| 6 | California Lithuanian Credit UnionSanta Monica, CA | 78.4 | 99 | 71 | 86 | 54 | 78 | $175.1M |
| 7 | Long Beach City Employees Federal Credit UnionSignal Hill, CA | 77.5 | 65 | 82 | 86 | 87 | 62 | $270.6M |
| 8 | Sacramento Credit UnionSacramento, CA | 75.8 | 42 | 76 | 92 | 96 | 89 | $858.3M |
| 9 | SMW 104 Federal Credit UnionLivermore, CA | 72.1 | 41 | 74 | 97 | 71 | 97 | $117.9M |
| 10 | Sea West Coast Guard Federal Credit UnionOakland, CA | 71.5 | 52 | 58 | 98 | 98 | 48 | $377.9M |
Not eligible locally? Best credit unions anyone can join
These say on their own sites that almost anyone in the US can join, usually through a partner association. How to join each one
| # | Credit union | Score | Pays savers | Loan rates | Low fees | Strength | Members joining | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevron Federal Credit UnionConcord, CA · open to anyone | 78.3 | 98 | 65 | 92 | 78 | 37 | $5.4B |
| 2 | Alliant Credit UnionChicago, IL · open to anyone | 71.0 | 99 | 57 | 100 | 28 | 65 | $20.0B |
| 3 | First Technology Federal Credit UnionSan Jose, CA · open to anyone | 68.5 | 95 | 37 | 99 | 29 | 99 | $27.9B |
| 4 | NASA Federal Credit UnionUpper Marlboro, MD · open to anyone | 67.3 | 98 | 49 | 87 | 55 | 21 | $5.8B |
| 5 | Lake Michigan Credit UnionGrand Rapids, MI · open to anyone | 66.8 | 96 | 29 | 64 | 72 | 84 | $17.3B |
How the score works
- Pays savers, 25%: dividends and interest paid on deposits (dividends paid on deposits).
- Loan rates, 25%: the average of its percentiles on the new auto, used auto, credit card, personal loan and first mortgage rates it reported, lower being better (at least two needed).
- Low fees, 20%: fee income per member, lower being better.
- Strength, 20%: the average of its net worth ratio and its share of loans 60 or more days late.
- Members joining, 10%: member growth over 12 months.
Each part is the credit union's percentile among NCUA's peer group of the same asset size, so a $60 million credit union is measured against other $50 million to $100 million credit unions. If member growth is missing, the other parts are reweighted. Ratios follow NCUA's Financial Performance Report. The national list · Definitions
Source: NCUA 5300 Call Report quarterly data and branch file, Q2 2026. Not affiliated with NCUA or any credit union. 204 credit unions scored for California. · All California credit unions · California loan rates · By city
Questions people ask
What is the best credit union in California?
On our score, built only from NCUA call-report data for Q2 2026, Star One Credit Union ranks first among credit unions with a broad field of membership that serve California, at 87.6 out of 100, followed by Chevron Federal Credit Union (78.3) and America's Christian Credit Union (74.9). The best one for you depends on what you need: the lists of best for savers, borrowers and low fees on this page split that out.
Can I join these credit unions?
Every credit union limits who can join. The main list keeps to credit unions that estimate 100,000 or more potential members on their call report, which usually means a whole community or many employers, so many people living or working nearby can join. Check the eligibility rules on the credit union's own site. If you are not eligible anywhere local, the credit unions anyone in the US can join are listed below.
Is money at these credit unions insured?
Yes. Every credit union scored here is federally insured by NCUA, which covers deposits up to $250,000 per owner, per insured credit union, for each account ownership category. Credit unions below a 7% net worth ratio, NCUA's line for well capitalized, are left off the list entirely.
Does anyone pay to be on this list?
No. The score uses only the figures each credit union filed with NCUA. Nobody can pay for a place, and no reviews or survey answers are mixed in.