Founded in 1938 as Utica Teachers Federal Credit Union, we were born out of necessity to provide financial assistance 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 50,000 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 very humble beginnings, we now operate five branch locations (New Hartford, North Utica, South Utica, Herkimer, Rome), a robust Member Care Center, and an ATM on the Utica College campus. We offer a full suite of deposit and loan products for both personal and business banking, with online and mobile solutions.
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 with our time, talents and treasures. In addition to contributing significant dollars, our employees volunteer countless hours to many local organizations.
Along with dedicated, personalized service to our Members, we are competitive in today’s technological banking needs -- With 24/7 online and mobile account access, a nationwide network of over 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs, automated phone service, and additional emerging technologies forthcoming. We look forward to being a resource for you.