Checking Accounts for Educators

As your financial partner, we’ve created custom solutions that fit your lifestyle. Our educator checking accounts offer unique features designed specifically for teachers, providing benefits like: 

• Dividends: Earn dividends on balances of $10,000 and over ²
• Overdraft protection: Get peace of mind knowing you’re covered if unexpected expenses arise during the school year or summer months with overdraft protection⁴
• Global ATM access: Access 85,000+ surcharge-free ATMs worldwide⁵, whether you’re on campus, running errands or enjoying summer break
• No fees or minimum deposit: No fees or minimum deposit requirements when you sign up for Direct Deposit or eStatements³
• Digital banking: Use our free digital banking and mobile app to manage your finances easily¹
• Visa® debit card: Receive a convenient payment option that is accepted worldwide
• Educational resources: One of the biggest benefits of an educator’s credit union checking account is access to specialized financial education resources, including ways to save and financial counseling tailored to educators’ unique situations
• Summer budgeting assistance: Get help creating a budget that accounts for the different cash flow patterns teachers experience throughout the academic year

No, California Credit Union isn’t exclusively for teachers. We welcome anyone who lives, works, attends school or has a business in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, along with school employees throughout the sate. And while we’re proud to offer specialized services for educators, including the best checking accounts for teachers and education staff, we welcome everyone who meets our membership criteria. 

We provide banking services for individuals, including personal checking and savings accounts, along with business banking solutions.

California Credit Union understands the importance of financial literacy for all our members, which is why we offer resources tailored to various financial situations and goals. 

Opening an Educator Checking Account is simple at California Credit Union. You’ll need standard identification documents like a government-issued ID and Social Security number. 

To qualify for membership with California Credit Union, you’ll need to meet at least one of these requirements:

• Reside, work, attend religious services, go to school, or operate a business in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, San Bernardino or Ventura Counties
• Be current or former school staff, PTA participants, members of education-focused employee groups or anyone belonging to an alumni organization from a California college or university.
• Have a spouse, partner or immediate family member who already belongs to California Credit Union.

When you’re ready to open your account and discover the benefits of a credit union, we’ll guide you through the process and ensure you take advantage of all available benefits.

The main difference between these two types of checking accounts is that one is designed to address educators’ unique financial needs. Both are technically personal checking accounts, but teacher checking accounts offer benefits like: 

• Summer savings options: Our educator accounts pair perfectly with our Summer Savings Account to help manage finances year-round. California Credit Union’s full-service checking accounts make day-to-day personal finances convenient and affordable.
• Educator-specific discounts: Get special rates on teacher loans and other financial products exclusively for education professionals 

Our checking account for educators has no monthly maintenance fees when you sign up for Direct Deposit or eStatements². This step eliminates the burden of monthly service charges, providing you with a cost-effective banking solution. Plus, you can open an account with a minimum deposit of just $0.01.

As a credit union, we return profits to our members through better rates and lower fees rather than distributing them to shareholders. Understanding the differences between a credit union vs. bank is important when considering where to open your educator checking account.

Here are some practical tips to maximize the value of your Educator Checking Account:

• Set up direct deposit² for your paycheck to automatically qualify for the monthly fee waiver
• Use our free financial counseling services to develop strategies for managing the unique income flow educators experience
• Connect your checking account to our digital tools for simplified budgeting during both school months and summer breaks
• Visit a branch to speak with team members familiar with educators’ unique financial situations for personalized guidance
• Download our mobile app to deposit checks remotely and manage your account on the go