Credit Unions in the State of California
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
A COOPERATIVE, ORGANIZED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THRIFT AND SAVINGS AMONG ITS MEMBERS, CREATING A SOURCE OF CREDIT FOR THEM AT RATES OF INTEREST SET BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO USE AND CONTROL THEIR OWN MONEY ON A DEMOCRATIC BASIS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS. AS A COOPERATIVE, SANTA CRUZ COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION CONDUCTS ITS BUSINESS FOR THE MUTUAL BENEFIT AND GENERAL WELFARE OF ITS MEMBERS WITH THE EARNINGS, SAVINGS, BENEFITS, OR SERVICES OF THE CREDIT UNION BEING DISTRIBUTED TO ITS MEMBERS AS PATRONS. SANTA CRUZ COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION SERVES THE COMMUNITY AS A CERTIFIED CDFI AND LOW INCOME CREDIT UNION, ENSURING THAT THROUGH ECONOMIC JUSTICE MEASURES, ALL PEOPLE RECEIVE ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.
- Income
- $11.8 million
- Spending
- $13.0 million
- Employees
- 56
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $735,524, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- THE CREDIT UNION IS A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, LOW-INCOME AND JUNTOS AVANZAMOS CERTIFIED CREDIT UNION PROVIDING LOW-COST, LIFE-CHANGING SERVICES, FINANCIAL LEARNING AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ITS LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITH A MISSION TO EMBRACE ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ACCESS TO ALL PEOPLE. THE CREDIT UNION IS A STATE-CHARTERED CREDIT UNION SERVING SANTA CRUZ, MONTEREY, AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES AS THEIR APPROVED FIELD OF MEMBERSHIP.SCCCU SERVES PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND PROVIDES A VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO MINORITY POPULATIONS INCLUDING CONSUMER, REAL ESTATE AND COMMERCIAL/SMALL AND MICRO-BUSINESS LENDING. SPECIFICALLY, THE CREDIT UNION OFFERS "PROYECTO HOGAR" - MANUFACTURED HOME LOANS, NEW AND USED AUTO LOANS, MINORITY BUSINESS LOANS, LINES OF CREDIT, PLATINUM VISA AND SAVINGS-SECURED VISA, COMMERCIAL LOANS, REAL ESTATE LOANS AND HOME EQUITY LOANS AND LINES OF CREDIT.
- SANTA CRUZ COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION IS NOT A TEMPLATE LENDER, SO WE WORK WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL BORROWER, NON-PROFIT AND BUSINESS TO FIND THE RIGHT SOLUTIONS. THAT INCLUDES REAL ESTATE FIRST AND SECOND LOANS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT-GUARANTEED LOANS SUCH AS CAL COASTAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT, SBA AND MICRO-BUSINESS LOANS. THE CREDIT UNION SERVES MANY MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESSES AS WELL AS NON-PROFITS LOCALLY, AS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY IS A COMMUNITY OF ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESSES AND NON-PROFITS THAT OFTEN HAVE FEW OPTIONS AVAILABLE COMPARED TO THE MAINSTREAM BANKING INDUSTRY.
- THE CREDIT UNION HAS THREE BRANCHES ACROSS SANTA CRUZ COUNTY AND HAS RECENTLY LAUNCHED A MOBILE BRANCH CALLED "MOBI" THAT WILL SERVE UNDERSERVED AREAS. MOBI IS NOW PROVIDING BANKING SERVICES TO PAJARO IN MONTEREY COUNTY, WHICH HAS NEVER HAD PERMANENT BANKING SERVICES IN THE AREA. THE CREDIT UNION CONTINUES TO OFFER CONSUMER AND BUSINESS FINANCIAL PRODUCTS, FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND IS READY TO SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO BE VIABLE AND SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THEIR PERSONAL, FINANCIAL JOURNEYS- WHATEVER THAT MAY BE. SERVICES INCLUDE A VARIETY OF LOW AND NO-FEE CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING SECOND CHANCE CHECKING, IRA ACCOUNTS AND OTHER SPECIAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS DESIGNED TO SERVE BOTH MODERATE AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(14) credit union.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(14) credit union as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1961.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.