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Built by Firefighters, for Firefighters.
We started as Los Angeles Firemen’s Credit Union, founded on November 16, 1935, by a group of Los Angeles City firefighters during the height of the Great Depression. With nothing more than pooled funds kept in an old cigar box, we created a way to help fellow firefighters when they needed it most. Our original office was upstairs at Engine Company No. 28 on Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles. Business was conducted amid the sounds of sirens and alarms, and within the first 13 months, the credit union had grown to $80,000 in assets and 809 members.
Nearly a century later, that same service-first spirit still drives everything we do. We have grown from those 809 original members to more than 78,000+ members across 1,800+ fire departments nationwide, with over $2.4B in assets. But the mission has never changed. Every product, service and interaction is designed with firefighters and their families in mind.
What sets us apart?
Everything we do is built around how firefighters live, work and prepare for the future.
Firefighter First mission.
Everything we do starts with the needs of the fire service. Our products, rates, services and programs are all built with the Fire Family in mind, not the general public.
Our Board of Directors is also made up entirely of active or retired firefighters, meaning they know our members and keep them in mind with every decision we make.
Nationwide support.
Members across all 50 states receive personalized service from a team that understands the job, the schedule and the career lifecycle of a firefighter.
Members are owners.
We exist to serve members, not shareholders. As a credit union, our profits go back to the people we serve, not to outside investors. In 2025 alone, we returned over $5 million to members through our Annual Profit Sharing program.
Trusted relationships.
Our deep ties within the fire community keep us closely connected to the members we serve. We understand the lingo, the lifestyle and the financial pressures that come with a career in the fire service.
Built for real life.
Our solutions are designed around shift work, overtime income, career transitions and the unique financial patterns of firefighter households. We do not treat firefighters like generic borrowers.
OUR HISTORY AND REACH.
What started with an old cigar box and 809 members in 1935 has grown into the largest financial institution exclusively dedicated to the Fire Family. Nearly a century of showing up, one member at a time.
What started with an old cigar box and 809 members in 1935 has grown into the largest financial institution exclusively dedicated to the Fire Family. Nearly a century of showing up, one member at a time.
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90+years
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78,000+members
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1,800+fire departments
OUR STRENGTH AND COMMITMENT.
The trust our members place in us shows up in the numbers. A strong financial foundation means we can keep doing what we have always done, putting the Fire Family first and giving back to the people who make us who we are.
The trust our members place in us shows up in the numbers. A strong financial foundation means we can keep doing what we have always done, putting the Fire Family first and giving back to the people who make us who we are.
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$2.4B+in assets
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$5M+returned to members in 2025
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16branches across 6 states
OUR PURPOSE
Built for the reality of the fire service.
We exist to improve the financial lives of firefighters and their families. That purpose drives every decision we make, from how we design products to how we support members one-on-one. Firefighters face long shifts and career risks most never experience, so we build solutions that fit real life.
A LEGACY OF SERVICE
Guided by the same values you live by.
The fire service runs on trust, teamwork and showing up when it matters most. At Firefighters First, those same values guide everything we do. We take time to listen, understand and support each member’s goals, from buying a home to planning for retirement to navigating life’s changes.