SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union Review 2023
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At a glance

CDs
Checking
Savings
MMA
About Bankrate Score
Overview
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is a good option for any California school employee or family member, particularly those who want to do their banking with minimal fees.
Highlights
- Low Fees
- Free Checking
- Low Min Balance
Offers featured here have been sponsored by our partners, which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 5/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.7/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 4.9/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
Overall
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is California’s largest credit union. It has low minimum balances and most SchoolsFirst accounts come without a monthly fee.
Pros
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There are no fees or low fees on most types of accounts.
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Members have access to over 28,000 fee-free ATMs.
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SchoolsFirst offers online bill pay and mobile banking tools such as check deposit.
Cons
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Branches are limited to California.
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Membership is limited to those who work in or have a connection to California’s educational system.
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Higher yields can be found at other financial institutions.
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union banking products
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union savings overview
Pros
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The Share Savings account has no monthly fees.
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There is no limit on deposits and withdrawals.
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The minimum balance requirement is only $5.
Cons
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You can easily find higher rates at other credit unions and online banks.
Offers featured here have been sponsored by our partners, which impacts how, where, and in what order the products appear.

APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
APY, or annual percentage yield, is the yearly return on a bank or investment account.
Bankrate Savings rating = 5/5
Bankrate scores are objectively determined by our editorial team. Our scoring formula weighs several factors consumers should consider when choosing financial products and services.
Bank experience
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union has more than 60 branches and more than 28,000 fee-free ATMs through SchoolsFirst and CO-OP ATM networks. Members who want to get in touch with a representative can send a message through the live online chat, contact the credit union by phone or mail, or visit a branch. Representatives can be reached by phone 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday.
Members can send and receive money via Zelle. The credit union also offers a decently rated mobile app, online bill pay, account alerts and mobile check deposit.
SchoolsFirst Credit union also provides access to financial workshops and offers online tools and calculators to help members pay off credit card debt, reach savings goals and determine how much they need to save for retirement.
About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union was founded as Orange County Teachers Credit Union in 1934. At the time, 126 school employees came together to help support each other during the Great Depression. In 2008, Orange County Teachers Credit Union became SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, which provides financial products and services to California school employees and their families.
SchoolsFirst is headquartered in Southern California. It also supports the communities it serves through donations, scholarships, fundraising events and financial literacy programs.
Review methodology
We assign a score to each type of account and its features, weigh them carefully based on importance to account holders and determine an overall score. Read our full review methodology.