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First City Credit Union Named One of America’s Best Regional Banks, Credit Unions 2025
Altadena, CA - April 7, 2025: First City Credit Union has been named one of America’s Best Regional Banks and Credit Unions for 2025 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group.
This recognition comes after a comprehensive evaluation of over 9,000 financial institutions, incorporating insights from more than 70,000 customer surveys and millions of social media reviews. The ranking highlights the top regional banks and credit unions across the United States, showcasing those that have earned the trust and loyalty of their members.
This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, as well as the unwavering support from our valued members. We are grateful to those who continue to inspire us every day, driving us to improve and evolve in order to provide the best possible service.
As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to serving our community with integrity and excellence, always striving to enhance the financial well-being of those we serve. This recognition would not be possible without the collective effort of our team and members, and we look forward to continuing our journey together.
First City Credit Union Pledges up to $1 Million in Interest Free Loans to Those in FEMA Defined Fire Areas
Altadena, CA - January 16, 2025: First City Credit Union is helping members and their families during the California Wildfire crisis by committing up to $1 million in interest free loans to those residing in the FEMA declared wildfire disaster areas through its Recovery Assistance Loan program with no payments for 60 days. Additional programs include a discounted and streamlined approval process for their Wildfire Relief Loan up to $5,000, payment deferral options on existing First City loans, and discounted auto loan rates for those that need to replace a vehicle that was lost due to the wildfires.
“Due to the heroic effort of first responders, our corporate office in Altadena was spared from the devastation due to the fires.” said Nav Khanna, President and Chief Executive Officer at First City Credit Union. “I’ve seen the damage caused to our community with my own eyes and am saddened to know that our neighbors were not as fortunate.” First City Credit Union was the only credit union with its corporate office under evacuation orders and under threat from the Eaton fire. “I’m proud to say that even though we were running on generators due to power outages and evacuated from our corporate office, we never stopped serving our members and community. Our branches stayed open and we did not experience disruption of any of our services. The primary focus was keeping our employees safe, who in turn could take care of our members.”
In addition to the relief programs offered to members, First City continues to partner on local giveback and relief efforts through employee organizations and departments connected to the Select Employer Groups (SEG) the credit union serve. “Our core membership comes from the employees of Los Angeles County Departments and Agencies, many of which are actively working non-stop to extinguish the fires, protecting our homes and businesses, and helping the community heal.” said Royce Ngiam, Chief Marketing Officer at First City Credit Union responsible for SEG relations and partnerships. “It’s heartwarming to see the grassroots efforts being spun up to help those in need, especially those led by LA County employee groups directly. We’re a part of that work because we’re all Angelenos serving Angelenos."
First City Credit Union Helps Families with Inheritance Claim In Partnership with Ribbon, First City Launching First-Ever Online Inheritance Portal
Pasadena, CA – January 13, 2025 – First City Credit Union has announced a new partnership with Ribbon that will help members and their families navigate the inheritance process. With this collaboration, First City becomes the first credit union in the United States to offer a fully self-serve online platform for families to initiate inheritance claims.
“Being there for our members and their families during an emotional and stressful time is part of why we exist,” said Nav Khanna, President and Chief Executive Officer at First City Credit Union. “With this new service, an often emotional and cumbersome process can be simplified. Our goal is to support the financial needs of our members’ families with empathy, and Ribbon helps us deliver on that promise.”
With Ribbon’s technology, credit union members and non-members alike can submit inheritance requests through First City’s website. Traditionally, financial institutions have provided only offline methods, which can take 6 to 18+ months. By integrating Ribbon’s platform, families no longer need to visit branches or call customer service to manage claims at a time when the family is grieving.
“Ribbon is thrilled to partner with First City Credit Union to bring modern, accessible solutions to an area that has long been overlooked,” said Saeid Kian, CEO of Ribbon. “This partnership sets a new standard for how financial institutions can support their members during life’s most challenging moments.”
During “The Great Wealth Transfer,” where trillions of dollars are expected to move from Baby Boomers to younger generations and charitable organizations, more forward-thinking approaches such as this are expected - services that offer a compassionate and efficient process for those navigating loss.
The Dr. James D. Likens Board room symbolizes the incredible impact Dr. Likens's contributions have had on the growth of First City and credit unions alike. Read more about his contributions and how we recognize his commitment to First City Credit Union.
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First City Credit Union is a nation leading 5-star financial institution with locations across Los Angeles.