First Financial CU (CA) Boosts 60-Month CD Rate
Over the weekend, First Financial Credit Union (First Financial) raised the rates on all of its Share Certificates. Surprisingly, the 60-month (2.75% APY) is now the most competitive Share Certificate offered, having gained 87 bps. The minimum deposit is $500, with no stated balance cap.
This is the first time in more than six years the 60-month Share Certificate has had a good rate: from May 2011 to May 2016, the APY was only 0.75%.
The 60-month Share Certificate is also available as an IRA (Traditional), earning the same APY with the same funding requirements.
As stated on First Financial’s Truth in Savings disclosure, the EWP reads as follows,
If the Account has a term of greater than one (1) year, then you may impose an early withdrawal penalty equal to:
1. All dividends that would have been earned for the remainder of the term assuming all funds remained on deposit in the Account for the remainder of the term; and
2. If a withdrawal reduces the Account balance below the required minimum, the Account may be closed; and
3. An Early Withdrawal Fee ($15) will be imposed as set forth on the Rate and Fee Schedule (this may reduce principal).
In simpler terms, the EWP is $15 plus all dividends that would have earned for the remainder of the term on the amount being withdrawn.
Availability
Headquartered in West Covina in Southern California, First Financial Credit Union’s field of membership is primarily the state’s educational community.
Affiliation: Active and retired members of the California Teachers Association (CTA) and its subsidiaries are eligible to join, as are employees of CTA. Active and retired members of the Congress of Faculty Associations (CFA) also qualify for membership.
Associations: Members of six California education associations are eligible for membership.
Employment: Employees of more than 70 SEGs, including Spectrum Communications, and Three Valleys Municipal Water District, also qualify.
Joining First Financial can be done online, or at any of ten Southern California branches located in Brea, Granada Hills, Lakewood, Los Angeles, Montclair, Pasadena, Redlands, San Diego, Torrance and West Covina. Opening a CD requires an in-person visit to any of the above mentioned branches.
Credit Union Overview
First Financial Credit Union, has an overall health grade of "B+" at DepositAccounts.com, with a Texas Ratio of 3.91 (excellent), based on June 30, 2017 data. In the past year, First Financial has increased its total non-brokered deposits by $67.03 million, an excellent annual growth rate of 15.17%. Please refer to our financial overview of First Financial Credit Union (NCUA Charter #68404) for more details.
For more than 40 years, First Financial Credit Union has been serving the educational community of California. First Financial is currently California’s 74th largest credit union, with more than 31,400 members and assets in excess of $574 million.
How the Share Certificate Compares
When compared to the 310 similar length-of-term CDs tracked by DepositAccounts.com that require a similar minimum deposit and are available to California residents, First Financial Credit Union’s 60-month Share Certificate APY currently ranks first.
The above rates are accurate as of 10/9/2017.
To look for the best CD rates, both nationwide and state specific, please refer to our CD rates table or our Rates Map page.
