Member-owned community banking built for the Pacific Northwest — personal checking and savings accounts, competitive mortgage and auto loan rates, business lending, and secure digital banking services.
Every Valley First Credit Union member owns a share of the institution — which means our rates, fees, and service decisions are guided by what benefits you, not what benefits outside shareholders.
Free checking with no monthly fees, complimentary debit card, surcharge-free ATM access at over 30,000 locations, and full integration with Valley First online banking.
View checking options →High-yield savings accounts, money market accounts, and share certificates with rates that outperform national averages — your money grows faster with Valley First Credit Union.
Compare savings rates →Fixed-rate, adjustable, FHA, VA, and jumbo mortgage options. Our local loan officers provide personalized guidance through every step of the home financing process.
Explore mortgage options →New and used vehicle financing with rates starting below dealer offers. Refinance your existing auto loan to a lower rate and keep more money in your pocket each month.
Check auto loan rates →Manage your Valley First accounts anywhere with online and mobile banking. Pay bills, transfer funds, deposit checks, and set up custom account alerts in seconds.
Go to digital banking →Business checking accounts, SBA loans, commercial real estate lending, merchant payment processing, and treasury management solutions for businesses of every size.
Business solutions →the credit union accounts are federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) up to $250,000 per individual account holder. The NCUA operates under the full faith and credit of the United States government — providing the same level of deposit protection that the FDIC provides to bank customers.
Beyond federal insurance, Valley First maintains additional private excess share insurance for deposits exceeding NCUA limits, giving members additional peace of mind for larger balances. Our capital reserves consistently exceed regulatory requirements for well-capitalized institutions, as verified through annual NCUA examinations.
"I moved my home mortgage and checking account to Valley First Credit Union three years ago and the difference has been remarkable. The loan officer walked me through every document, found a rate nearly a full point below what my previous bank offered, and the closing process stayed on schedule. My checking account has no monthly fees whatsoever — something I never found at a traditional bank. The mobile banking app lets me deposit checks and pay bills from anywhere. Valley First genuinely operates differently because the members own it, and that ownership structure shows in every interaction."— Marcus J. Delgado
"The auto loan refinance through Valley First saved me over eighty dollars a month. The application took fifteen minutes online and I received approval the same afternoon."— Sarah K. Whitfield
"Valley First helped our family business secure an SBA loan when two other banks declined us. The treasury management platform has streamlined our receivables dramatically."— Derek T. Nakamura
"As a first-time homebuyer I was overwhelmed by the process until my Valley First loan officer broke everything down step by step. I closed on time with no surprises."— Olivia R. Hartwell
"Valley First online banking lets me manage both my personal checking and my business account from a single dashboard. The real-time alerts catch everything immediately."— James P. Corrigan
Opening a Valley First Credit Union account takes about ten minutes online. All you need is a valid ID, your Social Security number, and a $5 minimum deposit to establish your membership share.
Open an AccountWhat personal checking accounts does Valley First offer?
the credit union provides free checking, interest-bearing checking, and student checking accounts, each with no monthly maintenance fees, free debit cards, and full online banking access. The free checking account requires no minimum balance and includes unlimited check writing. The interest-bearing checking tier earns dividends on balances above $1,000. All Valley First checking accounts connect seamlessly to the digital banking platform for transfers, bill pay, and mobile deposits.
How do I open an account with Valley First Credit Union?
You can open a Valley First Credit Union account online at the membership application page, visit any of our twelve branch locations across Washington and Idaho, or call member support at (509) 555-0185. To establish membership, you will need a current government-issued photo ID, your Social Security number or ITIN, and an initial deposit of at least $5 which purchases your ownership share in the credit union. Online applications typically process in under fifteen minutes.
Does Valley First provide online banking and a mobile app?
Yes, Valley First Credit Union provides comprehensive online banking through any modern web browser and a dedicated mobile banking app available for both iOS and Android devices. Members can check real-time balances, transfer funds between accounts, pay bills electronically, deposit checks using mobile capture, view e-statements, set up account alerts via text or email, and manage debit card controls including temporary card freezes. Valley First online banking uses 256-bit encryption and multi-factor authentication to protect every session.
What mortgage loan options are available at Valley First?
the credit union provides a complete range of mortgage products including conventional fixed-rate mortgages in 15, 20, and 30-year terms, adjustable-rate mortgages with competitive initial fixed periods, FHA loans for qualified first-time homebuyers with lower down payment requirements, VA loans with zero down payment for eligible service members, USDA rural development loans, and home equity lines of credit for existing homeowners. Our mortgage loan officers are available for pre-qualification consultations at no cost to you. Current rates are published and updated daily on our mortgage page. For more details on mortgage programs, visit the HUD housing resources portal.
Does Valley First offer business banking services?
Valley First Credit Union provides a full suite of business banking services tailored to small and mid-sized enterprises. Offerings include business checking with tiered transaction allowances, business savings and money market accounts, SBA 7(a) and 504 loan programs, commercial real estate acquisition and construction financing, equipment and vehicle financing, merchant card processing with competitive interchange rates, automated clearing house origination, wire transfer capabilities, positive pay fraud prevention, and treasury management tools including lockbox services and cash concentration. Our business banking relationship managers provide personalized consultation to match services with each company's operational needs.
How is Valley First Credit Union different from a bank?
The fundamental distinction is ownership structure. Valley First Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned entirely by its members — every person who holds an account holds one voting share. Traditional banks are for-profit corporations owned by shareholders who may never set foot in a branch. This cooperative structure allows Valley First to return earnings to members through higher savings yields, lower loan interest rates, and reduced fees compared to commercial banks. Additionally, credit union members elect a volunteer board of directors from within the membership, ensuring governance remains aligned with the interests of the people who actually use the institution's services. The NCUA provides the same federal insurance protection that FDIC provides for bank deposits.
What security measures does Valley First use to protect accounts?
the credit union employs a multi-layered security architecture that includes multi-factor authentication for all digital banking sessions, 256-bit TLS encryption for data in transit, real-time fraud detection algorithms that flag anomalous transaction patterns, instant SMS and email alerts for account activity, the ability to freeze and unfreeze debit cards instantly through the mobile app, biometric authentication options on supported devices, and automatic session timeouts after periods of inactivity. All Valley First deposit accounts carry NCUA federal insurance up to $250,000 with additional excess coverage beyond that threshold. Our information security program undergoes annual third-party penetration testing and is audited as part of the NCUA examination cycle. Members can learn more about common financial fraud schemes through the FTC Consumer Information portal.