News & Information

Published Date: March 23, 2020

Dear Valued Members,

I want to thank you for your membership and the you trust you have placed with us to maintain your financial well-being. First Financial Credit Union (FFCU) has been serving the California educational community for over 85 years. We remain committed to providing you the high level service you expect.

California Governor, Gavin Newsom ordered a statewide stay-at-home order on March 19, 2020 to control the spread of COVID-19. The directive exempts critical infrastructure such as food and agriculture, health care, transportation, energy, and financial services. As FFCU provides critical services to support these functions, we will remain open for business.

At First Financial, we have taken measures to ensure we protect you and our staff. We are following social distancing guidelines including setting maximum capacity limits in our branches and at our headquarters. For the safety of all our members and staff, the maximum capacity at any branch is 10 people.

Branch Visits by Appointment Only
Beginning Thursday, March 26, 2020, branch visits will be by appointment only until further notice. On our website, you will be able to schedule your in-branch service appointment. Find your nearest branch and schedule an appointment today.

Remote Account Access Anytime, Anywhere
We have digital services to help you access your account remotely:

• Call our Member Contact Center at (800) 537-8491 weekdays from 7am to 7pm and Saturdays from 9am to 4pm (Pacific Time)
• Free Mobile Banking App to check balances, transfer money, deposit checks and more
• Free Online Banking
• Access to 30,000+ CO-OP ATMs (locations available on our website and mobile app)

We value your membership and appreciate your understanding and cooperation with the proactive steps we have taken to protect you and our staff.

Sincerely,



Carlton Musmann
President/CEO

We encourage all members to remain alert for suspicious communications—social media, phone calls, text messages, emails, etc.—now. As news about COVID-19 evolves, there has been an increase in scams related to the virus. We encourage all members to remain alert for suspicious communications—social media, phone calls, text messages, emails, etc.—now. As news about COVID-19 evolves, there has been an increase in scams related to the virus.

As a reminder, First Financial will never request your Social Security information over the phone or via email. If you’re ever unsure about a First Financial communication, get in touch with us immediately using well-known contact information.

Want to get your Coronavirus relief check?

You’ve probably heard the news by now – the government is sending out relief checks as part of the federal response to the Coronavirus. Scammers heard the same thing, and they’re hoping to cash in on yours.

Read More >>

Coronavirus stimulus payment scams: What you need to know

We know there’s been a flood of information and updates about the government’s economic impact payments, or so-called stimulus checks, lately. But quickly and safely moving massive amounts of money into the hands of those who need it is a big job with a lot of moving parts. We also know that the more you know about the process, the less likely you’re going to be tripped up by calls, text messages, or emails from scammers trying to steal your money or personal information. Here’s what you need to know about the stimulus payments and how to avoid scams related to these payments.

Read more >>

Avoid Scams While Finding Help During Quarantine

Older adults may be hard hit by the coronavirus – and scammers prey on that. If you or someone you know must stay at home and needs help with errands, you’ll want to know about this latest scam.

Read More >>

FTC sends more warnings to sellers of scam Coronavirus treatments

Last month, the FTC and FDA sent warning letters to seven sellers of unapproved and misbranded products, claiming they can treat or prevent the Coronavirus. Today, the FTC sent warning letters to 10 more companies.

Read more >

Other Resources

• How to Spot, Avoid and Report Tech Support Scams
• Protect Your Computer from Malware

Published Date: March 17, 2020

Dear Members,

At First Financial, the health and safety of our members and staff is always our top priority. Over the past several weeks, we have been learning about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it is impacting our communities. We are closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines and recommendations on preparedness and prevention of the virus.

We have always upheld high standards of safety and cleanliness and have enacted extra preventative measures. These include additional cleaning and disinfecting practices in our branches and corporate offices throughout the day, especially in high-touch areas—door handles, keyboards, PIN pads, ATMs, tables/desks, teller counters, and many others. We have provided employees with information on best practices from the CDC and we always encourage staff to stay home when they are not feeling well.

Our branches remain open for business and we encourage you to use our free and convenient digital channels and call center for your banking needs. If you are uncomfortable handling cash, our Visa Debit Card and Visa Credit Card can be used for making purchases, recurring payments and more.

We strongly encourage you to take advantage of our free digital services using our Online or Mobile App to deposit checks, view transactions, check balances, make transfers, bill payments and more.

If you haven’t enrolled in Online Banking, contact one of our First Financial representatives and we will help you get started.

In addition to our 10 conveniently-located branches, you can chat with eBranch during business hours from the comfort of your home. eBranch can help you with:

• Account inquiries
• Apply for loans
• Opening deposit accounts
• Balance transfers
• And more

If you’ve been impacted and need help with your account, we are here to assist you. We have special products and services in place, including an Emergency Loan and Loan Deferment options.

Please call us at (800) 537-8491 during our regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 1:30 p.m) or explore our website for more information.

We value your membership and remain steadfast in our commitment to serving your financial needs while maintaining the safety of our staff and members.

Sincerely,



Carlton Musmann
President/CEO