Community Involvement

Community Involvement Statement

L.A. Financial endeavors to give back to the community and provide ongoing support and commitment to worthy causes. Through direct financial support or other in-kind contributions to worthwhile organizations, and by participating in public service activities, L.A. Financial strives to be an active partner in our community with special emphasis on our youth.

LA Financial Credit Union is proud to sponsor the "Kids Read To Achieve for Financial Literacy Program" in partnership with the LA Clippers "Read to Achieve" Program.

The Los Angeles Clippers READ TO ACHIEVE Program challenges children in elementary, middle and high school to take time out to read. Each participating child in elementary, middle and high school is asked to track the number of books they read and the minutes they spend reading. In addition, students can participate in the Storybook Challenge by working as a team with their class to create a Storybook.

The Clippers also challenge high school students to participate in the READ TO ACHIEVE "POETRY SLAM N' JAM" by taking time out to celebrate the written word through a creative poem or rap. All students participate in the program in a quest to become Los Angeles Clippers Student Reading All-Stars. School visits by Clippers players, game tickets, books, bookmarks, t-shirts and grants are also incentives provided for the program. The goal of READ TO ACHIEVE is to build a lifelong love of reading in young people by providing greater access to books and technology while encouraging families and adults to read regularly with young children.

Kids Read to Achieve for Financial Literacy

Elementary and Middle School Students learn about earning, saving and spending through reading.

The LA Financial's Read to Achieve for Financial Literacy Program will challenge students in elementary and middle school to take time out and read to earn Read to Achieve Dollars. Each participating student is asked to track the number of books they read and the minutes they spend reading. Books and minutes become currency as the students strive to become literate in the world of student finance and understand how dollars make sense. Students will have opportunities to earn additional Read to Achieve dollars by reading from a select list of children's books that focus on financial literacy. They will also be able to select items to purchase using their Reading currency on Clippers.com. At the end of the program, ten students with the most Read to Achieve dollars will be selected five from elementary and five from middle school. These ten students will become members of the Clippers Financial Bank Shot Board and receive a $200 scholarship courtesy of LA Financial Credit Union.

High School Students

High School Students will participate in an essay contest to express their knowledge of how earning, saving, spending and borrowing can affect their financial future. The top five essays will be selected as winners. These five students will round out the Clippers Financial Bank Shot and receive a $200 scholarship courtesy of LA Financial Credit Union.

Incentives for the Program:

  • A visit with a Clipper' Player to the elementary, middle school and high school with the most minutes read
  • Tickets to a BB Clinic/Clippers Game
  • Invitation to Clippers Kids Community Block Party
  • Schools that register will receive a bundle of books geared toward Financial Literacy
  • Students that read the books geared toward Financial Literacy will receive bonus minutes/bucks
  • Students will have opportunities to spend their points/bucks earned on certain Clippers merchandise
  • Opportunity for students to students to submit a "Savings Tip of the Week" to be posted on the WebPages for the Clippers and LA Financial. Extra points/bucks will be awarded for Savings Tips

Read to Achieve Results - There were 1,972 students who participated at the elementary and middle school levels reading a total of 827,977 minutes. There were 68 High School students who submitted essays for the essay contest portion of the program.

Clippers Financial Bank Shot Board:

Receives a $200 scholarship provided by LA Financial Credit Union and will be invited to attend the Clippers Community Kids Block Party where the scholarship will be presented.

