About Us

Our Story

In 1951, sixteen teachers pooled together $84 in deposits and founded our credit union with the common purpose of helping people.  To this day, our common purpose still exists.  We’re here for our members and we thrive by delivering on our value promise of Smart. Simple. Personal. 

Smart.

We are the smart choice for a few reasons.  We offer competitive loan and deposit rates, while keeping fees as low as possible.  We also provide our members with local service, yet nationwide access.  Lastly, we only offer financial solutions that are relevant to each member’s situation.  We do not sell products or services just to meet our goals; rather, we evaluate each member’s financial situation and offer solutions that help members achieve their financial hopes and dreams. 

Simple.

We understand that we live in a fast-paced world and not everything can be simple. However, banking should be and we are dedicated to simplifying everything we do.  From how our members apply for a loan to the options on our phone menu to the website experience we provide to our members, we work diligently to provide our members with banking options that are easy to understand and use.

Personal.

It is our goal to make every interaction you have with us a pleasant experience that’s focused on you. Whether it’s greeting you at the door or sending you flowers for that special occasion or simply providing you with water while you’re in the lobby, we are committed to delighting our members with a memorable experience.

As a financial cooperative, we thrive by offering great value to our members, and we believe our value promise – Smart. Simple. Personal. – will benefit you and your family.

Our History - Growth Inspired by a Broken Chair 

In 1951 a young teacher and his wife, Dick and Jane Evans (yes, those are their real names), set out to purchase a family vehicle. While visiting a local credit union to apply for a car loan, it was suggested Mr. Evans start a credit union at the school he taught, Amphitheater High School. He joined a group of teachers and pooled $84 in total assets to form what is known today as Pima Federal Credit Union.

But I’m sure you’re wondering where the chair comes in. In the credit union’s early years, the branch had relocated from the wood shop at Amphi High School to the home of Dick and Jane Evans due to a fire at the school – a move Jane was uneasy about.  One day a member went to their home to apply for a loan.  He sat in Jane’s favorite chair to fill out the loan application and kept leaning back in the chair.  After being told several times to stop leaning back, he leaned back one last time and broke the back legs of the chair.  Needless to say, Jane wasn’t too happy and the decision was made to finally move the credit union to a new location.  This move proved to be an important one in our history as we experienced exponential growth shortly after (Side note: The gentleman that broke Jane’s chair was ultimately approved for his loan proving that the positive relationship with the member was more important than the not-so-positive transaction that caused the broken chair.). 

We stay true to our roots as a not-for-profit financial cooperative whose main focus is providing the highest possible value to our membership in the simplest way.

Our company culture is built on the simple notion that a great financial institution is about relationships and not transactions.  A lesson we learned long ago thanks to Dick and Jane Evans.