FirstTechCU.com
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First Tech Credit Union
First Tech Credit Union (or First Tech) is a state chartered credit union headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. It is regulated under the authority of the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). First Tech has 16 branches located along the I-5 corridor of Western Oregon and Washington with over 156,000 members, and over 1.8 billion dollars in assets (2007)[1], making it one of largest state chartered credit unions in the Pacific Northwest.
History
First Tech began its life as Tektronix Federal Credit Union, formed by seven Tektronix employees on January 14th, 1952. In 1961, the name was changed to Tektronix Employees Federal Credit Union to better reflect the credit union's membership. From very early on, innovation (namely technical innovation) has been a driving force behind the company's developmental trajectory, thus resulting in First Tech's motto of "Think Forward". [2] As early as 1976, the credit union began using computers for online data processing. By 1979 Tektronix Employees Federal Credit Union had begun the use of ATM machines. In 1985, the credit union unveiled Call 24, which allowed their members to call in to check their balances and transfer funds. Soon after in 1986, the name was changed to First Technology Credit Union and the membership opened up to include the quickly growing technology industry in the Pacific Northwest. In 1989, First Technology Credit Union developed and implemented the first online banking program. This proven track record helped lead to the 1992 addition of Microsoft to the First Technology membership. The 1995 launch of the company's www.1sttech.com website (the URL has since changed to www.firsttechcu.com) paved the way for the credit union to become the 2nd financial institution in the world to perform a secure internet transaction. Two years later, a decision was made to shorten the name to First Tech Credit Union. Staying true to its name, First Tech has remained an early adopter of burgeoning technology in the 21st century, offering wireless banking in 2000, account aggregation in 2001, and biometric dual-factor authentication in 2007[3].
Membership
To be a member of First Tech Credit Union, you must fulfill at least one of the following requirements:
Work
- You must work for a high tech or telecom sponsor company.
- You must work for the State of Oregon.
- You must work in Lane County, Oregon.
Live
- You must live in Lane County, Oregon.
- You must live in any school district in Washington.
Be
- You must be a current student, former student, official, or employee of a post-secondary public or private educational institution located within 25 miles of a First Tech branch.
- You must be an Oregon federal, local, school, or special district employee AND live or work within 25 miles of a First Tech branch
- You must be a vendor, volunteer or contractor for an eligible group or First Tech sponsor company.
- You must be an immediate family member of someone who is eligible for membership, regardless of where you live.
Products and Services Offered
The types of products and services offered by First Tech Credit Union are similar to that of most large financial institutions. [4]These include several types of checking accounts, savings accounts (share accounts), certificates of deposit, mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, andlines of credit. First Tech also offers investment, insurance, and tax services to its members. They are also given free access to the company's Online Banking and Mobile Banking services. Included in First Tech's Online Banking is a free Bill Pay service, an account aggregation service, a funds transfer service, and online access to check images and statements. Members can also access their accounts through Money and Quicken.
Community Involvement
First Tech has a rich history of supporting organizations that assist children and families, including (but not limited to): Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital, Seattle Children’s Hospital, the March of Dimes, the Oregon Food Bank, the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, and the American Cancer Society. Their employees and members also contribute to quarterly blood drives with the Red Cross. These organizations are supported through sponsorships and corporate contributions.
First Tech sponsors the following community events:
- Seafair
- AeA
- Morrison Child and Family Services: Cooking for Kids 2008 Series
- First Tech Blood Drive
- Hank and Moose open
- First Tech Kids Club
- Tualatin Hills Park Foundation: Hike ‘n’ Bike for the Future
- Relay for Life- Hillsboro
- 22nd Annual Doernbecher Softball Tournament
- Waterfront Blues Festival
- Salem-Keizer Education Foundation (SKEF)
- Books Across Borders Community Book Sale
- Oregon Bach Festival
- Great Rotary Duck Race
References
External Links
- Official First Tech Website
- List of Sponsor Companies
- Branch Locations
- 2007 Anual Report
- Tortoise or Hare?
- First Tech's Use of Biometrics
- Reference to Products and Services Offered by First Tech
- First Tech Wikipedia page