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Review Highlights
“SFFCU has now RESTORED 5-star status, because the internal (in-house) team finally heard me out!” in 83 reviews
“I moved here from Wells Fargo in 2011 when WF gouged me for overdraft fees and I've never regretted it for a second.” in 30 reviews
“I was shopping at Stonestown one day and decided to kick WAMU to the curb years ago and I'm glad I did.” in 7 reviews
About the Business
Discover banking the way it should be. SF Fire Credit Union offers great rates and hometown service to everyone who lives, works or attends school in San Francisco, San Mateo, or Marin Counties. Join online in minutes and start reaching your financial goals, whether you’re buying a home, shopping for a vehicle, planning for retirement, or opening your first checking account. This credit union is not insured by any state or federal government.
Location & Hours
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Amenities and More
Ask the Community
Q:
Are there any quarters or quarters limit at this location?
A:
Hello Jordan! Thank you for your question; with the current nationwide coin shortage, our supply of quarters shipments are not guaranteed. As a result, our branches currently have a limit of $20.00 per member, per day, so that we can accommodate as… more
Devin H., Business Employee1 person found this helpfulQ:
Can you join if you're not a firefighter or a family member of one?
A:
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359 reviews
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Amber B.Brooklyn, NY0177Mar 25, 2017I love SFFCU! Especially no fee international currency exchange through ATM/withdrawals. That meant a $17 rebate for using the ATM at the airport in Mexico!
The online app is easy to navigate and super convenient for transfers and depositing my paychecks.
Writing this review has me craving one of their funsize snickers...
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Jonathan L.San Francisco, CA20255209Aug 12, 2024Updated reviewVery happy with my experience: dedicated parking, security guard, and a very high number of staff to customers. Will be back!
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Tatiana J.
Jul 11, 2024
Hi Jonathan - thanks for taking the time to write this review. We appreciate all feedback and thank you for becoming a member. I'm sorry to hear about your experience applying for membership and will be reaching out for more information that I can share with our management team. Regarding ASI, unlike the NCUA, ASI insures every SF Fire Credit Union deposit account of an individual member up to $250,000, without limitation to the number of accounts held. NCUA only insures up to $250,000 per member, regardless of the total number of deposit accounts. You can find more info here: https://sffirecu.org/policies/disclosures/american-share-insurance/
Thanks,
Tatiana J.Jul 17, 2024Previous reviewWas contacted by San Francisco Fire Credit Union, and they helped me understand the process behind my application. I was approved, and will be heading in to fund my accounts. Will provide an additional update after I have some additional interactions with SFFCU.
Some additional notes from stopping by, and speaking with other members of SFFCU: post-remodel, the current set-up with a sign-in screen is a little confusing in terms of trying to determine if now is a good time to visit the branch, or if one would be better served coming back at a later time. This is because traditionally, one would see a counter and the number of people working, as well as a the number of customers in line. With this information, one could estimate how long the wait would be. Conversely, with the current system, you're present along with others, and are unsure if you're behind all of the other customers, if some are waiting to speak with a loan officer, etc. A future update to the system may be to list the number of people currently in the branch, or to send you a text after you check in letting you know what # you are in line. Especially on that last point, if you are far down the list, you may have time to walk across the street to pick up some groceries at the Whole Foods while you wait.Jul 11, 2024Previous reviewI'm a new member, so this review may be subject to change, but below is my experience so far. TL;DR surprising amount of friction getting everything set up, and a potentially big fundamental issue that my keep me from using SFFCU very much.
1. Went into a local branch to sign-up for membership. Brought cash, driver's license, passport, and a couple of bills and statements to establish residency. Came towards closing time, so wasn't too annoyed when they said it would take too much time to open an account today, and to come back earlier another day, or to apply online.
2. Started an application online. The Application process was surprisingly clunky, especially compared to other local credit unions. The whole thing took a few days, and I had to submit even more information.
3. Membership was established, and boy they did not wait to take the $5 application fee out. On that note, this is also a kind of strange practice: many other credit unions require a $5 fee, but keep it in your name, so that if you every close your accounts, they give it back to you. SFFCU's $5 fee is an actual fee that you don't get back. A little annoying, but a relatively small issue.
4. I only realized after the fact that SFFCU deposits are covered under American Share Insurance (not federally insured), instead of National Credit Union Administration (federally insured). This last point is the most concerning of all: I hope SFFCU considers coverage under NCUA, otherwise, while it is an very, very, very small risk of either SFFCU or ASI having any issues, why would one take such a risk at all when there are alternatives that are backed by NCUA?
Tiffany G.Oakland, CA48129Jul 30, 2024The service has went down tremendously since they switched over to these "cafe" style branches. This is my 2nd day BACK at this bank (Stonestown branch) & the wait that was given at the time of "check in" is 44 minutes & yesterday I left after waiting 30 minutes. This is HIGHLY UNACCEPTABLE!! U NEED TO GET IT TOGETHER SF FIRE. I used to love this bank NOW I DREAD GOING INSIDE
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Tatiana J.
Jul 30, 2024
Hi Tiffany - thanks for taking the time to write this review and provide feedback on our new branch model. We apologize for the long wait times you've been experiencing. We were experiencing unusually high wait times yesterday and today, but I can offer to have someone reach out to assist virtually or over the phone. I'll direct message you to gather more info. Thanks again for the review and for visiting our Stonestown branch. - Tatiana J.
