Credit Unions in Bakersfield, CA
5 member-owned, NCUA-insured credit unions headquartered in or near Bakersfield, serving a combined 357,963 members. The largest is Valley Strong. Click any credit union for its full details.
Find credit unions near you
Use your location to see the closest member-owned credit unions. We use your coordinates once to find nearby co-ops — they’re never stored.
Sorted by membership size.
Valley Strong
BAKERSFIELD, CA🇺🇸
240,116 members
Credit Unions & BankingView details →Safe 1
BAKERSFIELD, CA🇺🇸
90,340 members
Credit Unions & BankingView details →Strata
BAKERSFIELD, CA🇺🇸
24,415 members
Credit Unions & BankingView details →Bakersfield City Employees
BAKERSFIELD, CA🇺🇸
2,035 members
Credit Unions & BankingView details →Espeeco
Bakersfield, CA🇺🇸
1,057 members
Credit Unions & BankingView details →This list is credit unions whose NCUA charter (headquarters) is geocoded to Bakersfield: they are based in or near Bakersfield. Credit unions with a branch in the city but headquartered elsewhere are listed next.
Also with a branch in Bakersfield
5 more credit unions headquartered elsewhere have a branch in Bakersfield, CA. Source: NCUA, Credit Union Branch Information, quarter ended June 30, 2026 (2026 Q2). Branch hours and services are not shown here; check the credit union.
Sorted by membership size.
The Golden 1
SACRAMENTO, CA🇺🇸
1,199,691 members
Credit Unions & BankingView details →Self-Help
Durham, NC🇺🇸
146,774 members
Credit Unions & BankingView details →Chevron
Concord, CA🇺🇸
139,374 members
Credit Unions & BankingView details →Firefighters First
Los Angeles, CA🇺🇸
78,464 members
Credit Unions & BankingView details →Altaone
Ridgecrest, CA🇺🇸
53,422 members
Credit Unions & BankingView details →- The Golden 1 — branch: 4106 California Ave Ste 1 Bakersfield, CA 93309-1095
- Self-Help — branch: 2100 H St Bakersfield, CA 93301
- Chevron — branches: 5060 California Ave Ste 190 Bakersfield, CA 93309-7077; 1546 China Grade Loop # J3 Bakersfield, CA 93308
- Firefighters First — branch: 7900 Downing Ave Unit C Bakersfield, CA 93308
- Altaone — branches: 6501 Ming Ave Bakersfield, CA 93309; 11211 River Run Blvd Bakersfield, CA 93311
How to join a credit union in California
To join one of the credit unions above, you need to fall within its field of membership — usually by living or working in Bakersfield or the surrounding area, through your employer, or via an association anyone can join. Once eligible, you open a small share account (often $5) that makes you a part-owner with one vote, regardless of your balance. Deposits are insured up to $250,000 by the NCUA.
Credit unions in Bakersfield — common questions
How many credit unions are in Bakersfield?
5 member-owned, NCUA-insured credit unions are headquartered in or near Bakersfield, California, with a combined 357,963 members. The largest is Valley Strong.
Are these the closest credit unions to me in Bakersfield?
The first list is credit unions whose NCUA charter (headquarters) is based in or near Bakersfield, geocoded to the city. The second list adds 5 more credit unions headquartered elsewhere that NCUA shows with a branch in Bakersfield, as of June 30, 2026. A credit union can serve a wider area than its branches. For a true distance-sorted list from your exact location, use the "near me" finder above.
Can I join any credit union in Bakersfield?
Not always. Every credit union has a "field of membership" — you typically qualify by living or working in a defined area, your employer, or an association you can join. Many community credit unions in California accept anyone in the area; others are tied to a specific group. Check each credit union's eligibility before opening a share account (often as little as $5).
Credit union vs bank — which is better in Bakersfield?
Banks are for-profit and owned by shareholders; credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives owned by their members, so surplus comes back to members as higher savings rates, lower loan rates and fewer fees. The trade-off is membership eligibility and, sometimes, a smaller branch and ATM network.