SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

I wanted to give a shout out to a gentlemen named Jerry Sisuentes. I have been banking with Schools first since 1997 and have had good customer service. Today, January 6^th, 2016, I called the customer service number and had exceptional service from Jerry Sisunetes. I’m trying to start the New Year being more proactive with my banking and HE kindly helped me out with minor banking advice and was so kind to answer all my questions patiently. I’m sure I asked Mr. Sisuentes the same question quite a few different ways, and he still remained patient enough to answer them each time. Mr. Sisunetes made my day today and I hung up with a huge smile of accomplishment.
P. S. I CALLED customer service I didn’t walk into this location, I left a review here because I bank here. The number I called was 714) 258‑4000 A++++++ JERRY SISUENTES!!!

Has long lines and people are not in a good mood they have only two people working with a line of about 10 – 11 people in line

Love coming here for all of my banking needs! I have been a member here for over 15 years. Quick service, friendly, knowledgeable and BONUS– free coffee whenever I come in!(: Not only is all of the important things of the bank great, but even down to the small, logistical/​atmospheric things, i would give it a ⁵⁄₅ too! Always clean, accommodating, and welcoming!

This bank is excellent with their customer service. I come here to cash my checks (my wife hates using our cards unless it’s absolutely necessary).
When you walk in, they have a Coinstar machine to the right, a seated waiting area on the left, and a little beyond that, a table that has tablets for kids to use so they don’t run amok. You are always greeted with a smiling employee and they have complimentary coffee (SCORE!!!).
They have a variety of services/​loans that are offered such as home and auto. They also offer financial advice for CDs, IRAs and other services.
I always like to have my checks cashed in small bills (it tends to last longer), and I almost always have Corina help me. She is a complete professional– always smiling and makes you feel welcome, and always ask if there is anything else I need help with.
I love this branch and will always keep coming back!!!

Just opened SchoolsFirst FCU debit and credit accounts and they have been awesome so far! Spectacular service in person, over the phone, and via email. They were able to address all my personal needs and questions quickly and appropriately. I felt the representatives were honest with their services and what was the best option for my personal situation. The vibe is immediately and distinctly incomparable to that of standard big banks. Looking forward to banking with them, and also using their cool coin machine.

Came in on Saturday and had Eric help my fiancé and I out. He was helpful, kind, and informative. He was able to individualize our goals with us and the steps we needed to take to achieve them. Very thankful to have this credit union helping my family out!

from the respectful and awsome employees to the great membership benefits and discounts at places like sprint and the free for members change machine this Credit Union is hands down the best. I left my card in the machine last night and in less then 5 minutes i was out the door with a new card today.

No complaints. Fast easy and quality service. I use their online apps and never
Mind going into the branch. Only thing I wish about this bank is that it had more branches. I don’t have one very close to where I love. Keep up the quality work!

I been a member a little over ten years… this was my 1^st time requesting a car loan being I have not bought a new car in over 13 years. I luckily connected with representative that was so super patient with me… I had a issue getting the first car because it was a private dealership he went the EXTRA mile for me… 1^st deal didn’t work out but the second did work out for the best for me love my car… Thank you sooo SUPER much Eric Frontino !!!

Give me a 5
Give me s 10
Give me a 20
Hot right out of the ATM.
Thats right ATMs that spit out the lower domination of bills. Which is cool, that way Im less likely to spend my money if Im only pulling fives out.
Love love love love this Bank. Offering free coin collection machines, where they dont take a %. Free accounts that only require s $ 5.00 balance and awesome friendly customer service.
Service is fast and friendly. Ive only dealt with the bank tellers and greeter and have not yet taken advantage of other services.
Located on Katella and Knott in the Staples shopping center with plenty of parking for its customers.
But heres the catch, you or a family member must be affliated with the school district.
Hours of operation are kind of sucky. They close at 5:00pm which sometimes can be a problem.
Review #469

Super friendly staff here and helpful opening my sons accounts and mine. Easy for finding a car and gettinloan handled its a one stop shop. Thanks Eric

This has nothing to do with the bank itself but it Smells like feet all the time I try avoiding going inside

Used to work close to this Schools First several years ago. Lines have never been miserably long and what always made my financial institution experience here memorable is a teller by the name of Marisa (or Marissa) who knew how to pronounce my first and last name perfectly! This hardly happens ever.
What I also like about this location is that it sits in between some really cool stores like Tilly’s, BevMo, Juice It Up and Verizon. Sharing the parking lot is an Olive Garden, Super Mex and then there is Target and Starbucks across the street. The area is awesome for banking, shopping and dining all in one shot.