Elementary School
  • Anthony G. – Duff Elementary School – $13,500 dollars saved
  • Kimberly D. – Duff Elementary School – $7,380 dollars saved
  • JT D.– Lexington Elementary School – $2,635 dollars saved
  • Gina S. – Saticoy Elementary School – $2,520 dollars saved
  • Bahe B. – Mountain View Elementary School – $2,441 dollars saved
Middle School
  • Kayla B. – Foshay Learning Center – $5,840 dollars saved
  • Dacia B.– Foshay Learning Center – $5,117 dollars saved
  • Brianna W. – Foshay Learning Center – $4,670 dollars saved
  • Ana V. – Foshay Learning Center – $4,302 dollars saved
  • Maria O.– Foshay Learning Center – $3,390 dollars saved
High School – determined by Essay Contest
  • Clarissa V.
  • Shira C.
  • George L.
  • Fresli S.
  • Wilson M.
Financial Literacy School Awards:
  • Duff Elementary School, Rosemead, CA reading a total of 209,108 minutes
  • Foshay Learning Center, Los Angeles, CA (middle school level) reading a total of 268,121 minutes
High School Essay Contest Awards:

We had a total 68 students turn in Financial Literacy Essays. The high school that submitted the most essays and will receive 50 tickets to a TBD game is Lincoln High School, Los Angeles.

Financial Literacy Basketball Clinic: (March 3, 2008)

The random drawing winners who met the Friday, December 14th deadline and will each receive 25 participants in the pre-game clinic (each participant will receive a ticket for themselves and one for a guest) are: Hamlin Street Elementary School and 32nd Street Magnet School.







LA Financial participates in many Community Development Events and Programs.

LA Financial Credit Union's community involvement goal is to provide financial services and education to the underserved in Los Angeles County. This year we have partnered with Sam Renick, founder of It’s A Habit Company to visit local schools and conduct assemblies encouraging students to read and save money. Mascot Sammy Rabbit entertains the students and “It’s A Habit, Sammy Rabbit” books and CDs are distributed to the students and teachers. By sponsoring It’s A Habit Company, relationships have developed leading to future opportunities with the schools and affiliated charity organizations.

On Sunday, April 1, 2007 we participated at the Padres Contras El Cancer Easter Party. It was located at the ABC Channel 7 Studio in Burbank. Padres Contras El Cancer (Parents against cancer) is an organization committed to improving the quality of life for Latino children with cancer and their families. We sponsored It’s A Habit Company where mascot Sammy Rabbit interacted with the children. He was a big hit. Sam Renick autographed "It's A Habit, Sammy Rabbit" books, handing out over 125 to the children. We assisted Sam Renick and Sammy Rabbit while exhibiting our materials.










LA Financial is an active supporter of the Ronald McDonald House and has also developed a program to teach financial literacy to the Challengers Boys & Girls Club. The Challengers Club is a non profit organization that provides assistance, enrichment and opportunities for urban youth of South Los Angeles. Our eight week financial literacy program began in January 2006 in conjunction with the Leader in Training teen group. We also plan to offer the program to the parents and then to the younger children in the Challengers Program.

We consider our work in providing financial literacy to be an important community service. The volunteer efforts by many of our staff members to charities and organizations of their choice are also a vital part of our cooperative spirit.

We sponsored two scholarships, the Music in the Schools program in conjunction with the LA County Music Center and the "U.S. Congress and You" program through the LA County School District. L.A. Financial Credit Union was proud to sponsor a scholarship program on how the Committee for Citizen Awareness video, The U.S. Congress and You, increased your understanding of how democracy works, and how it impacts the lives of children in our community. When we first became involved with this program, it was because we wanted to help high school students learn more about the way our government works so that they can more easily participate in it.

We were pleased to present this $500.00 scholarship check to Sarineh Zadorian from Hoover High School in Glendale California.

LA Financial was the first financial institution to sponsor Sol-I.D., a paper thin identification sticker that fits comfortably inside a shoe. It's easy to fill out and apply. The special transparent protector sheet keeps writing from being obscured by even the most active of feet. Most importantly, it's design allows you to easily record information that may prove life-saving in an emergency. Name, allergies, and emergency contacts become immediately accessible to any health-care provider or law enforcement officer. It speaks for you when you can't speak for yourself.

