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Credit unions

Best Credit Unions to Work For with $500M to $1B of assets

ByFrank Gargano
September 1, 2023 12:02 PM

The top three credit unions in the ranking have an average of $747.63 million of assets. The average number of employees at the top three was 177.

Scroll through to find out more about the credit unions in the top 12.

For additional Best Credit Unions to Work For coverage:

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12. CBC Federal Credit Union

Oxnard, California
Assets: $804 million
President and CEO: Rick Weber
No. of employees: 120

Interesting fact: The credit union created a new vice president of people and culture position to oversee its plans for building a people-first culture. The role has since been elevated to a C-suite position with the chief people officer title, to demonstrate how important culture and employees are within the organization. 

Unusual perk: During monthly town hall meetings, staff members can voice their concerns and ideas directly to the management team. The goal is to ensure transparency and clear communication from all levels of the organization.
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Pictured: Employees celebrate launching one of the Little Free Libraries.

11. Members First Credit Union

Midland, Michigan
Assets: $812 million
President and CEO: Carrie Iafrate
No. of employees: 248

Interesting fact: Using its low-income designation and status as a community development financial institution, Members First Credit Union helps educate underserved communities through Free Little Libraries at each branch.

Unusual perk: The credit union hosts an employee trick shot contest during March Madness each year, where staff members can vote on the winner.
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Pictured: BMI FCU employees celebrate after hosting a Thanksgiving food drive in support of the Byron Saunders Foundation of Union County, a nonprofit that provides Thanksgiving meals to families in need in Central Ohio.

10. BMI Federal Credit Union

Dublin, Ohio
Assets: $670 million
President and CEO: William Allender
No. of employees: 103

Interesting fact: BMI Federal Credit Union provides free financial education workshops to schools, community organizations and other employers in addition to free financial counseling for individuals through its education program.

Unusual perk: Employees can utilize the credit union's tuition reimbursement program to pursue associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees. Staff members earn a bonus for each degree that's completed. 
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Pictured: NIHFCU employees have fun at the NIH 2023 Take Your Child To Work & Earth Day event.

9. NIH Federal Credit Union

Rockville, Maryland
Assets: $850 million
President and CEO: Richard Wieczorek
No. of employees: 122

Interesting fact: To ensure that each and every perspective at NIH Federal Credit Union has a chance to be heard, the credit union hosts "coffee with the CEO" sessions. It's a chance for staff members from across the organization to meet with President and CEO Wieczorek one-on-one and express their ideas.

Unusual perk: Employees can donate their banked sick time to other staff members to use when in need.
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Pictured: Employees stain wooden cars for children.

8. Deseret First Credit Union

West Valley City, Utah
Assets: $990 million
President and CEO: Shane London
No. of employees: 206

Interesting fact: Community involvement is a core tenet for Deseret First Credit Union. The credit union provides financial support and education for missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is part of its field of membership, and builds toys for children in need during its all-staff training day.

Unusual perk: The credit union built a game room for employees at its corporate facility.
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Pictured: Staff members from Lucasville, Ohio, participate in Red Nose Day, an annual fundraising campaign aimed at ending the cycle of child poverty and ensure a healthy future for all children.

7. Atomic Credit Union

Piketon, Ohio
Assets: $576.4 million
President and CEO: Tom Griffiths
No. of employees: 204

Interesting fact: Atomic nurtures the next generation of credit union talent by investing more than $1 million into its Student Run Credit Union program each year. The credit union has branches in 58 local schools that are staffed and managed by students who gain real-life experience.

Unusual perk: Employees can cash in their yearly pay raise for an equal amount of paid days off. That equated to an additional 13 days off this year.
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Pictured: Team members came together to participate in the Adams, New York-based holiday parade

6. Northern Credit Union

Watertown, New York
Assets: $620 million
CEO: Daniel St. Hilaire
No. of employees: 147

Interesting fact: Staff members are viewed as "internal owners" that help shape the direction of the credit union through strategic planning and vision conversations, such as allowing most to continue to work from home.

Unusual perk: Northern instituted a companywide bonus program for employees who received their COVID-19 booster vaccination to promote health conscious behavior for all.
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Pictured: Texell Credit Union employees volunteering

5. Texell Credit Union

Temple, Texas
Assets: $656 million
CEO: Tony Hale
No. of employees: 197

Interesting fact: Upper management is always open to employee suggestions for how to improve the work environment, and allow comments to be submitted directly to the CEO through the credit union's intranet — anonymously or not.

Unusual perk: Texell hosts several employee appreciation events throughout the year to bolster morale and reward hard work, including a family fun day and a back-to-school event where the credit union provides supplies for all school-aged children.
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Pictured: Justice Federal Credit Union's Starry, Starry Night Gala, celebrating employees' hard work and dedication to the credit union

4. Justice Federal Credit Union

Chantilly, Virginia
Assets: $991 million
President and CEO: Mark Robnett
No. of employees: 162

Interesting fact: Justice Federal Credit Union's field of membership includes employees and their family members who work for the Justice Department, Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies. It sponsors the annual Blue Honor Gala hosted by Concerns of Police Survivors, which provides resources to family members and colleagues of fallen police officers, during National Police Week in Washington, D.C. The event celebrates law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Unusual perk: Justice recently added insurance offerings that cover employee's pets to its benefit packages.
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Pictured: Employees of Leaders Credit Union show support for Taylor Risley, a senior data analyst who competed in the Jackson, Tennessee-based Dancing with the STARs competition

3. Leaders Credit Union

Jackson, Tennessee
Assets: $932 million
President and CEO: Todd Swims
No. of employees: 187

Interesting fact: Employees can utilize the credit union's Leaders University, a training and development program, to gain everything from new technical expertise to sharpening soft skills. 

Unusual perk: Leaders offers $160 annually that employees can use to pay for a gym membership.
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Pictured: Employees representing their favorite sports teams during Member Appreciation week

2. Spero Financial

Greenville, South Carolina
Assets: $710 million
President and CEO: Brian McKay
No. of employees: 170

Interesting fact: Spero is working to increase the number of veterans it hires. It has discussed posting job openings with Upstate Warrior Solution, a nonprofit that connects service members and their families with resources. Additionally, Spero's military appreciation network makes an effort to go into the community to show the credit union's support for former service members. 

Unusual perk: The Spero Love Fund is an employee relief fund available to any employee who may be going through a financial hardship. Employees can apply and if they qualify will receive tax-free funds that they do not have to pay back.
University of Illinois Community Credit Union
Pictured: Collage of University of Illinois Community Credit Union employees
Lisa Paul

1. University of Illinois Community Credit Union

Champaign, Illinois
Assets: $600.9 million 
CEO: Chris Harlan 
No. of employees: 175

Interesting fact: During the credit union's Halloween celebration last year, CEO Chris Harlan dressed up as a giant sea turtle and visited various branches.

Unusual perk: The credit union offers 12 weeks of paid medical and parental leave to all full-time employees.
Frank Gargano
Growth Content Reporter, Arizent
Credit unions Best Credit Unions to Work For
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