Golden 1 Credit Union
Golden 1 headquarters in Sacramento | |
| Formerly | California State Employees’ Credit Union #1 |
|---|---|
| Company type | Credit Union |
| Industry | Financial services |
| Founded | (1933) |
| Headquarters | , |
Number of locations | 70 branches (2026) |
Key people | Donna A. Bland (President & CEO) |
| Products | Checking; Savings; Consumer loans; Mortgage loans; Credit cards; Online banking; Investments; Insurance |
| Revenue | 344,482,824 United States dollar (2011) |
| Total assets | $21B USD (2026) |
| Members | 1,100,000 (2026) |
Number of employees | 2100 (2022) |
| Website | golden1.com |
Golden 1 Credit Union (or Golden 1) is a credit union headquartered in Sacramento, California. Golden 1 is one of the nation's largest credit unions and the second largest credit union in the State of California.[1] It currently serves its members throughout California with more than 70 branches, including home loan and financial resource centers, and over 30,000 CO-OP ATMs nationwide.[2]
History
Founded in 1933 as California State Employees' Credit Union #1, it officially changed its name to Golden 1 in 1977.
On June 16, 2015, Golden 1 acquired naming rights for a new arena in the heart of downtown Sacramento to replace the Sacramento Kings' Sleep Train Arena. This investment cost $120 million over 20 years, with an average annual value at $6 million. It is one of the largest naming rights deals for a single-tenant NBA arena and the first time a credit union has put its name on a major sports facility.[3]
In June 2018, Golden 1 became the first state-chartered credit union to be granted statewide field of membership in California. This made Golden 1 one of the nation's largest credit unions and the second largest credit union in the State of California.[1]
In 2023, it pledged $10 million to invest in Del Paso Heights over five years in order to improve equity and economic inclusion.[4] The following year, the credit union opened its first financial resource center, also located in that community.[5] Its second financial resource center opened in Madera, California in October 2025.[6]
In 2025, Golden 1 was included as part of American Banker’s “Best Credit Unions to Work For” list for its fifth consecutive year as well as Forbes’ and TIME’s “America’s Best Midsize Employers” ranking.[7][8][9]
As of 2026, Golden 1 had over $21 billion USD in assets and more than 1.1 million members.[1] The current President & CEO is Donna A. Bland.[10] Golden 1 serves its members throughout California with more than 70 branches, including home loan and financial resource centers, and over 30,000 CO-OP ATMs nationwide.[1] Golden 1 also offers payroll assistance loan programs, providing interest free, 60-day loans equal to a member’s net federal payroll deposit for one month.[11]
References
- ^ a b c d "The Top 100 Credit Unions in the USA". Retrieved 2014-04-14.
- ^ "Golden 1 Credit Union - About Us". Retrieved 2012-01-24.
- ^ "Introducing Golden 1 Center: Golden 1 Credit Union and Sacramento Kings Announce Naming Rights Partnership for Sacramento's World-Class Entertainment & Sports Center" (Press release). Sacramento Kings. June 16, 2015.
- ^ Smith, Marcus (31 July 2023). "This Sacramento neighborhood was given a $10 million investment to improve the area". Sacramento Bee.
- ^ Wulff, Rachel (23 January 2024). "Golden 1 Credit Union brings financial resource center to Sacramento's Del Paso Heights". CBS.
- ^ Gonzales, Dylan (3 October 2025). "Golden 1 opens first Central Valley financial resource center in Madera". The Business Journal.
- ^ Place, Nathan (18 August 2025). "The best credit unions to work for in 2025". American Banker.
- ^ "Best Midsize Employers". Forbes.
- ^ "America's Best Midsize Companies of 2025". TIME. 10 July 2025.
- ^ "Donna Bland Named President and CEO of Golden 1 Credit Union". Retrieved 2010-12-28.
- ^ Calvey, Mark (1 October 2025). "Credit unions lend a hand to furloughed government employees in Bay Area". San Francisco Business Times.