Our History
Serving members for more than 80 years
First Imperial Credit Union is a credit union located in Imperial County, California who has a mission to provide inclusive, equitable financial services with an exceptional member-focused experience. As a not-for-profit financial institution, FICU gives back to its membership in the way of lower loan rates, higher dividend rates, affordable financial services, and investment in its community. First Imperial Credit Union was the first credit union established in the Imperial County, and has served its members for more than 80 years. On August 21, 1942, it was established as a federally chartered institution under the name of Imperial Federal Credit Union. Nearly six decades later on May 7, 1998, their name was changed to First Imperial Credit Union because they switched to be a state-chartered credit union and as such needed to drop "federal" from its name.
Currently, the credit union holds a community charter which enables FICU to invite all who live, work, worship in the Imperial County and 14 cities in Riverside County (Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Thermal, and Thousand Palms) to become members. In addition to being a state regulated financial institution, FICU is designated as a Low Income, Minority Depository Institution (MDI) and a Community Development Financial Instituion (CDFI). Over the years, the credit union has made many changes including names and slogans, but what has never changed is its guiding philosophy of "People helping people".
FICU serves more than 20,000 members with assets of more than $200 million. We invite you to become a member and enjoy our deposit and loan products and experience the First Imperial Credit Union difference where "We're more than a bank, we're your credit union."