Founded in 1938 as Utica Teachers Federal Credit Union, we were born out of necessity to provide financial services for educators in our area. In the midst of the Depression, teachers found it difficult to secure credit. Eleven teachers applied to the National Credit Union Administration for a credit union charter and Utica Teachers FCU was born.
As the years passed and our product and services lines grew, so too did the employee groups we served. In 1992, we changed our name to First Source Federal Credit Union to better reflect our broader membership. It’s easy to join First Source as we are able to serve anyone who works, lives, worships or attends school in Oneida and Herkimer Counties. We currently serve over 60,000 members.
As a not-for-profit, financial cooperative, we are member-owned, and governed by a Board of Directors elected by our Membership. Board Members serve as unpaid volunteers.
The culture at First Source is unique. We believe we create value for our members by taking good care of our employees, who in turn provide superior service to our members, which then helps us grow and maintain strong financial footings. People tell us all the time that they “feel something different” when they walk into a First Source branch office or call into our Member Care Center. Evidence of this may be found in consistent member and employee satisfaction ratings of 98% plus.
From our humble beginnings, we now operate six branch locations in New Hartford, Washington Mills, North Utica, South Utica, Herkimer, Rome; and a full-service Member Care Center. Members have access to a full suite of deposit and loan products for both personal and business banking. They can conduct their transactions through online & mobile banking and have access to First Source Interactive ATMs and over 30,000 Nationwide surcharge-free ATMs. We also offer video engagement technology, allowing for members to interact with a representative that may be at another location.
What sets us apart from other financial institutions is our approach to doing business. At our core we want to help members meet their financial goals and improve their lives. We are truly invested in our members, taking the time to look at the bigger financial and personal picture before offering the best solution for their particular need.
We believe we have a social responsibility to give back to the communities we serve. In addition to contributing significant dollars, our employees volunteer countless hours to many local organizations. We provide free financial education in schools and beyond. Members and the community have access to these resources as well.
As we continue to expand services and incorporate emerging technologies, while still providing our personal service approach, we look forward to being a resource for you.