LA Financial Credit Union is committed to member and consumer financial education; in addition we are committed to educating members and consumers, alike, about credit union uniqueness, philosophy, and values. Our web page contains a Consumer Education Portal with modules on: Balancing a checkbook, Buying a car, Buying a home, Understanding your credit score and more.

Ronald McDonald House First Year Family Reunion


Ronald McDonald House Room Dedication


U.S Congress and You - Sarineh Zadorian from Hoover High School in Glendale, California. $500 Scholarship recipient.


Sponsorship of Sol-ID Program for Community Youths


LA Financial Credit Union Challengers Boys and Girls Club Essay Contest Finalists.


Challengers Boys and Girls Club Essay Contest First Place Winner Rayvione Mouton


Challengers Boys and Girls Club Essay Contest Second Place Winner Brian Grant


Challengers Boys and Girls Club Essay Contest Tied Third Place Winner Greg Michael-Williams


Challengers Boys and Girls Club Essay Contest Tied Third Place Winner Barbara Huggins

Mission Statement

To build on our tradition of safety and security by providing first-rate service to our members. To deliver excellence in member service through fiscal responsibility, convenience, operating efficiency and ethical business practices.

Vision Statement

Excellence in Member Service... Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere.

Current Services that Help Improve the Economic and Social Well Being of Members:

  • Free Checking – no minimum balance requirements, no per check charge, no monthly fee, free e-services (including bill payment and eStatements)
  • Fresh Start Checking – re-establish checking for members with CheckSystems records
  • Happy Savers Youth Accounts
  • Risk based pricing on Loans – LA FINANCIAL offers loans to members who may not have been previously been able to qualify
  • Consumer education web links
  • Low cost Real Estate & Home Equity products
  • COOP ATM no surcharge network
  • Senior benefits – FREE interest checking account with no minimum balance requirements
  • Ready Asset Accounts
  • Secondary Savings Accounts
  • IRA’s (Traditional, Roth and Education)
  • VISA debit cards
  • Overdraft Protection
  • Courtesy Pay
  • Mechanical Breakdown Insurance
  • GAP Insurance
  • Notary Service
  • 24-hour account access (Touch Teller or anytimeBanking)
  • FREE e-statements
  • FREE check imaging
  • Bill paying service – FREE with Free Checking
  • FREE Direct Deposit/Payroll Deduction
  • CU Direct Lending Program
  • 100% financing
  • 800 number to access credit union
  • Long Term Preferred Care insurance for seniors
  • FREE AD&D Insurance
  • AutoExpert – cost saving auto buying program
  • College Scholarships
  • CUEST - Credit Union Educational Site for Training and Technology, Center. The CUEST Center can be used for staff and member education utilizing the latest in technology. Educational multi-media tutorials are available which will provide staff of local credit unions access to training for new employees, managers and staff development. All the staff modules are credit union specific and customized with core philosophy.

Current Programs that Support Member Education and Advocacy:

  • LA Financial Scholarships
  • Intern program – Provide internships for high school and college students so that they will learn about the credit union and experience a professional work environment/work ethics
  • Website designed to aid members with auto pricing guides, financial calculators, home and family finance magazine, savings and loan rates, and other links
  • Annual meetings are held each year to keep members informed
  • Newsletters provide members with financial information and introductions to new products and services
  • Consumer Credit Counseling alliance to educate members on credit, budgeting and checking account usage
  • Select Employer Group Orientations – We visit local companies to provide education to members and potential members about credit union uniqueness, philosophy and values
  • Member Newsletter – quarterly newsletter with educational content
  • Participation in joint credit union public relations/advertising campaign – to educate local residents about credit unions



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Disclaimer: L.A. Financial Credit Union is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of web sites which we may provide a link to. While all efforts are made to maintain the accuracy of information presented on the L.A. Financial Credit Union web site, we cannot guarantee that all information is current. Please contact the Credit Union call center directly for the most current information at 626.792.7441 or Toll-Free 800.894.1200.