Alex B.Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, CA811Apr 22, 2023This was a great credit Union when I joined almost 10 years ago but they've fallen way off since then. Their employees are incompetent, condescending, liars. After recently trying to sort out some paperwork with a government agency I had to visit twice because of sf fire's incompetence, I was told by two different individuals there "your bank is lying to you."
They forgot to file the paperwork in mid March, I called to confirm in late March and got a very condescending attitude as if I was insulting them by trying to confirm it was filed. A month later all I got was a "sorry we forgot" with an attitude because they screwed me over and cost me thousands of dollars. I recommend you stay away from this credit Union.Helpful 4Thanks 1Love this 1Oh no 1- Robert N.Bayview/Hunters Point, San Francisco, CA386218Feb 27, 2023Updated review
The online banking app is one of the worst I've used.
There's going to be a major hiccup and hassle at least once a year.
Sitting on hold for 20+ min is not acceptable.
Todays goal was to make a payment on my visa, but it turns out they had frozen my account, because my ex's account was in the negative, and they were linked.
So, THEY FROZE MY ACCOUNT BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSES ACCOUNT WAS NEGATIVE!
I'm not going to file a complaint with the feds.
This credit Union is clueless and will cost you time and money.
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Devin H.
May 19, 2020
Hi Robert, I'm sorry to hear about the problem with your card. I'll send you a DM to get some details so our Contact Center can check on that for you. As for the Online & Mobile Banking, we're working to have that up and running as soon as possible. Thank you.
May 19, 2020Previous reviewThis credit union is the worst.
February 2019:
I'm on another continent, and unable to purchase groceries. I told them before my trip when and where I would be. They restricted my card for potential fraud because of an Apple store purchase. Today, they restricted it for an attempted purchase for groceries. I'm 6 hours ahead, it's the middle of my day, and they aren't going to be open for a couple hours. These people are effed in the head
May 19, 2020:
We don't know when we will have online banking restored.Jun 18, 2018Previous reviewRED FLAG
If you use more than half your credit, they will close off your credit with little warning. 
Peter H.San Francisco, CA322Oct 16, 2023Updated reviewSo yeah - about that nice low CC rate: it has doubled over the past couple of years, even though I always pay on time and never get anywhere near my limit. At no point during the multiple rate increases did I ever receive a snail- or e-mail notification about them. Not cool, SF Fire CU.
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Tatiana J.
Oct 17, 2023
Hi Peter - first of all, thank you for being a member for over a decade, and taking the time to write a review. I understand your frustration about the rising rates, but please note that the rate for our credit card is a variable rate. In our cardholder agreement (and on our site) we share that the rate adjusts quarterly and equals Prime Rate plus 4.00% to 8.00% depending on creditworthiness. Because Prime has increased in the last year, the credit card is affected by these increases. Please let me know if you'd like me to have someone from our Consumer Lending department contact you to discuss any other concerns you may have. - Tatiana J.
Jul 6, 2011Previous reviewAfter a certain large bank which shall remain nameless (but whose name rhymes with Hell's Cargo) slashed my credit limit -- even though I scrupulously pay all my bills on time, every month -- and trashed my credit score, I signed up with SF Fire in a fit of pique. They promptly issued me an equivalent amount of credit at half the interest rate, which I'm using to pay off that Hell's Cargo card and get them out of my life forever.
Thank you SF Fire CU!
Ryan R.Bolsa Chica-Heil, Huntington Beach, CA05Apr 25, 2023Absolutely amazing. Needed an auto loan ASAP (1 day) and they were able to get it done for me, check in hand, with the best interest rate I could've asked for. Tried multiple other banks and they gave me the best offer.
Shoutout to Eileen and Lillian for the assistance!Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 1Business owner information
Tatiana J.
Apr 25, 2023
Thanks so much for the kind words. We're here to help!
Dinair Spa S.San Francisco, CA36148Aug 8, 2023Long wait time to find an unhelpful atendent. Very disappointed,but relieved that I did not open an account with this bank.
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Tatiana J.
Aug 9, 2023
Hi Dinair - we apologize for the experience you had at our California Street branch. This is not the level of service we aim to provide. Our branch manager would like to personally reach out to you to address what occurred and assist in establishing any accounts with SF Fire. We'll send you a DM to get the best way to contact you.
Joshua C.San Francisco, CA0421Aug 13, 2023I absolutely love this credit union been a member for about eight years they've been fantastic never had to pay ATM fees. It's like a real friendly place and account. Managers are awesome as well. I believe they just open up a third branch in San Francisco but yeah highly highly recommend them it's not some big corporation it's basically firemen and their families and friends, so yeah I can't think of a better place I would want to bank with.
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Tatiana J.
Aug 14, 2023
Thanks so much for the kind words, Joshua, and for the 8 years of membership! - Tatiana J.
Keith P.Santa Rosa, CA052Feb 28, 2023Full of incompetent people/management. I Mail out my mortgage payment on the second of the month every month from my Online Bill account. For some reason, it takes SF FIRE CU many weeks to process my payment so I get phone calls from their debt collector saying I haven't paid. Then I end up making double payments. Ridiculous!
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Tatiana J.
Feb 28, 2023
Hi Keith - I've sent your review to our Real Estate leadership team and someone should be reaching out (if they haven't already). Thanks for taking the time to write a review. We want to make sure making payments is a clear and easy process. - Tatiana
Whitney H.San Francisco, CA413917Feb 27, 2023I love SFFCU! It's a beautiful diamond in the rough, which I didn't know about until I started working here. Best products, rates and SERVICE ever and I had no idea I didn't need to be associated with a fire fighter. SFFCU rebates ATM fees, has no fee checking and some of the best rates in the Bay Area.
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