In 2023, Golden 1 Credit Union celebrated 90 years of investing in people and helping our members achieve their financial goals. Since our inception, our top priorities have remained the same – the financial well-being of our members and giving back to the communities we serve.
THE START OF GOLDEN 1 CREDIT UNION
In 1933, 11 state employees founded California State Employees' Credit Union #1 in Sacramento, which would eventually become Golden 1, the first institution to provide financial services to state workers and their families.
Since then, we have maintained our vision of people helping people and have grown from a small financial cooperative to a trusted financial partner for our more than 1.1 million members across California. Golden 1 is now the 6th largest credit union in the nation, with more than 2,000 employees and over $20 billion in assets.
90 YEARS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Some of our major accomplishments throughout the last 90 years include:
- Broadening eligibility for membership to include all residents of California
- Introducing home loan services
- Commencing dealer services
- Initiating a corporate giving program
- Securing naming rights for Golden 1 Center
- Enhancing member services and increasing assets
- Upgrading debit and credit card technology
- Launching mobile banking service offerings
GOLDEN 1 GIVES BACK
In just the past decade alone we have given back nearly $50 million to our members, nonprofits, and communities through local events and activities, including:
- Scholarships
- Nonprofit grants
- Member givebacks
- Community investments
That includes our commitment last summer of a $10 million investment to Sacramento's Del Paso Heights neighborhood, a long-neglected, high-poverty area with a predominantly minority population. This investment supports key community organizations and projects as well as a recently opened Financial Resource Center in the neighborhood.
AWARDS
Our credit union has also received numerous awards from major publications, including:
- Forbes
- Fast Company
- American Banker
- Business Insider
- Credit Union National Association
- Nerd Wallet
- Sacramento Business Journal
In addition to our leadership team receiving numerous C-Suite awards recognizing outstanding professional performance, we've earned accolades such as:
- Best Credit Union
- Best Customer Experience Institution
- Most Admired Financial Institution Nationwide
- Best-In-State Employer
- A Certified Great Place To Work®
- Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame
- Fast Company's Brands that Matter
LOOKING AHEAD
Since Day 1, our members and communities are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that everyone should have fair and equal access to financial products and support to help make their financial goals within reach.
Looking to the next 90 years, we are focused on continuing to create an equitable and financially inclusive California by introducing even more innovative banking options for members, while giving back to the communities we serve.
Our future growth will consist of continuing to push the boundaries of innovation and finding new opportunities to support the financial journeys and improve outcomes for both our members and communities.