Now I created an account here about four years ago with a representative that came out to my work. Love the opportunity to be involved in something like a participant own banking system like a credit union. I also do my primary banking with Chase. Which I am starting to become frustrated with yet I find it hard with the lack of sources to get money from the credit union. But I would love to make them my primary banking experience because everything that I do with them is an enjoyable experience.

Got to love this place the tellers are so nice and right when you walk in the greetings is nice I came in around 330 ish and there was no line dope ! Friendly I will be a member for life here at this bank !

I’m a long time member and pleased with the service. There is one policy that can cost you dearly in overdraft fees. This credit union processes online bill payments on Sunday when they are otherwise closed. So if you make an ACH or ATM deposit on Saturday and bills are scheduled to be paid on Sunday, the payments will be charged to your account, but not the deposit until Monday.
Separately, they do not report their financial information (Balance Sheet /​Income Statement), even if you ask for it, except referral to the Federal Credit Union’s website financial statements. These statements are very detailed and in a government required format that most members would have trouble understanding. During the 2008 banking crisis they verbally and through the newsletter reported to me how everything was just fine. I went to the trouble to locate the statements online and know how to read them. They were experiencing large losses during this period, primarily from loan losses and write-​downs. I believe it is wrong to keep that type of information from a member, who is no different that a stockholder.

2 atm’s at the front offering $ 5’s and $ 20’s.
Inside we had 4 bank employees at the windows, a welcoming front desk, and a decently quick line.
I rarely use the indoor branches services because of the edeposit and online banking services, but when I do the service at SchoolsFirst has always been a enjoyable (as much joy as you can have at a bank) experience.

Have been a member for about 2 years and love the service. My complaint is with the real estate side of the house.
I recently applied for a refinance for my house. They said I could lock in at 4.125% if I paid $ 500 deposit. I did and I was locked in. Six weeks later they told me my rate was changing because I only had 20% equity in my home. The rate was changed to 4.5%. I was never told there was a sliding scale based on the equity in your home. Very shady. When I asked to speak to a supervisor, they never responded. When I asked the loan officer, how much equity I needed to get 4.125%, she did not know.
What a waste of $ 500.
update 12÷24÷12
Just received a call from Israel Frias who is the branch manager from the Cypress branch. He called to apologize for what happened (even thought it was not his fault) and returned my $ 500.
Wow! I am impressed!

My family has been with Schools First, formerly known as Orange County Teachers Federal Credit Union, since at least the 1950’s. So even though I am not a school employee, I get the perks of being related to one. This is one of the only good things my father has ever done for me, ha!
I’ve been with them since I was 14 and they have always taken care of me. There have been a couple of instances where somebody has royally pissed me off but some other nice employee or supervisor makes up for it, or manages to find an alternative option for me if the situation is in regards to a loan or emergency issue.
People here are just nice. I’ve never had to deal with a grumpy or rude employee at the branches or on the phones, it just doesn’t happen.
When I was falling on hard times they refinanced my car for me, saving it from repossession. They were the first people to trust me with a credit card. And they’ve helped me pay for part of my wedding with a personal loan.
Earlier this year, after having surgery, my checkbook was majorly screwed up and I had a few overdraft fees thanks to Dr. Vicodin. They reversed a couple of them for me and the other ones were $ 20.00. Not that I think OD fees should even be allowed legally but at the time I was working for a bank owned by Satan and his demons and we charged our customers nearly $ 40.00 per overdraft.
Usually I’ve found they have lower interest rates on their products and higher interest rates on their CD’s and savings accounts. They also offer extras like coin counting machines in the branches. Also, I don’t have to keep any minimum balances in my accounts.
If you can, I highly recommend you become a school employee, marry one, or get adopted by one so that you can become a Schools First member!

It doesn’t get any better than this when it comes to banking. I’ve been a member of OCTFCU… er… I mean Schools First since I was 5 years old. I found a $ 100 bill on the ground and my mom opened an account with it. I couldn’t imagine doing my banking anywhere else. This location especially is my favorite probably due the fact I go here more than other locations. The employees are extremely nice and they still count out the bills old school… no automatic machines. Besides basic banking needs I’ve done several things here at the branch such as purchasing a car using their auto buying service, getting a mortgage, refinancing my mortgage, and equity loan. Once my account was wiped out by identity thieves and the credit union got my money back ASAP!
SchoolsFirst has ATM’s everywhere and they dish out $ 5 bills! You can use other credit union ATM to deposit checks and withdrawal money without any fees.
They have a great online banking webpage and phone app which allows you to check balances, transfer money, pay bills, etc.
They have strict rule on how you can be eligible for membership (my mom worked at a school as did my Grandma) but if you can do it I highly recommend you join up. You won’t have to worry about being nickle & dimed to death like the for profit banks.
Oh yea… they have a coin counting machine in the lobby which is free to members!